Buying an evo with an accident history
Buying an evo with an accident history
An Evo IX I'm looking at has 1 'Accident' in the CarFax history. It was reported in CA in 2008, which means it had to be at least $500 worth of damage.
I made an appointment with a local collision center to have the car put up on their rack and measured for frame damage. They quoted $100, which is cheap insurance in my mind.
So my question is: Is this the best course of action? Would I be better off taking it to an alignment shop and making sure it aligns properly instead?
Anything else I should check? Compression test perhaps?
I made an appointment with a local collision center to have the car put up on their rack and measured for frame damage. They quoted $100, which is cheap insurance in my mind.
So my question is: Is this the best course of action? Would I be better off taking it to an alignment shop and making sure it aligns properly instead?
Anything else I should check? Compression test perhaps?
Compression test is a must! Check all frame rails for rust damage or bends anything that does look normal. Check in the engine compartment and look at the frame rails. Check the VIN number in the fenders and trunk make sure they all match. Do you know where on the car the accident took place, if so look carefully in that spot to make sure all the damage was fixed PROFESSIONALLY.
evo IX's that get into accidents tend to suffer from malfunctioning ACD's
make sure to check to see that the ACD pump is not leaking and the ACD in general works
I would go ahead and take it in to get checked for frame damage AND take it to a good evo shop to have it looked over for any leaks cracked housings etc..
make sure to check to see that the ACD pump is not leaking and the ACD in general works
I would go ahead and take it in to get checked for frame damage AND take it to a good evo shop to have it looked over for any leaks cracked housings etc..
also check the undercarriage, take a nice long drive with it too assuming they will let you i dont see why not, check all fluids after including oil and see if there are any leaks for oil consuming issues.
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i would just make sure you do your due diligence, as it seems you are. Don't let an accident scare you away. There are plenty of cars out there with an accident history but nothing on a carfax report. As long as the repairs were done the right way you really have nothing to worry about.
As an example; I am the original owner of my car, but when I gave it to my detailer for a cleaning a couple years ago he got into an accident to the tune of $14k in damages! The car was repaired at a top notch facility to the point where it was just as good as new. Looking/driving the car you would never in a million years it was in an accident.
good luck.
As an example; I am the original owner of my car, but when I gave it to my detailer for a cleaning a couple years ago he got into an accident to the tune of $14k in damages! The car was repaired at a top notch facility to the point where it was just as good as new. Looking/driving the car you would never in a million years it was in an accident.
good luck.
My brothers Evo was hit in the passenger rear door while it was parked. He didn't want to have it on the car's history so he paid out of pocket. He got a completely new skin and fresh paint. You couldn't even tell it happened. It cost something like $800.
Just food for thought because that was nothing that ever would have affected the driveability of the car or do anything besides look ugly. But he had it fixed the right way and no one would ever be able to tell.
Just food for thought because that was nothing that ever would have affected the driveability of the car or do anything besides look ugly. But he had it fixed the right way and no one would ever be able to tell.
My brothers Evo was hit in the passenger rear door while it was parked. He didn't want to have it on the car's history so he paid out of pocket. He got a completely new skin and fresh paint. You couldn't even tell it happened. It cost something like $800.
Just food for thought because that was nothing that ever would have affected the driveability of the car or do anything besides look ugly. But he had it fixed the right way and no one would ever be able to tell.
Just food for thought because that was nothing that ever would have affected the driveability of the car or do anything besides look ugly. But he had it fixed the right way and no one would ever be able to tell.
OP find out what kind of accident it was in...most things shouldn't affect how the car drives
i would just make sure you do your due diligence, as it seems you are. Don't let an accident scare you away. There are plenty of cars out there with an accident history but nothing on a carfax report. As long as the repairs were done the right way you really have nothing to worry about.
As an example; I am the original owner of my car, but when I gave it to my detailer for a cleaning a couple years ago he got into an accident to the tune of $14k in damages! The car was repaired at a top notch facility to the point where it was just as good as new. Looking/driving the car you would never in a million years it was in an accident.
good luck.
As an example; I am the original owner of my car, but when I gave it to my detailer for a cleaning a couple years ago he got into an accident to the tune of $14k in damages! The car was repaired at a top notch facility to the point where it was just as good as new. Looking/driving the car you would never in a million years it was in an accident.
good luck.
It is very important to check what the fluids look like in the transmission, transfer case and rear end.. i got boned on the evo I just picked up as at 120k, it looks as though the original fluid was still in there.. had to get the tcase rebuilt. It didnt start making noise until after I had it for a couple weeks.
What is the title of the car currently clean or rebuilt? As long as it doesn't have a rebuilt or previous salvage title it should be fine. Millions of cars get into accidents that are minor fender benders that go well beyond the price of $500.
Title is clean. It took 3 different reputable body shops before someone was able to identify where the accident occurred. Turns out one of the front side panels must have been dented and repaired. Zero frame/body damage.
I'm at mechanic #4 already today. First two pushed my appointment back until too late this evening, and the third refused to perform a compression check on a low mileage car that was in such good shape. Shop #4 is going over the whole car right now.
I've put 30 miles on the car already today and nothing jumps out at me as being out of place. Depending on the compression test results I could be an evo owner in a few hours.
I'm at mechanic #4 already today. First two pushed my appointment back until too late this evening, and the third refused to perform a compression check on a low mileage car that was in such good shape. Shop #4 is going over the whole car right now.
I've put 30 miles on the car already today and nothing jumps out at me as being out of place. Depending on the compression test results I could be an evo owner in a few hours.