New guy and new to Expedition

[XMan]

New to Ford I should say as well! After 45 years of driving this will be my first purchase of a Ford vehicle.
A Expedition Limited EL. Need the cargo space and after looking at Suburbans, Yukons and Expedition the Expedition won out.

Here is a pic.





Yep I buy all my vehicles salvaged titled. Good friends of mine own a body shop and do all the repairs for me. It's a 2016 Limited EL 4X4 with 5300 miles on it. I saved at least $12,000 over what I could buy off the dealer lot for the same vehicle that had 15000 more miles on it.

This must be about the tenth vehicle we have purchased this way over the years. Our kids have all purchased the same way although they have all gone to dealers for new purchases as they are not patient enough to find the right vehicle on auction at the right price and then wait for the repairs.

Looking forward to becoming a member of the Expedition family and following the forum!

 

[B-McD]

Good luck with that one! Salvage title means it was considered totaled, right? You'll need a good buffer for that one!

 

[Bedrck47]

And plenty of elbow grease.

Welcome to the forum

 

[NevadaGeo]

Wouldn't damage like that leave an irreparable bent frame? Or do friends have a frame-straightening rack?

 

[gixer2000]

Good luck man! That looks like its going to be a nightmare to repair and get 100% again

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

Welcome to the forum XMan. I'd love to see pictures of it as it goes through its restoration. Good luck with it. I love my 17 and if they can get it right for you, I know you will love yours.

 

[XMan]

Yes salvaged title means totaled by the insurance company. My friends who own the shop love these kind of repairs. This is just cosmetic damage to them. first thing we did was put it on the lift and the frame never got touched. Everything looks brand new underneath as it should with only 5300 miles on it. I'd like to see the car that hit it though. Notice the trailer hitch in the picture. That must have went all the way through the motor block of the car!

It doesn't take much to total a vehicle these days given the cost of parts. My friend was glad to see no air bags were deployed. Very expensive to replace and often times is what causes insurance companies to total out a vehicle.

Looking forward to getting it back after repairs. I will try to get some pics of the repair process and post them here. Expecting it to be done next month. They work on it in between insurance work.

 

[Habbibie]

It'll buff out.

Welcome

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

Looking forward to getting it back after repairs. I will try to get some pics of the repair process and post them here. Expecting it to be done next month. They work on it in between insurance work.

I've done minor bodywork over the years but nothing that extensive. I'm looking forward to seeing the pictures. Thanks!

 

[NevadaGeo]

Yes salvaged title means totaled by the insurance company. My friends who own the shop love these kind of repairs. This is just cosmetic damage to them. first thing we did was put it on the lift and the frame never got touched. Everything looks brand new underneath as it should with only 5300 miles on it. I'd like to see the car that hit it though. Notice the trailer hitch in the picture. That must have went all the way through the motor block of the car!

It doesn't take much to total a vehicle these days given the cost of parts. My friend was glad to see no air bags were deployed. Very expensive to replace and often times is what causes insurance companies to total out a vehicle.

Looking forward to getting it back after repairs. I will try to get some pics of the repair process and post them here. Expecting it to be done next month. They work on it in between insurance work.

Great XMan, Looks like an excellent business deal for any type of vehicle. Yes, as all the other guys say, please keep us "posted" as to your progress. We have all done the bondo fix but I have never done anything like what you are doing. Looks like a great deal.

 

[jeff kushner]

April Fools?



jeff

 

[NevadaGeo]

April Fools?



jeff

If you have the tools, the shop, the experience and the people to do this repair, I think he is serious. Just don't count on any decent resale value. The Carfax will be a killer for this vehicle.

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

If you have the tools, the shop, the experience and the people to do this repair, I think he is serious. Just don't count on any decent resale value. The Carfax will be a killer for this vehicle.

If you are like me, one of those people who drive them until the wheels fall off, resale value will not be too important.

 

[USMCBuckWild]

I have had a couple salvage vehicles, as long as you know the work involved, know the people doing the work and ensure everything is done properly it should be fine. That doesn't look all that bad to be honest, especially if they can find a donor vic.

I had a 2002 Subaru Forester that was "totaled". Bought it with 74k miles for $2k. Drove it for 6 years and finally the stock clutch gave up at 246k. Replaced the clutch and found the headgaskets leaking. Attempted to replace headgaskets and found a headbolt stripped in the block. Tossed a spare engine in it, changed the trans and rear diff to 3.90 gearing I had and sold it for $1500 and an STi block and parts.

 

[07xln]

I don't care how good the body shop is, it'll never be right or like it was before the accident. But good for you for saving it.

 

[XMan]

You guys do realize they do not fix the existing panels right? Everything is replaced with new sheet metal and painted. Most of the work here is just cosmetic. I have seen vehicles with far worse damage come in and leave their shop looking and driving showroom fresh. Every vehicle that has a salvage title and is being put back on the road needs to be state inspected.

But I understand that salvage titled vehicles are stigmatized and looked at skeptically. We currently own a 2009 Forester that was totaled with a front end hit. Bought it in 2010 with 14k miles on it. My guys did the repairs and been driving it since. Now has 75k on it. Have done the brakes on it and that's been it. We have a 04 Corolla same thing. Salvage vehicle got it with 5k on it.

My son is still driving it today as his daily work driver with 142K on it. Salvage vehicles aren't for everybody to be sure but I have saved thousands of $$ over the years and it sure has worked for us.

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

You guys do realize they do not fix the existing panels right? Everything is replaced with new sheet metal and painted. Most of the work here is just cosmetic. I have seen vehicles with far worse damage come in and leave their shop looking and driving showroom fresh.

How far forward does the damage go. I looks like it got the rear passenger side door or at least the door opening. Is the roof straight or will they cut the roof? Do they just put the rear quarters on? I'm hoping you can get some good pictures because this is very interesting to me.

 

[XMan]

I will certainly try to get some pics of the progress. I don't think they have gotten started yet. As far as the panels that need to be replaced are obviously the liftgate, rear bumper cover and the right rear panel. The rear door on the passenger side is good. Here is a pic of the other side of the vehicle. Nothing here needs to be worked on from the rear quarter going forward. This is a rather easy fix honestly.



More pics.

 

[jeff kushner]

I restore vintage bikes back to 100% stock condition so I've had a little experience with what you are going to do and more power to you.....I'm a firm believer in "to each his/her own" so best of luck knocking out the project and having it comes out exactly as you have it planned!

"I saved at least $12,000 over what I could buy off the dealer lot for the same vehicle that had 15000 more miles on it. "

Without trying to sound rude....after my shopping last Fall when I bought my '17, I saw year-old trucks with low mileage going for 40-48K(depending on options).....was that about right? So 32K-36K was your price?

jeff

 

[XMan]

The closest I could find at any dealer close enough to me that I would consider driving to had I wanted to purchase a vehicle from a dealer was a 2016 Limited EL identical to this one with the exception of the second row buckets and it had just a shade under 20,000 miles on it. They wanted $49,900 a supposedly no haggle price. I was looking at 4 wheel drive models only. Perhaps some you seen were rwd?

To get into a close to identical Expy for the price I am paying you are looking at something with anywhere from 35 to 45K miles on it.
I'm sure prices will vary in different parts of the country as well.