looking at a 350 but have questions (newbie here)
 

So I have my 3000GT VR4 up for sale/trade, it's a 94 with a 99 conversion upgraded a bit (turbos, fuel, etc), but needs engine work (rebuild/upgrade heads.... floated/bent valves).
I was contacted by a guy asking if I wanted to trade for his '07 350z with 50k miles (lightly modded, intake, headers, exhaust, nismo bumpers). The car looks great, I haven't test driven it yet, but here's the catch.... it has an 'R' title (front end collision, air bags deployed, totaled/rebuilt). So my question is, what is this car actually worth? (if repaired correctly and drives strait). I did a carfax on it, and confirms the 'R' designation along with the rest of it's records.

Any questions, just ask and thanks for your time.

Hmmmm this is a tough one. Although it has the Nismo V2 front and V3 rear as well as other mods, does it justify the rebuilt title...You're really taking a gamble on this one.

Yeah, that's why I'm trying to get some numbers on value, my car, broken, is worth about $9k as is, $14k fixed..... I know this 350 is worth about $12k (from KBB) with a clean title. Carfax is only taking $1,710 off of the BB value but it doesn't seem right. I just don't want to part with a car worth $9k (even broken) for a $6-7k car that has an 'R' title.

Anyone have any numbers? (value)

I'm hesitant to give numbers because they vary too much depending on your area.

Northeast PA..... well, think it's worth $9k+ with the 'R' title.... or even a clean title?

With a clean title here in fl 2007 + with low miles go for around 17,000. I say sell your car and put down a nice down payment on a clean title.

Clean title in AB for 2007+ with typical mileage is about $24K.

I'm getting the impression you guys think I should stay away from this car..... I dont want payments or anything, it was either trade for this 350 or keep/fix my 3000..... I just wanted a less maintenance car that's still sporty and reliable, so this trade seemed perfect till I found out about the title.

I'm not saying one way or the other.

Personally, I will always stay away from a car that has been wrecked. That being said, I have friends that have had great luck with rebuilds.

I'd say at least take it for a test drive.

I was still gonna take it for a test drive, but if everything checks out, and the car drives great, I don't want to get stuck with a worthless car, it was fixed by a dealership (on carfax) supposedly "correctly", all the body lines are good and it drives strait (I was told, will see on Sat.) but even if it's fixed perfectly, is it worth $9k with that damn 'R' designation?
The car looks awesome, I just don't want to fall in love with a worthless car.

I did some searching, found a site that sells totaled cars, looked through the '07 350z's and found one (was a touring convertible) for $9,970 and it wasn't even fixed yet..... but I'd rather get the honest truth from actual owners that have been on this platform for a while.

If everything is straight, and was fixed properly $9K is pretty good.

Anything in particular I should look for when I test drive it? NOT regarding the accident, any known issues with the '07's.... it's an 'Enthusiast' (not sure of the differences) if that matters.

The only issue I know of is that the tire pressure light blinks then stays on (I'm guessing a tire sensor is bad)

I'll be bringing a jack, OBD tester, and bore scope.... I plan on doing a thorough inspection.

So Syner, you think $9k is a decent price if fixed right, drives strait even with the 'R' title?

Trim doesn't matter - just make sure it has all the right options and it's an actual enthusiast. There are a couple threads here telling how to quickly spot the differences between trim levels.

I'm in a DE so I'm not sure what to watch for the in the HR's. Someone will probably be around to give advice tomorrow.

$9K is decent IMO.

My TPMS is completely disconnected, but the light will sometimes come on randomly when I'm on the highway.

Never buy a r title....unless your state can let you go back to a clean title (very few out there and is a silly process) most states that I know of its hard to go from a salvage to a rebuilt, but that's just where I've looked

If I was in your position I would hold out for a better HR. What model is the Z? I don't see Brembos so it could possibly be a base model which isn't bad, but I wouldn't buy another open diff Z unless I had cash in hand to put a legit diff in it that day.

Think of the other side of the coin....Why does this feller want out of a "Good shape" car into a "needs engine work" one? I've never had a full on project car but I don't think I'd start with one that needs work right off the bat-that's me though. He may be planning a huge build with it. Idk.

I would shop around and pick up good shape 03-05 if you HAD to have one, but otherwise, fix up the VR4 and pwn some Zs with that boat!!! oh, and post pix of the VR4!!! (was my favorite car in high school)

Good luck!

That's usually why I stay away from rebuilds.

In my area, that is a decent price - I still wouldn't take it though.

salvage/rebuild title cars from my experiences usually get around 2/3-3/4 of what you would pay for a similar car with a clean title

npr350z, it already went from a salvage to rebuilt title, it only had 12k miles when it was in the accident/fixed

NoQuestionZ, 3000GT VR4's are hard to find, mine is #674 of only 1650 made in 94, so even broken ones hold their value. He said he had 2 in the past and missed the platform and wanted to build a 2nd gen that had a good body, and mine even has the complete 99 conversion. It'll cost me a few grand to get mine back on the road (with me doing all the labor), and it's 20 years old.... so I'd just be waiting for something else to go wrong.

It all comes down to the value being equal, I have enough projects now, the 3000 is taking all my finances from working on other vehicles