Firehawk with rebuilt title

**Ben4277** · 07-29-2009, 06:25 AM

I'm looking at possibly purchasing a 2002 Firehawk T/A (hatchback) with a rebuilt title. Allegedly, the car was not in collision but there was heat/fire damage to the some panels and they had to be replaced. Assuming that the frame and replacement panels are fine, and everything else is as it should be what would be a reasonable price for this car? What specifically should I look out for when I see the car? I don't have any experience with rebuilt titles and the pitfalls associated with them. It has round 60k miles. Thanks.

**SSwt00SS** · 07-29-2009, 06:30 AM

be smart and pass on it. find one with no issues, no worries, etc.

if you do proceed with aquiring the car, get the VIN # and RPO codes (drivers side door) and research the codes to see what all options the car came with and to make sure it is a legit firehawk.

good luck

**Ben4277** · 07-29-2009, 06:35 AM

Thanks. I'm mostly interested because I can get it at a discount. I just want to find out if the discount they are offering is enough.

**SSwt00SS** · 07-29-2009, 06:53 AM

find out what the price is for a clean titled firehawk and go from there. fire/smoke damage is not a good thing. how do you or anyone else know that everything was fixed, fixed correctly so it doesnt happen again?

personally i wouldnt go over $10k, but even that might be to much. perhaps $8k. salvage/rebuilt titles usually go for 1/2 to 2/3 the price of a clean titled car. and since the price fo f-bodies is dropping, you might end up finding a better car for an even better deal.

**Ben4277** · 07-29-2009, 07:18 AM

Thanks again SS.

**GULLETT17** · 07-29-2009, 07:23 AM

If you can get enough of a discount and have looked at the car inside and out and feel very confident in the work that was done to the car. . . go for it. My firebird had a salvage title when i bought it, but i did all the work and got the title changed to rebuilt. My trans am is branded rebuilt, but bought the car from the body shop that repaired it and knew everything that had been done to the car. I only paid 7200 for a car that booked for 12500 at my bank. No problems in almost 2 yrs, except tranny needing rebuilt, which mostly has nothing to do with the damage that was done to the car. But again like SSwt00SS said, fire damage is sometimes a different story. Was it all exterior fire damage? Was any electrical involved?

The important thing is to know what was damaged and know that it was fixed properly. Rebuilt cars can be a great way to save some dough.

**Ben4277** · 07-29-2009, 07:47 AM

It was exterior fire damage to the rear. Also, the place selling it is the same place that did the work so I'd be requesting all the relevant documentation pertaining to the repairs.