Katrina damaged cars- database
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Damascus-Boring, Ore
Katrina damaged cars- database
Recently issued from the Oregon Dept. of Transportation:
More than half a million cars may have been ruined by flooding from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita along the Gulf Coast, according to estimates by the National Automobile Dealers Association. Hurricane Wilma may add to those numbers.
That may be thousands of miles away, but even Oregonians in the market for a used car need to beware, Oregon DMV warns.
“Moving totaled cars from state to state and concealing their histories is a national problem, even without hurricanes,” said Chris Ratliff, manager of the DMV Business Regulation Unit. “Unscrupulous individuals may try to prey on consumers looking for a bargain. Any time a deal sounds too good to be true, it usually is. That’s particularly true of cars.”
Consumers often wonder why a little water is such a big problem for vehicles. But submersion in water does severe damage, particularly when water enters the passenger compartment:
Water and electronics don’t mix. Modern vehicles are full of electronics, controlling the engine, transmission, emission control devices, dash board, warning lights, external lights and entertainment systems. These chips may be located inside the dash or even under the seats. Failure of a single chip’s function could result in severe damage to the engine, for example.
No more new-car smell. Cleaning carpets and seats may improve the appearance of a flooded car’s interior, but mold and residues may remain.
Salt is corrosive to metal. The breach of Lake Ponchartrain sent saltwater into New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. The effects of salt corrosion may take time to show up as failures in electronic systems and engine components.
The number of vehicles damaged by the recent hurricanes is so large that the National Insurance Crime Bureau has created a database of vehicles affected by Katrina and Rita. The NICB is allowing the public to check Vehicle Identification Numbers at www.nicb.org.
More than half a million cars may have been ruined by flooding from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita along the Gulf Coast, according to estimates by the National Automobile Dealers Association. Hurricane Wilma may add to those numbers.
That may be thousands of miles away, but even Oregonians in the market for a used car need to beware, Oregon DMV warns.
“Moving totaled cars from state to state and concealing their histories is a national problem, even without hurricanes,” said Chris Ratliff, manager of the DMV Business Regulation Unit. “Unscrupulous individuals may try to prey on consumers looking for a bargain. Any time a deal sounds too good to be true, it usually is. That’s particularly true of cars.”
Consumers often wonder why a little water is such a big problem for vehicles. But submersion in water does severe damage, particularly when water enters the passenger compartment:
Water and electronics don’t mix. Modern vehicles are full of electronics, controlling the engine, transmission, emission control devices, dash board, warning lights, external lights and entertainment systems. These chips may be located inside the dash or even under the seats. Failure of a single chip’s function could result in severe damage to the engine, for example.
No more new-car smell. Cleaning carpets and seats may improve the appearance of a flooded car’s interior, but mold and residues may remain.
Salt is corrosive to metal. The breach of Lake Ponchartrain sent saltwater into New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. The effects of salt corrosion may take time to show up as failures in electronic systems and engine components.
The number of vehicles damaged by the recent hurricanes is so large that the National Insurance Crime Bureau has created a database of vehicles affected by Katrina and Rita. The NICB is allowing the public to check Vehicle Identification Numbers at www.nicb.org.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 964
Likes: 1
From: Roseburg, OR
That's good to see. One of my dad's friends was looking for a Chevy 3/4 ton with a Duramax a few weeks ago, had a specific color/option package in mind, and finally found one on a lot for a few grand cheaper than anything he had been seeing, AND it had everything he wanted.
And then he had to ask... where's it from? I don't remember if the dealer was straight with him, or if he looked up the VIN himself, or what, but somehow he found out it was on a lot in Louisiana during Katrina and he passed on it.
So they are in the state and it really is something to be aware of. It would be really interesting to see the real volume of salvaged "Katrina cars" in each state in the US.
And then he had to ask... where's it from? I don't remember if the dealer was straight with him, or if he looked up the VIN himself, or what, but somehow he found out it was on a lot in Louisiana during Katrina and he passed on it.
So they are in the state and it really is something to be aware of. It would be really interesting to see the real volume of salvaged "Katrina cars" in each state in the US.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,377
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From: Elkhart IN
had a shop teacher talkin about that on friday, said he looked at a car, and it was considerably cheap, and when they looked at the car, only 7 miles, but when they looked at the back seat, under the folds of the seat he found glass peices, and found it had been in a lot during the storms. passed up on that one.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Alvin, Texas.
chrono4, you made the point I made sometime back.
If people take the time to either inspect a vehicle themselves or bring a mechanic who knows how to pick these types of things out, your money is not as likely to be wasted on junk.
That being said, with my tendencies these days to be on the lookout for "survival of the fittest" and "darwin award" examples, I want to see an impulse buyer get burned for not being careful.
In your example, that bunch of glass probably wasn't the only clue that could have been found, either.
If people take the time to either inspect a vehicle themselves or bring a mechanic who knows how to pick these types of things out, your money is not as likely to be wasted on junk.
That being said, with my tendencies these days to be on the lookout for "survival of the fittest" and "darwin award" examples, I want to see an impulse buyer get burned for not being careful.
In your example, that bunch of glass probably wasn't the only clue that could have been found, either.
Guest
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,988
Likes: 55
From: north west new jersey
best thing right now is damand a car fax or some thing like it for any car. some states don't add flood to the titles or delete that when they make a title on a out of state car.
here i live in nj take a car with lemon or flood on it to pa and it's gone clean title.
down south is not the only area that got flood cars and trucks. we got them here also. one dealer i know of had 20 brand new 05 , 06 cars flooded in his lower lot. all totaled. bet they turn up in pa auctions with a clean title.
watch out it may seem like a good deal, but it's not. thats something i know about 1st hand,
here i live in nj take a car with lemon or flood on it to pa and it's gone clean title.
down south is not the only area that got flood cars and trucks. we got them here also. one dealer i know of had 20 brand new 05 , 06 cars flooded in his lower lot. all totaled. bet they turn up in pa auctions with a clean title.
watch out it may seem like a good deal, but it's not. thats something i know about 1st hand,
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,821
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From: South Dakota
I wonder how one could go about getting one that you KNEW was in the hurricane area.
I was thinking that one could get one for pennies on the dollar, and then swap all or most of the electronics and seats and such from a wrecked machine into it, and perform a part by part cleaning on the rest of it.
I guess I was thinking it would be a super cheap way to get a new car.
I was thinking that one could get one for pennies on the dollar, and then swap all or most of the electronics and seats and such from a wrecked machine into it, and perform a part by part cleaning on the rest of it.
I guess I was thinking it would be a super cheap way to get a new car.
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Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Isanti, MN
By super-cheap, you must mean rediculously expensive! If they were worth fixing, do you think the insurance companies would total them so quickley? You'd spend 2-3 times the cost of the vehicle just replacing and repairing everything. In short, the only thing worth saving would be the chassis...definitely not worth it!
I tried searching ebay for katrina damaged cars, as I was curious to see how that database thingie worked...but I couldn't find anything.
I tried searching ebay for katrina damaged cars, as I was curious to see how that database thingie worked...but I couldn't find anything.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Oregon
Originally Posted by superrangerman2002
I wonder how one could go about getting one that you KNEW was in the hurricane area.
I was thinking that one could get one for pennies on the dollar, and then swap all or most of the electronics and seats and such from a wrecked machine into it, and perform a part by part cleaning on the rest of it.
I guess I was thinking it would be a super cheap way to get a new car.
I was thinking that one could get one for pennies on the dollar, and then swap all or most of the electronics and seats and such from a wrecked machine into it, and perform a part by part cleaning on the rest of it.
I guess I was thinking it would be a super cheap way to get a new car.
Hey Ernie, if you see a new mustang GT convertible at the dealer auction that can be had for a couple hundred - I'll pay $300 for it. Put me on your list...
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Damascus-Boring, Ore
We have got a lot of Russians (Ukranians, actually) up here in the rebuilding business. It's pretty profitable, I'm guessing, since a few live in this neighborhood , but it's a real "buyer beware" type thing. I darned near bought Mrs. Bear a rebuilt Volvo 960 a few years ago. Title had been "washed", and it was very difficult to see the repaired damage.
, but it's a real "buyer beware" type thing. I darned near bought Mrs. Bear a rebuilt Volvo 960 a few years ago. Title had been "washed", and it was very difficult to see the repaired damage.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 964
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From: Roseburg, OR
That's one thing I thought would be pretty cool, get Katrina Mustang GT or Thunderbird, then put a carbed 302 in it.
Imagine the chaos at the dealership when you brought that in for 30k mile service.......
Imagine the chaos at the dealership when you brought that in for 30k mile service.......
Guest
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,988
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From: north west new jersey
beleive me you don't want to get envolved with a flood totaled car or truck. the first thing out thendoor is the wireing harness when they get wet forget it from there on corrosion takes over and never stops. from there on it gets costly,
these cars or trucks are only good for salvage and the insurance companys know that. yes it's shame to scape brand new cars but they are better off as parts not returned to the street where some thing can fail and cause a death.
these cars or trucks are only good for salvage and the insurance companys know that. yes it's shame to scape brand new cars but they are better off as parts not returned to the street where some thing can fail and cause a death.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 24,418
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From: San Francisco, Ca.
Has anyone mentioned that the drive train would be saturated with silt.
You would have to totally go through the engine, trans, everything mechanical, or replace it.
That cheap car all of a suddenly becomes a not so cheap piece of junk.
Maybe a portable auto shreader or a portable auto compactor would be more appropriate for these totaled out vehicles.
You would have to totally go through the engine, trans, everything mechanical, or replace it.
That cheap car all of a suddenly becomes a not so cheap piece of junk.
Maybe a portable auto shreader or a portable auto compactor would be more appropriate for these totaled out vehicles.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,139
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From: fremont ohio
one more way for people to take advantage of a natural disastr to screw over other people. This is about as bad as when they had all the looters down there right after the flood. Using a disaster for your own gain. It's sad. I do feel sorry for the tons of people who lost their vehicles, and I'm sure they can sell em for parts or something. But dont try to act like nothing happened and just sell their cars as a good deal. At least have the guts to tell the buyer that it is a flood vehicle.
Junior User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 60
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From: Suffolk, Virginia
I was working down in Louisiana, for about 6 weeks after the storms. There was an exit off I-12 to the little town of Frost, there was a big lot there that Progressive Insurance had set up to store the storm damaged vehicles. There was well over 1500 cars there 2 weeks ago. Some were brand new, still with the plastic coverings on the hoods. There were all kinds of cars, trucks, motorcycles... you name it! I was told they were bringing in over 100 vehicles a day and it would take years to get them all out of New Orleans. There were about 5 huge fork lifts moving them around that gravel lot. The vehicles were dirty and dust covered but a little soap and water you would never know they were in a flood, unless you knew what to look for. Could not find out what the plan was for the vehicles... junk.. crush...sell .. but I think I would be very careful if I was in the market for another vehicle.
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