... sometimes telling all new owners to overhaul an entire car from the start is not encouraging and hurts the "resale value" and overall reputation ...
I wouldn't say they are told or threatened to rebuild anything. They are suggested.
Most without searching, post new threads with the same old story of I have this overheating problem ... or I just bought this LS and it's idling rough or stalling out, going into fail safe mode.
Often they simply get a heads up that they may want to carefully review everything related to misfiring, cooling and suspension, rather then thinking of posting about what bodykit or stereo's others could possibly recommend.
More then not they already have issues or as they took possession they come to learn there is in fact some issues that needs urgent attention. Like rotten bushings here and there.
I'm not convinced they are told by anyone here that they need to rebuild their newly acquired LS. I
do think they are
given sound advise what/where to look for.
We will always make the recommendations that coils get replaced all at once and to only use OEM, we will always recommend to not use the Dorman bottle on cooling systems.
When we suggest that they replace all the plastic cooling system parts it's because the system rots at the same rate, they go in and replace only one part and expect it to bleed and last for another 40K, which is not the case. Some on a budget can only afford to do one part and so they do, it may last it may not ... eventually they are doing the labor several times over and reposting about their overheating issues.
It is what it is ... I don't think anyone is threatened into anything.
Advise is offered up to replace not just one coil but all of them for very valid reasons. Some don't like those suggestions, some do. Some don't understand why, some can't afford it. yet at the end of the day, they continue to experience misfiring issues and then they tell us the only changed out 3 out of the 8 coils with some no name ECCP crap brand and didn't bother changing out the plugs.
TLC tune-ups are not like your shower were when no one is looking you can go ahead and put them dirty socks back on. If they are going to try and get it running right, there are some key parts that need refreshing.
But yeah !
That's the cost of buying a 800$ used LS - as you priced it out above pretty much.
.