Not what you think - the only Honda I own is a 1999 Civic. But yep, it seized. Totally pooched.
So, the alternative to buying a new car is replacing the engine. Seeing as I just put all new brakes on and the tires are under a year old, replacing the engine seems reasonable.
Before I shell out the $$$ to the Honda dealer to go buy a used engine and swap it out, I figured with over 1200 members here, surely there would be at least a few opinions.
I'm in Toronto. I did a quick eBay search and came across:
http://cgi.ebay.ca/JDM-D15B-VTEC-ENGINE-ONLY-FOR-HONDA-CIVIC-1996-2000_W0QQitemZ320260704240QQihZ011QQcategoryZ33615QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
A Toronto area seller that happens to be the biggest dealer in Honda engines/transmissions in North America. I can buy a used engine for $600. So it would seem $600 or so would be a reasonable price to pay for the engine itself. My Honda dealer is quoting about $3000 on the high end, taxes included for an engine replacement, and that includes replacing the timing belt and water pump, which itself is about a $700 maintenance job (which I hadn't done yet but was overdue on).
So my rationalizing mind is saying - ok, you should have spent the $700 already, so really the replacement engine is costing $2300, plus you're finally paying the $700 for the timing belt maintenance. $2300 seems reasonable for a used engine installed, taxes included. Comes with a 3 month warranty from the Honda dealer, and frankly if it were to die 4 months in, I'd be screaming bloody murder with Honda and they'd sort me out.
The car itself is in good shape. I could buy a used Honda Civic for about $3000 as well, but:
a) who knows what I'm buying
b) no warranty
c) I just spent a bunch on new brakes and tires
d) likely have to spend another $700 on the timing belt service anyhow
So good people - what should I do? And even better, any import tuners in the area who are handy at swapping out Honda Civic engines? If I can do it for a good bit less than the $3000 quote from Honda, I'd be interested.
So, the alternative to buying a new car is replacing the engine. Seeing as I just put all new brakes on and the tires are under a year old, replacing the engine seems reasonable.
Before I shell out the $$$ to the Honda dealer to go buy a used engine and swap it out, I figured with over 1200 members here, surely there would be at least a few opinions.
I'm in Toronto. I did a quick eBay search and came across:
http://cgi.ebay.ca/JDM-D15B-VTEC-ENGINE-ONLY-FOR-HONDA-CIVIC-1996-2000_W0QQitemZ320260704240QQihZ011QQcategoryZ33615QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
A Toronto area seller that happens to be the biggest dealer in Honda engines/transmissions in North America. I can buy a used engine for $600. So it would seem $600 or so would be a reasonable price to pay for the engine itself. My Honda dealer is quoting about $3000 on the high end, taxes included for an engine replacement, and that includes replacing the timing belt and water pump, which itself is about a $700 maintenance job (which I hadn't done yet but was overdue on).
So my rationalizing mind is saying - ok, you should have spent the $700 already, so really the replacement engine is costing $2300, plus you're finally paying the $700 for the timing belt maintenance. $2300 seems reasonable for a used engine installed, taxes included. Comes with a 3 month warranty from the Honda dealer, and frankly if it were to die 4 months in, I'd be screaming bloody murder with Honda and they'd sort me out.
The car itself is in good shape. I could buy a used Honda Civic for about $3000 as well, but:
a) who knows what I'm buying
b) no warranty
c) I just spent a bunch on new brakes and tires
d) likely have to spend another $700 on the timing belt service anyhow
So good people - what should I do? And even better, any import tuners in the area who are handy at swapping out Honda Civic engines? If I can do it for a good bit less than the $3000 quote from Honda, I'd be interested.