Help Needed - What would you do?

[toryglen-boy (Duncan)]

ok ... so i need some opinions, and advice!

i was recently saving up to get a G11, but my car blew the headgasket, so that put paid to that, i put the car in, only to find the head needs reskimming with a new gasket, and the car needs a new radiator, so i was quoted $2500 for that, and some otehr work that needed doing.

So, the garage gets in touch with me this morning, "bad news mate, your block is cracked right through, it cant be fixed, and needs a new engine"

Me "So, whats the plan? and how much will it cost me?"

Garage "We can get you a secondhand engine thats been taken from another MX5 and put that in place, with the radiator and the other work that needs doing, your looking at $4500.

Me "How many K's are on the engine?"

Garage "about 61,000"

Me "Can that be verified?"

Garage "no"

Me "Does it come with a warranty?"

Garage "60 days"

Me "Do you get to see it?"

Garage "No, it come from a used parts supplier, and we get to have a look at it externally before we fit it, but we dont check it out"

Me "Ok, so you cant verify the mileage of the engine, the warranty is only for 60 days, and to buy and fit it, its gonna cost $4500?"

Garage "yup"

Me "is there any alternative?"

Garage "we will buy your car for $4000 as scrap"
(Bear in mind the car is a nice little MX5 with hardtop, and in excellent condition cosmetically)

i feel as if i being shortchanged, or ripped off, can anyone shed any light on this, or what thier opinion is?


thanks

[erick (Eric)]

Oh, the joy of car ownership!

[multiweb (Marc)]

Definitely shop around - this guy doesn't sound right.

PS: get a bicycle and buy a PME.

[JimmyH155]

Its a difficu lt one. I am dreading similar problems in the future. The garages have you completely their mercy.
Try another garage perhaps??
If they say the block is cracked, then at least they could show you.

[toryglen-boy (Duncan)]

Originally Posted by erick

Oh, the joy of car ownership!

i know Eric, but my little car is a hoot to drive ..

[toryglen-boy (Duncan)]

Originally Posted by JimmyH155

Its a difficu lt one. I am dreading similar problems in the future. The garages have you completely their mercy.
Try another garage perhaps??
If they say the block is cracked, then at least they could show you.

i hear ya, but the car has no engine in it, and it seems crazy to pay them to put a knackered engine in there again, but your right, they have me over a barrel

[Waxing_Gibbous (Peter)]

Alas, $4500 is about right for a "new" engine, but 4K is way to low for 'parts'. The car isn't junk, far from it, so you depending on the year, you should see 10K from it if you want to go that route.
I'd persevere if I were you. Try fossiking the various MX5 sites, there are loads, and see whose got what in the way of recco'd engines.
IMHO its too nice a car to give up on. I wanted an MX5 or an MR2 because, with a bit of fettling they can be made zippy-quick and well fun!But my wife wanted something "special', so I bought a 911C4. It scares the crap out of her and she won't drive it.and I don't have the time!

[DavidU (Dave)]

A 1.8 L MX5 secondhand engine should be about $1500.
I would get a home mechanic type to fit it and get the radiator reco'd at the same time.
Fitting an engine is not rocket science, I have done it many times myself.

[Exfso (Peter)]

This smells of a ripoff to me, definitely shop around, sounds like the guy want your car body and has a reasonably good engine to put in it. He will probably sell it for a huge profit, dont let him get hold of it. Just my 2 cents worth.

[M54 (Molly)]

I would be a little worried when you're told the bad news about the car and then you find out he wants to buy the car, for a cheap price.
He maybe totally honest, but I'd want a second opinion.

[torana68 (Roger)]

Id be tempted to offer to fit a replacement engine if you found one (at some sort of cost or trade), its not a biggie.... see how much you owe them as you now should have a machined head and if not assembled probably a gasket set so all you need is a good bottom end.
Roger

[wasyoungonce (Brendan)]

So...now to the important part...what about the G11?

[marki]

Low km 4cyl jap import motors are about $1800.00 in the west to buy and they will fit them for less than $500.00. With more suppliers and shops in the east it should be cheaper then that. It is not a big job (about 2.5 -3 hours) if you want to do it yourself but you will need to hire an engine hoist. $4500.00 is a complete rip off and you need to cut your losses and find another mechanic. If you have to pay for the head you could always sell it to recoupe some of your money.

Mark