Broke Down In France - Cost Of New Engine For Fiesta?

Zoetoes

Hi

Have just come back from a weekend in Disneyland, unfortunately, about 10 miles from there we broke down!

We managed to get things sorted for our weekend and flights home etc through our breakdown cover, thank god!

But, we were taken to a Ford garage in France, they said the motor is dead, apparently it needs a new engine which would cost more than the car is worth. They quoted £3,000-£3,500.

The AA will either pay to have it scrapped over there or to bring it back home but not to scrap & we have to send proof that we've had it repaired etc

Does anyone have any idea how much an engine would cost? I thought the French Ford place quoted way too much.

It is a Ford Fiesta Encor 1997 with a 1.25 Endura engine.

I know it's old!

david29dpo

the quote you have had is insane! typical french!!! these engines are very common and at a guess, no more than £500-600 fitted.

hammy_the_hammer

another starting point is how much the car is actually worth

Lorian

Or another starting point is of they want to charge you £3000+ for a new engine you need a second opinion, there might not be that much wrong with it and they are trying to shaft you big time.

The AA should bring it home, surely that's what they are contracted to do, check the T&C's for this "If you fix it" clause.
#
<edit> in fact I can't see any such clause that you MUST get it fixed when its returned. Check for yourself though.

http://www.theaa.com/services/european_breakdowncover/european_breakdown_terms.html

hammy_the_hammer

i fear it's more complicated than that

Lorian

Go on tell us the rest....

tomstickland

You can buy the engines from crashed cars for £150 and have them fitted in a day.

hammy_the_hammer

What we will not cover
Recovery of your vehicle if we calculate it to be beyond commercial economic repair. We will never pay more than the value of the vehicle to bring it home. If we advise you that your vehicle is beyond commercial economic repair, we will give you up to 8 weeks after the original incident to agree suitable alternative arrangements with us for the recovery or disposal of your vehicle. If we have no agreement after 8 weeks, we will consider you have authorised us to dispose of your vehicle.

Tight_Git_3

I'd ring up one of the reconditioned engine specialists that advertise in the Yellow Pages and get a written quote for replacing the engine. Then wave that at the AA.

I'd have thought £600 ish would be the price of a re-con engine, fitted.

Zoetoes

Thanks for the replies.

I bought the car in March for £775, then bought 3 new tyres & 2 parts of exhaust - £150

About a month ago paid for service, new speedometer lead, handbrake coil, wheel bush etc - £160

A week ago put it through MOT, it failed, so got welding done - £160

I don't want to risk getting the car back & the engine costing almost as much as the car's worth but I also don't want to leave it over there in case the French Ford place is telling us all this about the engine to keep the car!