SMD buy it and fix it

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semisane1987

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Good morning I know most of here know more about cars. Yesterday I was in Pretoria visiting my family, they want to buy a car that has been an accident and fix it. I remember when I was in a process of buying a car they were encouraging, me to go to auction or buy a accident car. I just want to ask do guys think it's a good idea to buy a car that has been in accident.

I saw some of the cars on the internet the price tag not bad, just wonder if it's really worth.

Please if you are not interested in this thread or don't have anything positive to say to me. PLEASE don't comment here I know how some of you are. I'm not forcing anyone to comment here "ka kopa tuu" thank you.
 
A guy on this forum bought a scrapped kia and fixed it up. I recall him having endless problems. Might just be he's not mechanically minded enough for the job.

Years back my brother in law had a very successful business buying scrapped cars, fixing them and selling them off. The caveat is that he runs the mechanical repairs department for a major panel beater, so he knows his stuff and had the correct resources.

So I'd say your family's idea is sound if they have the knowledge and resources to do it properly.
 
If it was economical to repair it would not have been scrapped. Unless you know your stuff, you could end up with unsafe vehicle. Also considder the impact when your accident repaired vehicle becomes the cause of an accident where someone is injured or killed.
 
Ramodiana said:
Good morning I know most of here know more about cars. Yesterday I was in Pretoria visiting my family, they want to buy a car that has been an accident and fix it. I remember when I was in a process of buying a car they were encouraging, me to go to auction or buy a accident car. I just want to ask do guys think it's a good idea to buy a car that has been in accident.

I saw some of the cars on the internet the price tag not bad, just wonder if it's really worth.

Please if you are not interested in this thread or don't have anything positive to say to me. PLEASE don't comment here I know how some of you are. I'm not forcing anyone to comment here "ka kopa tuu" thank you.
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Repairing a car within the required safety spec, and doing it so economically is a very difficult task. Furthermore, you need to have established contacts in the industry that you can trust. If you have to ask on a forum, I doubt if you know what you doing, so steer far far away!
 
pinball wizard said:
A guy on this forum bought a scrapped kia and fixed it up. I recall him having endless problems. Might just be he's not mechanically minded enough for the job.

Years back my brother in law had a very successful business buying scrapped cars, fixing them and selling them off. The caveat is that he runs the mechanical repairs department for a major panel beater, so he knows his stuff and had the correct resources.

So I'd say your family's idea is sound if they have the knowledge and resources to do it properly.
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Think he replaced the ecu like 3 times lol
 
An accredited workshop will charge you to repair the car to the manufacturers specification.
If the cost is more than the insured value of the, the car is scrapped.
Now you can buy this car at an SMD auction at a much reduced value.
As the car is now a Code 3, you will not be able to insure it.
 
wetkit said:
An accredited workshop will charge you to repair the car to the manufacturers specification.
If the cost is more than the insured value of the, the car is scrapped.
Now you can buy this car at an SMD auction at a much reduced value.
As the car is now a Code 3, you will not be able to insure it.
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Not all are code 3.
And still code 3 vehicles are insurable. (although not attractive business to insurer's)
Retail value @ rate = premium
Settlement for total loss is 50 to 75% of retail depending on the insurer.

A problem sometimes is the vin, engine and regeneration numbers don't always match and reselling is a PITA and now with data dot it's even more difficult to get re-regestered.
 
Let's not forget the overinflated panelbeater prices that leads to most insurances deeming cars to be uneconomical to repair, but yes you should know exactly what you getting into, hence it is advised to take someone knowleadgeble with you to the auction.
 
I'd never trust a modern car that's been repaired after a serious accident. It's near impossible to repair the crash structure to the same state as before, so doing it on a budget just isn't going to happen. So even if you do somehow end up saving a small bit of money you'll likely be left with an unsafe car.
 
Tman* said:
Repairing a car within the required safety spec, and doing it so economically is a very difficult task. Furthermore, you need to have established contacts in the industry that you can trust. If you have to ask on a forum, I doubt if you know what you doing, so steer far far away!
Click to expand...
Agreed, but sometimes, very rarely you might find a good deal.....

Its all a matter of luck, contacts and big enough funds to survive one lemon.
 
It all depends on the accident damage. A relatively minor dent on one or two panels, sure. If you know someone who can fix it for relatively cheap.

Something that is in such a state that you can't drive it, no, definitely not, not unless you really really know what you're doing.
I personally would never buy anything that I didn't test drive myself, and I doubt you can test drive the cars at auction.

Lastly, remember that on an auction, prices are ex vat and ex commission. Add about 25% to the price the auctioneer shouts out to get an idea of what you're going to pay.
There are also usually used car dealers at these things, and they will probably buy anything that's worth buying at the price it is worth buying it for.
 
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