My fiancé and I have been looking for a newer vehicle on a budget since we’ve got a baby coming.

I found this 2014 Acura MDX that is super clean, 52k miles, fully loaded, for $17k because it had water just barely get into the floorboards.

The current owner has been very transparent about it. He bought it from Texas in 2015 with 8k miles, had it repaired and inspected and has been driving it ever since with no issues according to him. I purchased a Carfax and everything he told me is accurate. They’re only selling because they bought a Tesla.

I’ve done my fair share of reading into it and it seems you have a lot more risk buying flood cars not long after its happened, but if its been driven for years after, its probably okay. We plan on keeping it for quite awhile, so resale value doesn’t worry me too much

I just want a second opinion on this.

Is the price fair? How do you determine that? Would you buy this if you were on a budget and needed a newer vehicle?

Thanks

https://preview.redd.it/t83eysn7li1c1.jpg?width=959&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2b9cbbae30c3566dc5f10692f758ce7a2bcd2b3e

  • jetty_junkie@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Talk to your insurance agent before you even consider it and make sure they will insure it and that the premium will make sense. That is the first step but people often don’t do that until after they buy and then find out their insurance company won’t insure it or the premium is way higher than expected. It might not make any difference at all but definitely find out before you get too involved

  • kracer20@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I recently purchased a vehicle with a rebuilt title from a front end collision, and it was repaired in 2018, and has more than 50,000 miles since the repair. I was confident that any lingering issues would have been addressed. If this vehicle were recently flooded, and you are the first owner after repair, I’d be telling you to think real hard about whether to go ahead with the purchase. Since it has been 8 years since the repair, I’d feel better about it.

    Also, can you find out from the owner if the flooding was fresh or salt water? Either way, I’d be crawling around underneath and looking for corrosion.

    u/jetty_junkie mentioned it already, but talk to your insurance first!!

  • Ardothbey@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Nope. That water will come back to haunt you. It takes time to do its “work” so stay away.

  • Dinolord05@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I’ve owned a few rebuilt title cars over the years.

    I’d personally never touch a flood car.

  • Vaderiv@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I rebuild salvage cars for a living and I stay away from flood cars but seeing how long it has been owned it is probably ok. Just check with your financial situation because they may loan less on a salvage car.

  • thenerdydyke@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    if the water damage was minimal and the current owner has been driving the car with no issues for years it’s likely that the car is in good condition. however i would highly recommend getting a mechanic to inspect it thoroughly before making a decision. it’s always better to be cautious when purchasing a car with a rebuilt title. good luck with your search!

  • secondrat@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    No. Water has likely gotten into control modules and wiring and is making the car act funny.

    Do you want it to die on you on the freeway with your new baby in it?

    Run away.