Repairable Write-Offs

[Peterpilot Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Peterpilot]

Hi All,

I am currently searching for another Prado to purchase and it is proving to be more difficult than anticipated.
Of about half a dozen vehicles I have recently enquired about, three have turned out to be recorded as repairable write-offs.

:arrow: One had been water damaged (the seller said it had been recorded as a repairable write-off due to having been stolen and recovered). This was recorded by REVS as a repairable write-off, as well as the RTA via the vehicle history check facility.

:arrow: The second was a roll-over as reported to me by the dealer, apparently this was written-off in Queensland. Disturbingly a REVS check did not have this vehicle recorded as a repairable write-off, and the RTA had this vehicle registered as a PRIUS instead of a PRADO. :shock:

:arrow: The third was undisclosed to me by the seller, again disturbingly all was OK with a REVS check. Only when I ran the rego through the RTA Vehicle History Check, did I discover that it was first registered in NSW in 2010 and recorded as a repairable write-off due to "null damage" :?:

As always, "buyer beware" applies and a REVS check alone is clearly insufficient.
In NSW an RTA Vehicle History Check is $18 well spent: http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/myrta/vehiclehistory.html

Cheers,
Peter

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

Re: Repairable Write-Offs

That is scary!!! lucky i buy new every 4-5 years when the lease is up.

[Shaker Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Shaker]

Re: Repairable Write-Offs

I was told that particularly in NSW they 'write off' vehicles with relatively minor damage, because it is easier than dealing with nit picking original owners.

[mudboy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mudboy]

Repairable Write-Offs

No they have just changed things, they will only generally classify as repairable if hail damaged

They have stopped with accident damage due to all the doggy repairs etc

[Offroader Member Find all posts View Profile Close Offroader]

Re: Repairable Write-Offs

Yup a REVS check is primarily used for checking financial encumbrance of a vehicle. Unfortunately Prado's are common in the illegal rebirthing industry. Those involved always have mates on the inside who assist them in avoiding the usual modes of detection. The safest way is to purchase through a Toyota Dealership, or make sure you carefully vet the seller by having a thorough vehicle history check done as suggested. When I was looking for my Prado I saw a number of dodgy cars. Some of the giveaways I noticed were:
1. GX's deliberately advertised as GXL's.
2. Anomalies or odd upgrades on base models.
3. Different coloured grilles, rear view mirrors, trim etc to what is on standard Prados.
4. Below market value priced vehicles. If it's too good to be true it probably is.
5. Grandes and VX's with mismatched wear between exterior and interior.
6. Vehicle's being sold from dodgy industrial areas or out the back of shade-tree mechanic's premises.
7. Deliberately bad photographs/out of focus pictures which don't accurately render the vehicle's condition.

Fortunately as PP'ers we as a community will be far more switched on than others.

[Peterpilot Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Peterpilot]

Re: Repairable Write-Offs

Yep, I suspect that at least 2 of the 3 I looked at had been rebirthed.
As far as I'm concerned, Repairable Write-off = Stolen & Rebirthed vehicle :wink:
The only exception may be hail damage, but even then, I'd give it a miss.