Looking at your figures raises a lot of questions. If it only required 3-4 k in repairs, why wouldn't the insurance company have invested a similar amount? Do you think that it was a flood damage car? From what I understand, flooded cars are totaled out immediately. There is no attempt or consideration of possible repair. Anyhow, no harm in checking it out. Good luck, I'll be watching this space.

 

If it was a dealer to dealer sale, the tax was probably avoided. At around 8% that would have been $1176 more profit for the selling dealer. But I would still proceed with extreme caution as tempting as it may seem.

 

Jiffy Lube sticker on door jamb.
Any further questions?

 

Haha! Agree. I have NEVER been to one, but shocked that they would even work on a car that required pan removal etc., or a siphon pump to get the oil out? But what do I know...

DC

 

Wait a minute. Jiffy Lube is my Go To place - but only for state inspections. They know they can't do any work on these cars, so I'm in/out in 15 minutes or less.

 

Was the dealer who rebuilt it a JLR dealer? This may be the deal of the decade for you but something does not add up. Not enough visible damage to justify totaling it especially since the air bags did not deploy. If the real damage is not visible it could be electrical (water damage, does not have to be a newsworthy 'flood' to have water damage), structural (frame is all aluminum which is a replace not repair situation I believe), suspension, etc.

 

My excitement has changed to "morbid curiosity". I am still going to look at it, but I am very very skeptical at this point. I doubt it was repaired at a JLR dealer, this is some little boutique wholesaler. I'm still waiting for the dealer to let me know it's back from getting the brakes done (I suspect they cleared the code and didn't expect it to get thrown again so quickly....).

 

OK, final followup on this. I went to drive it the other day. The exterior was cosmetically good...they did a nice job on the sheet metal. The interior was ok...one of the vent covers fell off when I touched it, the down volume on the steering wheel didn't work. Some interior pieces were sticky (perhaps a cleaning solution?). The biggest issue was simply the engine. From an untrained ear, it sounded...rough. It didn't idle 100% evenly, it had a little metallic sound (possibly lifters, but still didn't sound great). I just wasn't comfortable AT ALL with it so we walked away. I think the steering wheel control was the "tell" that made me feel like something else happened in that crash that is not resolved. Whatever...on to find a better one.

I will say that even though this example was somewhat rough, the car is a beautiful and amazing car. I will be back once I find the right deal! Thank you for the assistance!

 

thank you for the update and good that you went to put eyes and ears on it. You made the right decision to walk away... it's not like this car is something that most any car-person can figure out and do the work on. Special (and expensive) tools... special (and perhaps expensive parts) and then you still don't know what is lurking under the surface (think iceberg.. what you can see above the waterline and how much is below). The right car is out there for you.. it may just not be ready yet. When it is, you will know, and think how much grief you saved yourself. If you felt better after walking away, then you know you made the right choice, for you. Best wishes on your hunt and keep us posted on what you find!

 

I think you dodged a bullet. A very expensive one. Trusting your gut feelings and instincts were a wise decision grasshoppa