Be careful with coparts - Runs and Drives :)

[doofoo]

Picked up a 05 WRX this week that was certified "Runs and Drives".. Check it out!

http://www.ods.org/~doofoo/818/05-WRX/071013/IMG_0687.jpg

Pretty nice donor overall over than the issues below, all the other components are good to go. No suspension damage, etc.

We had planned to completely rebuild the engine anyways, so this just makes sure we follow through on those idea's. :)

Redneck frame machine.. Tractor and tree + chains..
http://www.ods.org/~doofoo/818/05-WRX/071013/IMG_0706.jpg
http://www.ods.org/~doofoo/818/05-WRX/071013/IMG_0712.jpg

This is where things got messy after we started to tear it apart to see what type of damage there was to the timing gears..

What gears?
http://www.ods.org/~doofoo/818/05-WRX/071013/IMG_0724.jpg
http://www.ods.org/~doofoo/818/05-WRX/071013/IMG_0725.jpg
http://www.ods.org/~doofoo/818/05-WRX/071013/IMG_0727.jpg

No way this thing "Runs and drives" - even a little bit with the condition it was in. I'll be starting a teardown/build thread shortly, but I just wanted to give people a heads up - don't believe the runs and drives tag (we were hoping to get one at least that would start, had no engine damage, etc). Oh well.

The fun is just beginning.

[mobius]

YIKES that is crap..... Hope you got it for good deal

[shinn497]

from what I've heard, you should always check it out in person first.

[doofoo]

from what I've heard, you should always check it out in person first.

Yeah - of course when possible. Sometimes it's just not cost effective. Not a big deal on this. Probably valves, maybe head work.. Not very costly and we get a freshened up motor out of it. :)

[Mechie3]

Is there any sort of legal recourse or is there a blanket "blah blah description means nothing blah blah buyer beware"? Not that it matters much for you, but something with no timing belt and no gears clearly doesn't run, certainly doesn't drive. If I bought something like that and didn't plan (or know how) to rebuild a motor, I'd be rather upset.

[doofoo]

Is there any sort of legal recourse or is there a blanket "blah blah description means nothing blah blah buyer beware"? Not that it matters much for you, but something with no timing belt and no gears clearly doesn't run, certainly doesn't drive. If I bought something like that and didn't plan (or know how) to rebuild a motor, I'd be rather upset.

It's not too much of a big deal to us since we planned to rebuild it anyways, but yeah of course they cover themselves saying As Is, Where Is.

Runs and drives is supposed to mean it ran, and they were able to put it into gear and move forward at the time it showed up to the lot. Obviously BS on this car. :)

We'll rip it apart shortly and send the heads out to be checked and some work done on them. Depending on what the shortblock looks like, we may rip that apart and replace internals there as well. One good thing about these, is there is no shortage of shortblocks available if you ever need them.

[07FIREBLADE]

If it says runs and drives it normally is true. I normally look through all of the photos to gauge the damage. For the photos you posted I would of called bs on the run and drive verification. Ive bought cars and bikes through copart several times. Most of the time they will show the engine bay with the hood proped open. If they dont and there is front end damge then most likely it wont be moving on its own power.

On another note. Keep us posted on tje disassembly n refresh. Any plans for the motor rebuild?

[Samiam1017]

I've said this on here in multiple threads. I've boughten two subarus, an f150, and a dodge truck with all run and drive tags. Two I didn't look at in person,but all had problems that prevented it from running and driving with out extensive work. If they start and move when it pulled into the lots that's good enough for them. Most of the time when you go to the lot the battery's are bead so you can't even start them anyway. And you can't take a jump pack in to start. And you can't pull it forward and backwards if it does start. It's a huge gamble buying from any salvage auction. Use one of the three donor vendors on here if you don't want that risk! Let Wayne , metalmaker or 818 donors take that Risk if you aren't prepared to have rebuild bill! Or bid (and hope) as thou you are gonna rebuild or do a Jdm swap anyway.

[bstuke]

Absolutely ANY Scoobie Doo with front end damage like that would be suspect in my book, and I would not trust anything that copart says. Mine had no front damage, and still the side plastic timing covers were cracked and broken. Having said that, the only things protecting the engine in a front collision are the plastic covers...

[bstuke]

Is there any sort of legal recourse or is there a blanket "blah blah description means nothing blah blah buyer beware"? Not that it matters much for you, but something with no timing belt and no gears clearly doesn't run, certainly doesn't drive. If I bought something like that and didn't plan (or know how) to rebuild a motor, I'd be rather upset.As is, where is...

[WIS89]

Doofoo-

I think you have a very positive outlook about this, while providing a good warning to others. Since you planned a rebuild regardless, it's really not that big of a deal, but pity the poor guy who bought a car like that with the expectation that they had a mostly solid engine with which to begin their build!!

Great cautionary tale!! Best of luck as you get started! Any build plans you want to share? Exciting times for the 818 guys!!

Regards,

Steve

[SixStar]

I've been in the automotive recycling industry since '99, owned my own yard since 2009 and this crap happens all the time.

Here's a good one for ya, I show up at IAAI in Denver a month ago and there are two yard workers (maybe 19 years old) in a Saturn Vue just holding it to the wood and shifting from D to R over and over. Finally the engine blows up and I go over and talk to them, ask WTF they're doing. I quote, "It only has to move 6" in either forward or reverse and we can put a 'Runs and Drives' sticker on it and put it in the other lanes."

O_0

[doofoo]

Follow up.. Haven't pulled the motor out and apart yet, should get to it this week. However, I found a good deal on a running EJ205 w/ a possible cracked ring land. (At least good heads, etc).

Picked it up last night in the Jeep - fit right in the back snugly..

Better to have spare parts I thought. :) Plus it gives me time to re-build the second engine slowly.

http://ods.org/~doofoo/818/05-WRX/071313/IMG_0739.jpg
http://ods.org/~doofoo/818/05-WRX/071313/IMG_0743.jpg

The car is now on the operating table..... Excited to get started. Wish I could up my order to 2 kits and pick them up at the same time.. :(

http://ods.org/~doofoo/818/05-WRX/071313/IMG_0744.jpg

[flynntuna]

The things I learned on this forum regarding auction sites like copart are: buyer beware first and foremost. If you can personally check out the car, rollovers can have suspension damage and could have spun bearings if the engine wasn't turned off while upside down, frontal impacts likely to have damaged radiator, possibly timing gears ect. , the pictures on the website shouldn't be your only guide. Finally when you bid, keep in mind fees, taxes, delivery charges and the likely costs to repair or replace parts that are needed for the build. Anything else I missed guys?

[bbjones121]

Don't forget that the starter can still make the car move in a gear. The engine can be completely blown to bits, but you could still move it on a good battery. The starter and flywheel is pretty protected behind the engine.

[doofoo]

Don't forget that the starter can still make the car move in a gear. The engine can be completely blown to bits, but you could still move it on a good battery. The starter and flywheel is pretty protected behind the engine.

Runs and Drives implies that it *starts* - *runs*, then shifts into gear and moves forward, then backwards.

[bbjones121]

Runs and Drives implies that it *starts* - *runs*, then shifts into gear and moves forward, then backwards.


I agree, but it doesn't state what "runs" The electric starter motor probably "runs" just fine.

[doofoo]

I agree, but it doesn't state what "runs" The electric starter motor probably "runs" just fine.

They do.. At the time the vehicle arrived at Copart’s facility, Copart verified that the vehicle (i) started, (ii) could be put into gear, and (iii) was capable of moving forward under its own power.

The starter turning to move the car is not what is implied by started. They are clear on that. They just always say "It was running" - No matter what the damage is. You must have damaged the car after it left the facility. That's their catch all response. Not a big deal, but everyone should try to inspect if they can before buying, however it's not always realistic to do so.

[bbjones121]

Runs and Drives implies that it *starts* - *runs*, then shifts into gear and moves forward, then backwards.

I think this implication is grounds for legal battle against the As Is clause. It sounds fight-able on the grounds of fraud.

It is all about what a reasonable person would think the term "Runs and Drives" means. And to a reasonable person, I would guess they would assume your definition stated.

[doofoo]

I think this implication is grounds for legal battle against the As Is clause. It sounds fight-able on the grounds of fraud.

It is all about what a reasonable person would think the term "Runs and Drives" means. And to a reasonable person, I would guess they would assume your definition stated.

I'm currently going back and forth with a regional director of copart, depending on what the outcome of that is - I will make a decision on where we go from there. :) I'll let everyone know how it turns out.

[SixStar]

You can't drive a WRX on the starter unless the clutch switches have been modified.