?? Buying a flood car

[Olds]

Hey guys,

I'm looking at a 02 P5 down in Georgia that's selling through Copart (a reseller of totalled cars.) The car's titled as a flood car, and judging from the pics, it might have been sitting in water for a bit up to carpet height.

Normally I wouldn't consider a flood car, but what makes this one interesting is that a) the price will likely be very low and I can't afford to pay full pop for a used p5, and b)the odometer is shown as functional, which makes me think the electronics can't be fried, which is really my main concern. I am generally mechanically adept, so even if mechanical components need replacing, I can do most of the labour myself and buy used parts, thereby saving money.

My question to you guys is - do you think major electronic/electrical components could suffer damage if the car is submerged only to just above carpet level? What about important mechanical parts? Would the odo still work if the main computer is fried? Finally, anyone in West Atlanta want to go check out the car for me?! haha (thumb)

Any advice you guys could give me would be awesome. The car goes for auction on Friday so quick advice would be awesome. Thanks.

Here's some pics of the car (I hope they work - the site is members-only so I'm not sure)

http://watermark1.copart.com/website/data/pix/20060123/00905986_5X.JPG
http://watermark1.copart.com/website/data/pix/20060123/00905986_6X.JPG
http://watermark1.copart.com/website/data/pix/20060123/00905986_7X.JPG
http://watermark1.copart.com/website/data/pix/20060123/00905986_8X.JPG
http://watermark1.copart.com/website/data/pix/20060123/00905986_2X.JPG

[Olds]

btw the crap on the back seat isn't flood debris, it's glass from a busted window

[Olds]

the worst part is the folks at the yard won't tell you if the car runs or anything - you have to get an on site inspection. difficult to do if you live in toronto, or expensive otherwise.

[chaosProtege]

does it run?

[chaosProtege]

lol. so you cant actually go look at it?

[Olds]

nope. it's 950 miles away. i know it seems kinda stupd, but if the car runs then it would be worth it. i'm gonna try to find out more tomorrow when the person who listed the car is in at Copart - they should know, and their website never tells you.

Maybe it's all just wishful thinking and trying too hard to save a buck. But I'm on a student budget, so I'm trying every option I can.

(braindead

[solid_snake]

the odo will still work if the ECU is fried, someone please correct me if i'm wrong

[LEXi73]

looks like a nice ride... i would be hesitant though especially sinsce u dont see it. I have gotten burned too many times on cars so i need to see the car in person now. Deals that seem too good to be true usually are in most cases. Electrical might seem ok now but it will most likely give you problems later on.

ohh BTW.. Looks like she has some speed wheels on her.

[Glauconite]

first is how cheap is it?? and second, you might be able to find help on this board to take a look in person for you..

[Olds]

where in the car is the ECU/fusebox/all that located, anyway?

[Olds]

first is how cheap is it?? and second, you might be able to find help on this board to take a look in person for you..

that's the thing, it's an online, realtime auction. right now the proxy bid is $300, but who knows how much it might sell for in the real auction.

[solid_snake]

the ECU is behind the dash, fusebox is by the driver's kickpanel

[zinx]

yep.. very nice rims..

[NoRotor,NoMotor]

try posting in the georgia section asking if someone could take a look at it for you

i wouldnt buy it unless you get someone you trust to verify it is ok

[bazooka joe]

http://www.pre-checkedautos.com/Flood_Damaged_Cars.html
http://www.carfax.com/car_buying/flood_damage_cars.cfm

this is just one of many sites devoted to the flood issue and cars...

i wouldn't consider it, there are many parts, especially electrical components that will be trashed or crap out eventually because of the water damage....unless you could steal it and plan on spending some good money and time to fix it up...i steer away and look for something without the possible headaches..jmo...good luck!

also, the smell my never go away!

[bazooka joe]

the ECU is behind the dash, fusebox is by the driver's kickpanel

the ecu is actually under the carpet on the passengers side...if it was up behind the dash it may have fared better...

[Olds]

thanks for the replies, guys. i should probably just let the idea go...but it's so damn tempting.

i does have very nice wheels, too. haha.

[Olds]

i wonder if it would be worth it to replace the ECU. probably not.

bj, do you know if the odo would work if the ecu was fried?



the more i think about it, the less i should buy this car. i think i'm gonna have to pass on this one after all.

[bazooka joe]

i wonder if it would be worth it to replace the ECU. probably not.

bj, do you know if the odo would work if the ecu was fried?

my guess is no....everything runs off the ecu now a days, i could be wrong though...one of our resident car techies will know for sure...anyone???

[bazooka joe]

how much are they asking?

[Olds]

how much are they asking?

it's a realtime online auction, so who knows.

[iLisa]

I think i'd steer clear of flooded title vehicle...

[arcane73]

I would run from it. Flooded vehicles are started to show up everywhere in the southeast after the hurricane. I know you said you were on a budget which leads you to look for something you can afford, but keep in mind that you will very likely have to spend lots of cash on it once you get it...not to mention problems that will show up later on.

[pasadena_commut]

I would run from it.

Agreed.

Do you really want to deal with the stink, mold, electrical problems, and corrosion?

[overdrivex]

if the car was totaled out than the car must have not started. especially if the water did not go past the carpet. another thing is did it just sit there and fry? or did they try to drive it thought the water and f*up the car. if the comp only fried than you can get a aftermarket comp from pepboys or something for about $500-600 more if its automatic.. alot more.... but if it was driven through the water and died than let some other sucker take the car. my friend bought a civic hatch flood car stripped it did a swap and custom interior... maybe if you get it cheap enough strip it do a mazda speed swap custom interor and bamm you got your self one pimped p5..

[RaiderMP5]

Walk away from the flood car. edit, unless you plan to get it, and strip it for whatever parts that are not electrical. MSP rims, the owner may have been on here...

[NJP5Guy]

i've seen flood cars come into my work and in order to get them to work correctly you need to replace the whole harness and any modules because water gets into everything thing whether you see it or not. not too mention the carpet should be replaced. just imagine the stink of that car from the sun beating on it with the windows rolled up and everything inside being wet....eeeewww. very expensive. at most you could buy the car and sell the parts to people on the forum who have had like fender benders and need cheap parts. hell im sure somebody would want the msp rims.

[P-Funk!]

One more.

No. Don't do it.

[AlbNYPR5]

A buddy of mine bought a 2000 Impreza that was used and it turned out to be a flood car. He had more problems with that car than you can imagine. It seemed like he had to bring it in for service every two weeks. He eventually got his money back because of the lemon law. No matter how much money you think will save it's not worth it.

[i12drivemyMP5]

Unless it is a non-computerized vehicle that would be used as something to not pile up miles on something better or something for winter driving or for spare parts or something that is rare & more worthy of long range expensive restore, I can only say the same thing...not worth the time, money & effort

[SkinnyJoint]

i say depending on price....

[pnfnj]

let me tell you from experience that it is not a good idea, i don't know if you are in the US or Can. but up here when you bring one up it has to pass an inspection fromt the MTO, and it has to be sent to a shop that has a frame rack so they can make sure that the frame is not bent at all. and if it is they will not even pass it if you get it fixed(BS) they are very strict on there inspection too. they wouldn't pass the truck cause some if the interior lights didn't work. now i don't know how the rules are down in the US but up here its a real pain in the ass! just thought i would let ya know about my experience. (deadhorse

[bazooka joe]

you've gotta be able to buy this for a few hundred bucks and that's not going to happen, some unsuspecting soul is going to by this and think they got a deal of a lifetime until the car craps out on them and becomes nothing but a headache chasing bad grounds, shorts....and the thing has got to smell when the hot weather comes?

[kcbhiw]

Do you have a link to the auction site?

It might make a worthy racer ;).

[JDM-P5]

Oh yes Kev.
Strip the wagon down and everything.
If it were a cheapie...I'd buy it.

[i12drivemyMP5]

OK, forgot about that one. Yes, if you get a real bargain & are looking to completely strip it down for track purposes probably with completely pumped up motor & different engine management, then do it.

[SkinnyJoint]

i say depending on price....

thats y i was saying what i was saying

[sasp5]

unless you can get this thing insanely cheap i wouldn't bother. there will be too many headaches and too much money to be spent down the road. ie electrical problems/mechanical problems/mould/and rust just to name a few. but damn now i know what my yellow P5 will look like with the racinghearts (thumb)

[kcbhiw]

I wonder for how much it sold. (poke)