Hi, Guest
Not sure if this what you mean, but here is another option. Out here in Saskatchewan you can bid on and buy SGI insurance write-offs. All of the SVT equipment (engine, transmission, interior, brakes, etc.) on SVT-WGN came from an SGI write-off.
If this sounds interesting, check it out here (http://www.sgi.sk.ca/salvage_bid/index.html ). Click on "Items on Bid", then on search. On the "List of Vehicles" webpage, click on any of the headings to sort by that criterion (I usually click on "Model") then scroll down until you find the Model (i.e. Focus or Ford Focus.)
Click on any of the fields, and a page should pop up with photos and a PDF of the damage estimate. While purchasing a vehicle sight unseen, coming out here, picking it up and hauling it back to where you live is obviously prohibitive, there is a chance something you are looking for is available. Looking costs nothing. Each sale ends on Wednesday.
What should be of interest are those vehicles marked "Requires Mechanical Inspection" because that is strictly the safety inspection, i.e. brakes, windshield and muffler type and costs about $250 or so plus the required repairs. In some cases you can actually get a temporary permit and drive it home. If a structural inspection is required, that costs more.
So specifically, this week one vehicle that sort of matches moon111's requirements is a grey 2002 Focus wagon which has a Zetec engine, automatic and a reserve bid of $200 (see item M120217).
Usually the cars out here do not have a rust problem. But then again, I am not an expert. I do know from experience, the several vehicles I have purchased, the bulk of the repair cost is in labour and repainting. The grey wagon for example was written off because the total tab was $4200 even though my cost for repair would have been much, much less. (I already have all of the front body parts from my wagon which were replaced by the SVT components. Even the colour is the same.) For me, the two inspections would have been the high cost items.
Why did I not bid on it? I do not like automatics. My wagon toy has six forward gears, 300mm disk brakes all around, and the sweetest little engine Focus made (with a K&N cone filter).
If this sounds interesting, check it out here (http://www.sgi.sk.ca/salvage_bid/index.html ). Click on "Items on Bid", then on search. On the "List of Vehicles" webpage, click on any of the headings to sort by that criterion (I usually click on "Model") then scroll down until you find the Model (i.e. Focus or Ford Focus.)
Click on any of the fields, and a page should pop up with photos and a PDF of the damage estimate. While purchasing a vehicle sight unseen, coming out here, picking it up and hauling it back to where you live is obviously prohibitive, there is a chance something you are looking for is available. Looking costs nothing. Each sale ends on Wednesday.
What should be of interest are those vehicles marked "Requires Mechanical Inspection" because that is strictly the safety inspection, i.e. brakes, windshield and muffler type and costs about $250 or so plus the required repairs. In some cases you can actually get a temporary permit and drive it home. If a structural inspection is required, that costs more.
So specifically, this week one vehicle that sort of matches moon111's requirements is a grey 2002 Focus wagon which has a Zetec engine, automatic and a reserve bid of $200 (see item M120217).
Usually the cars out here do not have a rust problem. But then again, I am not an expert. I do know from experience, the several vehicles I have purchased, the bulk of the repair cost is in labour and repainting. The grey wagon for example was written off because the total tab was $4200 even though my cost for repair would have been much, much less. (I already have all of the front body parts from my wagon which were replaced by the SVT components. Even the colour is the same.) For me, the two inspections would have been the high cost items.
Why did I not bid on it? I do not like automatics. My wagon toy has six forward gears, 300mm disk brakes all around, and the sweetest little engine Focus made (with a K&N cone filter).