I've spent the last several years snooping on the forum admiring many cars here . I drove a 996 Turbo Cabrio several years ago for a day and it ruined all other cars for me.

That being said, I unexpected won an auction for a wrecked 02 Carrera S cabrio this week. Every body panel on the car except the hood and the passenger door is fouled up. The instinct for the purchase was for it to be a parts car as my cousin is currently building a 996 track car. But after getting it inside and having a quick look at the car, the bulk of it seems to be cosmetic damage.

In an effort to see make up the mind as to what to do with the car we are trying to start the engine. The key lights up the dash and the horn works, but that's about it. The engine doesn't crank, and there are no associated sounds. The thought is that there is an immobilizer and something to do with the alarm? But any insight as to where to look would be greatly appreciated.




If things look relatively good with the car, may looking into putting it back on the road, and using it as a driver.

 

Any rear end damage is a major cause of concern with frame damage. All the weight is right there and it doesn't take much to **** it up. Hope you got a great deal on it.

 

The deal wasn't bad. Crazy enough, took the rear bumper cover off, and the bumper metal is still straight and showing no damage. This hit looks as if it was above the bumper. The same for the front of the car. The fenders were removed and there is no inner damage neither to the frame rails, the bumper cross metal, nor tub.

 

Well, I have to give you lots of credit for spirit looking at the damage as mostly "cosmetic". What's the title status? Salvage or....?

 

Yes, it's a salvage title. But I was told one of the criteria for salvage is 2 adjoining damaged panels warrants a salvage title
But haven't had a chance to fully check the car over to see what's going to be done with it

 

Doesn't sound like that's a concern of yours but just curious......can a car with a salvage title be changed to a clean title if properly restored or will a salvage car be a salvage car for life no matter what's done to it? Not that it may make much of a difference in terms of resale value since the history will be there no matter what.

 

I'm not sure the whole process. I have heard that a car can be taken for an inspection for a structural safety in order to do something about the branding. (at least here in Ontario - Canada) I don't know about the whole process or what's involved. If the car gets rebuilt I'll be sure document it here on the forum.