5.7 Hemi Durango Grenaded Today

[Hay Dude]

If it only books at 3K, and you pay someone $500-$1000 labor to put in a $1000 junkyard engine(if you can get one for that), you have $2K invested in a $3K vehicle you could have gotten $500 for doing nothing. Then you have no idea of the condition of the junkyard engine. Also, the vehicle still has 15 year old electronics in it, and a 15 year old transmission. Even if the body is immaculate, and the interior is immaculate, it doesn't make economic sense at this point. However, if it's sentimental, all bets are off.

We've gone through this twice in the last few years. The engine in our 2013 Impala broke something internally related to the cam sequencer and spewed metal shavings throughout the engine. Toast! Junkyard engine with 80K miles installed was 2K. We did it because the car was still worth 5-6K at the time.

Then last year kid's 2012 Malibu with a 4 cylinder did a similar thing: the cam sequencer failed, the timing went completely off, it ate 16 out of 24 valves and spewed metal shavings all over the engine. Again, another $2500 bill on a 60K junkyard engine installed with a 12 month unlimited mileage warranty. Car was only worth $5K at the time, but at least we could get $2500 back when we sell it.

It's really a toss up sometimes as to if it's worth it to repair or not. We usually figure if we're gonna take a loss if we sell it after repairs, we sell it now. If we repair it and can get some of our money and/or use out of it, then we repair it.

Current wish list is for '93 Suburban with good body. Don't care about mileage. Looking for good body. We have engines and transmissions for it, but ours has a rotten body. I just like that year because there's nothing on it that I can't repair myself. No complicated/expensive electronics.

Yeah but what does a vehicle that can do the same thing as a 06 loaded Durango cost?
Wont that replacement vehicle have possible hidden defects of unknowns that could cost thousands?
Wont state sales tax have to be paid? 6 percent more here.
A $10,000 used replacement SUV also has another $800-$1000 added for tax, tags, registration in my state.
At least in the 06 Durango, you know what you have in the driveway.

Might be a lot of good memories in that truck. I admit I keep my Tahoe partly because of great memories when the kids were younger.

 

[Hay Dude]

Should probably sell my 1997 K2500 4x4 Suburban with 454 V-8, and 130K mi.
I don't drive it, but it is such a fine vehicle, I just can't bear to let it go.
Never driven in Winter either.

Dont let it go-especially of its loaded and not rusted. Take care of it and someone will pay you well for it later. If anything park in garage and drive something smaller, then use it when you need it.
Those GM vehicles, un-rusted, were some of the best vehicles ever built, IMO.

 

[RickB]

We usually figure if we're gonna take a loss if we sell it after repairs, we sell it now.

If we repair it and can get some of our money and/or use out of it, then we repair it.

Those two scenarios are mutually applicable to a large percentage of catastrophic failures to older vehicles and equipment.
If you can't use the item enough to recoup a large percentage of the repair expense it isn't worth doing most of the time.
The intangible factor is the value of the known quantity intact part of the machine/vehicle in question. The tangible factor is the replacement cost of choosing not to repair.

There is no black/white, yes/no equation to use. The correct answer is revealed at a later date.

 

[fried1765]

Yeah but what does a vehicle that can do the same thing as a 06 loaded Durango cost?
Wont that replacement vehicle have possible hidden defects of unknowns that could cost thousands?
Wont state sales tax have to be paid? 6 percent more here.
A $10,000 used replacement SUV also has another $800-$1000 added for tax, tags, registration in my state.
At least in the 06 Durango, you know what you have in the driveway.

Might be a lot of good memories in that truck. I admit I keep my Tahoe partly because of great memories when the kids were younger.

I have not bought a new vehicle since 1992....when I was 52,.....28 years ago.
Have bought 5 used vehicles since then, and still have 4 (5th was my E-320, nailed in the side by an inattentive woman).
Current newest is polar white 2014 E-350 with 62K mi.,....a very nice car, the replacement for my E-320.

 

[Hay Dude]

I have not bought a new vehicle since 1992....when I was 52.
Have bought 4 used vehicles since then, and still have 3 (4th was my E-320, nailed in the side by an inattentive woman driver)

I have bought a few (my ‘20 Ram). The 08 Tahoe I have was a dealer demo. Had 8k miles on it. Took $21,000 off sticker and was sold as a new vehicle with new vehicle warranty. Might be the most enjoyable ownership experience ever for me. Very few repairs, no rust and a pleasure to drive.

 

[RickB]

I buy a new truck when I think I need one. So far that's been in 1983, 1993, 2004 and 2020.

 

[plowhog]

... put in a $1000 junkyard engine ... you have no idea of the condition of the junkyard engine.

It's really a toss up sometimes as to if it's worth it to repair or not.

A friend of mine blew a transmission in his immaculate Honda that he did not want to part with. To save money vs installing a brand new transmission, he bought a "guaranteed" trans from a wrecking yard. Then paid about $1,000 to have an auto shop R&R the "guaranteed" trans into his car.

Within 1 day, it was obvious the "guaranteed" transmission was faulty. Didn't shift correctly, and developed a bad leak. When he contacted the junkyard, they said: "no problem, bring it back and we will exchange it for another 'guaranteed' one."

 

[Paystar]

Sometimes it's a hard decision. Mines not a motor problem but 3 months ago a woman hit my wife's 2010 VW Tiguan Highline. All it did was dent the outer skins on both right side doors. Windows still go up and down, doors still open and close perfect.
Insurance wanted to write it off, kept saying they were coming to tow it away and were going to give me 8 grand.
I fought with them for 2 months. Finally got them to offer me a buyout. I took $5800, fixed it myself, just had to show it was repaired and it's not branded and I can still keep the full coverage on it.

Yes it's a 2010 and worth nothing to them, but to me, what was I going to buy with 8 grand to replace it? Around here, that would be a rotted out piece of junk. Mine is mint and a pleasure to drive. And all new underneath because I stay right on top of everything mechanically. To me it was a no-brainer to fix versus 30 to 50 grand to replace with new.

 

[ultrarunner]

Yeah but what does a vehicle that can do the same thing as a 06 loaded Durango cost?
Wont that replacement vehicle have possible hidden defects of unknowns that could cost thousands?
Wont state sales tax have to be paid? 6 percent more here.
A $10,000 used replacement SUV also has another $800-$1000 added for tax, tags, registration in my state.
At least in the 06 Durango, you know what you have in the driveway.

Might be a lot of good memories in that truck. I admit I keep my Tahoe partly because of great memories when the kids were younger.

I think the youngest at 15 is the most sad... it's been the family vehicle she remembers and has been eagerly awaiting her turn to drive... I mean she is really attached where her older sisters never wanted anything to do with it... it was Mom's car.

I doubt it will live again but worth at least a call to insurance... the damage was sudden and direct result of the heavy storm that toppled trees, flooding, landslides, etc... they even had some hail...

Maybe a hail Mary move but it would make parting easier.

They had planned to head to the snow today but lucky the problem happen at home in their driveway...

It was an excellent running vehicle... and a few weeks ago I said the motor really sounds good... brother said he planned on keeping until the wheels fall off...

I can think of a lot of cars where the starter wouldn't fire up with water... mostly low compression antiques...

 

[PILOON]

When I was a sales rep I was always with new cars, company supplied.
Self employed I shopped for low mileage off lease (depreciated) vehicles.

In summary I had more issues with the new vehicles than any of my used buys.

I had seized up differential in one, windshield blow out in another (first day within 50 miles), wheel fall off on another and one that I could not keep in a straight line on devided highways. An Audi was another series of frustrations, blew turbo and long list all under warranty.
All those incidents were well early and under warranty.

My last 5 (used) vehicles served me well for averages of 4-5 years each and at minimal normal maintenance (like oil, tires brakes etc)

OK, I'm mechanically oriented and read a lot so I'm an 'informed buyer'.
Like my present Kia Serento!
Got it as an 'off lease' with a mere 30,000 miles (yep, proven real) and am now at 150K with only normal maintenance.
No major issues and a very nice ride with all sorts of nice amenities, also easy on fuel.