$3,500 and $2,800 isn’t a huge difference, well within a range, or margin of error for willingness, length of time listed, time of year, etc.
Numbers are made up, though one difference may be i only do Subarus? All the totaled/rebuilds I’ve done are Subaru’s the same or one generation older or newer than this one. And most have been in the last 8 years with similar market dynamics.
I think 20 years ago rebuilds had a worse prognosis. And currently the higher the price the more it shifts out of the favor of rebuilds. Older $2k subarus are all a wash. $5k and under not much difference. $10k+ is think you start seeing obvious changes.
His is exactly what you said: simple, easy, no unibody (Subaru’s don’t have frames) damage.
Percentages don’t much matter, the MD market volume is high and I’d think likely to support a $3,500 price tag if he isn’t in a rush which seems to be the case. Particularly with winter and tax season coming. There’s 10’s of thousands of people who have already bought a car in their mind in the coming months - fish in a barrel.
people buying my cars tend to spend more as I do the brakes and timing gear before a sell. I often sell to the first person that looks and almost zero negotiating. I do things differently, so my perception may be a little off.