Cars = Things we Throw Away

[Crazy Dazz]

You would think, with everyone getting their undies in a wad over recycling and all that shit, that the powers that be would be keen to apply some of that to cars???
Especially if you consider that if you buy a new (coal-powered) electric vehicle, you start out with a MASSIVE "carbon" deficit, which is only offset by longevity.

My daughter has a nice, relatively modern "mid-sized" SUV. It's maybe 4~5 years old, moderate kms, and still in beautiful condition. Because it was exceptionally well-specced for its time, it has all the modern safety features that even today some base-models lack.

She had a very minor bingle. The main damage is the front "clip." (the moulded plastic bit that replaced bumpers on today's cars.)
Plus one headlight, a piece of plastic moulding around the front wheel (the guard itself is fine.)
And the bonnet requires, what would have in the past been minor straightening.
There is no structural damage, and no airbags or seatbelts deployed. (Her 11 month old son was in the car, and didn't even cry.)

An you guessed, it's a write-off. The upper end for market value is low 20's, and that's the estimate for repairs.

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

You would think, with everyone getting their undies in a wad over recycling and all that shit, that the powers that be would be keen to apply some of that to cars???
Especially if you consider that if you buy a new (coal-powered) electric vehicle, you start out with a MASSIVE "carbon" deficit, which is only offset by longevity.

My daughter has a nice, relatively modern "mid-sized" SUV. It's maybe 4~5 years old, moderate kms, and still in beautiful condition. Because it was exceptionally well-specced for its time, it has all the modern safety features that even today some base-models lack.

She had a very minor bingle. The main damage is the front "clip." (the moulded plastic bit that replaced bumpers on today's cars.)
Plus one headlight, a piece of plastic moulding around the front wheel (the guard itself is fine.)
And the bonnet requires, what would have in the past been minor straightening.
There is no structural damage, and no airbags or seatbelts deployed. (Her 11 month old son was in the car, and didn't even cry.)

An you guessed, it's a write-off. The upper end for market value is low 20's, and that's the estimate for repairs.

Economical write off, that is insurance companies for you.

[prktkljokr]

Unfortunately the manufacturer would be to blame for the car being written off, it all has to do with the price they want for parts, what would have been a $1500 repair in the 80-90's, is now a $20,000+ repair today, in the 90's the bumper would be made up of the 1 component, the bumper, now they have driving lights, fog lights, upper and lower grilles, a dozen fake chrome mouldings and numerous other parts which make it a expensive bit to replace, headlights used to be relatively cheap, now they have more tech than the home computer and its not uncommon to see them with $8000 price tags to replace, then add the coding to match it to the car and you can see why a relatively minor accident can write them off.

[XR Martin]

NSW is even worse, statutory writing off late model, even brand new hail damaged vehicles.
Cars are still mechanically fine, just cosmetically damaged.
Written off and cannot be re-registered.

[Interceptor]

Dont say it too loudly, "cash for clunkers" schemes have already happened.....

[Ben73]

To be fair I don’t think the entire car will be put in landfill just because of this minor damage.
But I get it, it’s still wasteful when it could be fixed.

[Citroënbender]

I had a frustrating conversation with a gardening client today, they decided their “old” car (15 years, 130K) was literally worthless as it dared to break down on them just once - they went and bought a new one.

I suggested they could sell it easily in a week for at least $2K, but that was apparently too hard. The conversation was frustrating because I’ve been trying to get them onboard for a new retaining wall at about $7K and it was a constant bleat of “can’t afford that”.

[smoo]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

I had a frustrating conversation with a gardening client today, they decided their “old” car (15 years, 130K) was literally worthless as it dared to break down on them just once - they went and bought a new one.

Reminds me of delusional people who place wanted car ads.
Usually have an unreasonably low budget with a list of criteria that rival a single mother’s dating profile.

‘Must be under 160,000km’.
Ok, but why did they set their limit at 160k and not 150,000km.
And is every car at 160k a better buy that one at 180k, etc.

[Mont5.0]

Originally Posted by XR Martin

NSW is even worse, statutory writing off late model, even brand new hail damaged vehicles.
Cars are still mechanically fine, just cosmetically damaged.
Written off and cannot be re-registered.

Has to be pretty extensive hail damage for this to happen.
Light hail damage will still be considered a write off- but can still be registered.

[anobserver]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

I had a frustrating conversation with a gardening client today, they decided their “old” car (15 years, 130K) was literally worthless as it dared to break down on them just once - they went and bought a new one.

I suggested they could sell it easily in a week for at least $2K, but that was apparently too hard. The conversation was frustrating because I’ve been trying to get them onboard for a new retaining wall at about $7K and it was a constant bleat of “can’t afford that”.

Strange how people value priorities. We blew our car fund on retaining walls and kept fixing the older car.

Friend is currently trying to move on a couple of older and tired hondas, an accord and odyssey. Watching with interest to gauge market status. I suggested trading one or both might be less hassle with all the numbnut enquiries hes going to get.

[Dr Terry]

Originally Posted by smoo

‘Must be under 160,000km’.
Ok, but why did they set their limit at 160k and not 150,000km.
And is every car at 160k a better buy that one at 180k, etc.

160,000 km is the old 100,000 miles & is also the used car dealer warranty cut-off. It's just a carry over from a previous era.

Dr Terry

[smoo]

Originally Posted by Dr Terry

160,000 km is the old 100,000 miles & is also the used car dealer warranty cut-off. It's just a carry over from a previous era.

Dr Terry

I picked that number outa air.
Have seen 120k, 180k, 200k etc being thrown around on wanted ads.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

I had a frustrating conversation with a gardening client today, they decided their “old” car (15 years, 130K) was literally worthless as it dared to break down on them just once - they went and bought a new one.

I suggested they could sell it easily in a week for at least $2K, but that was apparently too hard. The conversation was frustrating because I’ve been trying to get them onboard for a new retaining wall at about $7K and it was a constant bleat of “can’t afford that”.

Must have been a cheap retaining wall.

[Citroënbender]

Sleepers, nothing fancy.

[russellw]

The insurance companies just follow the mathematics.

Does the Cost of repairs - excess paid = < pay out. In some cases it will be a fixed percentage of the write off cost but you get the idea.

A couple of recent examples show how silly it has become. A 6YO Audi Q7 got hooked on one of those concrete parking bumpers and pulled the front bar off. Redbook value is mid-high $30k but the genuine headlamp assemblies (both with broken mounts because they attach to the bar) are $12k each and the bar is almost $8k plus R/R/P so it got written off. Would be a good buy at auction because aftermarket headlamp assemblies are around $3.5k each and the bar is an easy repair.

Likewise with our MB van. It got damaged (mostly mechanical) after running over a log in the middle of a roadway at night. Redbook value put it at ~$25k and the initial parts list alone provided by the closest dealer was $27k so it would have been an economic write off.

A deeper dive into that parts list showed that some of those 'genuine' parts prices were just stupid and some weren't even essential like a new exhaust system ($7.2k) which is only available as a complete assembly when the only damage was a dent in the DPF. Even if you wanted to replace the DPF you'd take it to an exhaust shop and fit something like a Euromax DPF for $800!

The other big ticket item was a tailshaft (3-piece) which was bent that was $8.2k but readily available in the aftermarket for $1.2k.

In the end we supplied most of the mechanical parts from the aftermarket (fuel pump/AC condensor/radiator/charge air cooler/tailshaft and a 2H dual fan assembly) for just under $3k with about another $1k of genuine parts like the trans oil pan; some hoses and a fuel line so about $23k less than the original quote.

It comes down to having a discussion with the insurer to let them know that you are going to accept aftermarket components and then working with your panel beater (or in this case mechanic) to ensure the best outcome.

[roKWiz]

Gunna buy a new car real soon.......

[Interceptor]

Geez..... and there I was thinking it was bad when i got quoted $60 for an air filter for an older Honda lawnmower....

[Crazy Dazz]

Originally Posted by russellw

The insurance companies just follow the mathematics.

absolutely

it's a combination of the crazy price for spare parts, and the cost of repairs.
In her case, they won't even repair the bonnet. Nope, it's a whole new bonet, and then of course respray plus fitting.

On the one hand, its good that we're nolonger being stuck with shitty repairs.

In her case, it doesn't help that her damage is the most common, so there are no 2nd hand parts to be found.

[swamp]

hi
Hilux owned from new 10 yr old , hit in rear tub body , no structural ,, tub did not hit main body
16,000 damage
evaluation $20,ooo
declared repairable write off
once declared repairable write-off ,,this cannot be reversed

Wrote a report on all the items that should not have been claimed $8,000
The situation ,,, the insurance company condemned a vehicle incorrectly .
The car should NOT be a write off

If u re-register a REPAIRABLE WRITE--OFF a funny situation occurs,, most insurance companies are not interested or at an elevated cost LOL
If dont declare repairable write off at the time on insurance u will void insurance coverage .

[Jastel]

Different states have different rules but I have 5 repairable write offs driving around, all registered and insured. Once it gets reinspected it is taken off the WOVR and allowed to be registered here in Qld.

The fact is WAS a repairable write off is still attached to the VIN forever...this may mean a few bucks less when trying to sell later but you have already saved at least that by not buying from a car yard.

Insurance on the car is no higher than same car that was not on the WOVR, the main cause of high insurance is cost of parts and repairs and the out of control juvenile car theft situation.

[jaydee]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

I had a frustrating conversation with a gardening client today, they decided their “old” car (15 years, 130K) was literally worthless as it dared to break down on them just once - they went and bought a new one.

I suggested they could sell it easily in a week for at least $2K, but that was apparently too hard. The conversation was frustrating because I’ve been trying to get them onboard for a new retaining wall at about $7K and it was a constant bleat of “can’t afford that”.

I just sold my sons 2006 Mazda SP23 for just under 5grand.
Had 270k on the clock, but just had a new clutch, good tyres and new brakes, I polished it hard, came up a treat. Spent about 2k on it.
Before doing the work maybe worth $1,500 if I could find a buyer.

[swamp]

hi
Some insurance companies won`t touch a repairable write off .

Tried selling the Hilux private everyone was scared off by the idea of owning it .

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by swamp

hi
Hilux owned from new 10 yr old , hit in rear tub body , no structural ,, tub did not hit main body
16,000 damage
evaluation $20,ooo
declared repairable write off
once declared repairable write-off ,,this cannot be reversed

Wrote a report on all the items that should not have been claimed $8,000
The situation ,,, the insurance company condemned a vehicle incorrectly .
The car should NOT be a write off

If u re-register a REPAIRABLE WRITE--OFF a funny situation occurs,, most insurance companies are not interested or at an elevated cost LOL
If dont declare repairable write off at the time on insurance u will void insurance coverage .

Insurance companies can only void your policy if you didn't disclose something that would have meant that they would have never insured you in the first place.
Basically if the insurer does not insure repairable write-offs at all, and you don't disclose it they can void the policy. But if they do insure them, and you don't disclose all they can do is force you to pay the difference in premium cost.