a good investment?

[Bigpineguy Retired]

My wife needs a car and we now have the money to get one, we have been looking around, dealing with salesmen , lol... Well, We found a 1999 Chrysler Seabring Convertible, in great shape, but it needs a motor (asking price is only $700ObO), I found a motor for around $600, but not sure what it will cost to install it and make sure everything else is good , we don't want to spend more than $2,000 on it.....a good buy, or not?


BPG~

[Bigpineguy Retired]

the one picture we have right now :

11307

[chuck]

i would be hard pressed to buy anything i couldn't test drive or have a safty-certified checked vehicle..with at least some kind of warrenty if buying through a dealer.

[anyonomus]

Get it checked out by a mechanic and he/she will be able to tell u if it is a good idea.. Might be the best 20 or 30$ you ever spend to get it up on a hoist and go over it with a fine tooth comb..
As a second car I have a 1999 Dodge Stratus..(Basically the same as the seabring) and I am very pleased with the car/gas mileage and how the car handles.
Before installing the new motor..have the mechanic "REPLACE the timing belt and pulleys" if the engine has more that 60,000 mi/100K.
Piece of cake to replace it before installation.. Nightmare when in the car..

[Bigpineguy Retired]

Thanks chuck, but I know that I can't drive it, it needs a motor..... I would have it taken to a garage and have everything else checked out, but if the numbers line up, I am hoping that it's a good buy

[Bigpineguy Retired]

We have priced these same cars around $4,000 in really nice shape


BPG~

[Bigpineguy Retired]

Thanks Any, how much does in cost to have an engine installed in a car ? with belts changed and pulleys, etc?

BPG~

[anyonomus]

We have priced these same cars around $4,000 in really nice shape


BPG~

WOW cars sure are expensive where u are.. That same car here might bring $1500.. in excellent shape and running..

[Bigpineguy Retired]

I'll take one!!!! Cash in hand.....

BPG~

[chuck]

how many miles did it have before the motor gave? auto or manual transmission? are there any problems known with that?

[anyonomus]

Consumer reviews on that car are not really that good.. They have it listed at a little less than $3000.
hxxp://www.edmunds.com/chrysler/sebring/1999/consumer-reviews.html

Engine taken out and installed where I am at would cost in the vicinity or $300.
Timing belt/pulleys/ auto tensioner/(Gaskets/Seals)(if required) $200
Installation (out of car) $100
(in car) $400
Replace water Pump $ 50
Installation (out of car) $ 25
(in car) $200
These engines are know to have the timing belt go at 175000 Mi and the water-pump at 200,000 mi.

[Bigpineguy Retired]

how many miles did it have before the motor gave? auto or manual transmission? are there any problems known with that?

I haven't seen the odometer myself yet, but "he" said it was 142,000 miles, and the car was his wife's , and she ran it out of oil, and messed up the motor....so it sounds like everything should be good, and he just don't want to mess with it ( that's what I am hoping anyways )....

BPG~

[chuck]

I haven't seen the odometer myself yet, but "he" said it was 142,000 miles, and the car was his wife's , and she ran it out of oil, and messed up the motor....so it sounds like everything should be good, and he just don't want to mess with it ( that's what I am hoping anyways )....

BPG~

142 not bad. as any suggested, take it to a garage and have it safty checked. that costs about 65 bucks here any..lol...but you will know where you stand. get an estimate on the motor install as well. will be a rebuilt no doubt. but if you can get for 2k it may be a good deal? convertibles are great...even if its a sebring..lol...j\k

[anyonomus]

I'll take one!!!! Cash in hand.....

BPG~

If u are in Canada I can make arrangements in the morning.

[anyonomus]

142 not bad. as any suggested, take it to a garage and have it safty checked. that costs about 65 bucks here any..lol...but you will know where you stand. get an estimate on the motor install as well. will be a rebuilt no doubt. but if you can get for 2k it may be a good deal? convertibles are great...even if its a sebring..lol...j\k

Here it costs 25$ and it is good for two years from the end of the month it is inspected.. :)

[Bigpineguy Retired]

If u are in Canada I can make arrangements in the morning.

No....Just South of Detroit ... Would another $500 cover you delivering ?


BPG~

[anyonomus]

No....Just South of Detroit ... Would another $500 cover you delivering ?


BPG~
It can be done as we went to Ohio last year and bought a 2009 Dodge sprinter and brought it back.
It is not the delivery .. it is how to get back and the importing taxes that may kill the deal..lol

[mclovin]

As Any says BPG that's a lot of coin for that car 1999 even if it had a motor in it I won't pay $7000 for it.jmo

EDIT..... lol okay I looked again at your post $700OBO not 7 grand well now that's a different story...lol

[anyonomus]

Looked into cross boarder shopping BPG..
Canadian vehicles (unless newer that 2006) are not allowed into USA because they cannot come up to USA emission/safety standards..
They say it would be on a individual basis IF it is allowed into US..
Process would require the car to be exported out of Canada and imported into USA and then checked for emission standards for the state it is going to..
IF it passes they would allow the car to stay/// If it does NOT then the car would have to be taken out of the USA within 48 hours (depending on the State laws of import).
The person living is the USA would be the one that would have to apply for the "import" license and would be responsible for the cost of all prescribed fees PLUS inspection ..
Sorry.....Seems like it would be an impossible task BPG..

[Bigpineguy Retired]

Thanks for checking into it Any....


BPG~

[satchick]

Can't believe I didn't see this before, but with the site loading so slow I don't scroll down this far very often.....

I wouldn't pay more than $500 for that car, no way of knowing what else is wrong with it, being a Chrysler of that vintage the automatic transaxle is a huge concern. If it was allowed to run without oil, I'm leery of the service history of the rest of the vehicle. If that transaxle has never been serviced, or worse yet, serviced with a flushing machine or with fluid other than Chrysler branded fluid, you could be looking at a rebuild.

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When looking at a used engine:
Does that engine have a warranty?
Has it been proven to run?
Does the salvage yard have oil pressure and compression numbers?
Mileage known?
Does the price include accessories?

With a used engine, I would at the least put a new timing belt and water pump in it, maybe head gaskets. Easy to do prior to installing the motor.
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My opinion: I think you should be able to find something that runs and drives for around $2000. Have to check the classifieds all the time but they're out there.

The only way I'd mess around with that Sebring was if the car had a documented service history, and the maintenance was up to date. Tires, brakes, suspension would all have to be in good condition, those parts alone will blow your budget. The motor would also need to be from a known source, with a warranty and oil pressure/compression numbers within spec.

[Bigpineguy Retired]

We found a car today at a great price! It's a 96' Mercury Mystique with only 75,000 miles, really clean, runs great, got the V6 DOHC 24 valve , tags,taxes,title $2,000 drove it home! <br />
only thing...