jwallis

To sell or not to sell? Advice please!

Here's my dilema:

My wife's 03 plate WRX developed a sort of mis-fire about a year ago. She hasn't driven it since.

I can't decide whether to repair it or whether to sell. The tricky bit is that I don't know what the repair cost will be or what it is worth before and after repair.

The local dealer wants £600 to take the engine apart and investigate, then maybe another thousand or so to repair depending on what is found. It could be a piston or valve problem.

It is standard spec and has done approx 120,000 miles so I was considering taking the opporunity to put in a new clutch while the engine is out, I guess maybe £300 more.

Some of the blue paint has peeled from the air intake and there are a few minor dings from stones.

That was all the negatives!

On the plus side, it has been completely solid and reliable (until the current problem) and has recently had new tyres all around. The CAM belt was changed as part of normal service interval.

I also have a full set of winter tyres for it and snowchains, plus it's fitted with roof clips for a ski rack etc. I've taken it to the alps a couple of times and it's just great in the snow.

The recent winter weather has made me wish I had it back on the road!

Full service history from a main dealer, my wife had it from new and of course loves it.

So, what would you do and what do think it's worth?

dunx

iTrader: (3)

Find a local specialist, not the local dealers.

dunx

blackvenom

In its current state it isn't worth much, I would take to a specialist to get a quote for the work. It would only be worth the money being spent if you are going to keep the car. As even a good working wrx dont make any money. Have you checked the plugs? Ht leads?, coil? First as theses are fairly cheap you could check theses at home before you book it in,

raz6589

As said above, it could be a simple fix. Find a specialist, and ask them to look over it for you.

Dave

jwallis

How do I go about finding a specialist?

In a nutshell the line from the dealer was that to investigate, the engine would have to be taken apart (hence the cost of 600). I can choose to continue or have the car back in bits if i don't want to go ahead.

Assuming that is true, how would a specialist know without doing the same work?

Rob Day

iTrader: (78)

Where you located bud?

raz6589

Will tell you now buddy, you dont need to take the engine apart when you,re looking for a misfire. There are lots of things that need checking first.

Dave

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

Tell us where you are in the world and we will tell you where to go.

Sounds to me like the dealer was trying to have your pants down or sell you a new car.

misfire is hardly an engine out job, could be something as simple as a spark plug, HT lead or coil pack, and a half dozen other things, these are the things i would check well before going anywhere near getting the engine out.

jwallis

Do you know someone near High Wycombe?

BAD BOY V

iTrader: (1)

Get yourself down to eurospec 2000 in Surrey, there the only people I used when I had my GTO and Scooby, been using them for 7 years with no complaints! There is also Richard from FB tuning I've not used him for any major engine work however hes also well know to the scoobynet community aswell!