# Rebuilt motor or new car

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/rebuilt-motor-or-new-car/23492>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [December 16, 2008, 7:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rebuilt-motor-or-new-car/23492 "2008-12-16T19:19:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jtreveans](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5f8ce5/32.png) [@jtreveans](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtreveans)\
**Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 7:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rebuilt-motor-or-new-car/23492/1 "2008-12-16T19:19:45Z")

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i have a 96 lumina.the engine is shot.whats more logical to change the engine and transmission cause the trans. is messed up to.or buy a new car.the car already has 288k on it.please respond quickly my dad doesnt want to get a new car.what would be the price difference between changing out the engine and trans. to getting a new car new used car that is.

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**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\
**Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 8:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rebuilt-motor-or-new-car/23492/2 "2008-12-16T20:06:08Z")

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With 288,000 mileson this car, I would not bother. Between worn suspension components and other items, it just doesn’t make sense.

I would for a 2002 Civic or Corolla with less than 100,000 miles on it.

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**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GreasyJack)\
**Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 8:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rebuilt-motor-or-new-car/23492/3 "2008-12-16T20:09:06Z")

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If the car is in otherwise good shape (I don’t know how likely this is for a Lumina with 288k on it!), the most cost-effective option for keeping this car would be to buy a used engine/transmission combo from a junkyard. But even with this option, the labor alone to do the swap might buy a '96 Lumina or two with half the mileage. I think it’s time for a new-to-him car.