how to sell car with new engine?
#1
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how to sell car with new engine?
okay, so maybe it's been answered before so the first person that yells search gets there are too many new engine threads to search through them all and i tried getting through most but wanted to ask the question. i don't even have any problem with my engine and don't anticipate getting a new engine but wanted to put the question out there.
for those that were unfortunate (or fortunate depending on how you look at it) to require and get a new engine and then had to sell it, would you put it out there in the description as a positive or not say anything until you have someone interested and then give the full disclosure (assuming you're not going to just try to leave that part out)? putting it out there as a positive to say something like '04 rx-8 with x amount of miles but only x amount on new engine would have some explaining to do and probably discourage some buyers. but would it bring other buyers in? i'm not looking for opinions on whether each person thinks a new engine is good (i already read that thread) but if you were selling, how would you present it for others, especially considering many would not be as familiar with the 8 and all the information this forum brings out.
so remember, the first person that yells search can kiss it unless they can point me to the thread and page that already went over this.
for those that were unfortunate (or fortunate depending on how you look at it) to require and get a new engine and then had to sell it, would you put it out there in the description as a positive or not say anything until you have someone interested and then give the full disclosure (assuming you're not going to just try to leave that part out)? putting it out there as a positive to say something like '04 rx-8 with x amount of miles but only x amount on new engine would have some explaining to do and probably discourage some buyers. but would it bring other buyers in? i'm not looking for opinions on whether each person thinks a new engine is good (i already read that thread) but if you were selling, how would you present it for others, especially considering many would not be as familiar with the 8 and all the information this forum brings out.
so remember, the first person that yells search can kiss it unless they can point me to the thread and page that already went over this.
#5
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i was thinking about this b/c i had nothing better to do as traffic came to a crawl for two hours and couldn't figure out where i stood. i figured it would be a horrible selling point because people are going to wonder why you would need a new engine and what else was wrong with the car. on the other hand if the new engine only had a few thousand miles on it but the car was say 40K or 50K it might be kind of nice to know it's nice and new (or more likely rebuilt but you get the idea). i'm guessing the bad would turn more people away than bring people in but wanted to get others' opinions since i'm sure we'll start seeing some of those cars out there on the selling blocks.
#6
Originally Posted by r0tor
if you look at an add for an FD RX7, usually mileage on new engine is listed to make the next owner feel good...
#7
I've owned, bought, and sold 35+ cars in my lifetime and I can honestly say, there is no correct answer to this. It all depends on the individual potential buyer. One buyer looking at it would say , "it has a new engine? See ya." --and yet the very next person interested in the car would say, "It has a new engine so it actually has less miles than it says on the odometer? Awesome!"
My advice is just to be honest and don't withhold information to a potential buyer since you would want to same respect when you buy a used car.
My advice is just to be honest and don't withhold information to a potential buyer since you would want to same respect when you buy a used car.
#8
Originally Posted by benduen
I've owned, bought, and sold 35+ cars in my lifetime and I can honestly say, there is no correct answer to this. It all depends on the individual potential buyer. One buyer looking at it would say , "it has a new engine? See ya." --and yet the very next person interested in the car would say, "It has a new engine so it actually has less miles than it says on the odometer? Awesome!"
My advice is just to be honest and don't withhold information to a potential buyer since you would want to same respect when you buy a used car.
My advice is just to be honest and don't withhold information to a potential buyer since you would want to same respect when you buy a used car.
I would agree with this sentiment, so I also suggest you just put that it your ad. That way people coming to look at the car won't be surprised that it had a new engine and you won't waste your time with folks who are scared about it. Potential buyers who come out to see the car and know the car has a new engine will probably make you an offer vs. someone who didn't know and you told them on the spot.
#9
I sold a car with a new engine…
I don't think having a new engine is an issue for most buyers. People just want a car that's been well cared for and that's in good condition. Now if the engine was replaced because the car was in a bad accident and had to get one, obviously that's different. (And then it's the fact that the car was wrecked that's the problem.) Or if the new engine is a remanufactured piece of crap bought on the cheap from a disreputable garage or junkyard, that would be a problem. But a replacement engine, with "like-new" specs and zero mileage, replaced by Mazda under warranty? That's a "good thing" or, at worst, a "neutral" thing.
I sold my '99 Miata which had a replaced engine due to the infamous "#4 bearing problem". I advertised the car on miata.net and did not mention the new engine in the ad because I felt it was something that needed to be carefully explained. When people came to see my car, I quietly, patiently told them everything about the car I'd want to know if I were buying: how someone grazed the rear quarter and put a small crease in it and how I took it to a great body shop so that you couldn't tell (and you couldn't), how I changed the oil religiously every 3 months (less than 3K miles between changes), and how some Miata engines were mis-machined, losing power and gradually self-destructing—including the one that originally was in this car. And how rather than just try to repair the engine, Mazda decided to replace them with new ones. I showed them the paperwork and told them that a car with 17,000 miles on it got a virtually new engine with zero miles. I let everyone take a good 30 minute test drive and encouraged them to rev the sucker and check it out. I was very honest and open and nobody had a problem with the fact that the car had a new engine, at least as far as I could tell. (Of course, the fact that the car ran great and seemed like it just came off the showroom floor didn't hurt.)
I sold my '99 Miata which had a replaced engine due to the infamous "#4 bearing problem". I advertised the car on miata.net and did not mention the new engine in the ad because I felt it was something that needed to be carefully explained. When people came to see my car, I quietly, patiently told them everything about the car I'd want to know if I were buying: how someone grazed the rear quarter and put a small crease in it and how I took it to a great body shop so that you couldn't tell (and you couldn't), how I changed the oil religiously every 3 months (less than 3K miles between changes), and how some Miata engines were mis-machined, losing power and gradually self-destructing—including the one that originally was in this car. And how rather than just try to repair the engine, Mazda decided to replace them with new ones. I showed them the paperwork and told them that a car with 17,000 miles on it got a virtually new engine with zero miles. I let everyone take a good 30 minute test drive and encouraged them to rev the sucker and check it out. I was very honest and open and nobody had a problem with the fact that the car had a new engine, at least as far as I could tell. (Of course, the fact that the car ran great and seemed like it just came off the showroom floor didn't hurt.)
#10
I would just be honest about it, and explain that the engine was replaced because the original one had a manufacturing/design flaw. This may scare off some people, but I think most people will read that as:
1) The engine is low milage & in good shape.
2) Whatever problem the original engine may have had, has been fixed with the new one.
3) Mazda does a good job of customer service & backing up it's product.
People who frequent this forum may disagree with the last point, but then again they'll also have a clear understanding of why the engine was replaced to begin with.
1) The engine is low milage & in good shape.
2) Whatever problem the original engine may have had, has been fixed with the new one.
3) Mazda does a good job of customer service & backing up it's product.
People who frequent this forum may disagree with the last point, but then again they'll also have a clear understanding of why the engine was replaced to begin with.
#12
I would think it would scare the average buyer, but honestly, if I get a 2004, I'll feel better with one with a new engine as I'll know it has the corrected parts (we hope). If it has the original engine, I would think that the fault might rear itself at 60-100K miles (which is not enough engine life for me) and that Mazda won't help me out then. The 04's are suffering regardless, and I would think the informed would be looking for one with a new engine.
My F-150 has a new engine (that I paid for at 130K miles) because of the known intake gasket issue on the 97-98 V-6 models. I was offered a used engine at a discount, but took the new one knowing that it had the corrected gasket. I would think the buyer of my truck if informed would be happy it has a new engine, because the fact is if it was original, it could run perfect one day, and then snap a rod the next, like mine did (water doesn't compress!). Of course Ford was no help at this mileage, but the engine had lots of life in it left if the gasket hadn't been faulty. Needless to say the 97's and 98's are worthless and I won't buy a Ford truck again.
By the way, did we ever get an explanation as to why some of the early engines are dying? They obviously had it right with the older NA rotaries, and made some mistake here. As a future buyer of a used RX-8 (God willing), if I am looking at a 04, I'll be looking for one with a new engine, and avoid those with original engines. Just being cautious as we don't know when or how or if it will fail prematurely.
My F-150 has a new engine (that I paid for at 130K miles) because of the known intake gasket issue on the 97-98 V-6 models. I was offered a used engine at a discount, but took the new one knowing that it had the corrected gasket. I would think the buyer of my truck if informed would be happy it has a new engine, because the fact is if it was original, it could run perfect one day, and then snap a rod the next, like mine did (water doesn't compress!). Of course Ford was no help at this mileage, but the engine had lots of life in it left if the gasket hadn't been faulty. Needless to say the 97's and 98's are worthless and I won't buy a Ford truck again.
By the way, did we ever get an explanation as to why some of the early engines are dying? They obviously had it right with the older NA rotaries, and made some mistake here. As a future buyer of a used RX-8 (God willing), if I am looking at a 04, I'll be looking for one with a new engine, and avoid those with original engines. Just being cautious as we don't know when or how or if it will fail prematurely.
Last edited by shahram72; 09-20-2006 at 01:37 PM.
#15
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i'm all for full disclosure when selling. i'm just trying to figure out where people would enter that full disclosure. hopefully i'll never need to worry about something like this but again, i was bored stuck in traffic and just wanted to see how others would see the situation.
#16
I hope I just sold my 04....waiting on the word from his lender to see if he is approved. I have not mentioned anything yet since I have yet to even get my recall letter and the engine is running fine right now. No issues right now so nothing much to say to him on it. And that's the truth. It would be a tough sell if I planted that seed and if I have no problems right now why bring it up it...... may be a non issue who knows. Keep your fingers crossed for me...I want to get a CX 7! Zoom,Zoom!
#17
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if there hasn't been an issue there would definitely be no reason to say what could be a problem or what some rx8s have had issues with. that's up to the person buying to do their homework. but if there were an issue and it needed a new engine or got a new one, that is where the question would present itself.
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