[camaroz1985]

I saw a 2015 2LT with 14k miles go for less than $5k. It was a salvage, but only had some light scratches, no real damage. I think it may have been a theft recovery maybe?? With fees, would have still been about $5500. Couldn't get in contact with my wife before the auction ended, or I would have picked it up. Would have been a great driver, or could have probably flipped it and still made a couple grand. I see others with clean titles selling for $13k or so. Definitely going to keep my eye out for these at auction now. Even some with a little superficial damage (maybe a vandalized one). I need a new autocross car...

 

[rmay635703]

Unless you want it for yourself I would steer clear.

Salvage cuts 50% off the retail and eliminates the battery warranty

 

[Qinsp]

If it was a wholesale auction, there is a reason it's $5000. Those folk who run the auction and those who attend to stock their junkyards or lots are pretty savvy.

Best guess if you didn't see collision damage? Normally water damage, which can be a real problem.

 

[Henry_FL]

Couldn't get in contact with my wife before the auction ended, or I would have picked it up.

That Saved you much more than the final price, Volts are not your flip from auction vehicle of choice, parts prices will break the bank in a blink of the eye.

 

[Xr7]

Thats why I steered clear of wrecks for the last few years but now that they can be had for under $5k with low miles and minimal damage I picked up a couple of them. Is the warranty on the batteries so critical? From what I am seeing it is highly likely they will last 200k miles or more. As for parts, air bags can be had for as little as $100 and most and most of these cars are still under warranty so many parts have no real market yet except for us doing a builder. I agree they are not a good flip car, It is very hard to beat the system and do insurance quality repairs and be able to make a buck. I hate selling salvage title cars but once they are $1000 cars you can just donate them or give them away.

 

[llninja]

That Saved you much more than the final price, Volts are not your flip from auction vehicle of choice, parts prices will break the bank in a blink of the eye.

Um. This was a spark EV. Look at the forum category.

 

[Joe67]

Unless you want it for yourself I would steer clear.

Salvage cuts 50% off the retail and eliminates the battery warranty

This is sound advice. If you plan to buy it and drive it into the ground, go for it.

 

[camaroz1985]

Buying it and driving it was my original thought. Wife wants to stop driving the Suburban daily. Still think it could be a decent car. As for water damage, didn't see any, usually you can see the discoloration/dirt from the water line.

I'm going to keep my eye out. Like I said I would even like to have one for an autocross car.

 

[llninja]

Buying it and driving it was my original thought. Wife wants to stop driving the Suburban daily. Still think it could be a decent car. As for water damage, didn't see any, usually you can see the discoloration/dirt from the water line.

I'm going to keep my eye out. Like I said I would even like to have one for an autocross car.

Going from a suburban to a spark EV is a bit extreme, isn't it? Biggest gas guzzler to no gas at all. Passenger and cargo space galore, to itty bitty living space. The ability to tow several tons to no towing at all. SUV to SUV bait.

 

[turboguy327]

Going from a suburban to a spark EV is a bit extreme, isn't it? Biggest gas guzzler to no gas at all. Passenger and cargo space galore, to itty bitty living space. The ability to tow several tons to no towing at all. SUV to SUV bait.

I came to a volt from a ram 2500 mega cab cummins.

 

[Norton]

... With fees, would have still been about $5500. Couldn't get in contact with my wife before the auction ended, or I would have picked it up. ...

Too bad. I went from a Volt to a Spark EV and now only use Free Public charging. The Volt could not do this commute.

Sounds like she carries more than the check book in her purse .....

 

[llninja]

I came to a volt from a ram 2500 mega cab cummins.

I don't know, the Cummings is as fuel efficient as you can get with a truck. I still have a 3/4 ton Suburban 2500 with the 7.4L gas engine that drinks gas like no other. 9 mpg if I'm lucky.

 

[Norton]

I don't know, the Cummings is as fuel efficient as you can get with a truck. ...

Not to argue diesel trucks,,, but my neighbor does!
He has a new Dodge diesel truck with the ?Renault? designed modern diesel engine. It is amazingly quiet and he goes on and on about "25 MPG, w/o trying" and "700 miles per tank". That's all I know on this subject....

He txt me links to articles about Cummins vs His engine,, like I care... I had two TDI's. That's enough for me...

 

[turboguy327]

I don't know, the Cummings is as fuel efficient as you can get with a truck. I still have a 3/4 ton Suburban 2500 with the 7.4L gas engine that drinks gas like no other. 9 mpg if I'm lucky.

I got high 20s on the highway.

 

[camaroz1985]

Going from a suburban to a spark EV is a bit extreme, isn't it? Biggest gas guzzler to no gas at all. Passenger and cargo space galore, to itty bitty living space. The ability to tow several tons to no towing at all. SUV to SUV bait.

I drive the Volt daily. She drives the Suburban daily, but doesn't need it for her commute, we just have the two vehicles right now. Would still keep it and use it for vacations, towing trailers, etc. Oh and ours is for sure the biggest gas guzzler, 8.1L with 4.10 gears, but is rated to tow 12k lbs.

Too bad. I went from a Volt to a Spark EV and now only use Free Public charging. The Volt could not do this commute.

Sounds like she carries more than the check book in her purse .....

She has no idea about what is in our check book (or even where to find it haha), but I still discuss the big purchases with her, and I'm pretty sure she would notice a bright green Spark in the driveway.

 

[samotlietuvis]

I have rebuilt a salvage Spark EV that I bought at the auction.
The forklift at the auction will damage the plastics underneath, but it is impossible to damage battery or drivetrain.
The car will be s/w disabled if any airbags popped. One will need GDS-2 s/w and adapter to re-enable the car. Or tow it to a stealership and pay a lot to have it inspected / re-enabled. I did it myself.
The car has 4 radiators that are expensive - avoid ones that have radiator stack damaged.
The car is very low production - used parts are virtually un-available.
My wrecked Spark EV was "fluffed" to look better than it actually was. Copart calls is "enhanced vehicle" service that the insurance company pay to get the vehicle "fluffed" at copart. Pay attention if you are buying an "enhanced vehicle" because the car will not be as good as it looks....
Expect to add $700 to a winning price (broker + all the copart fees).
The rebuilding part is fairly straight forward.
You will be competing with people getting sparks for their battery projects. Battery itself fetches $2k-$3k.

 

[llninja]

I drive the Volt daily. She drives the Suburban daily, but doesn't need it for her commute, we just have the two vehicles right now. Would still keep it and use it for vacations, towing trailers, etc. Oh and ours is for sure the biggest gas guzzler, 8.1L with 4.10 gears, but is rated to tow 12k lbs.



She has no idea about what is in our check book (or even where to find it haha), but I still discuss the big purchases with her, and I'm pretty sure she would notice a bright green Spark in the driveway.

Yup, you've got me beat. My suburban can only tow 8600 pounds, though I have towed 2 rack wagons of hay, easily 10k pounds with it. But since the rack wagons were really old, I never exceeded 15 mph. Moving any faster would cause them to waggle (look up Battlestar Galactica and waggling).

 

[llninja]

I got high 20s on the highway.

Wow, maybe I should jump ship, abandon the GM card and get a diesel. I just looked at the Silverado, and sadly no diesel. Though maybe I should just get a flexfuel truck and drive 85% OPEC-free.

 

[turboguy327]

Wow, maybe I should jump ship, abandon the GM card and get a diesel. I just looked at the Silverado, and sadly no diesel. Though maybe I should just get a flexfuel truck and drive 85% OPEC-free.

You just need to do the deletes and get a good tune. Don't forgot cummins with ram. Best combo out there.

 

[llninja]

You just need to do the deletes and get a good tune. Don't forgot cummins with ram. Best combo out there.

Ah, I found it. The 1500 can't be purchased with a diesel, but the ram 2500 can. So I went back to Chevy and found the same thing. I need a Silverado 2500 HD in order to get diesel as an option. But yowza, the prices are pretty much the same as a suburban once you add the diesel to the base model crew cab.