TKG,

What would you plan to do with this car if the engine were made near new again? If this is a really nice car and this is the only thing wrong with it, it has the potential to be made into a great car. If you plan on driving the car for many years, then I think you are looking at this all wrong. I'm not sure I can explain what I am thinking, but I'll give it a try.

What you have that would be difficult to replace is a pristine 123 diesel car. Yes, it has need of an engine, but let's say you bought a rusty or otherwise deteriorated 200,000 mile car with a brand new engine. The car with the brand new engine would still be a well used car. The engine, although engines for these cars are expensive, is only one part of the car, there are many other items and subsystems that will eventually need attention.

You are thinking about this car as a depreciable unit, and looking at the cumulative dollars that are poured into the vehicle. I think that if you love these cars as many of us do on this forum, and it sounds like you do, you should be thinking about your future dollar per mile to drive one of these cars. In it's current condition it would not bring much. If you went and paid say $5,000 for another car like it, you would probably not have a car with a fresh motor and the rest of the car would probably not be as nice as your car. Remember this car is a relatively low mileage example meaning that you have relatively new transmission, suspensions, air conditioner, etc., etc., etc.,....

To me it makes sense to put several thousand dollars in this car if you plan to drive the miles out of it. If you plan to put an engine in it so you can sell it for more money, especially if you must have the work done by others, is probably a rough road to follow.

As Jim said, if you want to sell this car, let us know how much you want and where you are located.

I hope I was successful in my explanation, and I hope you don't think I was sticking my nose in your business.

Good luck and God bless America,