There is a mechanic in a city nearby who restores and sells (and maintains) first-generation Honda Insights. Most of the cars his shop produces have a salvage title. He offers exclusive repair and maintenance service to purchasers. I've done a lot of reading and talking to people about this car—a trusted coworker owns one of his restorations—and I'm pretty much convinced that I want what seems to be one of the most over-engineered, fuel-efficient, cool little cars ever made. So what am I missing?
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posted by carsonb
on Apr 28, 2013 -
17 answers
My car's busted beyond all repair. Can't drive it off the mechanic's lot. But the mechanic found me a buyer who has offered me a fantastic price for it - should I tip the mechanic for finding the buyer?
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posted by halfguard
on Apr 6, 2012 -
20 answers
The Costa Concordia; what happens next? How will the ship be removed?
Rescue efforts were suspended indefinitely on Monday after the stricken cruise liner slipped on its rocky resting place and settled farther into the water, according to the firefighters heading the operation... Mr. Foschi also said the vessel was carrying 2,300 tons of fuel but there were no signs of leakage so far.
posted by R. Mutt
on Jan 16, 2012 -
12 answers
Auto salvage around Cambridge, MA: I have a dead car, I would like to get rid of it and perhaps get a bit of cash. Do you have a specific recommendation? It's about the spammiest, unmanageably seedy topic that I've ever searched for and I would like personal recommendations. Everyone claims that they pay the most, I just want fast and easy to deal with-- any money is a bonus to having it over with. Hopefully today. Feel free to memail if you feel weird about public recommendations. Thanks!
posted by Mayor Curley
on Aug 18, 2011 -
8 answers
My camera fell into a lake. Yikes! Took it home, let it dry in a bowl of brown rice and now it turns on (Yeah!) but the screen shows the view as a monotone blob of something. Help!
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posted by alex_skazat
on Jul 28, 2011 -
10 answers
Which San Francisco area Credit Union offers the lows rate personal loan? Patelco, Golden One, SF Police, or _________?
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posted by unclezeb
on Jun 28, 2011 -
7 answers
How to preserve photos from scrapbook that was kept in very suboptimal conditions?
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posted by eleanna
on Jun 16, 2011 -
7 answers
Is it possible to salvage a hard drive that has been through hell and back? I have a 40gig HD from a few years ago that was inside a computer tower that was ditched in the backyard for a few months, and there was stuff on it when it was pitched.
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posted by koolgiy
on Dec 11, 2010 -
17 answers
Should I repair my damaged car for significantly more than its original cost, or buy a new cheap used vehicle?
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posted by ajarbaday
on Nov 30, 2010 -
13 answers
Contaminated apartment/building due to fire - can my friend expect to get anything out eventually?
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posted by Disco Moo
on Nov 1, 2010 -
9 answers
My laptop's Vista install is borked and now it won't start up. How can I salvage my data?
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posted by ludwig_van
on Mar 15, 2010 -
5 answers
I live in an apartment near the ocean, facing an interior courtyard. Are there any circumstances where if a Tornado picks up a boat from the ocean and drops it into the courtyard, I am allowed to salvage from it? What if it lands on my balcony, or breaks into smaller pieces? This is especially topical since I live in Los Angeles.
posted by Lord_Pall
on Jan 20, 2010 -
8 answers
We are in the process of selling off a piece of land for development. There are several nice, tall Black Walnut trees on the property (40 feet) and we would like to know if there is any place or person who might buy them in or around the Chicagoland area. Anybody have experience with similar tree sales?
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posted by bobbyno
on May 5, 2009 -
5 answers
Am I about to be fleeced? I'm looking to sell my car through
damagedcars.com and i want to make sure they're a real and reputable company before i go faxing my title and ID to them.
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posted by nadawi
on Nov 9, 2008 -
10 answers
Mr. Fog and I broke up last night. I am completely obliterated and need advice. ASTOUNDINGLY Long detailed back story inside.
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posted by fogonlittlecatfeet
on Jul 22, 2008 -
27 answers
What are some free/public source of VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) based info? Carfax charges $20 to rehash (what I think is) public information. I'd like to gather sources so I can do it / offer it for free. Does anyone know of flood / salvage / etc sites I could grab the data from?
posted by razdrez
on May 13, 2008 -
4 answers
Someone hit my car. Their insurance company wants to total it. How long can I drive it before they take it away?
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posted by tss
on Jan 15, 2008 -
21 answers
Due to a break in at work, some exceptionally stupid criminals, and an unusually responsive police department, I'm now in possession of a knackered high spec iMac G5 that has been dropped and no longer boots. I there anything I can do with the rest of it?
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posted by armoured-ant
on Jan 23, 2007 -
12 answers
Salvage title or new-to-me car? I rear-ended the car in front of me at about 15 mph (I was passing on the left and he stopped suddenly), hitting my front right side on his left rear bumper. My headlight and blinker were pushed straight back and the hood slightly accordioned.
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posted by ilyanassa
on Jan 11, 2007 -
10 answers
Is there a blog for doing home improvements and renovations with salvaged and unusual materials? Sort of a cross between This Old House and
Inhabitat, with a scavenger bent?
posted by LarryC
on Aug 19, 2006 -
5 answers
I'm looking at used pickup trucks in California. Some of the listings on craigslist are described as having salvage titles. What precisely does this mean? Would a service like Carfax tell me why the vehicle has a salvage title? If this isn't something to be avoided at all costs, what should I ask a mechanic to look for in checking out the truck?
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posted by mhespenheide
on Apr 1, 2006 -
10 answers
Does anyone know of a good undelete tool for Mac OS X (10.4.x) that can recover AVI files from an external (FAT32) drive?
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posted by Chunder
on Mar 13, 2006 -
3 answers
In California, what are the steps that I should take to sell my totaled car to a dismantler? I want rid myself of all liability for the vehicle and get as much money as possible for the parts.
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posted by |n$eCur3
on Mar 12, 2006 -
3 answers
How can I convert a dead iBook into a portable monitor? Any other parts I should salvage?
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posted by sourwookie
on Mar 1, 2006 -
8 answers
Anybody know of architectural salvage yards or stores in the Boston area where I can get hold of things from older building being torn down or replaced. Sinks..etc.. Thanks
posted by flyby22
on May 20, 2005 -
3 answers
Has anyone had any good experiences with an online auto salvage yard? My odometer and gas meter have stopped working and dodge doesn't service the part anymore.
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posted by jmgorman
on Aug 2, 2004 -
4 answers