Blown engine; high mileage car what would you do

Bummer! Sorry to hear. I sold my Focus 1.0/6M at 86,000 miles and other than a paint chip on the rear quarter panel, it was mechanically flawless the whole time. I actually enjoyed driving it better than my current MINI Clubman S ALL4. Great car.
 
Picked the 2014 since it's newest. It runs and drives and sold for $3500.
Runs and drives has a different meaning at a salvage auction then what a casual viewer thinks. It could have a rod knock, be smoking like a freight train and not shift out of 1st gear and still be called run & drive. There is a reason an undamaged clean title car is running at a salvage auction.
 
A few years ago I had the engine in my 05 Cadillac STS fail while I was out of state. $4k to install junkyard engine. A year later I still didn't trust it and sold the car for $4750. I wish I had sold it to a junk man out of state and been done with it..
 
Runs and drives has a different meaning at a salvage auction then what a casual viewer thinks. It could have a rod knock, be smoking like a freight train and not shift out of 1st gear and still be called run & drive. There is a reason an undamaged clean title car is running at a salvage auction.

Yes, I know exactly what it means...I don't see anything in the listing indicating mechanical damage.
 
Google the vin - Primary damage "mechanical damage" will come up. And it'll have 3000.00 worth of fork damage...

ahh...I just clicked on the listing link and saw this. I'm shocked at what some of this junk sells for.

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Don't understand your thinking. If he puts $3k into a new motor he's out of pocket $3k as it sits. If he then sells it for $2k then he's out $1k and up for some kind of stupid award.

With the money he's put into it recently it sounds like he likes it and planned to keep running it. Replacing the motor might make sense to the OP. Not enough info about the condition of the car and his situation (financial, DIY ability, 2nd car to drive right now, etc) it's hard to give meaningful advice.

Sorry if I wasn't clear. Yeah, he's got to spend $3k (motor and labor estimate) but in doing so he "recovers" $2k which is the value of the working car. So it's a net loss of $1k.

If he does nothing, he loses the $2k on the rest of the car which he won't get much for.

So he has to spend $3k to recover $2k. And he'll then have a working car again.

It's a tough call and situation to be in and only the OP can answer the hard questions.
 
Sorry if I wasn't clear. Yeah, he's got to spend $3k (motor and labor estimate) but in doing so he "recovers" $2k which is the value of the working car. So it's a net loss of $1k.

If he does nothing, he loses the $2k on the rest of the car which he won't get much for.

So he has to spend $3k to recover $2k. And he'll then have a working car again.

It's a tough call and situation to be in and only the OP can answer the hard questions.
That's where you are wrong. It's a $5,000 car easy, when running good.

3 years older $4500 https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for...Code1=FORD&modelCode1=FOCUS&clickType=listing

2 years older $4500 https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for...Code1=FORD&modelCode1=FOCUS&clickType=listing

2 years older $4600 https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for...Code1=FORD&modelCode1=FOCUS&clickType=listing

2 years older $5400 https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for...Code1=FORD&modelCode1=FOCUS&clickType=listing

1 year older $10000 https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for...ortBy=relevance&numRecords=25&clickType=alpha
 
That's where you are wrong. It's a $5,000 car easy, when running good.

3 years older $4500 https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=592912284&zip=20810&referrer=/cars-for-sale/searchresults.xhtml?zip=20810&city=Bethesda&startYear=2012&maxMileage=200001&incremental=all&endYear=2015&modelCodeList=FOCUS&makeCodeList=FORD&sortBy=derivedpriceDESC&location=%5Bobject+Object%5D&state=MD&searchByDma=false&firstRecord=0&marketExtension=include&relevanceConfig=default&searchRadius=0&isNewSearch=false&startYear=2012&numRecords=25&searchByDma=false&firstRecord=0&endYear=2015&modelCodeList=FOCUS&makeCodeList=FORD&searchRadius=0&makeCode1=FORD&modelCode1=FOCUS&clickType=listing

2 years older $4500 https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=604448472&zip=20810&referrer=/cars-for-sale/searchresults.xhtml?zip=20810&city=Bethesda&startYear=2012&maxMileage=200001&incremental=all&endYear=2015&modelCodeList=FOCUS&makeCodeList=FORD&sortBy=derivedpriceDESC&location=%5Bobject+Object%5D&state=MD&searchByDma=false&firstRecord=0&marketExtension=include&relevanceConfig=default&searchRadius=0&isNewSearch=false&startYear=2012&numRecords=25&searchByDma=false&firstRecord=0&endYear=2015&modelCodeList=FOCUS&makeCodeList=FORD&searchRadius=0&makeCode1=FORD&modelCode1=FOCUS&clickType=listing

2 years older $4600 https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=601043636&zip=20810&referrer=/cars-for-sale/searchresults.xhtml?zip=20810&city=Bethesda&startYear=2012&maxMileage=200001&incremental=all&endYear=2015&modelCodeList=FOCUS&makeCodeList=FORD&sortBy=derivedpriceDESC&location=%5Bobject+Object%5D&state=MD&searchByDma=false&firstRecord=0&marketExtension=include&relevanceConfig=default&searchRadius=0&isNewSearch=false&startYear=2012&numRecords=25&searchByDma=false&firstRecord=0&endYear=2015&modelCodeList=FOCUS&makeCodeList=FORD&searchRadius=0&makeCode1=FORD&modelCode1=FOCUS&clickType=listing

2 years older $5400 https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=603452243&zip=20810&referrer=/cars-for-sale/searchresults.xhtml?zip=20810&city=Bethesda&startYear=2012&maxMileage=200001&incremental=all&endYear=2015&modelCodeList=FOCUS&makeCodeList=FORD&sortBy=derivedpriceDESC&location=%5Bobject+Object%5D&state=MD&searchByDma=false&firstRecord=0&marketExtension=include&relevanceConfig=default&searchRadius=0&isNewSearch=false&startYear=2012&numRecords=25&searchByDma=false&firstRecord=0&endYear=2015&modelCodeList=FOCUS&makeCodeList=FORD&searchRadius=0&makeCode1=FORD&modelCode1=FOCUS&clickType=listing

1 year older $10000 https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=602694019&allListingType=all-cars&makeCodeList=FORD&modelCodeList=FOCUS&city=Bethesda&state=MD&zip=20810&location=&searchRadius=0&startYear=2012&marketExtension=include&endYear=2015&maxMileage=200001&isNewSearch=false&showAccelerateBanner=false&sortBy=relevance&numRecords=25&dma=&referrer=/cars-for-sale/all-cars/ford/focus/bethesda-md-20810?dma=&searchRadius=0&location=&startYear=2012&marketExtension=include&endYear=2015&maxMileage=200001&isNewSearch=false&showAccelerateBanner=false&sortBy=relevance&numRecords=25&clickType=alpha

I'm not "wrong" I was using the OP's provided numbers. I'm not an expert on the value of a Focus nor to I intend to become one. And I'm even "more right" with my advice b/c I stated used cars are very expensive and it's better to fix and maintain the ones we already own.
 
I'm not "wrong" I was using the OP's provided numbers. I'm not an expert on the value of a Focus nor to I intend to become one. And I'm even "more right" with my advice b/c I stated used cars are very expensive and it's better to fix and maintain the ones we already own.
If you or OP can get good running 2015 Focus's for $2000, buy all you can and I will give you a $500 finders fee on each one.
 
If you or OP can get good running 2015 Focus's for $2000, buy all you can and I will give you a $500 finders fee on each one.

As you continue to bicker and draw me into it, you do realize you are reinforcing my point that the vehicle has sufficient intrinsic value to repair, regardless of a detailed price point analysis, correct? So why continue this line of banter, specifically toward me?
 
That's where you are wrong. It's a $5,000 car easy, when running good.

3 years older $4500 https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=592912284&zip=20810&referrer=/cars-for-sale/searchresults.xhtml?zip=20810&city=Bethesda&startYear=2012&maxMileage=200001&incremental=all&endYear=2015&modelCodeList=FOCUS&makeCodeList=FORD&sortBy=derivedpriceDESC&location=%5Bobject+Object%5D&state=MD&searchByDma=false&firstRecord=0&marketExtension=include&relevanceConfig=default&searchRadius=0&isNewSearch=false&startYear=2012&numRecords=25&searchByDma=false&firstRecord=0&endYear=2015&modelCodeList=FOCUS&makeCodeList=FORD&searchRadius=0&makeCode1=FORD&modelCode1=FOCUS&clickType=listing

2 years older $4500 https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=604448472&zip=20810&referrer=/cars-for-sale/searchresults.xhtml?zip=20810&city=Bethesda&startYear=2012&maxMileage=200001&incremental=all&endYear=2015&modelCodeList=FOCUS&makeCodeList=FORD&sortBy=derivedpriceDESC&location=%5Bobject+Object%5D&state=MD&searchByDma=false&firstRecord=0&marketExtension=include&relevanceConfig=default&searchRadius=0&isNewSearch=false&startYear=2012&numRecords=25&searchByDma=false&firstRecord=0&endYear=2015&modelCodeList=FOCUS&makeCodeList=FORD&searchRadius=0&makeCode1=FORD&modelCode1=FOCUS&clickType=listing

2 years older $4600 https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=601043636&zip=20810&referrer=/cars-for-sale/searchresults.xhtml?zip=20810&city=Bethesda&startYear=2012&maxMileage=200001&incremental=all&endYear=2015&modelCodeList=FOCUS&makeCodeList=FORD&sortBy=derivedpriceDESC&location=%5Bobject+Object%5D&state=MD&searchByDma=false&firstRecord=0&marketExtension=include&relevanceConfig=default&searchRadius=0&isNewSearch=false&startYear=2012&numRecords=25&searchByDma=false&firstRecord=0&endYear=2015&modelCodeList=FOCUS&makeCodeList=FORD&searchRadius=0&makeCode1=FORD&modelCode1=FOCUS&clickType=listing

2 years older $5400 https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=603452243&zip=20810&referrer=/cars-for-sale/searchresults.xhtml?zip=20810&city=Bethesda&startYear=2012&maxMileage=200001&incremental=all&endYear=2015&modelCodeList=FOCUS&makeCodeList=FORD&sortBy=derivedpriceDESC&location=%5Bobject+Object%5D&state=MD&searchByDma=false&firstRecord=0&marketExtension=include&relevanceConfig=default&searchRadius=0&isNewSearch=false&startYear=2012&numRecords=25&searchByDma=false&firstRecord=0&endYear=2015&modelCodeList=FOCUS&makeCodeList=FORD&searchRadius=0&makeCode1=FORD&modelCode1=FOCUS&clickType=listing

1 year older $10000 https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=602694019&allListingType=all-cars&makeCodeList=FORD&modelCodeList=FOCUS&city=Bethesda&state=MD&zip=20810&location=&searchRadius=0&startYear=2012&marketExtension=include&endYear=2015&maxMileage=200001&isNewSearch=false&showAccelerateBanner=false&sortBy=relevance&numRecords=25&dma=&referrer=/cars-for-sale/all-cars/ford/focus/bethesda-md-20810?dma=&searchRadius=0&location=&startYear=2012&marketExtension=include&endYear=2015&maxMileage=200001&isNewSearch=false&showAccelerateBanner=false&sortBy=relevance&numRecords=25&clickType=alpha

Who in their right mind would spend $10,000 for a 2014 Ford Focus with 75k miles? Used car prices are out of control 😵‍💫
 
As someone that went through a votech program in high school and a community college I 100% support the donation option. However Pick and Pull will likely purchase the car from you allowing you to recoup some of your money.
 
Hi folks,

So it looks like my 216,000 mile 2015 focus 1.0L will need a new engine. The dealership looked at it to confirm my assumptions that the timing belt broke and the exhaust cam skipped a tooth at least, destroying the engine. It's only worth $2K at most with a working engine so I'm just looking to get rid of the car since the cost and time to repair the car is not worth it. However, the car is over in Oklahoma and I live in Illinois. The dealer said the best thing to do is to just put it up on FB marketplace or Craigslist to see who bites since they won't take it in for anything. What would you do in this case to get rid of the car? I'm thinking maybe doing what the dealer said or donating it to a technical school for them to practice on.

I'll be including a full set of brake pads/rotors and steelies with snow tires on it if I end up selling it.
Godzilla swap it
 
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Who in their right mind would spend $10,000 for a 2014 Ford Focus with 75k miles? Used car prices are out of control 😵‍💫

Nobody would but I bet it's because of the general used car market plus the fact that so many used focuses are/were for sale due to the poor transmissions before the lockdown. Beggers can't be choosers during these weird economic times. Before the lockdowns and such, my car's worth was cut by a third just driving off the lot and was only worth $3000 at 100K. Kbb/Edmunds only values my car at $2300-ish fully running now but was worth only $1,300 pre-pandemic.
 
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