cash for cars 50% on the dollar
16 years
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I had my old car removed today, and when they lifted it up, the driver face timed the office, who said that's an aftermarket CAT.
I said can't be, I'm the original owner.
I will give my honest assessment.
The CAT looked cheesy, unsubstantial.
imho from what I've seen, a factory CAT is substantial with its construction and welding to the flanges, AND, it has some sort of identification showing whether it is CARB or EPA certified. The one on my car had no markings.
Since nobody in its entire life worked on its exhaust except that chain store that my parents went to all their lives for exhaust, they likely took it 13 years ago and replaced it with an aftermarket.
It's good to be the King lol
The other thing that happened, I reached into my pocket and omg the key and fob, never gave it to the driver. Oh snap, did I give him the one for my daily driver by mistake? no lol
Last thing was he had a wrekcer not a flatbed and the rear right tire was flat. He was going to send for a flatbed meaning not today tomorrow, so he asked any chance you have a jack? I said yes, and an impact gun. I helped him swap the LF for the RR, it was a friendly encounter, and I told him about that YouTube Neutral Drop that he may get a kick it's guys like him....he said I wish I could give you more. Who knows, I think they're truthful about the CAT so that's life.
p.s. of course I'm being facetious but I'm sharing my musings and observations. It never truly surprises me what humans will do when opportunity arises.
p.p.s. why do they always leave hydraulic oil in the driveway hahahahahahhaha
Cars for Cash
did he pay you what you expected?
@John, Did you expect more?
@John,
Did you expect more? That's about what a dollar is worth these days.......
clarification
Was offered $600 on a website, and paid $300. The driver said I can put it back and you can get another offer if you like. I was thinking as long as he's truthful, the next co. will say the same thing, aftermarket CAT.
I mean in reality a CAT can be $1400 for one when factory OE online, and an aftermarket can even be $200 for 3 of them on eBay.
The first thing the driver did was to lift the front end up high, and facetime his office. The office said we can't give $600 that's an aftermarket CAT.
I have since gotten pics online of what the OE looks like, and mine DID NOT look like the OE online.
So likely that muffler chain actually stole the OE CAT around 2012 and I never even knew it. Because they replaced the entire exhaust 2X from the resonator to the tailpipe, free of charge the 2nd time, after I contacted the BBB. They claimed they are not obligated to replace it free of charge. They argued with me on the warranty the prior mgr signed.
At any rate, I do believe that my car was lacking the OE Nissan CAT from the factory. Factory CATs have a tarnished look about them and look solid. Mine was tinny and all rusted.
Weird how the driver never got the keys and I still have them hahahahahaha honest mistake and likely shows they don't care, they want the CAT and then the scrap value by crushing it.
I'm rather uptight about losing both of mine
In the last few days I've heard two newish cars making noise which suggested to me that they may have had their catalytic converters stolen.
I'm rather uptight about losing both of mine. When I change my oil I drive up wooden ramps to gain 3 inches and dump the oil into a 5 gallon pail. It's particularly easy to get under my truck and cut the "cats" out.
One reason it's so easy is (I'm reading tea leaves here) that engineering can be easily overruled by marketing. The '17 to '19 model F-250s and above are just stupid high. They thought that youthful buyers would find the height attractive.
despite
In the last few days I've heard two newish cars making noise which suggested to me that they may have had their catalytic converters stolen.
I'm rather uptight about losing both of mine. When I change my oil I drive up wooden ramps to gain 3 inches and dump the oil into a 5 gallon pail. It's particularly easy to get under my truck and cut the "cats" out.
One reason it's so easy is (I'm reading tea leaves here) that engineering can be easily overruled by marketing. The '17 to '19 model F-250s and above are just stupid high. They thought that youthful buyers would find the height attractive.
All the attention last few years about theft of catalytic converters, I just could never in a million years, considering myself a shade tree, think I could have one taken by a shop. Again, the context. The dumb chain that's yellow starting with a M and with a king, not Burger King.
Their hook was always to warrant for life, so you come back paying labor every time their lifetime parts failed. They did the exhaust CAT back and 1.5 years later failed. I had it in writing entire system covered parts and labor, and they claimed mgr. had no business promising that in writing and they're not going to honor. So they agreed to honor cuz I went to BBB. Now they're disgruntled and I guess when they did the job they took the CAT while they were at it.
Anyway, we all know darn well there could be shenanigans if letting someone repair our cars. Just hard to accept our worst fears are realities. imho dealers are the worst, chain stores second worst. My daily driver people said on the forum, dealers routinely do only 7/8 plugs because #1 is difficult (yeah maybe not that difficult I diy'd).
The last of this business....I got an email receipt stating from the website I used, that I accepted $135 for the car. I'm wondering why the salvage yard would lower the $300 to $135--my guess is the website gets a cut or %....Very likely that will be the last car I ever junk. I've only done one more prior and that was in the early 90's.
the two zerks
...
Anyway, we all know darn well there could be shenanigans if letting someone repair our cars. Just hard to accept our worst fears are realities. imho dealers are the worst, chain stores second worst. My daily driver people said on the forum, dealers routinely do only 7/8 plugs because #1 is difficult (yeah maybe not that difficult I diy'd).
...
On a Ford Super Duty message board there are occasional discussions of having the oil changed without greasing the drivetrain. It seems that even dealers don't know about the two zerks, one in each front end U-joint.
I like to understand
...
Anyway, we all know darn well there could be shenanigans if letting someone repair our cars. Just hard to accept our worst fears are realities. imho dealers are the worst, chain stores second worst. My daily driver people said on the forum, dealers routinely do only 7/8 plugs because #1 is difficult (yeah maybe not that difficult I diy'd).
...
On a Ford Super Duty message board there are occasional discussions of having the oil changed without greasing the drivetrain. It seems that even dealers don't know about the two zerks, one in each front end U-joint.
How things work, since the world is a place that rewards those who are in the know and connected (neither of which I am lol).
As mentioned I think, they didn't pay me $600 but $300. Then I get an email that I accepted $100 lol So the shady salvage yard reported they paid less than they really did, $300 cash. Cash is untraceable. This goes on day in, day out, but I did learn about CATs. And this even elaborates:
https://rrcats.com/blog/how-we-determine-different-types-of-...
Because as I researched more, yes, someone stole the OE CAT, but there are two more that I would be 100% are original. I remember all of the hullabaloo with my Maxima back in the day, it was a Calif. emissions car, which made it hard when new, for people to get an aftermarket Y pipe with the 2 pre-CATs. The above confirms pre-CATs are not that valuable. They are after that prize, the final CAT. And the above confirms aftermarket is significantly worth less than the OE.
It's a big world out there with lots of sharks, we just have to try not to be the guppies.
I looked up our other cars, the BMW since it has a true dual has 4 CATs. the Toyota V8 has 3. My wife's SUV 3. Amazingly, the Toyota product the most valuable at $2800. My BMW is only worth $1,990 for scrap, 4 CATs and all. My wife's GM which is a 2011, by far worth the least at $1,165. I woulda thought the BMW is worth the most having a true dual setup.
The likelihood of me ever scrapping another car is slim to none. And I have over researched my feeling of getting ripped off by $300. But my motivation is gaining an understanding, not really the $300 shortfall.
anyway net net--if you ever have your CAT replaced, don't be shy, insist the old one is returned to you. You have to do absolutely little to nothing, to pocket $300. the above website takes care of shipping etc. Sounds like all the person who has it does is to put it into a prepaid box.