What determines "End of life" with cars?

[HONK]

Reading a few things online and wondering...

What is "end of life"? - Why's it usually situated at 300,000kms?

Why is this "end of life"?

Is that when basically every major part needs replacing and thus that is why the car is considered "end of life"? Or what's the go there?

Surely most parts have already been replaced before 300,000km's anyhow, right?

We've all seen cars over 500,000km's, maybe even a million.

Parts get replaced, a car can last 'forever'.

So, what exactly determines "end of life"?

Is that when the engine is 'meant' to fail?, the trans, the suspension, or what's the go there?

Why is it "end of life" at 300,000kms...?

[Bossxr8]

Usually when the cost of repairs it requires are worth more than the vehicle itself I would assume.

[arm79]

Power poles, kangaroos, solid walls and other cars. Stuff like that.

Until then its only determined by how much time, effort and money you are willing to put into the thing to keep it running.

[Citroënbender]

Originally Posted by arm79

Power poles, kangaroos, solid walls and other cars.

I see what you did there.

[arm79]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

I see what you did there.

Ta. I was going to include something along the lines of "when the dog gets down to the last piece of seat foam", but I thought I'd leave that to you.

[HONK]

Originally Posted by arm79

Ta. I was going to include something along the lines of "when the dog gets down to the last piece of seat foam", but I thought I'd leave that to you.

The jackass ate more of my car seat about 30 minutes ago which i fixed and put a cover on...
Must re do it again.


C***'s not coming in the car anymore without a muzzle.

You'd never believe how much damage a puppy can do in 3-5 minutes left alone in a Fairmont... Jfc.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Usually when the cost of repairs it requires are worth more than the vehicle itself I would assume.

So basically when a Mercedes or BMW is outside of its 3 year warranty period

One of our cars has a completely toasted roof and bonnet, the paint has all oxidised so the car would be worth $500.

Is one owner, has a full service history and has 90,000km on the clock.

In great mechanical condition, though I'm not sure whether I should bother with its major service because the car is only worth $500 because of the paint.



Was a mistake buying a metallic purple car - white cars only for me

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

So basically when a Mercedes or BMW is outside of its 3 year warranty period

One of our cars has a completely toasted roof and bonnet, the paint has all oxidised so the car would be worth $500.

Is one owner, has a full service history and has 90,000km on the clock.

In great mechanical condition, though I'm not sure whether I should bother with its major service because the car is only worth $500 because of the paint.


Was a mistake buying a metallic purple car - white cars only for me

That's not a 4 year old car pictured - how old is it

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Vesper Martini

That's not a 4 year old car pictured - how old is it

2009 WS Fiesta CL

It basically oxidised at around 5 years old, the bonnet and the Ford badge went first, then the roof is as it sits now.

Now the clear is peeling off the rear wing.

Yet my Focus which is white hasn't had its clear coat peel or oxidise and its 12 years old.

Neither has my Caprice, which is 25 years old - except the door because its from a different car

So as far as I'm concerned at 90,000km our humble WS Fiesta CL is 'end of life'

[arm79]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

2009 WS Fiesta CL

It basically oxidised at around 5 years old.

Yet my Focus which is white hasn't had its clear coat peel or oxidise and its 12 years old.

Neither has my Caprice, which is 25 years old - except the door because its from a different car

An old friend had some 80's or 90's 2 door Merc he was doing up. Was a metallic greeny gold colour. He ran into storage issues and asked if he could store it my place and I offered him the front lawn for a short period.

Short period became 2 months and by then the good looking paint looked like your Fiesta, probably worse. Told him to come get it before it ate the paint through to the metal. A month later he collected it, few tears in his eyes, realising it probably needed a respray.

Screw Alice Springs, don't f*ck with the summer sun in Laverton!

[ozrunner]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

.....So as far as I'm concerned at 90,000km our humble WS Fiesta CL is 'end of life'

And the spider ?

[FairmontGS]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

2009 WS Fiesta CL

It basically oxidised at around 5 years old, the bonnet and the Ford badge went first, then the roof is as it sits now.

Now the clear is peeling off the rear wing.

Yet my Focus which is white hasn't had its clear coat peel or oxidise and its 12 years old.

Neither has my Caprice, which is 25 years old - except the door because its from a different car

So as far as I'm concerned at 90,000km our humble WS Fiesta CL is 'end of life'

image

It's true - my 2011 WS in metallic silver has spent it's entire life outside, wasn't washed for the first 10 years of it's life before I owned it and it's buffed up like new. Washed fortnightly and Boss Glossed monthly. No more than 5 minutes waxing 'cause polishing cars bores me.

The guy with a gunmetal 2014 WZ down the road looks like yours.

[Vesper Martini]

[QUOTE=Franco Cozzo;6733346]2009 WS Fiesta CL

It basically oxidised at around 5 years old, the bonnet and the Ford badge went first, then the roof is as it sits now.

Now the clear is peeling off the rear wing.

Yet my Focus which is white hasn't had its clear coat peel or oxidise and its 12 years old.

Neither has my Caprice, which is 25 years old - except the door because its from a different car

So as far as I'm concerned at 90,000km our humble WS Fiesta CL is 'end of life'

Sorry thought you were talking about BMW or Merc - still that bad on the Fiesta, Magnas are what I think of first for paint like that..

White Paint on the Focus probably doesn't have a clear, a lot of white cars don't use a clear coat.

[Mulva]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Usually when the cost of repairs it requires are worth more than the vehicle itself I would assume.

For some cars that cost to value deficit can just be temporary - about 5-8 years at the bottom of their value J-curve, after which if right type of car they start to appreciate again, making it worth keeping them going.

I'm sickened by the amount of rotaries and 70's Statesmans, Premiers and Kingswoods I went through - got them all as they just hit the bottom of their J, and got rid of midway through that bottom or just before their upward trajectory. Rotaries was paying between $1500 to $3000, the Holdens all sub $1k other than an $1800 HZ Caprice.

But yeah, when you buy a car for 3 slabs and a stick of Thai Buddha, and you thrash it for 2 years and sell it on for $200, you think you are a genius.

Having said that, those Holdens were cheap and basic so very little cost to keep them going through that period of low/no value, whereas cars that are around 15-30 years old now totally different proposition in terms of cost to keep them going. I mean, their suspension could have been totally rooted but you would not know as it still felt and rode like one with 'good' suspension

[rare ss]

Insurance values or lack thereof

[Vesper Martini]

So many variables to this - with less DIY that end of life comes bit sooner these days.
The labour cost alone now would be enough to write a car off.
or you could smash a tail light on a Peugeot, that could also be enough

[au2000]

Depends where you see worth, I picked up a 270,000 bf futura a few weeks ago from a guy who was going to donate it to a wreckers, yesterday I had it rwc and registered for 12 months and it’s cost me this:
12 mths rego inc plates and tac - $915
rwc, service, and misc costs $695
New tyres x4 $450
Car - 250
All in - $2310
I think it was a total bargain, in his eyes, it was just a ford.

[au2000]

White for the win

https://postimg.cc/gallery/0v2nXDq

[Citroënbender]

Turned out nice again.

[au2000]

Thanks citroenbender, again.. THAT was destined for the wreckers

[Yellow_Festiva]

My Festiva was written off at 201,000km.

At the time it still drove like new, felt like new, didn't leak, had factory economy, factory clutch and the only major servicing I did was a few batteries, front discs, an AC re-gas and rear bearings.

All things being equal it would have easily reached 500,000+ km if I had kept it.

I now drive a 9 year old diesel I30. It just had its 290,000km oil change. It is still going strong. Gets amazing economy, blows a bit of smoke only if I floor it, doesn't leak, doesn't let me down and the only thing I have changed was a new battery about 3 years ago and a new clutch at 250k.

I will keep driving that till it dies or someone smashes into me. It is worthless to anyone else but does everything I need without fuss.

Having said that - car longevity is luck of the draw. I think it has less to do with how a car is treated and more to do with luck. Sure you can abuse a car and it will let you down, but lots of people also take good care of their cars only for them to be always in for repairs.

[anobserver]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

My Festiva was written off at 201,000....

Having said that - car longevity is luck of the draw. I think it has less to do with how a car is treated and more to do with luck. Sure you can abuse a car and it will let you down, but lots of people also take good care of their cars only for them to be always in for repairs.

Absolutely.

[98TLS]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

My Festiva was written off at 201,000km.

At the time it still drove like new, felt like new, didn't leak, had factory economy, factory clutch and the only major servicing I did was a few batteries, front discs, an AC re-gas and rear bearings.

All things being equal it would have easily reached 500,000+ km if I had kept it.

I now drive a 9 year old diesel I30. It just had its 290,000km oil change. It is still going strong. Gets amazing economy, blows a bit of smoke only if I floor it, doesn't leak, doesn't let me down and the only thing I have changed was a new battery about 3 years ago and a new clutch at 250k.

I will keep driving that till it dies or someone smashes into me. It is worthless to anyone else but does everything I need without fuss.

Having said that - car longevity is luck of the draw. I think it has less to do with how a car is treated and more to do with luck. Sure you can abuse a car and it will let you down, but lots of people also take good care of their cars only for them to be always in for repairs.

Hearing that,we bought this little Mitsi in 2005 so coming up 17 years of ownership,little 1.3 manual of 97 vintage that gets used soley to get me to work (60 k round trip) then as i work 4x4 roster gets parked up until next round,i change oil/filters once a year and again once a year give it a polish/wax,years ago did cambelt since then replaced front shocks and thats about it thing just keeps on keeping on,we have a 6 month WOF inspection over here for things this old and its never failed one yet If asked on my deathbed what was the most memorable car ive owned it wont spring to mind but it sure is a trusty wee runabout.One of those cars thats worth far more than its $ value which is around nothing

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by 98TLS

Hearing that,we bought this little Mitsi in 2005 so coming up 17 years of ownership,little 1.3 manual of 97 vintage that gets used soley to get me to work (60 k round trip) then as i work 4x4 roster gets parked up until next round,i change oil/filters once a year and again once a year give it a polish/wax,years ago did cambelt since then replaced front shocks and thats about it thing just keeps on keeping on,we have a 6 month WOF inspection over here for things this old and its never failed one yet If asked on my deathbed what was the most memorable car ive owned it wont spring to mind but it sure is a trusty wee runabout.One of those cars thats worth far more than its $ value which is around nothing
image

Funny you bring that to the conversation. When I met my ex-mrs she had the exact same car, but in 1.5 auto.

The thing was an absolute wreck when I met her... mis firing engine, body dented to the clapper, you unlocked the passenger door by giving it 3 hard hits just below the door handle, dodgy brakes, leaking exhaust etc. Didn't even have 100k on it.

She didn't care for it one bit, parked it anywhere, passed it around to all her friends. Didn't have an airbag either if I recall.

Her father proudly driving around in a brand new BMW that was always kept in showroom condition. I just couldn't get how a father could blindly allow their only child drive around in such a dangerous heap.

When I saw the relationship going somewhere we sold it for $900 and I got her a demo Focus... which was a situation of 'out of the frying pan and into the fire it turns out.

[asagaai]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Funny you bring that to the conversation. When I met my ex-mrs she had the exact same car, but in 1.5 auto.

The thing was an absolute wreck when I met her... mis firing engine, body dented to the clapper, you unlocked the passenger door by giving it 3 hard hits just below the door handle, dodgy brakes, leaking exhaust etc. Didn't even have 100k on it.

She didn't care for it one bit, parked it anywhere, passed it around to all her friends. Didn't have an airbag either if I recall.

Her father proudly driving around in a brand new BMW that was always kept in showroom condition. I just couldn't get how a father could blindly allow their only child drive around in such a dangerous heap.

My second daughter was given a good condition Mazda 3 with only 98,000 km on it, fully serviced, few minor paint scratches on rear bumper etc, but really a good car.

She had just finished high school, was not working a lot an d drifting, partying with the dregs, coming back home all hours, drinking, taking god knows what -and was uncontrollable. Really rocky times....

Anyway, one night she was out driving with her bottom of barrel dreg mates and crashed the front of the car into a pole, next morning said oh it was only a small accident. I had a look and the front bonnet was crumpled at front, with a broken front grille.

I popped the bonnet and there was rather massive damage to the front internal bars and crash bar, they had been punched inwards in the shape of the power pole, and the punched in bars only just missed the radiator.

I was late for a work commitment and said do not drive the car, the bonnet catch looks suspect, wait for me to get home to have a closer look.

She then drove the car down a 90 kph freeway while I was at work, the bonnet flew up and smashed windscreen, crumpled in front roof, front bonnet mangled.

I then had to attend on side of freeway, had to smash the bonnet with a hammer, used wire to tie down the bonnet crawling underneath car with cars wizzing past at 90-110 kph.

At home I secured the bonnet with wire, and my wife took the car to some inbred wrecker who replaced the windscreen, and did "body repair work" to reshape the front bonnet and roof. They remarkably fixed the front bonnet latch.

The car looked from outside a wreck, crumpled roof, crumpled bonnet, cracked front radiator grille. For safety reasons, I used wire to insure the bonnet being tied down in event of the latch failing.

Because my daughter took the car for granted, was disrespectful, and was living a gap year in some fantasy land on drugs etc, I refused to buy another car for her.

So there I was driving my immaculate FGX XR8 and then new Fiesta ST, and I suppose people judged me as that ****ty father.

But her Mazda was mechanically sound, but in her instagram, fake pouty lips fake world she started hating driving the car because it ruined her image.

My wife was on at me to buy another car for her but I refused, she had to live with her consequences. Anyway, she seems to be growing up- got a well paying part time carer's job and took out a bank loan and has bought a Hyundai I30.

And would you believe it, she is taking great care of the car, too busy working to party.

But where I am heading is one should be careful judging, unless you have walked in those persons shoes whom you are judging for a good week

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by asagaai

My second daughter was given a good condition Mazda 3 with only 98,000 km on it, fully serviced, few minor paint scratches on rear bumper etc, but really a good car.

She had just finished high school, was not working a lot an d drifting, partying with the dregs, coming back home all hours, drinking, taking god knows what -and was uncontrollable. Really rocky times....

Anyway, one night she was out driving with her bottom of barrel dreg mates and crashed the front of the car into a pole, next morning said oh it was only a small accident. I had a look and the front bonnet was crumpled at front, with a broken front grille.

I popped the bonnet and there was rather massive damage to the front internal bars and crash bar, they had been punched inwards in the shape of the power pole, and the punched in bars only just missed the radiator.

I was late for a work commitment and said do not drive the car, the bonnet catch looks suspect, wait for me to get home to have a closer look.

She then drove the car down a 90 kph freeway while I was at work, the bonnet flew up and smashed windscreen, crumpled in front roof, front bonnet mangled.

I then had to attend on side of freeway, had to smash the bonnet with a hammer, used wire to tie down the bonnet crawling underneath car with cars wizzing past at 90-110 kph.

At home I secured the bonnet with wire, and my wife took the car to some inbred wrecker who replaced the windscreen, and did "body repair work" to reshape the front bonnet and roof. They remarkably fixed the front bonnet latch.

The car looked from outside a wreck, crumpled roof, crumpled bonnet, cracked front radiator grille. For safety reasons, I used wire to insure the bonnet being tied down in event of the latch failing.

Because my daughter took the car for granted, was disrespectful, and was living a gap year in some fantasy land on drugs etc, I refused to buy another car for her.

So there I was driving my immaculate FGX XR8 and then new Fiesta ST, and I suppose people judged me as that ****ty father.

But her Mazda was mechanically sound, but in her instagram, fake pouty lips fake world she started hating driving the car because it ruined her image.

My wife was on at me to buy another car for her but I refused, she had to live with her consequences. Anyway, she seems to be growing up- got a well paying part time carer's job and took out a bank loan and has bought a Hyundai I30.

And would you believe it, she is taking great care of the car, too busy working to party.

But where I am heading is one should be careful judging, unless you have walked in those persons shoes whom you are judging for a good week

This is why I tell people not to let their kids buy some clapped out ****box 1997 VSII Holden Caprice as their first car, they fold like pancakes in accidents and unless you got children of the corn they're going to be out being free range adult children with all sorts of lip fillers and chemically enhanced world they live in.

'Modern' cars (and by I mean anything from mid to late 00s like an FG) are a lot nicer to be in crashes with then the 1990s stuff, so what done that sort of damage in her Mazda 2 she would have come off a bit second hand playing those games in old ****boxes like my Caprice.

I t-boned someone in a not at fault accident at around 90km/h in my first LV Focus when I was 19 and I walked out of it with burns from the airbag gasses and a real nasty bruise from the seat belt yanking me back into the seat.

LV Focus is Franco certified for free range adult children

I appreciate you shared your story.

[prktkljokr]

Going through the fragmenting machine at Simms metal

No coming back from that

[XR Martin]

Age more than kms.
5 year car with 300k kms would probably only ever needed oil changes.

20 year old car with 200k kms would have probably needed alot more maintenance.

Also the more owners, the less maintained.

[falconhell74]

Simple answer is YOU DO - if you are willing to keep spending money on it to keep it running.

[jpd80]

Know one thing about vehicle ownership, when they break down and cost lots of money to fix, the love goes away very quickly.