A Car (Selling) Type Question. Help!

[thatsright]

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

 

[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...

 

[StageLeft]

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."

 

[Actaeon]

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.

 

[Asharus]

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.

 

[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*

 

[Sluggo]

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.

 

[Kelemvor]

Donate it to the Rawhide Boys Ranch. I always hear about them taking cars and stuff and you get the tax writeoff.

 

[RossMAN]

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

 

[RossMAN]

Wow there's quite a demand for Volvo's according to the craigslist listings.

Take a few pictures of it, list it, see what happens.

 

[CraigRT]

damn I like old Volvos.. i could really use that as a winter car... damn I wish I was in your area!

 

[waggy]

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.