robschwieb
Ready to race!
- Location
- United States
- Car(s)
- 2019 Golf R
About my car
I purchased my dream car in November of 2021. A 2019 R DSG (16k miles) Indium Gray Metallic with literally every mod that I would have done myself already installed (IE stage 2, perfect supporting mods, and Konig Ampliforms). Seriously perfect, minus one minor detail...rebuilt title. Not a big deal as it's my 4th? rebuilt title car. Clearly, I don't have a problem with rebuilt titles.
The kicker
I paid 28k for it. High compared to prices before "money printer go brrrrrrr era" but that same exact car at 20k miles and a clean title is ~43k today. Thanks Jerome Powell.
The bad
Last weekend while on vacation in a very rural and windy road area, I went off the side into a ditch but was able to recover, no big deal. Minus my completely missing oil pan. Oil gone instantly. No good place to pull over and not risk getting hit in a blind corner so I did the unthinkable and drove NO MORE than 2.5 minutes to park it at my rental cabin which was up like the steepest stone driveway possible. Wouldn't have made it without AWD. Car didn't seize but I didn't try starting it after that obviously.
Had it towed to my local VW dealer for inspection and repair quote and informed them this would be covered under insurance. They then recommended slapping a new oil pan on, level sensor, few other plastic bits, alignment, and sending me on my way. NO VISUAL inspection of any possibly damaged surfaces. Cylinder walls, crank, bearings, valvetrain, etc...they said they don't tear engines down like that due to the crazy amount of labor that goes into it not to mention they don't rebuild engines. So I'm just supposed to take their word it SHOULD BE GOOD and be happy driving a potential wallet grenade? No thanks.
The good
The car has full coverage and this will be covered under collision insurance. My agent, the adjuster, and appraiser are all in agreement that they want me to have 100% confidence in my car when I get it back and if that means new engine (reman VW) so be it. They heard my complaints about the response from the VW dealer and pressed them to quote a new engine to which they agreed. I don't understand the pushback from the dealer. It's insurance work for crying out loud? I'd hate to see how they handle warranty work...
Haven't received the quote yet but should tomorrow.
The pickle
A new engine with labor and other misc repairs will likely total my precious R for a second time based on how the salvage threshold is calculated in Indiana. Might not...but I have a feeling it will. Insurance will calculate the cash value of my car based on what it costs to get me into the exact same car and mileage. The rebuilt title is not factored into this. So lets say 43k + sales tax = ~46k
I'm left with hard options. If this hadn't happened to my car I would have kept it till the wheels fell off. It's my dream car and I wouldn't change a thing about it @ the 28k price I paid.
On one hand, it feels like I (potentially) hit the jackpot getting an absurd value for my rebuilt title vehicle but at the same time, with the current used vehicle prices, it feels like I'm a chump and forced to buy at the top?
If you can't tell, I'm REALLY torn here. Any input would be much appreciated.
I purchased my dream car in November of 2021. A 2019 R DSG (16k miles) Indium Gray Metallic with literally every mod that I would have done myself already installed (IE stage 2, perfect supporting mods, and Konig Ampliforms). Seriously perfect, minus one minor detail...rebuilt title. Not a big deal as it's my 4th? rebuilt title car. Clearly, I don't have a problem with rebuilt titles.
The kicker
I paid 28k for it. High compared to prices before "money printer go brrrrrrr era" but that same exact car at 20k miles and a clean title is ~43k today. Thanks Jerome Powell.
The bad
Last weekend while on vacation in a very rural and windy road area, I went off the side into a ditch but was able to recover, no big deal. Minus my completely missing oil pan. Oil gone instantly. No good place to pull over and not risk getting hit in a blind corner so I did the unthinkable and drove NO MORE than 2.5 minutes to park it at my rental cabin which was up like the steepest stone driveway possible. Wouldn't have made it without AWD. Car didn't seize but I didn't try starting it after that obviously.
Had it towed to my local VW dealer for inspection and repair quote and informed them this would be covered under insurance. They then recommended slapping a new oil pan on, level sensor, few other plastic bits, alignment, and sending me on my way. NO VISUAL inspection of any possibly damaged surfaces. Cylinder walls, crank, bearings, valvetrain, etc...they said they don't tear engines down like that due to the crazy amount of labor that goes into it not to mention they don't rebuild engines. So I'm just supposed to take their word it SHOULD BE GOOD and be happy driving a potential wallet grenade? No thanks.
The good
The car has full coverage and this will be covered under collision insurance. My agent, the adjuster, and appraiser are all in agreement that they want me to have 100% confidence in my car when I get it back and if that means new engine (reman VW) so be it. They heard my complaints about the response from the VW dealer and pressed them to quote a new engine to which they agreed. I don't understand the pushback from the dealer. It's insurance work for crying out loud? I'd hate to see how they handle warranty work...
Haven't received the quote yet but should tomorrow.
The pickle
A new engine with labor and other misc repairs will likely total my precious R for a second time based on how the salvage threshold is calculated in Indiana. Might not...but I have a feeling it will. Insurance will calculate the cash value of my car based on what it costs to get me into the exact same car and mileage. The rebuilt title is not factored into this. So lets say 43k + sales tax = ~46k
I'm left with hard options. If this hadn't happened to my car I would have kept it till the wheels fell off. It's my dream car and I wouldn't change a thing about it @ the 28k price I paid.
Option #1:
Buy the car back, take the fat check, do the basic repairs myself, and run it for a few thousand miles if it will do it without burning oil. If everything seems ok, oil test and then proceed from there. If not, use part of fat check to have an indy shop slap in a new engine. (maybe APR crate?)
Option #2:
Use the fat check to purchase my exact car if I can find it for an absurd price. This feels so wrong knowing how inflated the used R market is. Especially considering the deal I initially got despite it being a rebuilt title.
Option #3:
Use the fat check and a bit of cash to move into a 2018 or 19 RS3. Love the performance aspect but not thrilled about it being a sedan. Much prefer the looks and function of a hatch but at least this feels like an upgrade and I'm not forking out cash for an equivalent vehicle.
Option #4:
Something I haven't considered?
On one hand, it feels like I (potentially) hit the jackpot getting an absurd value for my rebuilt title vehicle but at the same time, with the current used vehicle prices, it feels like I'm a chump and forced to buy at the top?
If you can't tell, I'm REALLY torn here. Any input would be much appreciated.
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