Buying a wrecked car!

I'd like to get this car, as you can see it's wrecked pretty bad at the rear. A buddy of mine would fix it, but he has not given me an exact estimate on how much it would be!
It's sitting at a "Rent A Wreck" lot and the guy there wants $ 1950,- for it and threw in the comment "the price is firm"!! But I wann haggle the MF down to $ 1000,-! Can you guys give me some good points to make, to convince the MF that the thing isn't worth more!
Maybe some bullshit stuff that you'd come up with!?

Also, what are the things I'll have to look out for, when I'll sign the papers for it?
Any particular advice you guys might have?
Have you ever bought a wrecked car and then fixed it up yourself? If so, what are the things you suggest to look out for?

thanks a million brothers,
I truly appreciate your help
AJay

Well run a carfax report to at least make sure it wasnt a rental. A wreck is one thing, a rental is worse. Especially if I drove it.

Its a unibody car too so it could be more fucked up than you realize, I would check all the gaps between body panels for consistency. Check the function of all the doors making sure they line up with the strikers and all close the same, even listen to each of the power door locks individually. Basically you just want to know if that is the only wreck its been in, on that particular car you need to look at the seam on the bottom of the rocker panels for scratches in the areas directly behind the front fenders and directly in front of the rear whealwells. This is called a pinchbox(dont know why) its the place where they attach the machinery that pinches the unibody structure and holds the car when they bend your car back to where its supposed to be. I believe the area is called a pinch weld but if you crawl under the rocker you will see the seam.

I know it was hit from behind but check the gaps between the hood and fender when the hood is all the way up. Also check the fenders for vin number tags. if they dont have them or have RDOT(replacement dept of trans.) stickers or if they are stamped with a logo or company name such as API they have been replaced in previous wrecks. Api is a taiwanese manufacturer of juck car parts. Auto Parts Idustrial. All body panels have factory vin tags each door, hood, fenders, trunklid etc. look for them.

I wouldnt pay more than 1500 for it.

BTW how many miles are on it? Can you put the key in and view the odometer. If the check engine light is on you might look to see that the vehicle speed sensor is in fact plugged in. That car has an old cable operated throttle body and you can disconnect the VSS and drive the car and rack up no miles if its a manual. No speed either but who cares it could have a million miles on it and you would never know. Nissans all have electronic throttle bodies now so those days are over....but for all you guys with manual trannies and throttle bodies pulled by cables...hint hint. The check engine light will reset on that car after 30 drive cycles if it gets plugged in again so the dealer would never know. the code would still be in there but not active and they wouldnt say shit. EVERLASTING WARRANTY!!! well till 3 or 36

All you do is ask him if you can drive it around the building once, not far so he doesnt nother going with you, then you keep stalling it out bro, flood it if ya have to, he will come down in price immediatly if the car breaks down on ur first test drive