Overdiagnosis: What Your Car Dealer Won't Tell You

By Author: Peter Jones
Total Articles: 231
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Recently, I spoke with a kind family man who was facing some big challenges due to the economy. Like many of us, he had to do more with less. That meant, among other things, keeping his primary vehicle far longer than originally intended. That car was now getting a little long in the tooth, and, to be frank, he hadn’t maintained the engine very well over the years. In fact, I’m sure that there were many used engines with twice the mileage in better condition.

This gentleman (who I’ll call Bill) wasn’t alone in this mistake, and this wasn’t simply laziness or an uncaring attitude. Rather, it was an outlook fostered by all of those consumer-centric boom years. Most of us were trading our cars and trucks in every two to three years, so there wasn’t a lot of pressure to follow a strict maintenance regimen unless a lease agreement required it. Therefore, not all used engines are alike, and Bill was about to learn this the hard way.

When Bill realized an upgrade wasn’t an option, he began to take better care of the car. By now, however, it was too little too late. The problems started, and soon, he was ...
... dealing with minor repair costs in addition to upkeep. When the frequency of those repairs increased, the car felt like a money pit, and it became harder to shake the idea that he had made a big mistake. The unfortunate thing is that the notion of used engines hadn’t yet crossed his mind.

Bill feared the whammy, and it eventually happened one weekday as he drove into work. The car sputtered and knocked, and when he reached the highway, the engine was smoking. He pulled off to the shoulder, and the car just died. Fortunately, Bill had a business card from one of the local shops that handled both new and used engines. He called them using his cell, and they had a tow truck out to him in a jiffy. He rode with them back to the shop.

Bill had only waited fifteen minutes or so the first time the lead mechanic came to him. He didn’t mention used engines. He just explained that the current engine was in bad shape, so even a basic assessment would be expensive. The “good news,” however, was that if he opted for a new engine, these charges will roll into the process. The next time Bill saw the man, there was still no mention of used engines, and he was now facing a $3,600 bill.

That $3,600 got him this advice: The engine would last a little while, it needed replacing and it would be best to do it now. What are my options? Bill asked. There was still no mention of used engines. Instead, the mechanic referred to replacement engines, a “fancy” term for used engines, and he quoted Bill $7,200, which would be in addition to the $3,600 he was already on the hook for. Bill was a bad spot, so he went $10,000 into debt to keep his old car running.

You might think this is an unusual story, but we hear it all the time in the used engines industry. This is why we work so hard to spread the word about the true costs of used engines. Through our service, a client can purchase used engines plus installation for $1,500 plus labor.

About: - That’s far below what the local shop will charge. Better yet, we have an extensive selection process for our used engines that always ensures you superior quality and workmanship.