How to get rid of (almost) dead vehicle? $

benjamming

benjamming

Joined
Jan 3, 2004
Messages
6,352
Location
northern Alabama
What's a good way to get rid of a vehicle that is no longer wanted but still get a few bucks? '94 Grand Am 252k miles with blown head gasket. Do junkyards pay more if you can vehicle gets there under its own power? Wow did it have a cloud of white smoke when I stopped - kablamo! :)

Could it be repaired? Sure, but that really doesn't fit here. I've saved it a couple times (used OEM first time & Fel-Pro problem solver 2nd time) from the LIM gasket issue. Transmission would probably be next especially what I've seen in the filter a while back...It's simply time to put it down. It's actually been a good car...

Thanks.
 
wings&wheels said:
Can you use the deduction? Consider donating it, even if you don't. Just research the charity,,,some are little more than scams.
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The deduction is basically worthless. You have to itemize and you only deduct what the charity gets. So if they're lucky and get $300, you get to deduct $300 and if you're in the 25% tax bracket, that's worth $75 and that's assuming you were going to itemize anyway. Meanwhile if the junkyard gives you $300 for scrap value, then you keep $300 in your pocket. Usually the junkyard will give you more if they don't have to tow it, you just have to get it to their junkyard. There's always craigslists and listing it as parts car.
 
Junkyards do usually pay more for a running/driving car than non-running

The last time I did that, the junkyard paid $300 for a running car and $100 for non-running. But this was a few years ago.

Call a local junkyard and find out :)
They usually ask just a few questions, like:
Do you have the title?
Does it run and drive?
Does it start up?

There are also sites like peddle.com
but these are usually just broker sites and probably take a cut and you end up with less money than you'd otherwise get.
 
I got rid of my echo by calling a junk yard; they came out and gave me $110 for it and took it away

It had > 400K miles on it, ran ok but burned enough oil to be a 50:1 two stroke.

I was more interested in clearing the driveway than getting any $$
 
If it has the original cat, that alone might be worth a few hundred. I got over $600 for the one in an old Escort. If not in any hurry to sell, list it on Craigslist and Facebook for $600 and take the first offer over $300. If the body is good, somebody is looking for a door or hood. If not, somebody could make a derby car out of it.
 
Wolf359 said:
The deduction is basically worthless. You have to itemize and you only deduct what the charity gets. So if they're lucky and get $300, you get to deduct $300 and if you're in the 25% tax bracket, that's worth $75 and that's assuming you were going to itemize anyway. Meanwhile if the junkyard gives you $300 for scrap value, then you keep $300 in your pocket. Usually the junkyard will give you more if they don't have to tow it, you just have to get it to their junkyard. There's always craigslists and listing it as parts car.
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Spot on! With Trump's new tax rules, the threshold to itemize is higher than before.

Call several junkyards and see what they can do for you. My old RAV4 stopped running and I had two junkyards calling me with competing offers. Is that Grand Am something special? I know there is a following for late model V8 Pontiacs so it might have some parts value. Junkyards sell for parts so it didn't seem to matter at all if my old RAV4 ran or not.
 
Wolf359 said:
The deduction is basically worthless. You have to itemize and you only deduct what the charity gets. So if they're lucky and get $300, you get to deduct $300 and if you're in the 25% tax bracket, that's worth $75 and that's assuming you were going to itemize anyway. Meanwhile if the junkyard gives you $300 for scrap value, then you keep $300 in your pocket. Usually the junkyard will give you more if they don't have to tow it, you just have to get it to their junkyard. There's always craigslists and listing it as parts car.
Click to expand...
We've done it to our advantage, but yes it does depend on individual circumstances. The rules have also changed several times.
 
nwjones18 said:
You and my dad might live in the same fantasy land if you think a 94 grand am is better than any car made today.. haha he’d argue his 95 Lesabre is as well
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Slightly off topic: I might be in league with your dad. I have 3 very roadworthy (2003-4) Lesabres today. Everything on them works; heads up display, 6 way power leather seats, rain sensing wipers, sunroof, nice stereo, cruise and radio controls on steering wheel, rides as good as Southwest Airlines...I might also share with your dad an allergy to payment books. And in defense of your father and us geezers that drive cars that the banks call "worthless," if you don't know and practice a thing or two about maintenance, you need to drive something newer to compensate.
 
Interesting, have a 2004 Trailblazer with 190,500 miles and a bad transmission and a dash that lights up like Christmas. It`s been in the family since new and looks good. It drives tight and everything but what was mentioned works. Problem is the trans is 04 only and rebuilt is $2,000 to 3,000 and who knows what the electrical cluster will be. Anyone have advice? Thanks
 
Ihatetochangeoil said:
Slightly off topic: I might be in league with your dad. I have 3 very roadworthy (2003-4) Lesabres today. Everything on them works; heads up display, 6 way power leather seats, rain sensing wipers, sunroof, nice stereo, cruise and radio controls on steering wheel, rides as good as Southwest Airlines...I might also share with your dad an allergy to payment books. And in defense of your father and us geezers that drive cars that the banks call "worthless," if you don't know and practice a thing or two about maintenance, you need to drive something newer to compensate.
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The Lesabre crowd is a passionate one indeed! They are fine riding cars going down the highway and get good gas mileage. Believe me the one maintaining his fleet of old cars is me, and I'd say having a backup car for your backup car is its own form of car payment every month.. Not that I have much room to talk at 5 vehicles, but I tell myself they all serve a unique purpose.. haha
 
AutoMechanic said:
It’s true though. You will never convince me anything new is better than anything old or used. Trust me when you are the customer and have to pay to fix that junk you will thank me.
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I definitely prefer the older vehicles as well. Never had a payment and never will. You can find older vehicles that are well maintained and low mileage at great cash prices if you keep your eyes open. I’ve always had older cash cars and almost all of them have been flawless for years. I absolutely love my 94 ford E150 and 90 Toyota pickup 4x4. Neither of them burn a drop of oil and are in excellent condition.
 
R1jake said:
I definitely prefer the older vehicles as well. Never had a payment and never will. You can find older vehicles that are well maintained and low mileage at great cash prices if you keep your eyes open. I’ve always had older cash cars and almost all of them have been flawless for years. I absolutely love my 94 ford E150 and 90 Toyota pickup 4x4.
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Hey we have something in common I’ve got a 1994 E150 as well. We may have talked about it before on here. I got my 1989 Mazda truck for $1050 with 104,000 on the clock now it has 108,000 and the only thing I’ve had to do besides general stuff is a fuel pump.
 
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