Buyer beware !

There must have been close to a hundred thousand cars immersed in the months of floods that have followed the Brisbane disaster - and which is still happening here in inland New South Wales.   The vast majority of late year models will be fully insured, and unlike housing -  there is little room for the insurance industry to duck and dodge honouring policies.

Once a claim is paid, the damaged car becomes the property of the insurance company, and it seems certain that all these vehicles will find their way to public auctions.

Back in the 1950's a flood damaged car was repairable.   The damage was more cosmetic than mechanical, because the cars of those times were pretty basic.   Lift the bonnet, and there was almost room for a person to fit in beside the engine, and with the replacement of a few electrical components and a good hose down to shift the mud - it could be brought back to life.

Lift the bonnet of today's car and the space is packed solid with the marvels of the twenty-first century. It will be tempting for some aspiring mechanics to buy these water damaged vehicles at a very low price - and have a go at restoring them to life.   The danger is that some of the critical safety features built into today's cars may go unrepaired, while others may be prone to sudden failure.   Modern technology has upped the ante as far as sophistication is concerned - and it was not designed to withstand immersion.

It seems inevitable that the criminal fraternity will see an opportunity to do a quick fix on water damaged cars and then make a quick profit by unloading them onto  an unsuspecting public.    We already have cars on the road that consist of components of several crashed vehicles welded together to make a vehicle that would not pass even a reasonable safety inspection.

In the months ahead buyers would be well advised to treat any late model vehicle offered for private sale with suspicion.  Perhaps the first natural defence against the shonky restoring people would be to apply what is called " the sniff test ".

Ask any home owner who has had a flood through their home what is the lasting impression of that flood - and they will tell you it is the smell.   Eventually, those that live in that house grow accustomed to the lingering background smell that persists for long after the water has subsided, but it remains apparent to visitors.

When considering the option of buying a second hand car it would be a good idea to sit in the vehicle and apply the " sniff test " - and be very suspicious if your nose detects a hint of " air freshener " or any chemical capable of masking the musky but distinct odour that persists from flood water.

And that old maxim about so-called " bargains " also holds true.    "  If it seems too good to be true - then it probably is ! "