My 2002 SSEi is toast. Oil sending unit went bad and I lost most of my oil. None the less, the engine is toast. I'm considering either a used engine with 52,000 miles for $2500 out the door with a 90 day warranty or rebuilt engine for $4200 out the door with a 3yr 100,000 warranty. I'm planning on keeping the car for at least another three years. It now has 109,000 miles on it. ............ What do ya think?

personally id go for the rebuild, its got a much better warranty.

especially with the fact that you want to keep the car for another 3 years.

I just made arrangements to put in a rebuilt engine.

these engines cost $500-$1200 in your area from the jy'* btw. I'm guessing install is around $800ish. I dont see why you would want to put a $4200 engine in a car that is only worth just over $4200.....

get a junkyard unit for $500

Yea, that is a very good point. I was given a price of 2500 to put in a used engine with 52,000 miles on it and a ninety day warranty. For an additional $1700 I can get a rebuilt installed that has a 3 yr 100,000 warranty. Since I'll be keeping it for at least another three years, it'* worth the extra 1700. If I just based my decision on the current value of the car, I'd put a used engine in it, sell it and buy a new one. Then I'd have 3 years of car payment. I know there are numerous ways to look at it. I just hate paying interest on an asset that is depreciating. I figure the 4200 I'm getting ready to sink into this puppy is about 8-9 months worth of car payments (for the car I would purchase).

you should be able to get a BRAND NEW crate engine for less than $4200.

you could buy a 00 SSEi with 150k on it for $4200

You are telling me what I "could" do. Tell me exactly what you would do. I've made the arrangements to have this work done, but they haven't picked the car up yet and I haven't given a deposit.

I'll do better. I will tell you what I HAVE done.

The same day I purchased my 00 SSEi, it broke down on the way home from Kentucky with 666 miles on the trip. It dropped a valve due to a broken valve spring and destroyed the engine. We dropped a used L67 out of a 98 GTP with 110k on it. Total cost=$435. My dad installed it for free. read about it here: http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...ic.php?t=42720

Please, oh please, do not waste $4200 on an engine.

You are very fortunate to have a dad who can drop an engine in for you. I'm in a position that I pretty much have to pay retail for engine and labor. And again, the three year warranty means a lot. I did a quick search on the internet and the prices I saw for this engine (used) with about 50,000 miles cost around 1500. In addition, I'll have to pay a person making a decent living $1000 to install for a total of 2500. I don't have a problem paying professional tradesmen what their time and knowledge are worth.

My guess is you are a bit younger than I and are in a different financial situation. This is my wife'* car and I need something reliable. Another logical option is to simply get a new car. I'm not in a position to pay 35 grand for a new car we would want. The SSEi we are going to drop a rebuilt engine into is in pristine condition. It has every option GM offered at the time. If you placed tape over the odometer you would think it only has 35000 miles on it. We like it. Will I be paying too much for the rebuilt engine and install. Maybe. But I'm not willing to drop a used engine with 130,000 miles into it. Also understand, I'm going to have it towed to the mechanic and pick it up a week later, and the engine will be guaranteed for 3 years. There is a price to be paid for this versus what you did. If my dad or best friend was a mechanic, I might be singing a different tune. Consider yourself fortunate. If you are familiar with the retail market regarding what I'm trying to do and you think I'm getting screwed, I'm all ears.