Flood totaled vehicles due to hurricane Ian

frdfan

The flooding that comes with Hurricane Ian will likely claim a quite a few Bronco's and other vehicles in the days and weeks to come. With the current demand for Bronco's, it's a car flippers dream to make some money off totaled out units.

This is just a good reminder to check titles/Carfax's/DMV records before buying a used Bronco going forward. Avoid the internet purchases, make sure you take a test drive, have your mechanic inspect it, be aware of any "off" smells inside the Bronco, watch for vehicles new upholstery/carpet or units with lots of air fresheners, and always check fluids for signs of water contamination. Car flippers will ship these cars all over the country to avoid the appearance they are flood vehicles...most will wind up on Buy Here/Pay Here sites, some will end up on other internet sites, and the flippers will do everything they can to hide the fact the car is a flood car.

If its a deal that really looks to good to be true, or is wonky in any way at all...don't walk, run...run away from it!

Yep, good note . Buyer beware!

Happened to my Niece!
Bought an Audi from CarMax, and it died a few days later.
Transmission filled with water!
Get an independent inspection-
CarFax is not a reliable source.

Check for rust in areas there shouldn’t be like the springs under the seats or the structure behind the dash. Also look for moisture in the lights. There were car all the way down here in Texas from super storm Sandy in 2012.

FrankenRodz

Happened to my Niece!
Bought an Audi from CarMax, and it died a few days later.
Transmission filled with water!
Get an independent inspection-
CarFax is not a reliable source.

Absolutely do not rely on any reporting services. Fleet businesses, like rental companies, self-insure and damages are not reported anywhere. I inadvertently bought a one year old vehicle from a local dealer that had apparently got the vehicle from either auction or a fleet sale. It was an Enterprise vehicle and had been wrecked. It took some time after the purchase for the title to show the prior owner as Enterprise. I was an insurance adjuster with access to multiple data bases.

Worse still is they typically have negotiated service contracts with body shops at below the going rate in exchange for bulk business. It took some time for the top of the door to start rusting where they missed when painting the two sides. Fortunately, here in South Texas most of our junk finds it’s way to Mexico.

Praying for everyone affected by Ian.

If the bronco is a 21-'23 model and registered in FL prior to October 2022 that's the first sign to inspect in person to make sure it wasn't flooded.

Being burned on used cars is no fun. Its happened to us a few times. Never again

frdfan

The flooding that comes with Hurricane Ian will likely claim a quite a few Bronco's and other vehicles in the days and weeks to come. With the current demand for Bronco's, it's a car flippers dream to make some money off totaled out units.

This is just a good reminder to check titles/Carfax's/DMV records before buying a used Bronco going forward. Avoid the internet purchases, make sure you take a test drive, have your mechanic inspect it, be aware of any "off" smells inside the Bronco, watch for vehicles new upholstery/carpet or units with lots of air fresheners, and always check fluids for signs of water contamination. Car flippers will ship these cars all over the country to avoid the appearance they are flood vehicles...most will wind up on Buy Here/Pay Here sites, some will end up on other internet sites, and the flippers will do everything they can to hide the fact the car is a flood car.

If its a deal that really looks to good to be true, or is wonky in any way at all...don't walk, run...run away from it!

I have a Bronco. If I see a cheap enough branded title I'm getting me a straight off road-road trail climbing beach cruiser if its mechanically sound. Or dropping a 302 in that pony like Ford should have.

frdfan

The flooding that comes with Hurricane Ian will likely claim a quite a few Bronco's and other vehicles in the days and weeks to come. With the current demand for Bronco's, it's a car flippers dream to make some money off totaled out units.

This is just a good reminder to check titles/Carfax's/DMV records before buying a used Bronco going forward. Avoid the internet purchases, make sure you take a test drive, have your mechanic inspect it, be aware of any "off" smells inside the Bronco, watch for vehicles new upholstery/carpet or units with lots of air fresheners, and always check fluids for signs of water contamination. Car flippers will ship these cars all over the country to avoid the appearance they are flood vehicles...most will wind up on Buy Here/Pay Here sites, some will end up on other internet sites, and the flippers will do everything they can to hide the fact the car is a flood car.

If its a deal that really looks to good to be true, or is wonky in any way at all...don't walk, run...run away from it!

CO-part !!!

NT AUTOMOTIVE

Praying for everyone affected by Ian.

If the bronco is a 21-'23 model and registered in FL prior to October 2022 that's the first sign to inspect in person to make sure it wasn't flooded.

Being burned on used cars is no fun. Its happened to us a few times. Never again

I stay away from east coast cars between weather,road conditions and storms. Every flood or hurricane is followed by alot of specialty cars popping up in those areas.

Sound reasoning, Greg. I'm glad you brought this scenario to light. Very well composed post. :)

FrankenRodz

Happened to my Niece!
Bought an Audi from CarMax, and it died a few days later.
Transmission filled with water!
Get an independent inspection-
CarFax is not a reliable source.

CarMax sure loves Broncos too. Both they and Carvana have sure helped car flippers by trying to get as many as they can.

I found out years later my pos sentra came from the south and was damaged in a flood. So yeah do your homework and save yourself money in repairs.

frdfan

The flooding that comes with Hurricane Ian will likely claim a quite a few Bronco's and other vehicles in the days and weeks to come. With the current demand for Bronco's, it's a car flippers dream to make some money off totaled out units.

This is just a good reminder to check titles/Carfax's/DMV records before buying a used Bronco going forward. Avoid the internet purchases, make sure you take a test drive, have your mechanic inspect it, be aware of any "off" smells inside the Bronco, watch for vehicles new upholstery/carpet or units with lots of air fresheners, and always check fluids for signs of water contamination. Car flippers will ship these cars all over the country to avoid the appearance they are flood vehicles...most will wind up on Buy Here/Pay Here sites, some will end up on other internet sites, and the flippers will do everything they can to hide the fact the car is a flood car.

If its a deal that really looks to good to be true, or is wonky in any way at all...don't walk, run...run away from it!

Yes, as hard as it seems to believe, reclaimed flood cars do find their way back into the retail market. A few years ago, my wife and I were shopping for a used Toyota Sienna van for her to drive around our growing family. We found one at a big discount at a Car Max dealership in Rhode Island and went to see it in person. My suspicions lit up like a Christmas tree when I began seeing evidence of dried mud in some of the lower quarter panels, heavy staining of lower interior fabrics and, worse, faltering lights and intermittent operation of the power sliding doors and exterior lighting. I half-jokingly asked the salesman if the van had been flooded and he just shrugged and said nothing.
Back in the day, we used to seek out for purchase used “Southern cars” because they completely avoided the hard Northern life of bad roads, freeze/thaw cycles and road salt rust damage to the undercarriage and lower body panels. Now, nothing is a safe bet. Any used vehicle coming out of the Gulf States that have been hammered by hurricanes (Texas to Florida) has to be looked at with scrutiny to protect yourself in the buying process.

OrangecrushBronco

I stay away from east coast cars between weather,road conditions and storms. Every flood or hurricane is followed by alot of specialty cars popping up in those areas.

Yes I will never again buy a used vehicle from the northeast, northwest or likely anywhere in the upper 48. Sorry not trying offend anyone. Just opinion based on experience buying rare one owner cars from those regions only to discover rust and/or hidden body damage. They were even more fun trying to sell. Being upfront with buyers disclosing vehicle issues thankfully closed those deals. Plus I left those vehicles in WAY better condition than I found em.

The southeast maybe if no flood damage.

The southwest probably if not in snowy climates.

Arizona, Nevada and California cars, especially SoCal or SoCal desert where we are located (if stored properly) are the best places to buy a used car. Very little if any rain. Very little if any snow. Good temps. Low to no humidity. No rust. No mold or mildew. No salt damage.

Unless fall on hard times or get bit by the gotta have it bug...likely never buying another used vehicle again unless we just want a decent beater.

NT AUTOMOTIVE

Yes I will never again buy a used vehicle from the northeast, northwest or likely anywhere in the upper 48. Sorry not trying offend anyone. Just opinion based on experience buying rare one owner cars from those regions only to discover rust and/or hidden body damage. They were even more fun trying to sell. Being upfront with buyers disclosing vehicle issues thankfully closed those deals. Plus I left those vehicles in WAY better condition than I found em.

The southeast maybe if no flood damage.

The southwest probably if not in snowy climates.

Arizona, Nevada and California cars, especially SoCal or SoCal desert where we are located (if stored properly) are the best places to buy a used car. Very little if any rain. Very little if any snow. Good temps. Low to no humidity. No rust. No mold or mildew. No salt damage.

Unless fall on hard times or get bit by the gotta have it bug...likely never buying another used vehicle again unless we just want a decent beater.

California has the best usually, nothing wrong with Northwest though (purely in regards to cars) in fact alot of folks in Oregon and Washington were far ahead of the curve Collecting,preserving and protecting classics,Muscle cars,JDM and eurotrash cars.

OrangecrushBronco

California has the best usually, nothing wrong with Northwest though (purely in regards to cars) in fact alot of folks in Oregon and Washington were far ahead of the curve Collecting,preserving and protecting classics,Muscle cars,JDM and eurotrash cars.

Yes. One of the used cars we bought was originally from NW. Bought it from a used car dealer in Utah. It needed 4K worth of work and had a SILVER rust protect substance sprayed on every inch of the undercarriage and wheel wells...and it was faded and peeling. It was a great '10 FJ MT 4X4...after I fixed it up. Sold it in 2018. Still trying to decide though if the undercarriage spray was good or bad. Look wise bad. Function wise good.