Osco 7056 Chris Craft Exhaust Manifold Direct Replacement on 2040-parts.com

Watch the sad, final moments of a crusher-bound heap

Automotive wrecking yards are good places to reflect on the real-world values of heavily depreciated vehicles versus global current scrap-metal prices, and to see which cars have suddenly had the fix-it-versus-total-it line moved by insurance companies (the early-21st-century Subaru Legacy Outback, for example, appeared in large numbers in high-turnover wrecking yards just during the last year, as fairly minor collision damage on these cars is no longer worth fixing). You'll see the things that a car's last owner does in a desperate attempt to sell (or at least live with) an increasingly decrepit heap (as we learned in "Repo Man," you really will find a Little Tree in every car). During a recent trip to a San Jose, Calif., yard, I encountered this sad yet strangely compelling scene.

Nissan Quest

The Quest joins the Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey to make a trio of new full-sized minivans at the 2010 LA auto show. The Quest appears, both from the outside – and gives the impression – inside, of being the largest of the three. The previous generation Quest featured an undulating shoulder line, replaced on this new model by two key flowing lines on the body sides, one of which wraps around from the hood surface.

New Porsche 911 Turbo gets a bigger engine and cranks out 500 hp

There are plenty of good reasons to go to the Frankfurt motor show in September, but this seals the deal--Porsche will use the show for the rollout of the new 911 Turbo in coupe and convertible versions. Porsche on Friday gave us photos and details on the newest 911. Here are the high points: -- New 3.8-liter flat-six engine rated at 500 hp.