Should I fix my car or Sell it?? Please help.

[ravi189]

Hi. I have an 02 Protege5 w/ 120K miles. It's a manual transmission, and live in New Jersey.

My engine is messed up and I have to replace it, which will cost me $1650 w/ labor.

I have someone who offered me $850 for the car as is..

What do you think I should do?? SHould I replace the engine and try to sell it for a profit? Or should I just sell it for $850 and cut my losses??

I already planned on selling the car before the engine even messed up, so I'm definitely going to sell as soon as I get it fixed.

The shocks aren't in the best shape, and there's a few minor problems w/ the exterior.

What would you do??

 

[slavrenz]

Depends. What messed up the engine? And what do you mean by "minor problems with the exterior"?

 

[SocialStealth]

Hey, I live in jersey as well!
I'd personally say that it would be naive to take the first offer you get, assuming this has been the first offer. Maybe hold out for a little and wait until you get something better. Put it up on craigs list. I'm sure you could part the car out for over 850. Trust me, you'll end up selling parts you didn't even know existed.

As for fixing the engine... A lot of that 1650$ is labor. My neighbor rebuilt his car's engine and basically built his entire car (its a subaru), so I'd like to let you know that there are people looking to go that route. You could probably sell the engine As Is for $500+. The only downside to parting the car out is it will be sitting by your house for a few months while the scavengers pick at it.

After you fix the engine, I'm sure other problems will arise and it will be another 500$+ in labor to take out the parts they just put in, so they can fix something else. Trust me its a long road you do not want to travel.

 

[Flagship]

Fix it.

 

[Dpwhitehead1]

fix it. buy a used motor for 400.00 and put the motor in.. i'll even come up there and put it in for you for a fee.. which will be WAY less than 1650!

 

[SocialStealth]

fix it. buy a used motor for 400.00 and put the motor in.. i'll even come up there and put it in for you for a fee.. which will be WAY less than 1650!

Don't listen to them, part it out! *Evil glare*

Proteges don't hold their value anyway, you'll make more money parting it out

 

[ravi189]

Thanks for ALL the responses.

I'm not sure what the problem was, but it started leaking antifreeze and made a really nasty noise. He said it's something mechanical that broke within.

BOOST...How much would you charge??

I think I just may part it out. But, where would I find ppl to sell parts too?? This isn't the most common car in the world, and I think it would be pretty hard to find people to sell parts too.

I was considering selling for so cheap, because I didnt' think there would be too many ppl would wanna buy a mazda w/ 120,000 miles, with a new (used) engine that was barely even tested out. Besides that, it's not in perfect condition.

I considering it would cost 1600 to fix it, I would need to sell it for at least $2400 just to make the $850 the guy offered me.

I think I just might post sell it for parts, but I just don't know how easy it's gonna be.

Also, where could I get a used engine for that cheap?? I called a bunch of junk yards and most don't have it, and when they do, they're expensive.

Any more suggestions?? Thanks again BTW.

 

[rjd86]

where could you find people to part it out to... hmmm i wonder where you might have acess to a large group of people who own similar cars?

sorry just kidding i would say to part it out for sure and if you are ready to even ship some stuff you could sell alot of it real quick

 

[johnny mp5]

or you can give me your tranny for 500...

 

[Metallic36]

If you decide to part out, you will have all of the people on here flocking to you for parts. This is THE place to do a partout! Just remember proper pics.

 

[ravi189]

where could you find people to part it out to... hmmm i wonder where you might have acess to a large group of people who own similar cars?

sorry just kidding i would say to part it out for sure and if you are ready to even ship some stuff you could sell alot of it real quick

LOL... I figured this would be a good place, but then I thought that there wouldn't be too many ppl in my area. I figured that most ppl would be too far, and that I would have to ship, which would probably jack up the price to a point where no one would be willing ot buy it.

I guess I was wrong. I guess I'm gonna keep it. Thanks for the advise, I'll be sure to post a thread when I'm ready.

Johnny, I'll PM you some time, or you can send me your email, and I'll let you know.

THanks again everyone.

 

[SocialStealth]

A few of us protege owners are planning on changing the gauge cluster lights pretty soon, you might have seen the thread about it. Its possible to break the cluster, actually, its pretty likely that at least one of us will. so if I do, I'll be looking for a new gauge cluster around next week


A few months ago, before my accident, I was planning on selling my bumpers/spoiler and investing in a body kit. I had a few people that were looking for the parts and asking me for pictures etc. Want me to give you their emails?

 

[mazdadude]

I would fix it! Find a Mazda buddy in your area that would like to give a hand, and supply lots of pizza and beer.(friday)

If you cannot repair your motor, it is not too hard to find a used one.

If you decide to fix it, you will probably work on it for a just a weekend or two. However if you part it out, you are going to be answering emails, yanking parts off of that car, and also shipping the parts out for at least a month!(yupnope)

$850 sounds too cheap, unless the car is a salvage/rebuilt title, and it needs other expensive stuff done besides the motor.

 

[Dpwhitehead1]

Thanks for ALL the responses.

I'm not sure what the problem was, but it started leaking antifreeze and made a really nasty noise. He said it's something mechanical that broke within.

BOOST...How much would you charge??

I think I just may part it out. But, where would I find ppl to sell parts too?? This isn't the most common car in the world, and I think it would be pretty hard to find people to sell parts too.

I was considering selling for so cheap, because I didnt' think there would be too many ppl would wanna buy a mazda w/ 120,000 miles, with a new (used) engine that was barely even tested out. Besides that, it's not in perfect condition.

I considering it would cost 1600 to fix it, I would need to sell it for at least $2400 just to make the $850 the guy offered me.

I think I just might post sell it for parts, but I just don't know how easy it's gonna be.

Also, where could I get a used engine for that cheap?? I called a bunch of junk yards and most don't have it, and when they do, they're expensive.

Any more suggestions?? Thanks again BTW.

i'll install the motor with traveling up there for.. like 5-600.. (including bringing my tools up there and what not)

 

[ravi189]

I would fix it! Find a Mazda buddy in your area that would like to give a hand, and supply lots of pizza and beer.(friday)

If you cannot repair your motor, it is not too hard to find a used one.

If you decide to fix it, you will probably work on it for a just a weekend or two. However if you part it out, you are going to be answering emails, yanking parts off of that car, and also shipping the parts out for at least a month!(yupnope)

$850 sounds too cheap, unless the car is a salvage/rebuilt title, and it needs other expensive stuff done besides the motor.

Yea...$850 is too little. I just hate the hassle, and fear no one will want it w/ a newly replaced engine.

Where can I find the engine for cheap??

I posted a thread asking where to find one, but came up short. I could only find it for $1050. Is it a rare engine, because that's what I keep hearing.

The car's not that bad, but the shocks need replacing.

 

[ravi189]

i'll install the motor with traveling up there for.. like 5-600.. (including bringing my tools up there and what not)

Yea.... My mechanic said he could get me an engine for $2000 and it's hard to find, but said that I could look on my own and he would install it for $600. My dad's been going to him for years. I'm gonna just stick with him for nearly the same price

Sorry.

 

[mazdadude]

Yea...$850 is too little. I just hate the hassle, and fear no one will want it w/ a newly replaced engine.

Where can I find the engine for cheap??

I posted a thread asking where to find one, but came up short. I could only find it for $1050. Is it a rare engine, because that's what I keep hearing.

The car's not that bad, but the shocks need replacing.

Remember, if you are looking to buy, they will say it is a "Rare item"! If you are looking to trade it in, or sell the same thing to 'em, then they are "a dime a dozen".(fight)

There are a few internet search sites for auto recyclers, that can search the entire US. Also, if you really want to make sure the engine has the mileage they are claiming, you can run a carfax off of the vin on the engine, and see how many miles the vehicle had on it when it was recycled.

 

[SocialStealth]

Yea.... My mechanic said he could get me an engine for $2000 and it's hard to find, but said that I could look on my own and he would install it for $600. My dad's been going to him for years. I'm gonna just stick with him for nearly the same price

Sorry.

Parting out:

tranny: 600
engine: 400
front window: 150
rear window: 100
front bumper: 75
front bumper cover: 50
rear bumper: 75
rear bumper cover: 50
spoiler: 50
window motors: 200 (50/ea)
hood: 100
radiator: 50
A/C system: 100
gauge cluster: 250
trunk lid: 75

=2325 easy profit

And those are just the main items that will be fought over within the first month. Probably worth a few hundred in scrap metal as well.
(there are a few junk yards around here in jersey that will tow your car for free and pay you $xx for the scrap metal)
So after your sick of looking at it you can kick it to the curb

Whereas if you fix the engine and sell it...
-600 labor
-800 engine
sell for 2500, hoping they don't notice the struts
= 1100 profit

 

[ravi189]

Whereas if you fix the engine and sell it...
-600 labor
-800 engine
sell for 2500, hoping they don't notice the struts
= 1100 profit

Exactly what I was thinking...

Thanks for the detailed response.

 

[gsmooth]

I'll take your tranny for 650!