Ep. 40 - Floods Revisited: The Aftermath (Part 2 from Episode 26)

Episode 40: "Floods, Revisited - The Aftermath"

My flood story doesn't end when the water drains away. 

After my 2018 Kia Rio was totaled in floodwater, the real challenge began: navigating today's upside-down car market where insurance payouts don't match replacement costs. 

Discover why buying new sometimes makes more sense than used, how "market adjustments" became the norm, and what happens when a $47,000 MSRP becomes $55,000 out the door. Plus insights from friends who faced the same brutal math after rear-end collisions. 

Learn strategies for turning total loss disasters into upgrade opportunities and why focusing on long-term value beats dwelling on upfront costs in 2025's challenging automotive landscape.

#FloodDamage #TotalLoss #CarShopping #InsurancePayouts #UsedCarMarket #CarMarket2025 #HybridMinivan #ToyotaSienna #CarReplacement #AutoInsurance

Chapters

• 0:00 Intro Bumper - Ep. 40
• 0:14 Episode Introduction - Revisit Flood/Buying a New Car
• 0:39 When a Vehicle Is Totalled, What's Next?
• 1:18 Recap of My Flood Story (Episode 26)
• 2:20 I Get The Insurance Payoff - Good News?
• 3:21 Buying a New Hybrid Minivan - The Numbers
• 4:27 Today's Used and New Car Market - 2025
• 5:18 The "Silver Lining" Strategy
• 6:02 Are You Shopping For a New Car?
• 6:22 Conclusion/Call to Action - Your Stories!

Transcript

Episode 40: Floods, Revisited - The Aftermath - 7-Minute Script

🎧 Cold Open

"Back in Episode 26, I told you about sitting in my car as floodwater swallowed it up. That was June 10. But the story didn't end there — because after the water drained away, I had to figure out: what's next?"

🎵 [Intro Music]

🧲 Hook

When a car gets totaled, the shock doesn't stop with the accident. The real gut punch comes later — when the insurance check shows up and you realize it doesn't cover the cost of a replacement.

I've had two friends this month get rear-ended and totaled. We've all faced the same brutal math problem: the payout looks okay on paper, but in today's car market, it barely gets you started. So today, I want to close the loop on my flood story and talk about what it's really like to move on from a total loss — financially, emotionally, and practically.

Because here's what nobody tells you: losing your car in 2025 isn't just about replacing transportation. It's about navigating a market that's completely upside down.

🌊 Segment 1: The Lesson That Started It All (What Really Happened June 10)

Let me quickly recap Episode 26 for anyone who missed it: I was driving my 2018 Kia Rio through what looked like a manageable puddle on a road I'd driven hundreds of times before. The water looked shallow. I thought I could push through.

I was wrong. Dead wrong.

Within seconds, my little subcompact's engine stalled, water started rising around the car, and I found myself standing on the roof calling 911. What seemed like a minor inconvenience turned into a legitimate emergency.

Now, I was always proud of that Rio - getting 39 miles per gallon on a gas engine was pretty impressive. But looking back, I think the flood might have been my wife's way of manifesting that hybrid minivan she'd been wanting. Sometimes the universe works in mysterious ways.

The hard lesson? Water wins every single time. No destination is worth risking your safety in flood conditions.

💸 Segment 2: When Reality Hits Your Bank Account

About two weeks after the flood, the insurance adjuster called. Total loss, as expected. Then came the check, based on Kelley Blue Book value for my little 2018 Kia Rio.

The number looked decent. Not great, but decent. Until we started shopping around.

Here's what we discovered: we weren't just replacing my subcompact anymore. With a growing family, we needed to upgrade to a minivan. And used minivans with 50,000 to 70,000 miles were priced almost as high as brand-new ones. Our insurance payout from the Rio wouldn't even cover a 5- or 6-year-old Toyota Sienna in decent condition.

This isn't unique to minivans. The used car market is completely inflated right now. "Saving money" with pre-owned often doesn't add up when you run the actual numbers.

My two friends who got rear-ended this month faced the same reality. One friend's insurance payout was $18,000, but comparable replacements were listed for $24,000 to $26,000. We're all dealing with insurance payouts based on book values that haven't caught up with today's market prices.

🚗 Segment 3: Why Buying New Actually Made Sense (The Math That Surprised Me)

After comparing dozens of options, we made a decision that would have seemed crazy five years ago: we bought new.

Here's the breakdown that convinced us: A 2022 or 2023 used hybrid Sienna with 30,000 miles was running about $43,000 to $45,000. A brand-new 2025 hybrid Sienna had an MSRP of $47,000.

For an extra $2,000 to $4,000, we could get:

• Zero miles instead of 30,000
• A full manufacturer warranty instead of whatever was left
• The exact features and colors we wanted
• Better fuel efficiency with the updated hybrid system
• All the latest safety features

With financing incentives from Toyota, the monthly payment difference was minimal, but we'd be starting with a completely fresh vehicle.

Now, here's the part that stung: by the time we actually signed the papers, that $47,000 MSRP became $55,000 out the door. About an 8% to 10% markup over sticker price, which dealerships are calling "market adjustment" - but is really just the new normal in 2025.

It was a hard pill to swallow, but when we looked at the alternatives, it was still the smartest long-term move for our family.

🧠 Segment 4: Making Sense of an Upside-Down Market

If you're listening to this thinking, "Those numbers are insane," you're not wrong. But you're also not alone.

Whether it's a flood, a rear-end collision, or just bad mechanical luck - losing a car today isn't just an inconvenience. It's a financial curveball that can knock you off balance for months.

Here's what I've learned from going through this process and watching my friends navigate their own total losses:

You're not crazy if the numbers don't make sense. The math is legitimately broken right now. Don't get stuck comparing today's prices to what cars cost three years ago - that's a recipe for frustration.

Focus on what you're gaining, not what you've lost. Yes, we paid more than we wanted to. But we gained hybrid efficiency, modern safety features, and reliability. Consider the total cost of ownership, not just the purchase price.

✅ Segment 5: The Silver Lining Strategy

Instead of mourning what we lost, we focused on what we could gain.

My flooded Kia Rio was a great little car - that 43 mpg was fantastic for a gas engine. But with a growing family, we needed more space anyway. The flood forced us into an upgrade we probably should have made eventually.

The new hybrid Sienna gets even better mileage despite being much larger, has advanced safety features, and gives us the room we need. Sometimes life's disruptions push us toward better decisions than we would have made on our own.

If you find yourself in this situation, look for the opportunities. Maybe it's a chance to get better fuel economy, upgrade safety features, or finally get reliable transportation instead of constant repairs.

🎯 Wrap-Up: Moving Forward

So that's how my flood story ends - not with frustration, but with a new chapter. I learned my lesson about flooded roads the hard way, took the insurance payout, and we moved into a hybrid that will serve our family well for years to come.

If you're in that spot right now - trying to figure out what's next after a total loss - know that you're not alone. A lot of us are making these same tough choices. The numbers may not make sense compared to what cars used to cost, but if you can find the silver lining, sometimes the "after" ends up being better than the "before."

The key is accepting that today's car market is different, focusing on long-term value rather than just upfront cost, and recognizing that sometimes life's disruptions push us toward better decisions than we would have made on our own.

And remember the original lesson from June 10: turn around, don't drown. No destination is worth risking your safety in flood conditions.

🎵 [Outro Music]

👉 Call to Action

Have you gone through car shopping after a total loss? What was your experience with insurance payouts versus actual replacement costs? Share your story with me - your experience might help other listeners who are facing the same challenges.

Until next time, drive safe, and I'll talk to you soon.