Need help/advice/opinions! (Long!)

[cavalier]

Here’s the story… I unfortunately drive a 2000 VW Jetta – got it for the girlfriend (mistake #1)– and now we’re not together anymore. I bought it in Chicago about 3 years ago for $8,500 US or something around that as my Expedition was way too big to park on the street and gas prices were soaring! Well, in 3 years of driving this POS I have paid for it more than twice in repairs only.

I have to admit, I have been really unlucky with it though. I hit a sewer cap in Chicago on a street that was in construction – messed up my driveshaft pretty bad – and the city did not want to pay for it (long story). That’s on top of the usual VW problems: alarm going off at 3am, windows not moving, air bag light flickering, etc…

Anyway, I moved back to Montreal, Canada last year and was told by the customs that it would cost me less than $1,000 to import my car. About $2,300 later, the car is finally legal here. I should have gotten rid of it before (mistake #2).

I have decided to finally get rid of it (yes, a little too late…) and want a new Magnum for practical reasons/design and also because I’m 6’8” – please refrain from picturing me driving the Jetta. In order to get the new car I tried to fix it up to make her look as “new” as possible. Spent another $1,500 last week for a final tune-up and was FINALLY ready to sell it.

Wednesday night, as I was driving home from work, I hit something that was laying in the middle of the road. I did not see it as I was looking in my blind spot to switch lanes, but whatever it was rolled under the car for a good 50ft or so. Saw my oil light come on and some smoke coming from the back (oil burning on the muffler probably) and tried to pull over right away. Well, before I even got a chance to do that, my engine died.

As the tow truck strapped my car on, we assumed I would need a new oil pan (geniuses!), but the dealer (mistake #3) called me yesterday morning to let me know that I needed a new engine!

Here’s where my problems lay…. I could potentially sell the car for $6,000 CAN to someone (not the dealer since they don’t want to deal with “foreign” cars whatsoever). A new engine would be $7,600 – not happening. To rebuild mine would also be around $6,000 or so – also not happening. My only solution would be to buy a rebuilt one and the dealer’s final price with parts/labor/taxes is $5,800 !!! That’s what the car’s worth…

I don’t want to pay that from my pocket and won’t, but claiming this to my insurance company would make my premium skyrocket from $1,700 a year to over $3,000. They said it was "my fault". So I’m not going to claim…

I’m thinking my only solution would be to sell the car for parts or to the dealer for 2-3k if possible.

I’m desperate and need advice or opinions….

Anyone want a Jetta with a burnt engine by any chance????

(Sorry for the long post)

[cavalier]

Wow... Really sorry for the long post. Didn't realize it was that bad.......

[Leadfootluke]

Ouch, sorry for you troubles!

Looks like the only option to come out at least a little on top.

Best of luck to you, Magnums are awesome. Have you driven one?

[desquirrel]

How long was "right away"? I find it hard to believe you saw the light, pulled over and the engine would up cooked. The car would stop if the fuel pump relay was connected to the oil pressure sender.

[cavalier]

That's interesting.... I drove about 20-30 seconds before the car stopped.

Unless the dealer's trying to rip me off, which of course, would not be surprising.

[LowGo]

Since replacing the engine will cost as much (or more than) the car is worth, and you're not planning on keeping the car, it looks like your options are:

1. See if there is a cheaper way to get the car working (other than a new engine), then sell it.

2. Sell the car for whatever you can get for it "as is".

3. Have your insurance fix it (or total it) and then switch insurance companies (if you can find a new company that won't ding you so hard for the claim).

Good luck!

[Tbird100636]

Here’s the story… I unfortunately drive a 2000 VW Jetta – got it for the girlfriend (mistake #1)– and now we’re not together anymore. I bought it in Chicago about 3 years ago for $8,500 US or something around that as my Expedition was way too big to park on the street and gas prices were soaring! Well, in 3 years of driving this POS I have paid for it more than twice in repairs only.

I have to admit, I have been really unlucky with it though. I hit a sewer cap in Chicago on a street that was in construction – messed up my driveshaft pretty bad – and the city did not want to pay for it (long story). That’s on top of the usual VW problems: alarm going off at 3am, windows not moving, air bag light flickering, etc…

Anyway, I moved back to Montreal, Canada last year and was told by the customs that it would cost me less than $1,000 to import my car. About $2,300 later, the car is finally legal here. I should have gotten rid of it before (mistake #2).

I have decided to finally get rid of it (yes, a little too late…) and want a new Magnum for practical reasons/design and also because I’m 6’8” – please refrain from picturing me driving the Jetta. In order to get the new car I tried to fix it up to make her look as “new” as possible. Spent another $1,500 last week for a final tune-up and was FINALLY ready to sell it.

Wednesday night, as I was driving home from work, I hit something that was laying in the middle of the road. I did not see it as I was looking in my blind spot to switch lanes, but whatever it was rolled under the car for a good 50ft or so. Saw my oil light come on and some smoke coming from the back (oil burning on the muffler probably) and tried to pull over right away. Well, before I even got a chance to do that, my engine died.

As the tow truck strapped my car on, we assumed I would need a new oil pan (geniuses!), but the dealer (mistake #3) called me yesterday morning to let me know that I needed a new engine!

Here’s where my problems lay…. I could potentially sell the car for $6,000 CAN to someone (not the dealer since they don’t want to deal with “foreign” cars whatsoever). A new engine would be $7,600 – not happening. To rebuild mine would also be around $6,000 or so – also not happening. My only solution would be to buy a rebuilt one and the dealer’s final price with parts/labor/taxes is $5,800 !!! That’s what the car’s worth…

I don’t want to pay that from my pocket and won’t, but claiming this to my insurance company would make my premium skyrocket from $1,700 a year to over $3,000. They said it was "my fault". So I’m not going to claim…

I’m thinking my only solution would be to sell the car for parts or to the dealer for 2-3k if possible.

I’m desperate and need advice or opinions….

Anyone want a Jetta with a burnt engine by any chance????

(Sorry for the long post)

That's some bad luck buddy!!! For what it's worth, there is one last solution, find a good engine in a wrecked car at a salvage yard. Should be cheaper than a reman. They have warranties on some, so shop around. A former co-worker had a GTI and went through a couple oil pans (mostly because the car was lowered) the third time he had it repaired. 20-30 seconds is pretty quick for an engine failure, I'd get another opinion and have them prove to you the engine's gone. I./E. can they crank the engine over by the crank pulley or starter, and if there was any catastrophic failure like thrown rods, broken timing chains or belts, bent valves, etc. Good Luck.

[Hal'sMag]

Get some oil in it and find out. You should not have had major internal failure unless it was under high load.

If it is shot, search around for a used engine from a wreck or rusted out car. That will be the cheapest way to re-coup some of your cars value.

Or donate it as a tax write off, iff they allow that up there.

And consider a AWD for the winters there.

[cavalier]

Thanks for your input/opinions you all.

I appreciate them!

[formerice]

See if it will turn over, if it's not siezed, a new pan may be all you need. When I was in school a buddy of mine blew a rod thru the base of his 235 Chevy 6cyl. He kept driving it to school and back for a week or so till it finally siezed. VW = very weak

[MikeEast]

Donating it might be the best option, depending on how much you can write off (do you have taxe writeoffs in Canada?).

I gave a 93 Thunderbird to a local county based non-profit group and wrote off $3400 on my taxes that year.

Good Luck!

Mike

[Super T]

Ouch. VW's are usually really reliable, at least w/in the past 5 yrs or so. That's a bummer. I say cut your losses. If you can't find a donor car to get an engine from, donate it or sell it to a bone yard. Fixing it to resell it won't get you any further ahead. Sorry man :-(

[boggart]

If you're getting rid of it anyway, no way I'd suggest spending another dime on it.

[DannyC]

No way the engine is cooked running 30 seconds. My old chevy pickup was low in oil one time, leaked a lot, and I made a right turn onto a busy road leaving a bike shop and the oil ran to the left side of the pan and away from the pickup. I couldn't turn around for like 2 miles and the motor was still running with I got back to the shop. I put 20-50 harley oil in it and had to pull the distributer and spin the oil pump with an air drill because the pump wouldn't pick up the oil. I still own the truck and even tho it has 140k on it it still runs.

Pull the oil pan and check for damage to the oil pickup and if there isn't any just replace the pan, fill it up with oil and start it up. I would then sell it as quickly as possible.

Good luck!