Hello all,

My 2005 Forester XS gave up the ghost today. The slight knock that I used to hear only on hill climbs finally escalated to the point of throwing a rod. 

I work two jobs currently, so I dont really have the time to be screwing around with putting a new engine in it, nor do I have the money to pay someone to do it, so I am looking to sell it with the bad engine. 

What would be a reasonable price to ask for it as-is? 

It's a 2005 with a good working 4EAT, rebuilt title, nice interior, decent body, all  maintenance records going back to when I first acquired the car (about 25,000mi ago), decent paint job (a few scratches here and there),and tires that are only about 7000 miles old. 

I live in the Spokane/Coeur d' Alene area.

I am thinking $1,200 - $1,500 but that might be setting my hopes a little high. 

*Edit: Forgot to mention that the body has 154166 miles

Edited May 3, 20205 yr by Sapper 157

That's in the ball park.  The new owner will be looking at 1200 - 3000 to get it back on the road.

What he said.  

the car market is bonkers in some areas now due to current environment. Some buyers are out of the market, not driving, don’t want to spend, and others are in the market and trying to fill needs from a drying up, or quite different, used car supply. From my limited perspective I’m seeing Subaru’s with issues holding value really well, while other vehicles like trucks and luxury brands with downward price pressure.

one option is to get a price from KBB and deduct the cost of putting in an engine

 

21 minutes ago, Mike104 said:

one option is to get a price from KBB and deduct the cost of putting in an engine

 

Thats sort of how I arrived at my estimate of $1200 -$1500... I also had to factor in that I just replaced the shocks all the way around (brand new KYBs) and tires.

If it was near me I'd be there with cash.

I don't get the impression that a clean shell is difficult to find in your area, and one without a clean title is not going to stand out.

Here, in the land of rusted out hulks, a clean shell would pull $1500. But I see cars with blown engines and otherwise average condition listed for $3-800.

 

If it really just needs an engine, you're probably loosing more in resale than the cost of fixing, even if you're paying someone to do it.

I live in that general area.Clean rust free subi's live here.  If it had a clean title you might get $800-1000 for it. 

A fifteen year old forester with a rebuilt title with  a blown no core block, has a value of around $500 around here.

Your money ahead to get a used engine from Spauldings or pull and save  and pay someone to install it.

On 5/13/2020 at 5:10 AM, montana tom said:

I live in that general area.Clean rust free subi's live here.  If it had a clean title you might get $800-1000 for it. 

A fifteen year old forester with a rebuilt title with  a blown no core block, has a value of around $500 around here.

Your money ahead to get a used engine from Spauldings or pull and save  and pay someone to install it.

Thanks for the advice Tom! I'll probably end up sending it for $500. 

Edited June 4, 20205 yr by Sapper 157

On 5/12/2020 at 9:47 AM, CNY_Dave said:

If it was near me I'd be there with cash.

haha it would be all yours Dave! 

Rebuilt title on something that old often does *not* impact the value at all.  All that happens is out of 100 potential buyers of a 16 year old Subaru with a blown engine - you'll rule out 40 of them. Then there's 60 more that will buy it and don't care.  It's not a big deal if it's known why they were wrecked, it's reasonably repaired, and been on the road years later with no issues from the wreck, and the car is old and not valued much to begin with.

Also keep in mind it's a very abnormal market currently.  That can swing both ways.