Totaled vehicles...sometimes surprising.

JRscooby wrote:

mleekamp wrote:
In Jan 2019, I bought a used 2005 Jeep Wrangler for a dinghy for our new C. I picked it up in SLC, Utah, and began the drive home -- 900 miles. Just east of Des Moines, IA, hit black ice (dozens of cars off the road) and rolled the Jeep 3 times. Cut myself out of the seat belt. Roof came off, body damaged and it rested on it's side. Stayed there 2 days until weather cleared up to get it out. Totaled.

Got a call 6 months later, from the guy who bought it...AT A USED CAR LOT! How did he know me? My papers were still in the glove box. I was 250 miles from home, so no, I didn't go back and collect my things.

He told me about all the problems he's having and asked why I traded it in. I told him the story...and said how the hell did you buy it? He knew it had a salvage title, but dealer told him it was minor (it was NOT). Anyway, I told him good luck...insurance paid out and totaled it. Was out of my hands.

I don't know the answer -- but got to be some better way of not letting true totaled vehicles back on the road. Minor damage that costs more to fix than it's worth is another thing.

Without knowing what problems he is having can't say for sure the issue is wreck related. Could be you bought a lot of problems, and sold them to insurance co before you knew you had them.

Very true. But...this statement says it all " He knew it had a salvage title"

One cannot help those that don't help themselves. This person clearly was not a good candidate for purchasing this type of vehicle. They went in wholly unprepared for the type of research and independent verification (if they are not qualified) of the quality of repairs.