When I got my first car, a 1997 Ford Escort, it was one that had a branded title ("Totaled/Reconstructed") and as such was available fairly cheaply. It had been in an accident while almost new (~10,000 miles), was sold off by the insurance company, and was repaired by a retired guy two towns over. Now, by "totaled" they really meant "airbags deployed," but the damage to the car itself was not that significant. It had just needed a new front bumper and headlights, iirc. Anyway, we found that by some combination of luck and diligence in the classified ads and it lasted ten years for me.
Actually, I still have that car but since we got a newer one recently we're planning to donate it. Because of its age and branded title, the Blue Book value is $0, but the car is fine aside from some maintenance due by mileage. It's too bad that the geography is inconvenient (the car and I are in Seattle) and that it needs a new timing belt (~$1000 of work, probably), or I'd say you should just buy it from me for $100 or whatever. (I add, $100 is the trade-in value we were offered at the dealership. It is the fair value of a car with a Blue Book value of $0.) If you happen to know anyone driving from the northwest to the midwest for the holidays, and the maintenance cost doesn't seem prohibitive, let me know.
Otherwise, don't be afraid of cars with branded titles is my advice. If a reputable mechanic thinks they're okay now, it's possible that whatever caused the brand has been repaired. Good luck!
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2010-12-02 09:22 pm (UTC)Actually, I still have that car but since we got a newer one recently we're planning to donate it. Because of its age and branded title, the Blue Book value is $0, but the car is fine aside from some maintenance due by mileage. It's too bad that the geography is inconvenient (the car and I are in Seattle) and that it needs a new timing belt (~$1000 of work, probably), or I'd say you should just buy it from me for $100 or whatever. (I add, $100 is the trade-in value we were offered at the dealership. It is the fair value of a car with a Blue Book value of $0.) If you happen to know anyone driving from the northwest to the midwest for the holidays, and the maintenance cost doesn't seem prohibitive, let me know.
Otherwise, don't be afraid of cars with branded titles is my advice. If a reputable mechanic thinks they're okay now, it's possible that whatever caused the brand has been repaired. Good luck!