[Matin321]

Hello guys
Thanks for creating this awesome forum and meeting wonderful people here. I am looking to get a 2002 Chevrolet s10 zr2 or anything similar but I'm really interested in this one, unfortunately this car has salvage title and I am looking to the community to check if there is anything else I should be looking out for while doing my inspection day, and I will purchase the car report to see damage and other details.

Some things that I will be looking out for during my inspection today:

noises in the engine
check transmission for slips jolts etc
verify all electrics / features / lights,
coolant or oil leaks
They are asking for the price of $14,900 and it has 59000 miles with a Salvage Title.

UPDATE
Thanks for everyone comments, I've gone through everyone comments
I decide to run the VIN Check on this luckily found the auction records but unluckily the auction records is removed, as it's already sold. What do you guys think, there was accident reported but I can't find the pictures! please have a look at the report (It's only $15 if you guys don't want to spend $40 for a Carfax)

here is the report: Get Instant Vehicle History Report

 

[Rhotpursuit]

Check the frame for cracks by the lower control arms.

 

[manbearpig]

Front bumper is incorrect, also missing flarettes.

 

[oldeerslayer]

I'm impressed by that comment. Didn't think a 2wd guy would catch that so quickly. Good job.
Must've been repaired with used parts. Which is actually a good thing since imported replacement parts are not as high quality. I have bought numerous salvage title vehicle over the years. If the repairs were done right it can be a non-issue.
Since the front was where it was damaged the door gaps will tell you a lot about the quality of the repairs. The correct painted blackish base front bumper should be an easy find in a SoCal pic a part. The flarettes may take a while to find, but they're out there. Just found a front wheel for my salvage Grand Prix GXP after looking for 12 years. Rare forged aluminum Alcoa wheel and never thought I'd find just one front one. When they were available new they were over $800 each. Your tiny front flare pieces were over $250 each back when you could buy them from a dealer. Again the trick will be finding just them and not have to buy a complete set to get them. My ZR2 has the originals and they are both cracked.
Since there is a palm tree in one pic and no sign of any rust and CA plates you needn't worry about rust. Even tho ZR2's like to rust behind the flares.
If you really want a clean rust free low miles ZR2 I personally don't think it is over priced. Finding one like this is rare. Most were driven into the ground by now or modified a bunch. Hopefully it even has the original unaltered radio. Most came with an RDS CD unit. Should be double din, but I think that change was made mid year during 2002. So it could be din and a half. I notice that it doesn't have a trailer hitch. I consider that a good thing. Again not modified and also means the PO didn't drag a heavy trailer thru the mountains with it.
Would love to have it here in the salt belt. My ZR2 is a rust bucket with 200K and has had an engine swap. I paid $500 for it as a roller with bad engine and trans. Not gong to fix the rust, it'll just return.

 

[mcburtonsoft]

+1 on frame cracks near control arms. I went through this issue myself this month, but if you know a guy that knows a guy - easy stuff.

Vehicles in this good of shape I always prioritize nitpicking neglected basic maintenance like door pins or endlinks for example, to see what kind of owner the truck had. Also check for hidden modification history (missing or mismatched bolts, additional holes drilled in, etc).

 

[S15E83]

Also check for hidden modification history (missing or mismatched bolts, additional holes drilled in, etc).

And wire nuts on any "repairs."

 

[Rhotpursuit]

Am I missing something here??...15K?

 

[MyWorkInProgress]

$15k, and a salvage title.

 

[oldeerslayer]

When you consider they cost over $26K new. Add destination charges and sales tax your getting near $30K. Asking 50% of that for one with only 60K miles isn't outrageous.
That's $15K depreciation which is about right for the miles.
If it were a 2019 for $15K you'd think that was OK and it'd probably have more miles.
The rarity of ZR2's this nice offsets the fact it's been around 20 years. Once they reach this age the year is irrelevant.
I've seen a lot worse ones with asking in the $9 -10 neighbor hood. And remember that's asking price. That's where you start the negotiations.
You could, I suppose, buy a new $50K Blazer or Bronco instead and you'd be the one absorbing the $20K depreciation in a couple years.
If you take good care of it, it'd be an investment. You can drive it 5 years and I bet sell it for the same or more money. Especially when you throw in inflation currently. As long as you didn't go way up in miles, jack it up or take it to Chicago or some other nasty salty place.
Not a truck to go bonnie bashing with or use as a DD.
The salvage title used to be something serious. With parts and labor what they are today if you flatten the grille to the support it's totaled. With no structural damage needed.
I just paid $350 for one refinished wheel for my GXP. Add a bumper some lights and a front valance, labor and paint and your at an easy $10K. Headlights for an Escalade are $1800 each. With labor that's totaled if it's 5 years old.

 

[MyWorkInProgress]

K

 

[Rhotpursuit]

You could, I suppose, buy a new $50K Blazer or Bronco instead and you'd be the one absorbing the $20K depreciation in a couple years.

A number of guys on the 2019+ Blazer forum are getting calls from the dealer asking if the want to sell it back or trade it in. They're getting close to the sale price with 25-30K on the clock.
I'll keep mine. It's the most comfortable vehicle we've had. 308hp and 30mpg on the highway...hard to beat.

 

[oldeerslayer]

Our Equinox has nearly the same little 3.6. Only 300 HP in 2016, but a fun driver. Handles great, too. Really quick steering.
BTW it has a salvage title. Bought it from a retired body man who does rebuilds as a side hustle. He did a good job on it. Haven't had a single problem in 3 years.
Only paid $6500 when it was 3 years old. It's the LTZ with everything. Comparables were going close to $15k at the dealerships at that time. Her son had a base 2wd version with the Chinese 4 cyl. What a POS. It blew up.

 

[hit_4_show]

$14.9k seems quite high to me, even as a starting price for negotiations. However, maybe I need to adjust to a new “reality” of vehicle pricing. Olddeerslayer’s comments are persuasive.

....I'll keep mine. It's the most comfortable vehicle we've had. 308hp and 30mpg on the highway...hard to beat.

vs 180-190hp and highway 16-18mpg for the mentioned ZR2 if w/o problems.

Or.... at this point in its life, ~110hp and highway 22-23mpg for my conservatively driven, 2.2L S10 daily driver money pit. 200+ more hp and better fuel economy would be appreciated.

 

[S15E83]

$15k seems high, considering I could probably only get $8k for my '08 BMW right now. But, these are strange times indeed. I couldn't drop that money on a 20+ year old truck for the same reasons my father can't understand the cost of ACVWs these days.

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[omgjedi]

I would agree 15k seems high, it is a nice looking truck with lower miles though and not my money so do what you are comfortable with. Would definitely check into state laws and also with your insurance company before purchasing if you haven't yet. Have only had one salvage title that caused me issues a few years back with transferring title, have heard some nightmares of people having issues with their state inspection laws at DMV or even with their insurance companies not covering salvaged vehicles. Market has definitely been crazy with shortages and bloated price tags, but haven't noticed quite the jump in the used light truck market as they just typically aren't as desirable in the collectors market. Add the salvage title to that and it makes your potential resale that much harder if you do decide to sell one day.

Good luck whatever you decide.

 

[Matin321]

UPDATE
Thanks for everyone comments, I've gone through everyone comments
I decide to run the VIN Check on this luckily found the auction records but unluckily the auction records is removed, as it's already sold. What do you guys think, there was accident reported but I can't find the pictures! please have a look at the report (It's only $15 if you guys don't want to spend $40 for a Carfax)

here is the report: Get Instant Vehicle History Report

 

[oldeerslayer]

Be glad you didn't buy it. It was not only in an accident, it was totaled and junked. Then salvaged and repaired. Making the price utterly ridiculous. As a rule you can knock at least 25% off the value for having been salvaged and you'd need to look it over with a fine tooth comb before purchase. Vehicles with salvage titles can be a good deal if the frame wasn't bent and the repairs done by an expert. Or they can be a constant problem. Depends on who did the rebuild and if they wanted to do it right or just flip it for a quick profit.

 

[desertpatriot]

What? No fog lamps? The outrage!