Car engine total loss...have a question

[runnah]

Yeah, but while it's out, might as well bolt on a Roots blower, NO2 kit, high-performace cam kit... you know, basic tune-up stuff!

It's actually way easier than people think. Just time consuming and tedious but not hard.

 

[ratssass]

personal opinion. chances are the miles are fairly high took, and it needs other work as well. Probably isn't worth working on. Even the tires, probably aren't worth the headache unless you have thousand dollar rims and tires on a thousand dollar car. Junkyards often will take off and sell used tires. Tires are up to you. If you are talking a minimal rebuild, know a mechanic, a few hundred bucks. okay, I can see fixing it if you have too. But realistically if I was in those shoes I would probably just junk the thing and go buy something else. I mean, its a fifteen or sixteen year old car. Might be time to go.

gotta go with brib on this....not to sound heartless,but if the most valuable part of the car is the tires,it might be time to work a deal with your mechanic/dealer friend.Some scrapyards don't even want to deal with the tires.

And for Tirediron.....Roots Blowers will soon go go the way the dinosaur.....SCREW IT,MAN!!!

 

[minicoop1985]

SCREW IT,MAN!!!

What you did there. I see it. BTW, TURBO ON A STICK!

Most of these places have flatbeds for a reason. As for a new car, avoid the new Focus. I have one and the transmission's horrible.

 

[limr30 3]

personal opinion. chances are the miles are fairly high took, and it needs other work as well. Probably isn't worth working on. Even the tires, probably aren't worth the headache unless you have thousand dollar rims and tires on a thousand dollar car. Junkyards often will take off and sell used tires. Tires are up to you. If you are talking a minimal rebuild, know a mechanic, a few hundred bucks. okay, I can see fixing it if you have too. But realistically if I was in those shoes I would probably just junk the thing and go buy something else. I mean, its a fifteen or sixteen year old car. Might be time to go.

It depends on a person's budget of course. Even if the wheels and tires cost me a total of $500 to replace, that would still be worth a lot to me. And yes, many junkyards resell wheels and charge anywhere from $50-$120 per wheel even for basic steel 15" rims.

One thing to keep in mind if you do scrap the car but keep the tires and/or wheels is what car you would get instead and if it will take the same size tire/wheel.

16-year-old car with just the engine bad? That's exactly the kind of car that my father would drag home from the junkyard. We regularly had 3-4 beaters scattered around the back yard where he worked.

 

[annamaria]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I can't afford a new car so for now don't have much choice it's either fix my car or buy a used American made car from my old trusty mechanic that happens to have a used car lot. He is an honest guy. I am not into American cars, at least not the cheaply ones. Wish me luck and keep me in your prayers. I really really need a car pronto.

 

[molested_cow]

Funny how you specifically mentioned USED - AMERICAN car. Yeah, get that motor fixed. It will be less trouble compared to fixing an used American car.

Fixing cars isn't difficult, but that's provided that you have the tools, which aren't cheap. This is when I am glad that the labor cost here is too damn cheap. Had an engine gasket replacement on my mom's 03 Audi A3 recently, cost only USD$250.

When I had my 97 Prelude in the States, the timing belt replacement job was rated as a 6-hour job. Imagine how much it cost me.

 

[Steve5D]

Hmmmmmmm.

This is my 1999 Ford Explorer:

I paid $12,000.00 cash for it ten years ago. It's got about 148,000 miles on it. It's on its third transmission.

Every time something goes south on it, I think about getting a new truck. And then I consider a few things.

First, I love my truck. There's not a damn thing special about it, aside from the fact that it's mine and I dig it.

Second, when I consider the economics of it, it's hard to reconcile a new ride. For instance: Back in May, my transmission gave up the ghost in Florence, Montana while driving cross country. I was fortunate that I was visiting my old bass player, and he knew great mechanics at a great shop, and they got a new transmission in for me. When all was said and done, it set me back about $2,400.00. Now, on the one hand, I guess I could say that I could've put that money towards the down payment on a new (pre-owned) truck. And then I'd have had payments of, I dunno', $400.00 a month? $350.00? Yeah, I'd have a new truck, but I like my old truck. Once I spent that $2,400.00, it was done. The truck was runnin' like a top.

Before leaving Portland last May, I put about $1,200.00 into the truck, including a rebuilt cooling system. When I got to Montana about two weeks later, the transmission went. Since then, it's been nothing but routine maintenance.

So, in the last year, I've put $3,600.00 into the truck, and it runs perfectly. I don't have a truck payment. Had I bought a new truck before leaving Portland, I'd have a monthly payment of, say, $350.00 a month, and I would still have to pay for any repairs that would need to be done during the life of that loan. Or, I could drive a vehicle that I love and that runs great and that I don't have to shell out several hundred dollars a month for.

Don't get me wrong. If you have the resources, knock yourself out. But if you watch your money and you like the car, consider the repair. As my Explorer has shown me, yeah, I'll put a few grand into it every so often, but it's far less than what I'd spend on car payments over that same period of time...

 

[bribrius]

Hmmmmmmm.

This is my 1999 Ford Explorer:

I paid $12,000.00 cash for it ten years ago. It's got about 148,000 miles on it. It's on its third transmission.

Every time something goes south on it, I think about getting a new truck. And then I consider a few things.

First, I love my truck. There's not a damn thing special about it, aside from the fact that it's mine and I dig it.

Second, when I consider the economics of it, it's hard to reconcile a new ride. For instance: Back in May, my transmission gave up the ghost in Florence, Montana while driving cross country. I was fortunate that I was visiting my old bass player, and he knew great mechanics at a great shop, and they got a new transmission in for me. When all was said and done, it set me back about $2,400.00. Now, on the one hand, I guess I could say that I could've put that money towards the down payment on a new (pre-owned) truck. And then I'd have had payments of, I dunno', $400.00 a month? $350.00? Yeah, I'd have a new truck, but I like my old truck. Once I spent that $2,400.00, it was done. The truck was runnin' like a top.

Before leaving Portland last May, I put about $1,200.00 into the truck, including a rebuilt cooling system. When I got to Montana about two weeks later, the transmission went. Since then, it's been nothing but routine maintenance.

So, in the last year, I've put $3,600.00 into the truck, and it runs perfectly. I don't have a truck payment. Had I bought a new truck before leaving Portland, I'd have a monthly payment of, say, $350.00 a month, and I would still have to pay for any repairs that would need to be done during the life of that loan. Or, I could drive a vehicle that I love and that runs great and that I don't have to shell out several hundred dollars a month for.

Don't get me wrong. If you have the resources, knock yourself out. But if you watch your money and you like the car, consider the repair. As my Explorer has shown me, yeah, I'll put a few grand into it every so often, but it's far less than what I'd spend on car payments over that same period of time...

Not always the case though. you put four grand into a vehicle. sure, no car payments. But interest rates are so low right now and with incentives you can almost get no interest or near no interest car loans anyway (assuming you cant pay for one in cash).
So lets say four k. you buy car that doesn't have heavy depreciation, you buy it new. four k depreciation (they all lose when you drive off the lot) but then you drive it for two years. trade it in. your loss is the original four k lot drive off depreciation plus another two k say.
so you lost six k. but you are down near four k on your 99. so surmise to say, you are saving two k by keeping your 99.
Except that, a. you don't know what else is going to break next that could turn this situation upside down. B. you don't know if the thing is going to leave you stranded somewhere and if you can trust it. And c. at what point does your POTENTIAL for saving that two k out weigh your chance to drive around two or three years under a manufacturer warrantee in a brand new ride.

Im not saying you are incorrect in your thinking, im just suggesting that it may not always be so cut and dry.
I used to think leases were a bad idea, until someone more knowledgeable than me showed me the math on leases. Depending on the situation, leasing a car can be cheaper than owning one. I also used to think higher expense cars, were actually more expensive too. Until someone showed me the depreciation rate on vehicles and what you should really look at. A thirty thousand dollar car can be cheaper than a twenty thousand dollar car, if it depreciates less. Same vehicle over a five year ownership say, you might save money buying the more expensive car, or a lease, or like in your situation, just keeping the one you have.
The o.p. may, actually be in a better position to pick up a lease if they don't drive excessive miles. You can get some pretty cheap leases that may be even cheaper than the buy here pay here plan they are considering. couple hundred a month. And if you add up the buy here pay here, no warrantee and breakdowns, the cheaper insurance on a lease (usually) they may actually SAVE money leasing a brand new vehicle.

 

[annamaria]

Funny how you specifically mentioned USED - AMERICAN car. Yeah, get that motor fixed. It will be less trouble compared to fixing an used American car. Fixing cars isn't difficult, but that's provided that you have the tools, which aren't cheap. This is when I am glad that the labor cost here is too damn cheap. Had an engine gasket replacement on my mom's 03 Audi A3 recently, cost only USD$250. When I had my 97 Prelude in the States, the timing belt replacement job was rated as a 6-hour job. Imagine how much it cost me.

I see your point and yes If I knew anything about fixing cars it would definitely be DIY project. I'd drag the old toolbox out

 

[annamaria]

Hmmmmmmm. This is my 1999 Ford Explorer: I paid $12,000.00 cash for it ten years ago. It's got about 148,000 miles on it. It's on its third transmission. Every time something goes south on it, I think about getting a new truck. And then I consider a few things. First, I love my truck. There's not a damn thing special about it, aside from the fact that it's mine and I dig it. Second, when I consider the economics of it, it's hard to reconcile a new ride. For instance: Back in May, my transmission gave up the ghost in Florence, Montana while driving cross country. I was fortunate that I was visiting my old bass player, and he knew great mechanics at a great shop, and they got a new transmission in for me. When all was said and done, it set me back about $2,400.00. Now, on the one hand, I guess I could say that I could've put that money towards the down payment on a new (pre-owned) truck. And then I'd have had payments of, I dunno', $400.00 a month? $350.00? Yeah, I'd have a new truck, but I like my old truck. Once I spent that $2,400.00, it was done. The truck was runnin' like a top. Before leaving Portland last May, I put about $1,200.00 into the truck, including a rebuilt cooling system. When I got to Montana about two weeks later, the transmission went. Since then, it's been nothing but routine maintenance. So, in the last year, I've put $3,600.00 into the truck, and it runs perfectly. I don't have a truck payment. Had I bought a new truck before leaving Portland, I'd have a monthly payment of, say, $350.00 a month, and I would still have to pay for any repairs that would need to be done during the life of that loan. Or, I could drive a vehicle that I love and that runs great and that I don't have to shell out several hundred dollars a month for. Don't get me wrong. If you have the resources, knock yourself out. But if you watch your money and you like the car, consider the repair. As my Explorer has shown me, yeah, I'll put a few grand into it every so often, but it's far less than what I'd spend on car payments over that same period of time...

Nice Explorer I can see why you hang onto it. I guess there are pros and cons to repairing an existing vehicle, for one thing as you mentioned it's yours and no payments to worry about. I am still in the hunting and decision making mode and waiting on mechanic's call.

 

[annamaria]

personal opinion. chances are the miles are fairly high took, and it needs other work as well. Probably isn't worth working on. Even the tires, probably aren't worth the headache unless you have thousand dollar rims and tires on a thousand dollar car. Junkyards often will take off and sell used tires. Tires are up to you. If you are talking a minimal rebuild, know a mechanic, a few hundred bucks. okay, I can see fixing it if you have too. But realistically if I was in those shoes I would probably just junk the thing and go buy something else. I mean, its a fifteen or sixteen year old car. Might be time to go.

I see your point but I just bought 4 tires a month ago and new brakes. I am waiting to see what my mechanic says if it's worth fixing. The other option is transfer the new tires to another 98 Camry. Keeping fingers crossed.

 

[annamaria]

Yeah, but while it's out, might as well bolt on a Roots blower, NO2 kit, high-performace cam kit... you know, basic tune-up stuff!

What's a root blower? As you can see I am not a mechanic lol

 

[annamaria]

It depends on a person's budget of course. Even if the wheels and tires cost me a total of $500 to replace, that would still be worth a lot to me. And yes, many junkyards resell wheels and charge anywhere from $50-$120 per wheel even for basic steel 15" rims. One thing to keep in mind if you do scrap the car but keep the tires and/or wheels is what car you would get instead and if it will take the same size tire/wheel. 16-year-old car with just the engine bad? That's exactly the kind of car that my father would drag home from the junkyard. We regularly had 3-4 beaters scattered around the back yard where he worked.

I am thinking of buying another 98 so I can use the tires not sure if other years of the same make would be compatible with the tires. But you're right I am on a budget so have to think this whole mess over.

 

[ratssass]

Yeah, but while it's out, might as well bolt on a Roots blower, NO2 kit, high-performace cam kit... you know, basic tune-up stuff!

What's a root blower? As you can see I am not a mechanic lol

...it's nothing you'll have to worry about.It's commonly called a blower.You're more apt to see boost in a turbocharger.Either one,I'm guessing is nothing you'll need to concern yourself with.Can't speak for Tirediron,but I think its safe to say he was being facetious.<---(always wanted to use that word in a post)
Good luck!!!

 

[BillM]

I'm sure that size tire should fit many models from many manufacturers over many years. You may need to have them put on a different rim for the bolt pattern but that will depend on the auto manufacturer.