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A Car (Selling) Type Question. Help!

thatsright

Diamond Member
Help me try and figure out what this POS car might be worth (of course 'worth' is all relative).

My Mom just bought a new Volvo and needs to get rid of her old one. It is a 1983 Volvo Sedan Manual with 140,000 Miles. The rear two passenger doors don't open at all, and there is a good deal of body rust. It runs perfect now and recently has installed a new exhaust system, including catalytic converter. New brakes were added 1 year ago.

Here's the deal: My mom doesn't have the time or patience to try and sell the car to a new owner. She wants to have a junkyard come out and tow it away. The city of Boston has already put a 'Abandoned Vehicle' sticker on the car, so it really has to go ASAP.

So my question is, will any place tow it away and could she get $$ for it? Or would it cost her to get it towed away? Obviously I know nothing about cars, and she knows a smidgen more than me. Anyone have an idea.

Thanks
 
Didn't you just say it runs perfectly?

Why would it have to be towed away?

I doubt it's worth very much, as it sounds pretty rough - but any running car is worth $500-$1000.

Any solution that involves "towing it away" will likely get it sent to a scrapyard, and would probably only get you a couple hundred $ for it. That's pretty irresponsible if it's actually a solid, running car - plenty of people would love to have it. Worst case, put a sign on it for $200 and sell it to someone that could use a car. Alternately, she could donate it to a charity (many will come and pick it up) and take a tax write off for $800-1500 (just a guess) which would get her $200-$500 back on her taxes next year.

Edit: If all of those solutions are really too much "work" for your mom - look around for the small shady type car lots. Many of them will buy old cars for cash, just drive it there with the title and walk away with a few bucks...
 
Originally posted by: flot
Didn't you just say it runs perfectly?

Why would it have to be towed away?

I doubt it's worth very much, as it sounds pretty rough - but any running car is worth $500-$1000.

Any solution that involves "towing it away" will likely get it sent to a scrapyard, and would probably only get you a couple hundred $ for it. That's pretty irresponsible if it's actually a solid, running car - plenty of people would love to have it. Worst case, put a sign on it for $200 and sell it to someone that could use a car. Alternately, she could donate it to a charity (many will come and pick it up) and take a tax write off for $800-1500 (just a guess) which would get her $200-$500 back on her taxes next year.

Edit: If all of those solutions are really too much "work" for your mom - look around for the small shady type car lots. Many of them will buy old cars for cash, just drive it there with the title and walk away with a few bucks...
Agree on your statements and worth of the car. It's surely worth at least $500. Stick it in the paper. Say "$500 firm. It's not the prettiest car on the road but it runs and has been reliable for me."

 
Originally posted by: flot
Didn't you just say it runs perfectly?

Why would it have to be towed away?

I doubt it's worth very much, as it sounds pretty rough - but any running car is worth $500-$1000.

Any solution that involves "towing it away" will likely get it sent to a scrapyard, and would probably only get you a couple hundred $ for it. That's pretty irresponsible if it's actually a solid, running car - plenty of people would love to have it. Worst case, put a sign on it for $200 and sell it to someone that could use a car. Alternately, she could donate it to a charity (many will come and pick it up) and take a tax write off for $800-1500 (just a guess) which would get her $200-$500 back on her taxes next year.

Edit: If all of those solutions are really too much "work" for your mom - look around for the small shady type car lots. Many of them will buy old cars for cash, just drive it there with the title and walk away with a few bucks...

Very good points... all of them.

I was thinking just donate it, and write it off on taxes.
 
I hear a commercial on Howard Stern everyday where they buy your car and tow if if needed. I can't recall the place at this time.
 
Take it to a dealer that gives you $2000-$5000 on any trade in, and get a new car 🙂

You'll have to wait for another special like that, but they happen...Trade it in on a $9000 suzuki or something *shrug*
 
Run a serial killer special $1200 cash.

Lots of serial killers will spend lots of cash to disable the back doors in order to haul unsuspecting victims around. Since your car already has the non-functioning rear doors, tons of murderers would love to have this car.

Runs great, nice average looking car that wont draw attention and the special doors on back. What a deal.
 
Donate it to the Rawhide Boys Ranch. I always hear about them taking cars and stuff and you get the tax writeoff.
 
Here are two Boston car listings, you should easily be able to get $500 for this:

1985 Volvo DL DL, maroon. this car is in good condition for a car of this age. i will e-mail you any pictures that you wish to see this car has some surface rust but very little and nothing thru $1,595 250,513 Miles

1984 Volvo 240 DL, TAN. Rear Window Wiper, Rear Window Defroster, Power Steering, Leather Interior, Cassette Radio, Bucket Seating, AM/FM Radio $1,995 220,000 miles
 
Originally posted by: boomdart
Take it to a dealer that gives you $2000-$5000 on any trade in, and get a new car 🙂

You'll have to wait for another special like that, but they happen...Trade it in on a $9000 suzuki or something *shrug*

Now thats a dumb idea. Besides the fact she already baught a new car do you really think they are going to give you $2000-5000 on a $500 car without screwing you on the car you are buying?

they arent in the business to help you. they are there to get a profit.
 
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