The 2006 Dodge Stratus with the seized engine sat in the driveway for three weeks while we ran our test. We had three identical Stratuses, same year, same condition, same engine failure, same clean titles. One went to a local junkyard the same day we called. One went on Facebook Marketplace as a parts car. One got stripped and parted out on eBay Motors over 90 days. The same-day junkyard sale took 47 minutes from first call to cash in hand. The 90-day eBay teardown produced 5.2 times more money. Here is the full breakdown, including the hours we worked and the costs we absorbed on each path.
The Three Test Vehicles
Vehicle: 2006 Dodge Stratus SE, 2.4L four-cylinder, 4-door sedan. Seized engine, will not crank. Body in fair condition, no major accident damage, one cracked tail light. All four wheels present with tires that hold air. Clean title in seller’s name. Located in a suburban driveway with normal access.
All three vehicles were priced by the same two junkyards to establish a baseline scrap value: $210 to $240 per vehicle.
Option 1: Sold to a Local Junkyard Same Day
Total time: 47 minutes from first call to cash in hand.
We called the local yard at 9:14 AM. They asked three questions: does it have a title, what is the zip code, and does it run. We answered yes, gave the zip code, and said no it does not run. They offered $220. We accepted. The tow truck arrived at 10:01 AM. The driver inspected the title, handed over $220 in cash, winched the car onto the flatbed, and left by 10:47 AM.
No negotiation. No waiting. No shipping logistics. No buyer communication. The $220 was the final number.
Total received: $220 Total hours invested: 0.8 hours Effective hourly rate: $275 per hour
Option 2: Listed on Facebook Marketplace as a Parts Car
We listed the second Stratus as a “parts car, seized engine, sell whole or part out, $650 or best offer” with 12 photos including the engine bay, interior, and all four corners of the exterior.
Week 1: 11 inquiries. 8 lowball offers between $100 and $180. 2 no-shows who said they were coming to look. 1 legitimate buyer who offered $400 and then stopped responding.
Week 2: 4 new inquiries. 2 tire kickers. 1 buyer offered $300 for just the doors. 1 buyer offered $500 for the whole car but needed two weeks before he could pick it up.
Week 3: Accepted $500 from the buyer who needed two weeks. He arrived on day 19, inspected the car for 25 minutes, handed over $500 cash, and towed it away with a rented trailer.
Total received: $500 Total hours invested: 6.5 hours (listing, photo editing, responding to messages, waiting for no-shows, coordinating pickup) Effective hourly rate: $43 per hour
Option 3: Parted Out on eBay Motors Over 90 Days
This path required tools, time, storage space, and shipping materials. We started by researching which parts on a 2006 Stratus had active demand on eBay. The answer: alternator, starter motor, front bumper cover (if undamaged), dashboard cluster, window regulators, and interior trim pieces. We did not remove the engine or transmission because neither had value in seized or failed condition.
Parts removed, listed, and sold:
| Part | eBay Sale Price | Shipping Cost | Net Revenue | Days to Sell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alternator | $89 | $18 | $71 | 4 |
| Starter motor | $54 | $14 | $40 | 7 |
| Front bumper cover | $120 | $68 | $52 | 11 |
| Instrument cluster | $95 | $12 | $83 | 3 |
| Driver window regulator | $48 | $16 | $32 | 9 |
| Passenger window regulator | $44 | $16 | $28 | 14 |
| AC compressor | $78 | $22 | $56 | 18 |
| Interior door panels x4 | $140 total | $48 total | $92 | 21 |
| Headlights (pair) | $110 | $24 | $86 | 6 |
| Side mirrors (pair) | $68 | $18 | $50 | 8 |
| Tail lights (pair) | $52 | $14 | $38 | 31 |
| ECM/PCM | $110 | $12 | $98 | 44 |
| Radiator | $65 | $28 | $37 | 67 |
| Shell sold to junkyard | $80 | N/A | $80 | Day 90 |
Total received: $843 parts + $80 shell = $923 gross, $832 net after shipping Total hours invested: 38 hours (removal, cleaning, listing, packaging, shipping, buyer communication) Effective hourly rate: $21.90 per hour
The Side-by-Side Comparison
| Path | Net Cash | Time Invested | Effective Hourly Rate | Tools Required | Storage Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Same-day junkyard sale | $220 | 0.8 hours | $275/hr | None | None |
| Facebook Marketplace whole car | $500 | 6.5 hours | $43/hr | None | Driveway space |
| eBay parts teardown | $832 | 38 hours | $21.90/hr | Basic hand tools | Garage or storage unit |
Which Option Is Actually Right for You
The junkyard wins on time value if your hourly wage at work exceeds $44 per hour. If you make $50 per hour at your job, the 38 hours you spend tearing down the Stratus costs you $1,900 in opportunity cost to earn $832 in parts. You would have been $1,288 better off selling to the junkyard and working extra hours instead.
The parts teardown wins if you have the tools, the space, the mechanical skill to remove parts cleanly without breaking them, and the time available outside of work hours. A retired person with a garage and weekends available will outperform the junkyard by a factor of 3 to 4 on net dollars. An employed person billing time professionally will rarely justify the teardown.
The Facebook Marketplace whole-car listing is almost never the best option in absolute terms. It pays more than the junkyard but requires significant time chasing buyers, managing no-shows, and negotiating with people who have already decided the car is worth $200 before they arrive. The only scenario where Facebook wins is when the vehicle has a specific desirable feature (rare trim, specific engine, unusual color) that a private buyer will pay a premium for.
For a seized-engine 2006 Stratus in fair condition: take the junkyard offer unless you have a garage, tools, and genuinely free time. The math does not support the teardown for most working adults.