Why are rebuilt engines so hard to find?

By the time the average Prius is ready for a second engine, the whole vehicle has depreciated down to $3000-4000. Very few people are ready to invest so much in a car worth so little. After all, it get might totaled the day after the transplant, and that’s a real risk because most people don’t carry full insurance on 16 year old cars.

In that situation, a $500 used engine clearly isn’t a better engine, but it is a better gamble.

 

Doublecheck your numbers. You’d found a rebuilt engine for $3k, and $3k isn’t unheard of for a proper genuine Toyota battery replacement… so that’s now $6k going into this $6500 car.

Also let’s look at that- I don’t think there are any 16 year olds going for $6500. Maybe your car (current age 11) is worth that today- but it won’t be at the end of 5 more years.

When you maintain your car properly its value to you stays high because you know the exact degree of care you put into it. You generally won’t be able to get that from anyone else though.

Finally don’t forget financing. The overwhelming majority of car buyers have no problem promising $249 a month for X duration, but coming up with $3k-6k in cash for a major overhaul just isn’t going to happen. This alone drastically limits the rebuild market.

In short, it’s not a terrible idea- it just isn’t popular because so few people are in the position of having a car worthy of a rebuild AND enough bank balance to pull it off.

 

You could get an engine and rebuild it yourself. They have updated pistons and rings. Honestly with the quality of rebuilt engines these days your better off doing it yourself.

 

DIY is the only way it becomes viable. Or have pro shop friends.

Blown Head gasket [email protected] | PriusChat

 

I pulled a engine from a totalled 2008 Prius with 15k miles 3 months ago it cost me $600 and was in flawless condition also had a 6 month warranty. Your best bet get in good with your local salvage yards like me because 80% of them dont want to mess with the Prius or the HV batteries

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15 thousand miles on an 08? That’s under 1,400 miles a year.

 

It was a good find the only other option was ordering a low milage from Japan this car was a one owner car that a older couple owned and was t-boned I also relieved the car of its HV battery and inverter

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Today's junkyard pull good cells and a battery casing with wiring, ecu and all components and one good complete battery

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