03' Mazda Tribute W/Bad engine. What's it worth?

[snowdance]

I have a 2003' Mazda Tribute ES with 125,000 miles on it. It has a 3.0 L V6, tow package and is rated to pull 3500 lbs. It is loaded. Leather heated seats, power everything, 6 CD changer, Sun roof/moon roof, etc… has new brakes, tires, control arm.

And now it has a bad engine. I believe it has 1 or 2 connecting rods knocking on the bottom end. It does run still, just make s a racket!

The KBB value is about $5600 w/ a good engine. I was quoted about $3000 to put a used engine in it. My thought is to sell as-is. I'm thinking of asking $2500 for it. Does this seem fair? Obviously I want to get the most out of it, but don't want to end up sitting on it too long.

Any thoughts are appreciated. Thanks.

 

[legend02]

In my opinion and experience as I've been thru a similar issue a 10 year old car with a blown motor is pretty much worthless, I got 500 on a trade in on a loaded 2002 Grandprix a Year ago. If you got a 1,000 for it I would take the money and run. As for a used engine see how much a rebuilt one would be as I had a used motor put in the Grandprix and it lasted 18 months / 18,000 milles, in the end a rebuilt would of only been about 600 more and the warranty was much better.

 

[arcticgeorge]

I would say $2500 is too high with a bad engine but you never know. All you can do is start out there and come down i guess....I look for vehicles or toys like this cause my father in law rebuilds stuff for fun now. He's a retired mechanic. I have rebuilt a lfew engines but never did a car or truck.

 

[scott_b]

If the body is straight and there are no real issues you may want to see what a junk yard will give you for it.

 

[snowdance]

What i'm avoiding is trading it in or junking it, because I won't get squat for it. This is why i'm trying to sell it out right and get the most I can. As articgeorge said he looks for something like this and thats what i'm hoping to find is that kind of person. I'm just trying to find out what a fair price is for it to somebody who has the ability to rebuild it themselves.

 

[mezz]

We have a dealership here in the UP that is taking trades with a minimum of $3,000 trade in value. Push, Pull or Drag Sale. There are some dealerships in WI that are doing these as well, though I don't know about the trade values they are offering. Perhaps you may want to check that option out. Granted, you're not going to have much wiggle room on the asking price of the vehicle you wish to purchase, but, it's better than having it sit around waiting for the right offer.-Mezz

 

[jr37]

We have a dealership here in the UP that is taking trades with a minimum of $3,000 trade in value. Push, Pull or Drag Sale. There are some dealerships in WI that are doing these as well, though I don't know about the trade values they are offering. Perhaps you may want to check that option out. Granted, you're not going to have much wiggle room on the asking price of the vehicle you wish to purchase, but, it's better than having it sit around waiting for the right offer.-Mezz

That's what I was thinking. There is a used car dealer in Wausau, WI that has had $4000 minimum trade sales.

 

[indy_500]

We got $2000 for my moms town and country with a bad knocking but running motor and 125k mint interior minor rust on the body. id post it for 1500-2000 and give it a shot.

 

[markshop]

Those minimum trade sales are built in the price of the car you purchase from them. Snowdance I am in Burlington and do auto repair at my home garage. Jantz in Kenosha usually has good engines for about $850.00 never got a bad one yet. If you want to keep the truck I can replace the engine for $350.00

 

[98panther]

That sounds like a deal to me. /\/\
Or the minimum trade in someplace.

Otherwise people that are able to do this work , want a deal. Their not looking to break even on it.
My '03 Taurus bit the dust, All I was able to get was the cost of the tow there, the 75 bucks to look it over.
So I walked from it, and didn't have to pay. Maybe 250-300

 

[indy_500]

My '03 Taurus bit the dust,

Not surprised our 03 Taurus was the biggest POS EVER! Bought it 2.5 years ago with 90k just traded that pile in with 115k after racking up over $6000 in repair bills in 2.5 years on a 12 impala.

 

[jr37]

We got $2000 for my moms town and country with a bad knocking but running motor and 125k mint interior minor rust on the body. id post it for 1500-2000 and give it a shot.

I got $1000 for our Town and Country with the 160K and tranny out. I was happy someone wanted it.

 

[snowdance]

Those minimum trade sales are built in the price of the car you purchase from them. Snowdance I am in Burlington and do auto repair at my home garage. Jantz in Kenosha usually has good engines for about $850.00 never got a bad one yet. If you want to keep the truck I can replace the engine for $350.00

Well, you've given me something new to think about. I will consider your offer. That could make it worth getting fixed. Let me think about it.

 

[snoluver1]

Those minimum trade sales are built in the price of the car you purchase from them.

Bingo, we have a winner!!!!

Not to burst anyone's bubble, but if you think your getting a single dime on a junk trade in, your fooling yourself. It is nothing more than a numbers game that auto dealers are VERY good at playing! I spent 15 years wrenching in auto dealers and trust me when I say, they are doing nothing more than making you "feel" good by telling you they gave you 2, 3, 4k for your broken car. Its all rolled in on the back end. Your not getting a dime for your trade in, zip, zilch, nada!!!!!!!!

 

[lenny]

Those minimum trade sales are built in the price of the car you purchase from them. Snowdance I am in Burlington and do auto repair at my home garage. Jantz in Kenosha usually has good engines for about $850.00 never got a bad one yet. If you want to keep the truck I can replace the engine for $350.00

that's what i would do! put 1200 into to get the 5 plus,,,cause than you get 38 or just try and get 2

 

[ezra]

I think it is the same motor as a grand vatara except the Mazda is a timing belt and the Suzuki is a chain.
at least that is what I was told when my wife's old grand vatara blew.
and btw I got 1100 and was happy to get it.
if u find a guy to give u 2500 go spend it all on power ball cuz u are the #1 lucky guy in town that day

 

[snowdance]

I think it is the same motor as a grand vatara except the Mazda is a timing belt and the Suzuki is a chain.
at least that is what I was told when my wife's old grand vatara blew.
and btw I got 1100 and was happy to get it.
if u find a guy to give u 2500 go spend it all on power ball cuz u are the #1 lucky guy in town that day

I don't think that is correct. The Mazda Tribute is the sister car to the Ford Escape. They have a 3.0L V6. The Grand Vatara has a 2.5L V6, unless there is another option I'm not seeing.

 

[polarisrider1]

Bingo, we have a winner!!!!

Not to burst anyone's bubble, but if you think your getting a single dime on a junk trade in, your fooling yourself. It is nothing more than a numbers game that auto dealers are VERY good at playing! I spent 15 years wrenching in auto dealers and trust me when I say, they are doing nothing more than making you "feel" good by telling you they gave you 2, 3, 4k for your broken car. Its all rolled in on the back end. Your not getting a dime for your trade in, zip, zilch, nada!!!!!!!!

Thank you, finally some sense. Mark up/mark down. I offer 50% off.................off what? And reel them in. lol. Right now I am packaging flood water to sell, This is not your ordinary flood water. it is "Record flood" water. the 03 Mazda will bring $400 to a $1000 depending how much aluminum is in it. Real money, not dealer make you feel good money.

 

[anonomoose]

Bingo, we have a winner!!!!

Not to burst anyone's bubble, but if you think your getting a single dime on a junk trade in, your fooling yourself. It is nothing more than a numbers game that auto dealers are VERY good at playing! I spent 15 years wrenching in auto dealers and trust me when I say, they are doing nothing more than making you "feel" good by telling you they gave you 2, 3, 4k for your broken car. Its all rolled in on the back end. Your not getting a dime for your trade in, zip, zilch, nada!!!!!!!!

More truthful words were never spoken.

scrap value of a car or truck is probably somewhere between 700-800....but there are parts on that car that can easily bring that amount if you want to sell them on ebay.

I would find a deal like markshop has offered and drive it...unless there are other issues you aren't talkin about.

A good shop guy can pull that engine and put another into it in a few hours and so he is doing ok too, but you end up with a car that still works and will keep you out of car payments for another year or two.

Unusual for the engine to go these days with good oil and close tolerances and design specific metals.

I would expect at least 350k out of an engine if you use good synthetic oil in it and don't rod it around.

Trannies are a whole nother subject...some go, and some will leave you stranded, but even there deals to rebuild can be had.

Most folks have no idea how long a modern car or truck will go before taking a dive.

And every single day you drive it you save on insurance and payments. It is sort of like paying yourself each month for NOT taking the plunge and buying a new whatever.

 

[snowdance]

I would find a deal like markshop has offered and drive it...unless there are other issues you aren't talkin about.


Unusual for the engine to go these days with good oil and close tolerances and design specific metals.


And every single day you drive it you save on insurance and payments. It is sort of like paying yourself each month for NOT taking the plunge and buying a new whatever.

To these three points...

No other issues that I'm aware of. Just put new tires, new brakes, and right control arm. Pretty much decided to keep this for the long haul until this happened...

I'm suspecting towing my trailer contributed to it's failure. It's rated to tow 3500 lbs. and has the tow package. My trailer and snowmobiles are about 2500 lbs. But it's an enclosed trailer with a big footprint and a lot of drag. My Tribute would struggle with hills and headwinds. It would kick down and run about 4500-5000 rpms until I crested the hill.

Even if I fix it, i'll probably turn around and sell to get a vehicle more suited to towing my trailer.