AAA declared my ZJ a "Total Loss"

DrumBoy · 07-20-2007, 01:30 AM

It's a sad day for me as I surrender my ZJ to AAA.

Last week I was involved in a Hit and Run by a @#!@ who cut me off as he/she pulled out of a side street, and in order to avoid a collision I swerved, right into a fence.

To make things worse, the other driver took off and all I was able to get was a make, model and color but no plate. I was ok although my ZJ sustained some body damage on the left front and side but surprisingly enough did not sustain any mechanical or structural damage.

Well after taking it to a AAA collision center with the intention of having them repair the body work and myself paying the $250.00 deductible and off I went, AAA calls me and tells me that it turns out that the body work exceeds the current value of the entire car by $1,000 dollars.

Repair cost: $5,000
AAA Coverage: $4,000
Difference: $1,000

So instead of AAA ponying up the $1,000 they have declared my ZJ a total loss and there's nothing I can do to change it. So they're cutting me a check for $6,300 and I hand over my <sniff-sniff> Jeep to them. It really stinks since the Jeep runs great and all it had was body damage. Regardless whether I kept the Jeep or surrendered it would get the dreaded "salvage title". So after years of modding and a new lift I had just installed last year the Jeep is going bye-bye due to some jerk driver that I or the Police will probably never find.

Time to start over and go 98 Jeep shopping again. Maybe I'll find a nice 5.9 this time. It's just hard to let go.

-DrumBoy

P.S. If anyone in Cali knows of a 5.9 for sale let me know.

Casper4x4 · 07-20-2007, 01:36 AM

Dang man thats a bummer I am sorry to hear that! Check out craigslist.com . I donno if you leave near LA but there are A LOT of jeeps in that county.

rxl · 07-20-2007, 05:53 AM

Sorry for your loss but around here $6300 will get a nice 9er or real close to a WJ.

hinchcliffe · 07-20-2007, 06:42 AM

Buy it back from them and trail rig it. Then use the rest and get a cheap commuter car.

**FPKites** · 07-20-2007, 08:13 AM

Buy it back and buggy it! Nierace says all it needs for buggy is altezzas and a brush guard, but I think you need to black out the headlights too

6300 should get you a good foundation. Did you talk with AAA about recovering the lift components?

98ZJ SFD · 07-20-2007, 09:03 AM

I would definitely buy it back with some of that money, and get a beater car. Then you could have the best of both worlds...a Jeep and fuel economy.

sand zj · 07-20-2007, 09:20 AM

DIDO...Buy it back, you will only have to pay what the salvage yard will pay. You should be able to part it out and make more...or Keep it and wheel it.

DrumBoy · 07-20-2007, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FPKites

Did you talk with AAA about recovering the lift components?

Yeah I asked. AAA will only let me retrieve any remaining personal affects and what is not "physically connected" to the Jeep (i.e. suspension, cd player, etc.) as they have been included in the final monetary assessment of the Jeep.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sand zj

You should be able to part it out and make more...or Keep it and wheel it.

Although parting it out is a great idea I just don't have the time or space to keep it around.

As far as keeping it as a beater, I would rather just give them the Jeep as I figure this would be a good time to start looking for a 5.9. Yeah it's not the most gas efficient ride around but neither was my I-6.

I've actually found one near me that's in very good condition with 83k. Although their starting price is $8,300 (private seller) which I think is a bit high, even though it just had the major maintenance done and new set of tires I'm hoping I can talk him down a bit. KBB shows that price as being lower than the "Good" market value which is $9,250 for my area in Cali. I had been wanting a 5.9 so I'm kind of stuck on them.

-DrumBoy

rxl · 07-21-2007, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sand zj

DIDO...Buy it back, you will only have to pay what the salvage yard will pay. You should be able to part it out and make more...or Keep it and wheel it.

Salvage yards here pay 30%

Marine_Mike · 07-21-2007, 08:37 AM

they have to let you buy it back if you choose...trail rig it man!

BLACKzj52 · 07-21-2007, 08:45 AM

take ur lift and crap off first then hand it over
and save it for ur next one

MuDD OlllllllO · 07-21-2007, 09:02 AM

Do you still have the jeep in your possession? If so, you should be able to pull all the aftermarket stuff back off and replace it with your stock stuff (if you still have the stock stuff).

They will never know the difference, or care. As long as everything that wasn't affected by the crash is still in serviceable condition.

I would pull anything of any value off that baby, keep what you need for your next jeep, and sell the rest.