salvage car as a track car. Any experience?

[AvusPdx]

So I replied to a post in here about salvage cars, and it got me to thinking, what about a track car that you don't even insure other than track days?

I've always lived in a condo so I never had the luxury of having a project car/DD (although I did once and it sucked swapping cars else where).
I will be buying a house in the next few years, and i'll finally have a garage.

Has anyone here have experience with making a salvaged title car for your track/race car? Is it still the same headaches with shit going wrong etc?

I'm not sure if I'll buy a audi for a dedicated track weapon (more fan of RWD), but I've heard of few people buying salvaged cars to gut it etc. thoughts?

[fs454]

I think the answer depends entirely on the specifics of the vehicle and what took place to make it a salvage, as well as the competency of the repairs done. Sometimes you get lucky, other times you have constant gremlins. It's tough to say.

[doug97gxe]

i've thought about doing this with a bike... i say check your local track and see what they say.. only difference is it will be harder to trailer a car than a bike to the track if you don't register it

[CollecTTor]

The problem is going to be getting it certified for road use again. If you are going to tow it to the track, no issue. If you want to drive it on the road, look up the process to recertify in your state.

[The Fat Kid]

Just find a track car for sale in the Rennlist classifieds. Track cars are expensive to build, but all that money pretty much goes down the drain since it is now a not-street-legal toy.

You can find an older, well-sorted Miata or BMW track car for less than $10k. Consumables are cheap, and they are a blast.

P.S. Audi as a dedicated track car

[AvusPdx]

Well I wasn't planning on fixing it my self to recertify, I thought the salvage title'd cars for sale already went through that process?

It got me thinking, if I'm gonna gut it, chop it up etc., a track car is gonna be a salvage car anyways. It'll be nice to drive it to the track, hauling it seems like a pain in the ass.

[orson888]

As long as you know what you are doing go for it. I only drive reconstrated cars because I can get fix them and reg. for half what is car worth, also you need help from outside which mean friend or family member who does or work in body shop just not to get scammed!
There is high risk of buying salvage cars, you only see 10pic from an auction examples: crack block of engine, totally damage frame, flooded cars.
When it comes to get salvage inspection for my state is simple 100$ and 4 pic of car after repair. watch out from where you buy car some states are pain in the a$$ when it comes for inspection.
Is it headache? OFC there is always something that can go wrong!
I owned more then 5 cars from salvage auction, which most of them i find something that was pain in the a$$.
Just a few hints for you, ONLY BUY CAR FROM INSURANCE COMPANY!!!!!! No matter how good the car looks at auction and its listed from private seller DONT BUY IT 90% sure its something f$$k up and someone cant even sell that car on CL, dont buy flooded car, buy used parts from junk yards, private seller, ebay and aftermarket websites (dont buy from dealership).
Before you bid, look at the damage: find parts, auciton fees, towing, Dealer fee, repair and 1-2k$ depends on what car total the among and see if its worth it.
I will be doing update on my project soon (forgot to mention i dont work on cars i just do that on side for fun)

[LINDW4LL]

When converting to a track car, resale is going out the window anyway, so a salvaged car can fit the bill well if the price is right and you know the extent of the original damage (and that it was repaired properly, if applicable). The only thing I'd 100% avoid is a flood car. While less of an issue with a track car, corroded electronics/wiring etc could still be a huge pain to deal with.

[bhvrdr]

Here's a thread I've been following on rennlist that shows just this thing. Not an s4 but cool thread imo...

https://rennlist.com/forums/997-foru...ack-build.html

Mike

[LINDW4LL]

Here's a thread I've been following on rennlist that shows just this thing. Not an s4 but cool thread imo...

https://rennlist.com/forums/997-foru...ack-build.html

Mike

Thanks for sharing. Really cool!

[doug97gxe]

Well I wasn't planning on fixing it my self to recertify, I thought the salvage title'd cars for sale already went through that process?

It got me thinking, if I'm gonna gut it, chop it up etc., a track car is gonna be a salvage car anyways. It'll be nice to drive it to the track, hauling it seems like a pain in the ass.

not as bad as you think. If you have a pickup truck you can rent a car hauler from Uhaul for $69 for 24hrs .. and if you don't have a pickup you can rent one from Uhaul for $20 depending how far the track is.. or from enterprise for about $100 depending on your location

I'm suprised nobody mentioned DBFL .. he bought a brand new 2016 S4 and made it a dedicated track car .. i believe he says he spends about $3000 a weekend total expenses

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...T-Build-Thread

[KRp220]

a gutted dual pulley track car would probably RIP

(ask APR!) lol

[kelseysautobody]

I'd love to find a flood or rear hit B7 RS4 from a salvage auction. Gut it, cage it, and supercharge it. Messing around with my exhaust recently has really made me miss the V8 rumble. Also starting to miss having a manual.

[TROTTERS4]

If you plan to gut, roll cage the car then why not? A 3800 lb AWD luxury car isn't the best place to start for a track car but i've seen it done before. If you can get the weight down to 3100-3200 wet, it would be fun to drive even at stock power levels.

[AvusPdx]

Deff not choosing an Audi for a dedicated track car. It'll be something more easy to work on, most likely JDM.
It'll be nice to use the components already on the car, and change them out as they break. (IE: modded s2k with cheap coils etc).

I'll most likely start from a streetable/track car, then transition in to non-street legal race car as I get more seat time and time to get a trailer etc.
IMO, its more fun doing in small steps, then buying a full on race car with a trailer, full Stig leathers, and driving like a noob.

[DTMA42]

As long as you know what you are doing go for it. I only drive reconstrated cars because I can get fix them and reg. for half what is car worth, also you need help from outside which mean friend or family member who does or work in body shop just not to get scammed!
There is high risk of buying salvage cars, you only see 10pic from an auction examples: crack block of engine, totally damage frame, flooded cars.
When it comes to get salvage inspection for my state is simple 100$ and 4 pic of car after repair. watch out from where you buy car some states are pain in the a$$ when it comes for inspection.
Is it headache? OFC there is always something that can go wrong!
I owned more then 5 cars from salvage auction, which most of them i find something that was pain in the a$$.
Just a few hints for you, ONLY BUY CAR FROM INSURANCE COMPANY!!!!!! No matter how good the car looks at auction and its listed from private seller DONT BUY IT 90% sure its something f$$k up and someone cant even sell that car on CL, dont buy flooded car, buy used parts from junk yards, private seller, ebay and aftermarket websites (dont buy from dealership).
Before you bid, look at the damage: find parts, auciton fees, towing, Dealer fee, repair and 1-2k$ depends on what car total the among and see if its worth it.
I will be doing update on my project soon (forgot to mention i dont work on cars i just do that on side for fun)

I agree with you
I just bought a 2013 S4 with 27,000 miles from an insurance auction. Paid $14,000 for it and I daily drive it. It was a Hurricane Harvey car that got wet. From what I can tell the water didnt get to the seats but corroded the wiring harness and they didnt work. Absolutely the only thing electrically wrong with the car. Replaced the carpet and dried the interior and I consider myself lucky that the car only needed a $350 replacement carpet. But then again, I exclusively work on all my previous audis and usually know what is wrong if I ever take them in. If you buy from an auction make sure you never buy it without personally inspecting at the yard. To me it makes perfect sense to buy one to track it, for the discount, buy two for spare parts.

[cspcrx]

I have had two salvaged cars as track cars, not Audi but Hondas. Never had any issue down the road as far as selling the car to others.

Not sure what other headaches you are talking about.

[bhvrdr]

For those of you who have done this did you just go through co-part or iaai? How was the process? You hired a licensed dealer to buy it for you? Any tips on getting a car with more minimal damage or is it a roll of the dice if you cant see the car in person?

It'd be cool to hear some feedback on the process from folks.

[speedycrw]

Agree with CSPCRX, I have had three dedicated track cars/race cars that have been salvage cars and never had any issues. My current racecar/Mustang is a salvage title, but I bought it already built( I did not buy the wrecked car and have it built). I previously had a Spec Miata that was also salvage. If the cars are dedicated track cars, it really does not matter if it is a salvage title as most race cars and are sold on Bills of Sale, most don't even have the original salvage title. It is nice if the original salvage title comes with the Bill of Sale when buying a race car, but not a common thing. FWIW I have never owned a salvage title car as a street car though.

[orson888]

Yes you hire licensed dealer, you only pay for win bid which should be around 100$.

[orson888]

For someone who is going to rebuild car for first, yes its headache, I remember doing it for first time, all the paper work, parts, laws. Also never have any problems down the road with my salvage cars.

[dinkman]

not to mention if you dont plan on dealing with your state dmv to register it then you will need to trailer it everywhere (track, shop, gas). do you really want a car occupying precious garage space for those 3-6 track days a year but cant drive anywhere else? i wouldnt but then again if the deal was good enough.... :)
good luck if you go down this road. let us know how it goes