Any advice
- Thread starter NLM24
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I feel your pain. Sometimes the best thing is to just take the hit and get rid of it. I made the stupidest decision buying a boat. Several years ago I bought a boat out of town and the deal was really good. It was from a business and was told it was overheating but it was the prop just need to be changed. Seller said I could bring it back if there was a problem. I bought and took it for new prop and was told no compression in one of the cylinders. I took it to another shop and told the same thing. I called the business I bought boat from and they said I could bring back or he would pay 80% of rebuild and my boat would still be worth more than I paid for it since I got a low price initially. I foolishly said I would keep boat since the mechanic that had my boat had called and could get me a rebuilt motor up in running in a few weeks. Well the motor was sold when we place order and they had to send mine out for rebuild. I get boat back in September that I bought at beginning of May. Then it would die on the water and mechanic couldn't figure it out. Next spring I took it to authorized dealer and they found wire harness was damaged probably due to the install so I pay $2k for install. They tested boat and returned to me. I took it back out and it cut out again. Dealer said it was a ground issue. They replaced ground and water tested it and it blew timing chain requiring a new motor. I ended up with a another rebuilt motor due to warranty and sold it right away. Took several months for the 3nd motor install. I really never got to use boat much and was probably out $10k in total including all the costs such as repairs, depreciation, and sales tax after I sold it. I always regretted not returning it but I was busy at work and had a lot going on. I know you can lose sleep and get stressed out but I felt a big relief after selling it and doesn't bother me anymore. Don't get me started about the time I had a custom builder build a home and he had financial problems and we had tons of liens placed on the house midway through. We had other problems down the line with the house but after we sold it we were relieved.
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Yeah, I don’t disagree but when you put yourself in the perspective of the OP it’s a tough decision. You’re at a dealer you trust and are facing the consequences of substandard work. At that point doubling down on non-dealer service could be very difficult.
FWIW, I did a brief search yesterday and a 70k 3UR with warranty is in the $3,500 range. Add 3 or 4 shop days plus fluids and other misc parts and you’d be $8-$10k total. Lexus premium would be the difference.
FWIW, I did a brief search yesterday and a 70k 3UR with warranty is in the $3,500 range. Add 3 or 4 shop days plus fluids and other misc parts and you’d be $8-$10k total. Lexus premium would be the difference.
Car-Part.com lists warrantied motors for Tundras (same basic thing if you are looking to be cheap) for under $2500 with warranty....just sayin.
I get where the OP is coming from. I guess from working on cars my whole life I have a different outlook. The welds don't look that terrible, its already a rusty 9 year old used SUV, and throwing Lexus dealer priced new parts is throwing good money after bad. If it was some super pristine late model with 20k miles a different path would make more sense.
Common sense says toss it on a frame machine, make sure its straight enough to be aligned properly, let a good frame guy get a look at it. If he says its all good, toss a used motor in it and drive it. Lots of cars on the road that have been damaged much worse and fixed much worse.
Is there evidence of body damage as well (repaint, missing or damaged panels or trim, body lines don't line up) or was this "ran it over road debris" situation?
Hell if you were closer I would love to buy it, fix it, and let the wifey drive it.
I get where the OP is coming from. I guess from working on cars my whole life I have a different outlook. The welds don't look that terrible, its already a rusty 9 year old used SUV, and throwing Lexus dealer priced new parts is throwing good money after bad. If it was some super pristine late model with 20k miles a different path would make more sense.
Common sense says toss it on a frame machine, make sure its straight enough to be aligned properly, let a good frame guy get a look at it. If he says its all good, toss a used motor in it and drive it. Lots of cars on the road that have been damaged much worse and fixed much worse.
Is there evidence of body damage as well (repaint, missing or damaged panels or trim, body lines don't line up) or was this "ran it over road debris" situation?
Hell if you were closer I would love to buy it, fix it, and let the wifey drive it.