Looking for some advice for my niece (Volkswagen Tiguan)

Hello,

I am trying to help my niece. Her 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0T is in the shop. Supposedly it needs a new engine. All I know is that the car was continuously using / burning oil before it started to run badly. Supposedly it still starts. I am a car guy and I realize there is a lot of vagueness in what I said.

Assuming I find out after a legitimate diagnosis that there is a major issue with engine and it needs to be replaced, how do shops charge and warranty a repair like that?

Also, if a used engine comes with a warranty, does that include the labor too? My concern is if she has to pay a mechanic to install a used engine only to find out that it has issues and needs to be replaced under the supposed warranty, who pays for the second round of labor?

Thanks!


Btw, I can't tell her that she shouldn't have bought it since she already owns it.

 

Isn't that a $7 or 8K car?

 

My 2010 Silverado ate a lifter so it needed an engine. I did have the option to replace the lifters and cam and to flush the bottom end but with all the metal running through the bearings and being that it had 120k on it. I did not think that to be a wise option. I could have had the shop source a used low mileage engine but that did not come with a warranty on labor and only had 12 months or 12k on the actual motor and if it was bad they just give you another junk yard engine. The last and most expensive option was a crate long block from GM with a 3 year 36K warranty and that included labor for anything internal going wrong with the motor. I had mine done at a good independent shop. This was 5ish years ago. Repair my engine quote was a little over $5,000. Junk yard motor was a little over $7,000 and the factory long block at just under $10,000 installed. I would not do this at a dealer if you have an option for a private shop with a good rep.
Really it boils down to what is the vehicle worth. For me the truck is in great shape and I wanted to pass it down to my son so shelling out $10,000 for a motor was cheaper than buying something else as nice for him as a first vehicle. That said, that did not make the truck worth $30,000 after I invested in a new motor. The trucks value would have been $18,000ish on a good day. To me it was worth it to have him in something safe and reliable. I owned the truck outright so it was cheaper to fix it than to junk it and spend three times as much for something not as good as the truck with a new motor. Not sure that car holds it's value for a replacement engine though. Even now, if I were to trade that truck it would not bring what I paid for the motor. The only way it pays me back is if he drives it for at least 5 years without anything major going wrong. If he wrecks it I pull the motor and put it on a pallet in the shop! Knock on wood that fucker does not wreck it!!

 

Yeah, running good at best. Here's the problem, what would you do if you were into the car for $14k already? I have never seen someone in a position like that. On one hand I don't want to throw good money after bad but what do you do at this point with so much into the car already?

 

Being a turbocharged engine, the source of oil burning may be in the turbo and not the engine itself. If practical, get competing opinions from other shops to confirm the diagnosis.

Typically if it's a crate or rebuilt engine purchased through the shop, the shop should warranty both parts and labor (possibly with different warranty lengths).

If it's a used salvage yard engine (often way cheaper), then there's typically no warranty.

 

It would be a much better idea to dump the VW and use the money for a reliable vehicle.

Time to cut your losses.

The VW is over 10 years old now and other things will need replacing like suspension, brakes, and possibly trans (depending how well it was cared for).

 

I'm with you, but she is so far under water at this point.

 

The only option when dealing with negative equity like that is to sell it for whatever you can get out of it. Use that to purchase a beater outright and drive that until you payoff the negative equity and can start back at zero. It sucks but that's the best option. Yes I understand that to do this you have to have someone give you a loan to pay it off to sell it. Otherwise you let it set in the driveway while you drive a beater and look at the vehicle you are making payments on.
The only other option is to let it get repo'ed and destroy her credit. It will go to auction and they will still come after her for the balance. I suspect it's one of those buy here pay here deals. That shit should be illegal.

 

The replacement engine is going to exceed the value of the car.
This is a moment for serious consideration before digging the hole deeper.
You can't be into an $8k car for twenty something grand. You just cannot. If it gets stolen or totalled (any accident will do it) she will be facing an even worse financial situation.
I'm sorry she's where she is, but damn, don't keep digging.

 

this made me lol

 

Fully agree. Especially an 11 year old VW.. what's going to shit the bed next (electronics most likely.) It sucks that she's so upside down but it's time to drive an old econobox until she can dig her way out.

 

This situation sucks but is not uncommon for young people. Assuming she owes significant money on it, dumping it for little to nothing is not very palatable.

If she isn't willing or able to dump it, I'd look at the cheapest option to get it back on the road and make the call based on that. If she can't get into something else for that amount, it may be worth fixing. Used engines online seem to range from $1200 to $3000, so I'd bet on about $3000 just for an engine (some on the cheaper end seem to come without a turbo). Labor will likely be about 2x that. Has she gotten an estimate on her options yet?

 

It's been to two shops so far. First shop strung her along and never got an estimate. Second shop gave her an hand written estimate on a sheet of paper with no header or name. It says, $7500. $3500 for engine and the rest in labor, misc parts and shop supplies. Now it is on the way to a third shop to get checked. Keep in mind they are towing it to and from these shops.

 

I really hope that this isn't a situation where a family member co-signed or, even worse, holds the note.

Does she live somewhere that has good public transport infrastructure?
Is she maybe in school and doesn't really need to have a personal vehicle?

 

GM engines are easy. So many options for aftermarket and performance.

 

I don't believe so regarding the note. Not in school but she works and does need a car. I think we have a family member who will let her use a car for the time being so that should provide some time to get the car checked out.

 

Well, if 2 shops so far say it needs a new engine, it probably does, but maybe the 3rd will identify something less costly. The first shop probably just didn't want to do the work, and the paper estimate seems to be about what I would expect.

 

Well, I have to say, if I am paying someone possibly $7500+ to do a job, it better be on a form with your business name and information. Now, if I am going to a DIY mechanic, then that's just fine. Try bringing that piece of school paper to a judge and see what he says.

 

Id second this. Though it sounds like they are towing it to / from shops so that may be wishful thinking lol

OP have you seen the car yourself since all this started?

 

No, not yet. Maybe sometime this week if I can get over to it.