I have a '97 Subaru Legacy wagon, and we are about to trade it in. Haven't yet decided on what the new car will be, but that decision will happen soon. The problem is that it needs a whole new exhaust system. The exhaust has already been patched (temporary repair, just trying to get by before trading in), and now has completely broken in another spot and will be dragging on the ground the next time I try to drive the car. I'll either have to wire it up just to keep it from dragging, or else finishing removing it completely.
We've been quoted $1500 to replace the entire thing (including the cat), and the problem is that the car in running condition is worth about $1500. So if I spend the money to get a new exhaust system, I'm at net $0. If I trade it in at a dealer, I should come out ahead by NOT fixing the exhaust, assuming they won't make me pay to leave it there. ;-)
In my younger days, I would have replaced the thing myself and saved the labor costs, but with kids, work, bad weather, etc. I am not inclined to do that anymore. The car is otherwise in decent shape, definitiely not a candidate for the scrapyard. Whoever would replace the exhaust would have a decent car that doesn't currently need any other repairs.
So have I done my math right? Should I just coat hanger the exhaust in place enough to get to the dealer for a trade-in and take whatever they give me, or does anyone have any other suggestions?
Ken