5.7 Hemi Durango Grenaded Today

[Jstpssng]

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."

I had that happen with my last Dakota... except that it was a brand new Dodge transmission. It worked fine until the weather got cold, then it wouldn't climb a hill until the fluid warmed up. Trouble is there are hills going either way after leaving my house. I'd drive back and forth in front of my house for 20 minutes before I could leave the property.

 

[fried1765]

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.

I believe what you did is the correct way to deal with auto insurance companies, if you can.
Fight their offer, and wait them out!
It seems that when they have your claim open, someone in their hierarchy must say, "get that old claim closed".

 

[MossRoad]

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.

When and if you get in the mindset to let it go, please PM me.

 

[goeduck]

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."

Buyer beware. Interesting snake oil pitch but since they are not doing the labor they can pitch it that way. For someone doing their own labor it could work out.

 

[MossRoad]

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.

We had a late 70's IH2500b. When we wanted to sell it, it needed about $1600 in repairs. I called an IH salvage yard to get the parts and prices. The guy asked me how much I was gonna ask for it when it was repaired. I told him. Sight unseen he offered my my asking price less the $1600. Hmmmm.... OK! He showed up with a trailer and I drove it on for him. :thumbsup:

 

[fried1765]

When and if you get in the mindset to let it go, please PM me.

Will do!

 

[MossRoad]

I bought our 93 Suburban K1500 about 14 years ago for $6K. It was a former emergency service vehicle. Only had about 45K miles on it. I've put about $1000 in repairs and tires into it in 14 years. So $7K for 14 years is about $500 per year. Has about 135,000 on it now. Body is toast. Frame is still good, though. It's just the right size for our needs. It could haul 8 people, or 5 with the rear seat out. Fold down the middle seat and 4x8 sheets fit inside. Pulls our 18' car hauler with the tractor and implements on it if needed. Pulls enclosed rented U-Haul trailer when kids went to and from college. 4WD gets us through the snow in winter, etc... I really like the combination of it and a trailer VS a pickup truck. Right now it has all my ice fishing gear in the back ready to go anytime I get the opportunity. It'll stay there until ice out.

We went to Oklahoma back in October to visit one of our children and looked around there for ones with good bodies. Nothing is rusty there. Nobody was selling the years we wanted at that time. A couple used car salesmen said people were holding on to them due to the economy. They had plenty of newer used ones, though. I don't care for the newer styling all that much and since we take it off-road at our property, all that plastic and running boards would get ripped off quickly.

 

[MossRoad]

Will do!

:thumbsup:

 

[ultrarunner]

Comprehensive dropped 1/1/21...

Dropping lowered premium to 5800 for 82 300D mercedes, 06 Durango and 04 chrysler 300

Clean Driving record... no tickets/claims...

Mom/Dad, 19 year away at college and 17 daughter senior high school

 

[aczlan]

Comprehensive dropped 1/1/21...

Dropping lowered premium to 5800 for 82 300D mercedes, 06 Durango and 04 chrysler 300

Clean Driving record... no tickets/claims...

Mom/Dad, 19 year away at college and 17 daughter senior high school

$5800 for liability only for 3 cars?
Ouch. I think we are currently around $1000/year for full coverage on one car and liability only on the other.

Aaron Z