1991 Legend: Should I pop for a new engine?
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Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Santa Monica, CA
1991 Legend: Should I pop for a new engine?
I'm in the process of selling a 1991 Legend couple with the original V6 and a five-speed manual transmission. It has about 150,000 miles on it.
(It turns out that I don't need a car in my current line of work and frankly, living in congested LA, I don't want to pay for the premium gasoline that this car requires. Public transit works for me.)
My Legend passed its CA smog check last year when I purchased it from a friend, its original and only owner. It drives well. There are small body irregularities -- the usual bumps and scrapes -- but they're easily repairable, if the new owner wants to. The interior's immaculate.
My problem: my Legend smokes. I discovered this after purchasing my Legend and driving it down to LA from SF. I took it into the local high-class repair shop and asked if they could fix it at the same time I replaced the timing belt. Without opening the engine, they recommended that I do neither. Just drive it as long as you can, they said.
Since I'm selling the car, that solution doesn't work for me. Per the Blue Book, my Legend is worth at least $2,500 and as much as $5,000 if it's in good operating condition. I'd like to realize its full value, even if it means putting in a new engine. But is this a viable solution? What might it cost me? If I leave it to the new owner to fix the car, how much of a discount should I expect from the price I might get if the car was in tip-top shape?
Maybe I should take it to another repair shop. I wonder.
Thanks for your comments.
(It turns out that I don't need a car in my current line of work and frankly, living in congested LA, I don't want to pay for the premium gasoline that this car requires. Public transit works for me.)
My Legend passed its CA smog check last year when I purchased it from a friend, its original and only owner. It drives well. There are small body irregularities -- the usual bumps and scrapes -- but they're easily repairable, if the new owner wants to. The interior's immaculate.
My problem: my Legend smokes. I discovered this after purchasing my Legend and driving it down to LA from SF. I took it into the local high-class repair shop and asked if they could fix it at the same time I replaced the timing belt. Without opening the engine, they recommended that I do neither. Just drive it as long as you can, they said.
Since I'm selling the car, that solution doesn't work for me. Per the Blue Book, my Legend is worth at least $2,500 and as much as $5,000 if it's in good operating condition. I'd like to realize its full value, even if it means putting in a new engine. But is this a viable solution? What might it cost me? If I leave it to the new owner to fix the car, how much of a discount should I expect from the price I might get if the car was in tip-top shape?
Maybe I should take it to another repair shop. I wonder.
Thanks for your comments.
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 116
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A car is a necessity in LA. If you plan on getting around for social events, etc, you might want to keep the car around.
It's a little wierd that a shop didn't want to perform the services you requested. What did they attribute the smoke to? Replacing the engine just because it smokes may not be a sound decision...find out what's wrong with it first.
What color is the smoke? How bad is it? Would you be replacing it with the same engine, or are you going to try and get a different engine in there?
By the way, from what I can get from googling, the Legend and accord don't share the same platforms (although it seems alot of people seem to think they do). From what I gather by skimming quickly is that the Legend and RL either share the same platform, or are the closest...
It's a little wierd that a shop didn't want to perform the services you requested. What did they attribute the smoke to? Replacing the engine just because it smokes may not be a sound decision...find out what's wrong with it first.
What color is the smoke? How bad is it? Would you be replacing it with the same engine, or are you going to try and get a different engine in there?
By the way, from what I can get from googling, the Legend and accord don't share the same platforms (although it seems alot of people seem to think they do). From what I gather by skimming quickly is that the Legend and RL either share the same platform, or are the closest...
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,692
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From: Bethlehem PA
so, basically you want to sell a car that is on the verge of breaking down and you want a good deal on price? If the mechanic didnt want to fix it I assume he thought its not worth spending the money to fix it.
I would just drive it till its dead.
I would just drive it till its dead.