Vehicle Overview
- Vehicle: 2006 Infiniti M45
- Purchase Date: December 12, 2022
- Auction House: Copart in China Grove, NC
- Total Investment: $1,260.45 ($525 bid + $735.45 fees)
- Lot Number: 66319232
Highlights
- Impressive low-end torque for effortless acceleration
- Best-in-class sound system
- Comfortable luxury interior
- Good value for a month of enjoyment
Challenges
- Catalytic converter needed replacement
- Engine was a replacement with unknown mileage (vehicle had 322k miles)
- Multiple dents requiring professional tools to address
- Catalytic converter replacement would require engine removal
Learning Points
- Suction-based dent removal tools have very limited effectiveness
- Hydraulic body repair tools from Harbor Freight can achieve "good enough" results
- Major component replacements requiring engine removal may not be worth it on high-mileage vehicles
- Setting clear repair boundaries (bolt-on only, no paint, no major disassembly) helps decision making
Looking for more?
Sign up for the newsletter to get updates on new vehicles and other content. We won't spam you.