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Flood cars?

SteveSS

SteveSS

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I read 212,000 vehicles were damaged in hurricane Ida. There's got to be some cool stuff that was totaled but the drivetrain is still good. I heard these cars go to places like Copart and others I don't remember. Has anyone ever dealt with these flood cars? I wonder how long it takes for them to show up for auction?
 
My 2014 XLT V-Sport Cadillac is a flood car. Water level barely got into door and got carpet wet. So far no ill effects in 2+ years. Because of title, I got the car 25+% under value. But it does carry additional risk. If water enters engine bay? It's over.
 
My brother drove Flood Cars for 30+ years. Some needed lots of work others didn't.
Many just a good cleaning and fluids changed. Also totals and body shop tear downs.He only bought 2 new cars in his lifetime.
 
Knew of a Travelall that went under the ice while idling. It was there for a while before they put together a rescue crew and plan. I knew the owner. He drained and filled everything, and drove it. The spark must have been killed before the truck sucked water. It filled with water, but it was clean fresh water, not salt. Was still running the last I knew.
 
With the prices of vehicles right now, I'd like to find a nice pickup that had some damage
but not too bad!
 
Had a flood car from the late 80s, had gremlin issues with the ECM, in the kick panel and under dash sensors.
 
ECUs and connectors seem to take the hardest hit. I've had to work on a couple flood vehicles and the issues all led back to electronics corrosion. On older vehicles, just go to the junkyard and get a replacement controller. On newer vehicles, that controller must be programmed with the vehicle's VIN or it won't work. Either way, if it makes financial sense, go for it. If that scares you, look elsewhere.
 
N
Cojohnso1 said:
My 2014 XLT V-Sport Cadillac is a flood car. Water level barely got into door and got carpet wet. So far no ill effects in 2+ years. Because of title, I got the car 25+% under value. But it does carry additional risk. If water enters engine bay? It's over.
Click to expand...
Not necessarily.
 
For posterity:

VIN: XS29J8B361044

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s-l400 (47).jpg

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My best friend buys European cars from Co Part every week. He buys so many that some how he got hooked up with a couple of new car dealers and he buys cars from them that are traded in with major problems.

I am sure that he will be buying as many hurricane flood cars as he can.

He sells parts and running and driving cars. Makes a living doing it.

Here lately Porsche computers have been the hot item.
 
I've seen a handful of flood cars at IAAI Savannah. Some were obviously flooded...mud and vegetation in the a/c vents :eek::eek: or dried mud and dead salamanders in the dash wiring:eek:.

Some cars looked ok, but had several cannisters of fragrances damp-rid in the front and rear floor boards. :rolleyes:

I bid and lost on a flooded '77 Porsche Turbo Carrera several years ago. The winning bid was over $55k because a guy in Florida and a guy in Texas wanted it really bad. Takes two to tango:rolleyes:.
 
Often flood cars @ COPART or IAA. You really need to inspect thoroughly. And that is very hard to do. A flood car can be any car that was standing in water, sometimes just up to the floor boards. Have had a few with minimal issues. Others can be full Olympic swimmers! And anywhere in between. Often times insurance companies will pay for "extra clean up" to get a higher price. Beware of cars that "sweat". They usually smell like the water too. You will be very limited on inspection - you cant pull off door panels or trunk panels. Anyplace you can "peek" where a cleaner cant clean, is a good place to look for a water mark. At Copart recently, now an employee needs to be with you when you look at cars. This really sucks, I could go on and on

Another thing is cars can be distributed all over the county. We had seveal around here from Katrina..... many were floaters..... as in half floating down the street
 
Me and my dad went to look at a hail damaged car, turned out it was a flood car. We asked to see the new arrivals where I was bought back and I saw this guy my age hitting this car with a hammer. I asked the sales kid what he was doing and he says it’s easier to sell a hail damaged car then a flood car. The car smells like a sewer.
My dad was just showing me what to watch out for when buying a used car.
 
81163C9B-7E1F-4024-A86B-C5ABD55A9F64.jpeg
I owned a 73 Challenger that was flooded during Hurricane Katrina, in August 2005. State Farm paid me the stated value. A person I worked with was interested in the car and asked me to find out what the buy back price would be. I called State Farm and they stated they could not sell the car and it was going to be destroyed. A couple months later State Farm came and picked up the car with a tow truck. Fast forward to March 2007, I see the car on eBay. At least the seller disclosed it was flooded. I believe the car was sold a few times before landing on eBay.

So it doesn’t take long for a car to hit the market
Ron
 
Cojohnso1 said:
You pushed the "Karen" red button for that? You need to bring more game than that to the discussion?
Click to expand...
Ahh.. so, a personal insult. Pretty typical for you. Your comment: " It's over" Mine: "Not necessarily". Bring more game than " it's over".
 
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