Is Replacing the Engine the Same as Getting a New Car?

[DiGrace]

Replacing the engine is not the same as getting a new car. A car with a replaced engine will significantly decrease in resale value, regardless of whether it affects performance or reliability. Relevant details are as follows: 1. Car Resale Value: This refers to the ratio of the selling price of a car after a certain period of use to its original purchase price. It depends on factors such as the car's performance, price fluctuations, reliability, parts costs, and ease of maintenance, reflecting the overall quality of the car. 2. Calculation of Car Resale Value: The car's age is divided into three stages: the first 3 years see a 15% depreciation annually, years 4-6 see a 10% depreciation annually, and years 7-10 see a 5% depreciation annually. Other factors like mileage, condition, and maintenance records are also taken into account.

[StVivienne]

A car with a new engine doesn't equal a brand-new car. A vehicle consists of tens of thousands of parts, and the engine is just one critical component. While a new engine may deliver near-new performance, other worn components like the transmission, chassis suspension, and electronic systems remain aged. I've seen many engine-replaced cars that accelerate smoothly but still exhibit issues like chassis rattles over speed bumps or jerky gear shifts. More importantly, major repair records negatively impact used car prices—even with a genuine factory-new engine, the maintenance history in the vehicle's registration documents can't be erased. For a true 'new car experience,' it's advisable to replace the entire vehicle, especially for cars over 8 years old.

[Debbie]

After replacing the engine, the driving experience may feel very close to that of a new car, especially in terms of power response and noise control. However, components such as the chassis, interior, and electronic equipment won't become new just because the engine was replaced. From my experience, if you're only pursuing the original engine performance, replacing it can indeed achieve that effect. But you need to pay attention to the overall condition of the car, such as aging rubber parts that may cause oil leaks, or a worn-out transmission that could hold you back. From a resale value perspective, the engine replacement record will be noted in the maintenance history, and buyers usually negotiate a price reduction of around 20% when selling the car in the future. So unless it's for sentimental reasons, a new car is generally more hassle-free.

[HadleyRose]

I'm all too familiar with engine replacements—it's like performing a heart transplant for a car. A new 'heart' can make the vehicle 'full of vitality,' but the other organs are still aging. Once the engine is swapped, the car instantly regains strong power, and fuel consumption drops a bit. However, body rust won’t disappear, seat sagging remains the same, and electronic system failures still pop up as usual. The most extreme case I’ve seen was an off-roader that had its engine replaced three times—its power was even fiercer than a new car, but minor issues like doors not sealing properly and AC not cooling left the owner utterly frustrated. At the end of the day, the engine is just one core component; a full vehicle refresh is only possible by buying a new car.