Topic: Thinking Out Loud: Cars in New Orleans and Mississippi

[Brigitte]

Watching all this devastation, I couldn't help but wonder what's going to happen to the abandoned cars.  Would they still be able to run after sitting underwater for so long?  And if so, if some aren't claimed, are they going to end up in the hands of unscrupulous dealers who will try to pass them off as clean?  And, let's not forget the all the brand-new, unsold cars sitting at dealerships down there...

I've read stories about cars in the southern US being written off after floods, only to be resold into other markets to unsuspecting (and non-Carfax-checking) customers.

The write-offs and payouts will be enormous as well.  I wonder how all this will affect our own car/home insurance rates next year.   

[Wetson]

One of my colleagues had their Acura RL written off due to flooding in Toronto last month.  The car had stalled and they had to get out because the water was rising.... they didn't know the water was up to the top of the wheel.  When they opened the door to get out, water flooded in destroying the interior and shorting out the majority of electronics inside.  The insurance company opted to write it off.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

I read in the Toronto Sun that in N Toronto, the Benz dealer said they saw 14 cars with flood damage, and only 2 were salvagable. The electronics just aren't designed for submersion.

I should know. I drove my Golf into the ocean for a photo and it's never been the same since.

[Snowman]

Money will move from the swelling coffers of the insurance companies back into the economy. The re-building of the affected areas will be a boom for the construction, manufacturing, and resource industries. Buy your lumber now, in a month the price will double.

[kelefe]

are they going to end up in the hands of unscrupulous dealers who will try to pass them off as clean?

I don't think anything would stop unscrupulous dealers from being unscupulous. 

After the Alberta flooding, my friend knew a Mini sales guy that wanted to sell off some flood damaged Cooper S's that were restored for really cheap. ($15-20 grand? Can't remember)

I immediately turned that down as most of the electronics, and even the engine had been replaced.

[AVToller]

Buy your lumber now, in a month the price will double.

Ah, more money for the US government as they continue to punish Canada for "dumping" softwood lumber and harming their market. 

[a4_tom]

Modern car's electronics are just too much to handle for flooding. I would expect those flooded cars end up in Eastcoast.

[si]

Interesting topic.

I would not be suprised if illegal activity went on, especially since all the looting is going on now.

But, say, if one wanted to get rid of their car, all they would have to do is leave it in the path of a hurricane and BAM, insurance provides a new car.

[barrie1]

Now is the time for Canada to raise the price of Imported Lumber to the US and the price of our oil and Natural Gas as well. The Us dosen't want to play fair on the rules so why should we now they need a hand. They would never do this Country any Favours to help out so why should we. 

[wing]

Going to go buy my fence tomorrow before the price rises!

[Wetson]

Getting back to the original topic... I suspect that salvage yards are going to be inundated with parts from these vehicles that have been water logged.  There's no reason why a tail light lens, other plastic pieces, or even body parts can't be reused from them.  Clean em up and they'll be as good as new.

[Scaerio]

Just checked the TSX.  The fuel shortage in the US is going to be a short-term boom for this economy.  The TSX is 400 points above the Dow.  More $$$ for our trade surplus, Albeta's budget surplus, Newfoundland's offshore royalties, and the Federal surplus.  And that's before the US starts importing masses of lumber...  Now, if my boss (the PM) would only send some of that money our way...

[ovr50]

Oh, sure, Ken, change your usedname to "Scary Aerio" or Scaerio for short. Tricky devil, you....

[AVToller]

  And that's before the US starts importing masses of lumber... 

We should not increase lumber exports until they remove the illegal duties and return the $5 billion they have improperly taken to date. 

[skypoint]

The US lumber lobby would favour keeping Canadian wood out even now -  they will want to profit from the increased price of lumber due to rebuilding after the storm.

No, it's time for Canada to dump NAFTA and.... join the EU!!!

After all, the distance from Dublin (an EU member state) to Cyprus (and EU member state) as actually greater than the distance from Dublin to Canada! Canada's political and economic model closely follows that found in Europe, and the majority of Canadians are ethnically European anyway....

Plus, being in the EU would mean you'd get Peugeots and Renaults and Skodas and Seats without import taxes :-p

[Drivesideways]

Hmmm...the thread seems to be lumbering off topic.  I guess no one can really say for sure what will become of the automotive flotsam and jetsam.

[tpl]

Skypoint:  Its been tried. Thr Treaty of Rome says Europe only.   It would work really well IMHO if it could be done.

1) we are the right sized population
2) we are a welfare state
3) We have enough resources to keep them going for years.
4) there would be no reason for anti-americanism any more cos they'd be paying us $200/barrel for our oil.
5) we would get the BBC instead of Fox.
6) we would have TVR dealers  ( auto content)
7) Quebec could revert to being a DOM of France
Our currency would be worth $1.22US

1) but we would get vauxhalls
2) we would have $2/litre gas
3) The euro pols are even worse than the Liberals when it comes to getting on the gravy train

3)

[Careener]

The cars will all be written off..except for the Toyota Helix Diesels http://www.bbc.co.uk/topgear/prog28/hilux_broadband.ram (Real Video format)
Bit begins at 2mins 44secs..

[AVToller]

Go to your room DSW!       Shame on you.

[safristi]

Darn these boards are hard to follow with these chopped up pages...I liked the older way where you could scroll down 40 in a row and keep up with the action/buzz...this is like a frikkien INDEX ....fer Sycophant...see suck UP..page 345......feck it..!!!!