Wife's car committed suicide

Ganluan

So, my wife was driving home today when her 2002 Elantra decided to detonate itself. She was able to get into a parking lot, but according to the mechanic the head gasket and serpentine belt both need replacement. This will run 1500ish, and the car itself can't be worth more than 3k.

At this point I don't think it's worth sinking that kind of money into the car. Will most/any dealerships take a trade-in of a car that doesn't currently run? Even if we could get a grand or two, that would be worthwhile. If not, any other ideas of how to get rid of the car?

witch_ie

You could sell it for scrap/parts or try privately selling it via Craigslist, and let people know what the repairs would need to be. There are some tricks to selling it for parts and scrap, so you might want to research it if that's the path you go. Sometimes you can get more money from a junked car that way, but it depends on the time and effort and research you want to put in.

LavaKnight

I don't know about trading in dead cars, but you could always donate it to your local public radio station.

Sir Carcass

When I tried to trade in my 10 year old car that needed a new A/C compressor, they offered me $500. I sold it on Craigslist for $1500, I believe.

grungebox

So here in Houston I know of a few people that just called a few local mechanics (particularly the ones in the crappy parts of town looking to save money) and sold it to them for parts.

JebusUD

Unless you are planning on getting a new car or pretty new car, I would fix this one. You know how it runs, and you know how you've taken care of it. If you get an older used car, the last driver may have driven it into the ground for all you know.

Dark_Side

You can also try charities to get rid of it. They won't pay you for it, but you can write it off on your taxes. Beyond that it may be worth just fixing it. I know people hate dumping money into cars, but from my experience it's usually cheaper just to keep an old car running. You could always fix it and then sell it for 2500 or something as well.

Cycophant

I don't know the car that well, but a new Serpentine Belt and head gasket aren't -that- hard to replace. $1500 doesn't seem that unreasonable, but a majority of that is labour.

I'd go with Jebus and say try and fix it, just because you know the car and everything already. But failing that, try and sell it privately, mentioning that it runs well but merely needs a new belt and headgasket. You may attract a DIY-er that'll be willing to buy it for a lot more than you'd ever get as a trade-in at a dealership.

Ganluan

My wife is completely paranoid about driving the car now - she had our 2 month old son with her, and was wondering what would have happened if it broke down like that in the middle of the freeway (it completely died). The same thing happened a couple months ago when a radiator hose came loose. I think at this point she'd feel better if we purchased a fairly cheap newer used car, something like a few year old Civic or Corolla that we have checked out at a mechanic.

I'll try a couple auto repair shops and go from there.

JebusUD

If it broke down on the freeway, she would have glided to a stop while pulling to the side and called someone. Your car dying on the freeway isn't really all that scary. It is just a bit harder steer and brake since there is no power anything left, but if you keep your head on straight you will be fine.

TexiKen

If you have a kid, get a new or newly used car. That changes everything. Especially if this is another breakdown to happen, it just keeps going to where you throw good money after bad. And being on a highway with a newborn trying to keep an eye on everything is just asking for trouble, and tow truck drivers who will take advantage of the situation.

Just check up how much you could get for trade in on Blue Book, minus the repairs (which do seem to be excessive unless Hyundai parts are super expensive), and that is what you should fight for in trading it in. Do not say you have a broken car when you are shopping for your next vehicle, settle on a price, then say "I have a trade" and when they look into it explain that it's broken. Ask for a price and see if they can just come close to the trade in point you are looking for.

How many miles are on the car?

Ganluan

We were looking at 07 or 08 Sonatas nearby that run 11 to 12k with roughly 30k miles... seems reasonable and will still be under warranty. We'll be paying cash so maybe we can get a better deal because of that as well.

KBB says roughly 2800 trade in, minus the repairs there's not much left. The auto shop repairing the car said they'd ask around tomorrow if any employees want to buy it and fix it up for a grand. I saw the car myself so I know they're not bullshitting me on the repairs. It was just about to hit 100k miles.

The actual repairs would be a new main gasket, some machining, a new water pump and a new serpentine belt.

Shadowfire

Cycophant wrote: »

I don't know the car that well, but a new Serpentine Belt and head gasket aren't -that- hard to replace. $1500 doesn't seem that unreasonable, but a majority of that is labour.

I'd go with Jebus and say try and fix it, just because you know the car and everything already. But failing that, try and sell it privately, mentioning that it runs well but merely needs a new belt and headgasket. You may attract a DIY-er that'll be willing to buy it for a lot more than you'd ever get as a trade-in at a dealership.

They're easy to replace? When the head gasket goes, there is a ton of cleanup that has to be done... the whole engine gets torn apart. Not an easy or short job by any stretch.

Still, this repair is only half the value of the car. You sell the car for scrap, you may get very little, and as said above, you know what sort of work has gone into the car.

Wiley

I don't know from experience, but I've always heard that if you are paying cash you should keep it to yourself until after you negotiate a price.

Shade

Sir Carcass wrote: »

When I tried to trade in my 10 year old car that needed a new A/C compressor, they offered me $500. I sold it on Craigslist for $1500, I believe.

Yeah, I had a mechanic tell me it would be $350 to repair the AC compressor for parts and labor.

I told him to go fuck himself(politely) and went to the pull apart and got one for $15, unscrewed the 4 bolts that held on the old one, put on the new one, put the bolts back on.

Took me 10 minutes. 5 of that was finding the right wrench in the blackhole that is my toolbox.

Mechanics, Dealerships and computer repair will take you for all you've got if your not careful.....

Edgler Vess

Wiley wrote: »

I don't know from experience, but I've always heard that if you are paying cash you should keep it to yourself until after you negotiate a price.

Meh, you always get the best deal when you DONT have a a trade-in dealers have enough heaps lying around when you tell them you have no trade in and you want to give them your dollars for their cars and you going to comparision shop around town there are some great deals to be had...

when i bought my 2007 GMC Canyon I was just paying in cash, none of the finanicing hassles, no bullshit. I found 3 in the local area all within my budget and then siced the dealers after each other until I got the best possible price, worked out great.

OTOH, every time ive tried to trade in anything, wether i owed any on it or not the dealers always tried to put the screws to ME by giving me jack shit for a trade in...in esscense stealing my car from me.

If youve got a wife and kids, and the money to burn, Id go the easy (but more expensive) route: Sell it to whomever you can and buy a new(er) car.

Worked out great for me.

eternalbl

You know, this doesn't make sense. I mean, it makes sense that your serpentine belt broke and so your car died. What I don't get is how the head gasket would be involved.

Ganluan

I was mistaken, it was actually the timing belt. I would imagine that jacked the engine pretty good.

eternalbl

Still... A quick google search shows that your 2002 elantra has a non interference engine.

So when the timing belt snaps or should it skip a tooth, the piston would not reach high enough to damage the valves at the top of the cylinder.

At least, that's how I understand it.

I'd still ask the mechanic what is wrong with the headgasket.

Edit: looks like some say it is interference and some say it isn't. Maybe calling hyundai to check would be something to consider.