Life Car Engine Question

Nightfyre · 08-18-2011, 10:43 PM

O, Chiefsplanet! I call upon thine eternal wisdom!

Okay here's the scoop:

My Subaru engine blew at 106000 miles (sigh, life... 4000 miles after I paid 1200 for a tune-up/maintenance).

I am planning to replace the engine. I found an engine on ebay that happens to have 106000 miles and costs 1400 including shipping (including a 6 month part guarantee.)

However, I could purchase a new engine for 2150, but that does not include shipping.

Which would you choose, if:
A) you were planning on selling the car in six months
or
B) you were planning on keeping the car forever

I am leaving Montana for Alabama in March, so I won't need an AWD that only gets 22 mpg. I figure I can buy a cheap beater at Fort Rucker from someone down there and resell it before I come back approximately 18-24 months later.

**pr_capone** · 08-18-2011, 10:45 PM

A. used engine

B. new engine

**CrazyPhuD** · 08-19-2011, 01:37 AM

Labor is going to kill you(I assumes since you paid for a 1200 tune up you are not putting it in). While I haven't worked on all suby's, the engine bay of my friends STI was annoying to work around. definitely not alot of room. Have you gotten an install estimate? If not I'm betting the cost of the install will make the shipping concern a minor issue.

Nightfyre · 08-19-2011, 01:39 AM

I was quoted 8 hours labor at 60/hour.

Jewish Rabbi · 08-19-2011, 01:40 AM

Just add some antifreeze to the old one and it should be fine.

**TimeForWasp** · 08-19-2011, 02:16 AM

Time to shop for another used suburu, running with 106,000 miles.

Nightfyre · 08-19-2011, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiefsNow

Time to shop for another used suburu, running with 106,000 miles.

New subarus are ridiculously expensive here right now. I bought mine for 6400two years ago with 75000 miles. Now mine books for more than 7000 with 106000. Additionally, used subarus go for a premium here in mt.

MIAdragon · 08-19-2011, 07:58 AM

What model is it?

tmax63 · 08-19-2011, 08:08 AM

Depends on the rest of the powertrain. A beginning answer would be A,B. For long term you know what you have with a new one and would have a little better warranty on it. You're rolling the dice on a used one.

kepp · 08-19-2011, 08:24 AM

On a side note...is this a common life expectancy for Subarus? I was thinking of getting one next year but if they only go ~100K reliably, I'll cross them off my list.

Radar Chief · 08-19-2011, 08:37 AM

I’d have a hard time dishing out that kind of coin for a motor with >100K miles on it.

evenfall · 08-19-2011, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

I’d have a hard time dishing out that kind of coin for a motor with >100K miles on it.

Same thought.

Any idea why this used engine is not in a car in the first place?

For so little premium, get the new one.

evenfall · 08-19-2011, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kepp

On a side note...is this a common life expectancy for Subarus? I was thinking of getting one next year but if they only go ~100K reliably, I'll cross them off my list.

They are great cars. On some of them the buyer demo would be the riceboys who are going to beat on the engine though. They rev kind of high and most are turbocharged, which, on some level is just one more thing to go wrong, and because of AWD they don't quite get the gas mileage competing cars do (but more utility for it... Maybe you can recoup that if you have a manual.

I'm sure one that is adult driven would be reliable but man, you see tons of them on CL being sold by raycerboys with blown gears or motors.

Frazod · 08-19-2011, 08:48 AM

One of my friends lives about 10 miles south of Jefferson City and works in Columbia, so he puts a ton of mileage on his cars. He has a mid 90s Impreza with over 300,000 miles on it that's never had any serious problems. I guess there will always be lemons out there, but based on what I've heard from him and other Subaru owners I think they're pretty damned good vehicles.

EWOK · 08-19-2011, 08:49 AM

750 dollars for a piece of mind of a new engine is worth it. Subarus' if properly maintained when run well into 200k miles but the side effect of owning one is your lady will stop shaving!

08-18-2011, 10:43 PM
Nightfyre MVP Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Helena, MT Casino cash: $3538849	Car Engine Question O, Chiefsplanet! I call upon thine eternal wisdom! Okay here's the scoop: My Subaru engine blew at 106000 miles (sigh, life... 4000 miles after I paid 1200 for a tune-up/maintenance). I am planning to replace the engine. I found an engine on ebay that happens to have 106000 miles and costs 1400 including shipping (including a 6 month part guarantee.) However, I could purchase a new engine for 2150, but that does not include shipping. Which would you choose, if: A) you were planning on selling the car in six months or B) you were planning on keeping the car forever I am leaving Montana for Alabama in March, so I won't need an AWD that only gets 22 mpg. I figure I can buy a cheap beater at Fort Rucker from someone down there and resell it before I come back approximately 18-24 months later.
Posts: 18,557

08-18-2011, 10:45 PM	#2
pr_capone ** SOC & ** YOU Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chiefs Hell Casino cash: $10018214	A. used engine B. new engine
Posts: 19,884

08-19-2011, 01:37 AM	#3
CrazyPhuD Meow Join Date: Jun 2005 Casino cash: $10005050	Labor is going to kill you(I assumes since you paid for a 1200 tune up you are not putting it in). While I haven't worked on all suby's, the engine bay of my friends STI was annoying to work around. definitely not alot of room. Have you gotten an install estimate? If not I'm betting the cost of the install will make the shipping concern a minor issue. __________________ "Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t*rd by the clean end"
Posts: 8,523

08-19-2011, 01:39 AM	#4
Nightfyre MVP Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Helena, MT Casino cash: $3538849	I was quoted 8 hours labor at 60/hour.
Posts: 18,557

08-19-2011, 01:40 AM	#5
Jewish Rabbi What's up braj? Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Placencia, Belize Casino cash: $2008320	Just add some antifreeze to the old one and it should be fine.
Posts: 15,589

08-19-2011, 02:16 AM	#6
TimeForWasp Sprinkle in some Mahomes Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Butte Montana Casino cash: $7678507	Time to shop for another used suburu, running with 106,000 miles.
Posts: 8,270

08-19-2011, 07:58 AM	#8
MIAdragon Someone pass the antifreeze Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Miami (North Cuba) Casino cash: $1487819	What model is it?
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08-19-2011, 08:08 AM	#9
tmax63 Veteran Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Colorado Casino cash: $3160400	Depends on the rest of the powertrain. A beginning answer would be A,B. For long term you know what you have with a new one and would have a little better warranty on it. You're rolling the dice on a used one. __________________ An armed member of society is a citizen, an unarmed member is a subject.
Posts: 3,811

08-19-2011, 08:24 AM	#10
kepp MVP Join Date: Aug 2005 Casino cash: $5309212	On a side note...is this a common life expectancy for Subarus? I was thinking of getting one next year but if they only go ~100K reliably, I'll cross them off my list.
Posts: 14,494

08-19-2011, 08:37 AM	#11
Radar Chief Wearing ballistic dog goggles. Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: In the box. Casino cash: $5171503	I’d have a hard time dishing out that kind of coin for a motor with >100K miles on it. __________________ Like "Cool Hand" Luke I'm busting rocks. __/\|_/[___] \|/ \\_\| ---OllllO _( ))~-( ))-0--))
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08-19-2011, 08:48 AM	#14
Frazod WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $3015085	One of my friends lives about 10 miles south of Jefferson City and works in Columbia, so he puts a ton of mileage on his cars. He has a mid 90s Impreza with over 300,000 miles on it that's never had any serious problems. I guess there will always be lemons out there, but based on what I've heard from him and other Subaru owners I think they're pretty damned good vehicles.
Posts: 119,512

08-19-2011, 08:49 AM	#15
EWOK Starter Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: phoenix Casino cash: $4751365	750 dollars for a piece of mind of a new engine is worth it. Subarus' if properly maintained when run well into 200k miles but the side effect of owning one is your lady will stop shaving!
Posts: 73