Ah, if your new ride is an '06, then what was the production year for the old one?
Up here things are kind of weird for used cars due to, 1. rust and corrosion, and 2. parts. A five year old car is considered obsolescent because 5 years is about the amount of time a mfgr runs a model before redesigning it. At 10 years it is obsolete and worth nothing as a trade in. (Better just scrap that POS, buddy) Also, after that five years, OEM parts for that vehicle start to become unavailable or only by special order. I've had this talk with my local salvage yard rep and he only keeps vehicles from 0-5 years of age in stock for picking. Older than 5, it depends on ongoing demand or uniqueness, and after 10, what comes in gets immediately stripped of the basics and then stacked for transport to the shredder. Often, about all that comes out are the battery and the gas tank for safety and off the metal munchers it goes. Trucks fare a lot better. They tend to last longer and get repaired more frequently. Still have the same issue with parts availability and the aftermarket seems to be slower when it comes to picking up the slack. Tried Rock Auto, who advertises they have "everything" a car will ever need, and "Oh No, they didn't."
The last time an S-10 came into the yard as a DOA, the only things left from it by the time I was done were the frame, motor and t-mission, and the cab shell. Took the one good front fender, hood, both doors, the complete rear end minus the springs, the rear stabilizer assembly with clamps, end links, and frame mounts and some misc stuff. It was all in good shape and apart from the hood and the diff it all went up in the loft on the mezzanine floor for cold storage. The hood is outside until I can jigger some room for it and the rear end is sitting on my rack for such things along with a couple of others.
Last G-Body that came through was a mid' 80's more door Pontiac in absolutely great shape. Think it must have been sold by someone's estate. Almost a shame to see it there but, no room. Did score the spare wheel because it was one of those micro-spares and they are hard to come by because the body shops use them for car movers. The yard likes to keep them because full size wheels get parted out or sold intact. Has to be at least 5 years ago if not more. Love to be able to take a trailer and make a banzai run down to the desert states to pick some of the yards. Never know what can be found.
Nick
