Ok I was looking around in one of my local junkyards earlier today (What a great way to spend 4th of July). I was looking for some salvagable parts for my AE86 but after searching the maze of cars I found nothing for my little Corolla. As I was about to leave my eye caught a very dusty S4 coupe. I decided to check it out. My overall result is that I was very impressed with the overall condition! Mildly damaged interior, frame is straight, and it doesnt smell too bad! But a few small dents here and there but nothing major. The mileage was around 260,000. I am not totally sure but it was pretty high.

I left to ask the owner of the wrecking yard how much it would cost me. He quoted me around the vicinity of $200 to $300 without tow to my house.

My question is that if buying it from the junkyard a good idea? I am looking for a new autocross car and I dont want this car to get crushed. The car would be a salvaged title right? Will I have a hard time insuring it?

Any feedback is appreciated!

Thanks

 

My question is that if buying it from the junkyard a good idea? I am looking for a new autocross car and I dont want this car to get crushed. The car would be a salvaged title right? Will I have a hard time insuring it?

Any feedback is appreciated!

Thanks[/QUOTE]

I kinda went through a similar situation. The car will be a salvaged title and you will not have any trouble insuring it. However, the hardest part is that you have to get a notorious polluter to pass the smog test. If you don't have to worry about that... $200-$300 is something that you can part with for a potential rx7

well.. depends on condition. what'd you check and what didn't you check?

- jeff

 

Hmm Notorious polluter pass? I'll check up on that. Thanks!

 

well if you dont get it give some info on where this find is located???

 

If you're just autocrossing the car doesnt have to be registered if you get a 4 wheel trailer. to take it there with.

 

Just so you know, you will almost certainly have to rebuild the engine. Even if the motor was good in the first place (very doubtful for that mileage) then the soft seals will be shot from sitting there unused. Plus it would have aweful compression even if everything was good.
You will probably also need "new" housings as they are likely shot with that mileage. So you are looking at around 1000-1500 if you do it yourself.

 

It would be considered a salvage title yes. The main problem with these, if u mean to re-register and insure, is that it has to go through a inspection by the state to see if it is drivable and safe to be on the road. But if that doesnt work though you could easily sell the parts for more then 200-300 if it is as good as you say.

 

Dragonforce, what sureshift means is that the car is very notorious for pollution. If you don't have to worry about emissions tests in your state, though, it may very well be worth it, so long as you're up for an engine rebuild.

 

Yeah, if it runs, it will almost certainly smoke a lot from weakened seals, and it will NEVER pass emissions. I have a vid of my car that used a junkyard engine if you want to see what I'm talking about.

 

i said look for a running rx7

 

If you are looking for project than buy it. If your 86 is enough of a project and you really don't have the room to let a non-running car sit for 1yr+ don't do it. Beyond the visible things that are wrong with the car think of the safety things too. Think of the worst case senario and if you can still afford it and are patient enough to get through it, another rotary gets back on the road.

 

If you got room, and you want a project, go for it. It sounds like a pretty decent amount of work from the description. I heard that getting a salvaged title car back on the road involves a lot of paper work and some like safety checks or something? It's a ridiculous process from what I've heard. But if you're tracking it, it won't even be an issue. Just have fun building a sweet track car.