Expert: keith - 9/23/2005

Question
I'm being offered a 2002 Chevy Impala with a broken engine rocker/lifter with other minor problems and no obvious big problems.  It starts fine and has 97,000 miles.  Other than that, still pretty good condition.  The guy wants $5,200 for it.  Is the broken engine rocker lifter worth buying and fixing?

Answer
Hi Candice, I would be sceptical about that engine, there could be more damage to the engine. why wouldn't the owner spend five or six hundred dollars to fix it and get two or three grand more for it when its sold? My advice would be to get a price on the repair and call a salvage yard and price an engine and to get it installed for worse case senario, and when you get a price for that add on the 5200 dollars and see what the total is then you can decide if it is still a good deal. Good luck Candice, I hope this helps you if you need more info just let me know. Regards, Keith.