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Hi all. I have a 2005 Ford Focus SE hatchback that needs major repairs. Last week the transmission was acting funny so I took it into the shop. They said the transmission needed to be replaced with a refurbished model and quoted me $3500. I'm out of warranty, so this will come out of pocket.
I had been thinking of purchasing a new car soon anyway and since my car is in need of major repairs I kind of feel like now is the time.
So, how should I handle selling my Focus? I obviously don't think it's worth doing the repair as KBB says that my car, in "Fair" condition is only worth $4,100.
"Fair:
18% of all cars we value meet this criteria. This car has some mechanical or cosmetic defects and needs servicing, but is still in safe running condition and has a clean title history. The paint, body and/or interior may need professional servicing. The tires may need replacing and there may be some repairable rust damage."
Should I try to sell it to the Ford dealership I took it to get it looked at? Or should I try to trade it in at the Subaru dealership I intend on buying my new car at? How much do you think I could get for it since it's technically not drivable at this point until repairs are made?
Stats on the focus:
- 67,000 miles
- 2005, focus hatchback SE
- Some cosmetic defects (some scratches, wheels look a little rusted)
- The transmission failed previously in 2008, but was repaired under Ford's 5 year power train warranty at a Ford dealership (yes, this is the SECOND time it has failed!)
$3500 to replace with a refurb transmission? That sounds a bit high ... is this a dealership?
And what is it doing exactly that makes it "technically not driveable"?
Are you sure you don't have insurance on the repair work?
If they replaced it for instance, I would think the new unit had a 5 year warranty too.
Outside of that, if you think the car is only i fair condition, it's not going to be worth a whole lot when the repair is close to the price of the car.
Is the transmission the only problem you have with the car. other than the expected minor cosmetic issues?
First of all, get a second opinion. This isn't 1983, there are lots of relatively minor things that can be repaired on today's transmissions without having the whole thing rebuilt.
Even if the transmission is shot, putting a remanufactured transmission in a 7-year-old Focus would be foolish. You should be able to have a low-mileage used transmission with a reasonable warranty installed for under $1500.
Depends on what the transmission "problem" is. If it were me, with more than one driver in the household, I'd spend the next couple of weeks shopping seriously for a good replacement car, then keep the Focus and drive it as-is, as a second car for occasional use by another driver, and when it dies, ask around and see if there is somebody you could just give it to, who has the expertise to replace the transmission himself and save the labor cost. Who knows, you might get another year or two out of it before it becomes undriiveable.
That, of course, would be the second choice, after trying to see what you could get for it as trade-in value. But any dealer who would take it in trade would likely charge you a couple of thousand more than you'd pay for a comparable car in a private sale.
To update, the car doesn't really drive. It goes from first to second, but can't switch from second to third. It just revs very, very high and sounds like it's dying. I'm not too technical with cars, so I don't know if this is the correct way to describe it.
It also lurches forward from first to second sometimes. The whole car shudders forward.
You might be able to sell it as a "mechanic's special" to someone who is up to R&R'ing the transola himself.
Being that you are in the City of Brotherly Salt and Rust, this car may actually be a rough rusty old pig worth little more than scrap value.
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