Car Advice

[seminolejsd]

My nephew calls and tells me he needs a new engine on a 2015 Mustang GT--V8. (no oil) He then proceeds to tell me he still owes 18K on the car---about as much as it's worth. He had a shade tree mechanic tell him the engine is definitely shot. Is it even possible an engine in this situation can be rebuilt?

Looks like 12K for a new engine and install. 30K invested in a 2015 car doesn't seem like the way to go. Then what? Pretty sure his credit isn't good enough to just pay off the car with a loan. Do we see if a dealership wants to put in all that negative equity on a new deal.

 

[PoopandBoogers]

http://foreignlegion.info/joining/

 

[Fijimn]

Sometimes, when I drive in really bad neighborhoods, I'm afraid that if I leave my doors unlocked, a c-note in the center and the keys in the ignition and leave it there fore a few days, I'll find it either stolen, stripped or burned out......just a random story that I thought of.

 

[seminolejsd]

Agreed. It is totally screwed up. Now if you wanted to the right thing....

 

[Fijimn]

Agreed. It is totally screwed up. Now if you wanted to the right thing....

I don't know how much financial assistance you are willing to provide. I doubt a dealer will roll up that amount of debt into a new note. The options I see:

1. Give him money to buy new engine;
2. Push car into lake, swamp, off bridge, etc. and report it stolen;
3. Call lender and see if they will agree to a settlement (write off will be assessed to him for income tax purposes)
4. Buy used car now, then call lender and tell them where to pick up the car and take the credit hickey for the next 7 years.

 

[LesClaypool]

http://foreignlegion.info/joining/

Hahahaha

 

[Formerly Rockymtnole]

Why is he calling you?

 

[F4Gary]

Yes the engine can rebuilt if it wasn't run hard that way.
Who ran the engine with no oil in it?

 

[seminolejsd]

He's calling me because I'm taking care of my mom who has money to help out. My sister is pretty obstinate now that we just need to bring cash to the table and a dealership will make a deal.

The car has been started now a handful of times (I assume with some oil in it now) but the damage is done. I wasn't really interested in credit harming ideas for his situation. I'd really like to know how the oil was lost and get a 2nd opinion on the situation, but looks like that is not going to happen.

 

[cmanole]

Yes the engine can rebuilt if it wasn't run hard that way.
Who ran the engine with no oil in it?

I'm guessing the not so bright nephew...

 

[NDallasRuss]

I'd really like to know how the oil was lost and get a 2nd opinion on the situation, but looks like that is not going to happen.

Seems like either the nephew or the oil change place screwed up, or the engine had a bad problem.

 

[Gonolz]

My nephew calls and tells me he needs a new engine on a 2015 Mustang GT--V8. (no oil) He then proceeds to tell me he still owes 18K on the car---about as much as it's worth. He had a shade tree mechanic tell him the engine is definitely shot. Is it even possible an engine in this situation can be rebuilt?

Looks like 12K for a new engine and install. 30K invested in a 2015 car doesn't seem like the way to go. Then what? Pretty sure his credit isn't good enough to just pay off the car with a loan. Do we see if a dealership wants to put in all that negative equity on a new deal.

Wouldn't a 2015 car still be under the warranty? That is unless he was completely negligent and failed to maintain it or did something to damage it and not take action to repair. If he screwed up, do him a lifelong favor and let him learn a lesson by taking the credit hit. He can hand back the keys and say I screwed up and don't deserve a car like this.

Or bail him out and watch him become a spoiled brat who doesn't have to suffer the consequences of his actions, or do the whole insurance fraud thing and watch him blossom as a criminal.

 

[seminolejsd]

He managed to already put on 80k miles on what looks to be maybe a 84 month finance. He definitely needed to get an extended warranty.

 

[RunRonnieRun]

He managed to already put on 80k miles on what looks to be maybe a 84 month finance. He definitely needed to get an extended warranty.

Your nephew is a nitwit.

 

[OrlandNole]

He's calling me because I'm taking care of my mom who has money to help out. My sister is pretty obstinate now that we just need to bring cash to the table and a dealership will make a deal.

The car has been started now a handful of times (I assume with some oil in it now) but the damage is done. I wasn't really interested in credit harming ideas for his situation. I'd really like to know how the oil was lost and get a 2nd opinion on the situation, but looks like that is not going to happen.

Here's a thought: Your nephew clearly isn't able to afford the car he's currently driving, so why multiply the problem? Maybe offer to go half and half on the buyout and let him buy a car he can actually afford.

 

[cfbfan23]

He's calling me because I'm taking care of my mom who has money to help out. My sister is pretty obstinate now that we just need to bring cash to the table and a dealership will make a deal.

This isn’t his money, your sister’s money or your money. If your mom wants to give it to him, fine. If she’s incapable of making decisions due to illness, and you give him this money, then you are not taking care of your mom. In that case, you should probably look for a facility and/or a guardian who can make decisions in her best interest.

 

[Formerly Rockymtnole]

Wow.

A 7 year loan on a Ford Mustang? Now a blown engine with 18k still owed on the car?

If this was an isolated incident and he's otherwise responsible I'd try to help him out and treat it as a teachable moment. If he's generally a dumbass he's on his own. Gotta learn sometime.

 

[MIKE_G]

He had a shade tree mechanic tell him the engine is definitely shot.

If Marvin Jones says the engine's shot, I wouldn't argue.

 

[SoddyNole]

Shouldn't a 2 year old car should have oil in it even if it has never been changed. Possibly 2+ year old oil and running 160+ may do the trick in blowing a engine though.

 

[Finance85]

$12K sounds like a lot.

A new crate motor is $6800 from Summit Racing. Ford says about 20 hours to R&R a long block, or about $2000. That's about $8,800, not $12,000. Still a lot.

If the block and cylinder heads weren't damaged, the motor could be rebuilt for half the price of a new motor.

 

[ericram]

This wasn't really a thread asking for car advice. More like a "what do with an idiot nephew" thread.

 

[Finance85]

This wasn't really a thread asking for car advice. More like a "what do with an idiot nephew" thread.

Well then there's only one answer - airboat ride.

 

[More Kirk Less Spock]

Sounds high on the rebuild. But to me that's probably the way to go. But the foreign legion sounds attractive too

 

[GbrNole]

That is unless he was completely negligent and failed to maintain it or did something to damage it and not take action to repair.

shoot, not using the dealership for oil changes is enough for some of them to tell you to go pound salt. a dry motor will be a good laugh for 'em at least.

 

[seminolejsd]

Thanks all. He's pretty responsible otherwise but have found out for someone owning a V8 mustang he doesn't know Jack about cars. We started gathering up cash among the family for some kind of stealership deal where he gets just a "regular car". My mom is giving 5k with 3k of it as a gift. The info that a new engine might be 9k does sound better than 12k. Will have to pass it along.

 

[DFSNOLE]

$12K sounds like a lot.

A new crate motor is $6800 from Summit Racing. Ford says about 20 hours to R&R a long block, or about $2000. That's about $8,800, not $12,000. Still a lot.

If the block and cylinder heads weren't damaged, the motor could be rebuilt for half the price of a new motor.

I don't know anything about Summit Racing but I have purchased remanufactured engines from Fred Jones before.

 

[anolesfan77]

Bailing him out is definitely the wrong way to go. There's gotta be some penance paid on his part, like having to walk, pay for rides, etc. He needs to feel some pain for a while before he can learn his lesson. Running an engine out of oil is unacceptable. If he doesn't know any better than to check the oil every decade or so, he has no business owning an automobile.

 

[RunRonnieRun]

Thanks all. He's pretty responsible otherwise but have found out for someone owning a V8 mustang he doesn't know Jack about cars. We started gathering up cash among the family for some kind of stealership deal where he gets just a "regular car". My mom is giving 5k with 3k of it as a gift. The info that a new engine might be 9k does sound better than 12k. Will have to pass it along.

Now I understand why your nephew is a nitwit.

 

[funksouljon]

I don't know anything about Summit Racing but I have purchased remanufactured engines from Fred Jones before.

But you've at least heard of them right?

Agree on $12 k being too high. It will still be expensive, but thats steep unless this is a blown, ported polished cammed motor, etc, etc. And that is not reasonable for someone who doesn't have awareness on the oil light.

Still not sure on how the oil just disappeared. Did someone not refill after oil change? Did someone forget check/top it off? Plug? It is what is tho unless you can get someone else to pay for it.

 

[seminolejsd]

Finally did find out it was a Chevy dealer who changed his oil, but he had driven it 5K since then. I'd say impossible case to prove. Still haven't heard a theory where the oil went.

My mom immediately "wanting to help out" is a deciding factor in all this. Hopefully my nephew calls Grandma from time to time after this. He needs dependable transportation as a management trainee with a preschooler child.

I'm hoping he gets back to me with an estimate on a new engine versus the best dealership offer on a car he could live with for a while. Probably thinking getting rid of the Mustang is right here. Driving a Hyundai Elantra type car for a while will be a bit of penance compared to his Mustang plus not having some extra money for a while.

 

[funksouljon]

Heck, if he has a kid, a 4 dr is a life saver.

Yeah, if its been 5k since the oil change, then 1) too long too far and 2) he just missed an oil change.

I don't see how he can get any money at all for it needing a new motor. Gonna get raked over the coals if he tries to trade it in. Where does he live? I'd look for a known and local to him non-dealer mechanic to rebuild / swap (if rebuild isn't possible). And if he doesn't care about the 2dr, it has a new motor at that point, he knows what he has broken and fixed, why not keep it?

And extra trips to see grandma.

 

[seminole97]

He needs dependable transportation as a management trainee with a preschooler child.

 

[bryanscho]

12k is way too high. I replaced a 6 cylinder in a 2010 Ford a year ago with a used engine for $5,500 that we got from a salvage yard that had 35k miles. That included the engine and the installation.

 

[F4Gary]

Yea, there are a lot of used engines in salvage yards for a good price (especially with all the Cars & Coffee Mustang screwups out there).
5k after an oil change is not on the oil change facility. Maintain your car.

 

[PoopandBoogers]

How old is the nephew?

 

[NDallasRuss]

Finally did find out it was a Chevy dealer who changed his oil, but he had driven it 5K since then. I'd say impossible case to prove. Still haven't heard a theory where the oil went.

My mom immediately "wanting to help out" is a deciding factor in all this. Hopefully my nephew calls Grandma from time to time after this. He needs dependable transportation as a management trainee with a preschooler child.

I'm hoping he gets back to me with an estimate on a new engine versus the best dealership offer on a car he could live with for a while. Probably thinking getting rid of the Mustang is right here. Driving a Hyundai Elantra type car for a while will be a bit of penance compared to his Mustang plus not having some extra money for a while.

Why did he take his Ford to a Chevy dealership for an oil change?

 

[DFSNOLE]

Why did he take his Ford to a Chevy dealership for an oil change?

Maybe he bought it a year old from the Chevy dealership?

 

[cfbfan23]

Why did he take his Ford to a Chevy dealership for an oil change?

My guess is that he took it there on advice from mom, uncle or grandma.

 

[tarheelinfl]

$12K sounds like a lot.

A new crate motor is $6800 from Summit Racing. Ford says about 20 hours to R&R a long block, or about $2000. That's about $8,800, not $12,000. Still a lot.

If the block and cylinder heads weren't damaged, the motor could be rebuilt for half the price of a new motor.

Check on a remanufactured long block from Advance Auto Parts or Auto Zone. Then shop around for a shop to install it.

 

[seminolejsd]

My nephew is 22 -- young enough to make these kind of mistakes. I think the local Chevy dealership was offering oil change deals.

He's basically throwing up his hands saying he doesn't have time to do the leg work to explore all the options. He does have a lot of responsibilities right now, but with that much money on the line I'd personally be working at it making sure I'm making the right decision. He will just show up at a dealership Saturday. Maybe when he sees the deal they offer on a car he doesn't even like he will start looking at crate motors.

I don't know...maybe with $10,000 infused into the deal the terms won't seem so onerous to him...and if he does it -- stays in a nice 4 dr family car for a while until he starts making some real money. Yes, I'm certainly shaking my head at all of this.