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.

[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

[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.

[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.

[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

[arm79]

I think this is the animal Gods telling you not to leave him alone in the car anymore.

Maybe contact one of the companies who make canvas covers. Something a bit more difficult to chew through.

Autobarn, I think it's them, sell a rather good quality waterproof range of seat covers. Form fitting for the front, but maybe not the back. They are thick material and seemingly difficult to damage.

Dad and I have had them in our cars for 6 to 7 years now and there still isn't a mark or scratch on them even though they get near daily use of the dog jumping and scratching them.

[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 ?

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by arm79

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!

Yeah, Euro cars last about 30 seconds in our climate if you leave em outside away from their precious garage.

We don't have a garage, we have a 2.5 car wog pantry

If thats what happened to the roof of my car imagine what it does to all the old bald bastards heads - wear ya damn hats to all you old bastards without any hair

Originally Posted by ozrunner

And the spider ?

They're like car pets

[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.

[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

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Yeah, Euro cars last about 30 seconds in our climate if you leave em outside away from their precious garage.

I've had my 2004 Black Euro for 8 years, it's spent 7 of those with no carport or garage..........but unlike certain ethnic types here I do wash and polish it sometimes

[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.

[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.

[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

[jpd80]

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

[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.

[Smoke Pursuit]

100k is end of life for me.



Most we have done was 101,500 in our Mondeo, and I had ordered its replacement at 80k (which still hasn't arrived).



But most of the above is true. I think you have to second guess a car once repairs outweigh 50% of its value.

[.:4:.]

Its mainly cost vs the cars value, reliability and inconvenience. So righto, my bf has just about 200k on it. Never broken down, bar cracking a radiator, other then maintaining it, its been cheap to own and convenient.
Years ago i had a ranger as a company car. They sold it with 128km on it because it had had a few mechanical failures, so time off the road was time it wasnt making the company money, and in general, a loan car is very inconvenient when working on the tools. The dead turbo was the final nail in its coffin. The quote was something like 7k for the turbo on a 6 year old car so the company traded it dead for 8500.
Unless you have an attachment to a car, when it turns into a case of if its not one thing its another and becomes both an inconvenience and financial drain, thats probably the time to move it on.