| Used cars present a tremendous opportunity for | | | | collision may be missing vital safety features that, due |
| people who do not want to pay the sticker price on a | | | | to cost, never found their way back into the damaged |
| new car. Not only do used cars have most of their | | | | vehicle. It is no secret that insurers will almost always |
| depreciation already priced into the vehicle. For | | | | "write-off" a vehicle whose air bags have been |
| example, a brand-new Lamborghini Gallardo will run | | | | deployed. While this may not mean that the vehicle's |
| you at least $180,000. But add 2 years of age and less | | | | structural integrity has been compromised (in some |
| than 1,000 miles and that same vehicle will cost under | | | | cases, the frame will not have been damaged at all). |
| $140,000. If Lamborghini isn't in your price range, | | | | However, the reason for the write off comes down |
| consider the Ford Mustang GT which starts at $28,850 | | | | one single factor: cost. If the insurers find it too |
| new but add 2 years and less than 6,000 miles and | | | | expensive to replace air bags, what would an |
| this same model can be yours for under $21,000! | | | | independent used car dealer think? Is it possible that |
| Clearly, the savings speak for themselves. | | | | the airbags were not replaced at all? Yes. Is it even |
| But there are clear risks when it comes to purchasing | | | | more likely that the air bags that were used to replace |
| a used vehicle. In fact, if you are unaware of these | | | | the damaged air bags are actually sub-standard? |
| risks you could end up buying a car that is nothing | | | | Absolutely! |
| short of a death trap. Not sure how this could possibly | | | | 3. Vehicles that have been in serious collisions may |
| be? Consider the following three realities: | | | | have irreparable damage. Even minor collisions that do |
| 1. Vehicles that have been involved in serious collisions | | | | not impact the structural integrity and air bag systems |
| will have compromised frames. No matter how well a | | | | can cause a vehicle to have irreparable damage. In |
| body shop can stretch a frame back to its original | | | | many cases, this damage might not even impact the |
| shape, there will always be structural issues with that | | | | vehicle's performance but can impact your enjoyment |
| frame. Consider an aluminum soda can. You can crush | | | | of that vehicle. For example, a front-end collision can |
| and pull it back to its original shape. However, those | | | | rattle factory-welds that not even award-winning |
| bends will still create structural weakness in that soda | | | | welders can replicate. If this is the case, you may find |
| can. This means that the next time that can gets | | | | yourself making frequent, frustrating visits to a body |
| crushed, it will allow itself to be crushed a lot easier | | | | shop to have such nuisances tended to. In these |
| and with a lot less force. Worse, all you may need to | | | | cases, the inconvenience may be worth paying full |
| do is twist that can "just so." The same would be true | | | | price for the car! |
| with your vehicle's frame. Stretching will not make it | | | | As shown here, there are some clear disadvantages |
| better. Reinforcing it will not make it better. Once a | | | | to buying a used vehicle. However, if you are certain |
| vehicle's frame has been crushed, it can never regain | | | | that the vehicle you want has not been in a serious |
| its original structural rigidity. Period. And the last thing | | | | collision, then why not save the money and enjoy a |
| you want is to be taking an off-ramp marginally quickly | | | | well-worked in vehicle and the performance it can |
| and causing that frame to twist in on itself. The | | | | offer? Financially it makes perfect sense. Just be |
| possible consequences are obvious and not worth | | | | aware of the risks, be sure to ask the right questions |
| mentioning here. | | | | and of course inspect the vehicle thoroughly before |
| 2. Vehicles that have been repaired after a serious | | | | handing over your check. |