Why do undamaged P80s get junked?

[foggydogg]

For some folks, being faced with the prospect of spending over $2k to have a shop replace a state-legal cat on a 15 year old car that might be worth $1500 on a good day isn't realistic or affordable. Big recylcers are normally vertically integrated and have the ability to store big inventory, harvest parts as needed, collect and sell cores to reman companies, and sell or shred the carcass when scrap commodity prices get to a certain point. While some local pick-n-pull yards offer walk-in people off the street some low number for a complete car, the business model for the big players is a different sport altogether.

[wizechatmgr]

It really depends on the replacement value of the item. We have some similar to this at work https://www.ebay.com/itm/372989886420?c ... iTEALw_wcB

We run several lines. If these go down, it's cheaper to fix them than to go through the entire procurement process and wait 1-2 years before it arrives. We actually have a tech on-call that arrives under an hour in most cases, part in hand.

Same thing with the P80 - I think people either are unable to work on their vehicle due to apartment contract, etc, or just frankly have no desire to learn or spend the $$$ to fix it. As others have said, they see the labor cost and don't think about the cost per mile of owning the car vs purchasing another. They forget they're essentially paying upfront via the car note. That said, if you have an endless supply of $500 beaters in your area, I totally get just swapping to another. What people forget is sometimes it's better to know what you have than to roll the dice as to what you'll get.

I had a '97 Kia Sephia that was bought back from me after a near fatality of the driver. The rear brakes used to lock up at random, they'd go out there with a 6 foot pry bar and free them. I had a fire under my driver's seat that proceeded to send me into an intersection while my foot was firmly on the brake. I was told I was crazy, until they tried to get it on the lift and it almost took out the mechanic's toolbox. Later on it needed a new airbag on the driver's side. Was replaced at dealer. Less than a week later my cousin almost dies in the collision when the brakes didn't engage and the airbag didn't go off when it should have. Suffice it to say this is the point where they decided they'd purchase it back, with interest, because this wasn't going to look good for them. I will never own another Kia... There used to be a group of us that always met at the dealer, almost like an impromptu coffee club, waiting on repetitive service.

I remember the time they said the AC shouldn't blow cold because it was used too much. I'm like, dude, then why did I pay for it? I'm perfectly capable of doing the 4-55 AC program.

Now let's compare this to my '99 V70. She's only left me fully stranded once - fuel pump went. There were warning signs looking back on it. Replaced the pump and have put on at least 50k miles since. Everything else is routine maintenance where either I do it, or I find a great friend to help out. I spent weeks with the Kia in the shop, I think I've spent maybe 1-3 days down on the '99 V70 - mostly waiting on FCP to mail the pump assembly. I know she's going to likely need a wheel hub and a left CV shaft in the near future. But I know this, another beater may be far better off, or far worse, and you never know until it is yours.

[rguzz]

Early P80's ended up in salvage yards because they overheated or needed rack and pinions, maybe assorted other more repairable items. I think the later ones because of the multiple accumulated minor items, CEL's, EVAP stuff, all things already mentioned. The nicer early models that aren't much seen anymore I'll bet overheated quickly and catastrophically.

[abscate]

When I parted out my first Nautic Blue 1999 it was hard to understand why it was junked. Brand new ETB, all leather beautiful, straight doors and fenders.

I certainly would have put a new engine or transmission and ran it

[duke1]

here in the uk they dont sit long in yards far too keen to chop them and crush them,horrid site i have seen cars wasted perfectly good just need a clutch or welding even small welding jobs are so expensive they scrap them.
theres only a couple of breakers who even bother with anything over 10 yrs old. if i had room id be buying more 850s as spares donors,sad seeing such waste.

[FireFox31]

I will never own another Kia... I know she's going to likely need a wheel hub and a left CV shaft in the near future.

Crazy story about the Kia. I just installed two used hubs I pulled from a junkyard (as an afterthought) for mainly the cost of the single use bolts and dust shields, and scored a used Volvo front left axle for $40. I don't want to know what that would cost on my 2016 Mercedes. Old cars have some cost advantage.

When I parted out my first Nautic Blue 1999 it was hard to understand why it was junked. Brand new ETB, all leather beautiful, straight doors and fenders.

I certainly would have put a new engine or transmission and ran it

When my Nautic Blue 2000 engine died, I had a used one from Erie Vo-Vo installed for about $10k. The car drove me another ~10 years and 125k miles before it got rear ended. Worth it.

[abscate]

“ When my Nautic Blue 2000 engine died, I had a used one from Erie Vo-Vo installed for about $10k. The car drove me another ~10 years and 125k miles before it got rear ended. Worth it.”

And today you would MVS it for a $500 engine, a $1000 refresh, and 25 hours of bonding with MVS brethren

[FireFox31]

... on a 15 year old car that might be worth $1500 on a good day

I really wonder about resale value of cars. Should they be valued based on the expected number of years they'll last, annual maintenance costs, overall reliability? The P80 has a proven record of being sturdy and low maintenance, so should a refreshed one ready for another 10 years of service be valued accordingly? ... asking for Geronimo.

[foggydogg]

... on a 15 year old car that might be worth $1500 on a good day

I really wonder about resale value of cars. Should they be valued based on the expected number of years they'll last, annual maintenance costs, overall reliability? The P80 has a proven record of being sturdy and low maintenance, so should a refreshed one ready for another 10 years of service be valued accordingly? ... asking for Geronimo.

A talking point about stolen cats was sort of my focus. Paying a shop to do that repair is cost prohibitive for some people, and that's why some cars end up being recycled instead of repaired.

[scot850]

I was surprised when I finally found a place to take the 3 (yes 3!) old cats from my Toyota V8 Ltd. There is a cat on each exhaust manifold and one on the Y pipe. I got $165 CDN for them, which while not huge explains why they get stolen. The local government has trued to tighten up the purchasing by companies and thus the selling to them with ID info, vehicle ID and registration number. It may help slow it down, but not convinced it gets policed!

Neil.