Please make this car go away
June 26, 2011 6:51 AM Subscribe
I need to get rid of a car that is in pretty bad condition and has a gas leak. How can I get it off my property and out of my life?
I have a 1996 Subaru Outback that I bought used a couple years ago. While I know people tend to be big fans of their Subarus, this car was pretty crappy from the get-go (I just needed a quick second car).
I suspected early on that--in addition to its other problems--it had a gas leak. Gas leak was recently confirmed. I really don't want to put any more money into this car, and I have the opportunity to buy a new car in the next month. So, really, I just want the dying, leaky Subaru out of my life, especially now that I *know* it's leaking and I am totally anxious that it's going to explode out there in my driveway. (Technically, it's parallel parked between two trees next to my driveway right now.)
OK, so. Ideally, I would love to exchange this car for even a small amount of money, but I'm also okay with just giving it away. Years ago I donated a car to the SPCA, but I don't know if they'd take this one or how to get it wherever it needs to go.
tl;dr: What is the easiest way to sell or give away a car that runs (poorly) but is leaking gas?
I have a 1996 Subaru Outback that I bought used a couple years ago. While I know people tend to be big fans of their Subarus, this car was pretty crappy from the get-go (I just needed a quick second car).
I suspected early on that--in addition to its other problems--it had a gas leak. Gas leak was recently confirmed. I really don't want to put any more money into this car, and I have the opportunity to buy a new car in the next month. So, really, I just want the dying, leaky Subaru out of my life, especially now that I *know* it's leaking and I am totally anxious that it's going to explode out there in my driveway. (Technically, it's parallel parked between two trees next to my driveway right now.)
OK, so. Ideally, I would love to exchange this car for even a small amount of money, but I'm also okay with just giving it away. Years ago I donated a car to the SPCA, but I don't know if they'd take this one or how to get it wherever it needs to go.
tl;dr: What is the easiest way to sell or give away a car that runs (poorly) but is leaking gas?
Response by poster: Oooh, I didn't realize they'd come to pick it up. Awesome. Thanks!
Related question: would anyone buy this car, theoretically, for any reason, or should I just be looking at donation?
posted by devotion+doubt at 7:02 AM on June 26, 2011
Related question: would anyone buy this car, theoretically, for any reason, or should I just be looking at donation?
posted by devotion+doubt at 7:02 AM on June 26, 2011
I had a nearly identical situation: old car that ran but needed its gas tank replaced. I posted it on craiglist and sold it for about half the blue book value (for a non-leaky car) in a few days.
posted by JumpW at 7:02 AM on June 26, 2011
posted by JumpW at 7:02 AM on June 26, 2011
A junkyard might buy it if it has any decent parts. Call a few?
posted by Glinn at 7:10 AM on June 26, 2011
posted by Glinn at 7:10 AM on June 26, 2011
I'd try advertising it, saying that it needs work. There are a lot of people who buy project cars and fix them up, sometimes for fun, sometimes as a side business. As long as the price reflects its condition, it should sell just fine. (The problem comes when people try and sell a "needs work" vehicle for the price it would bring in perfect condition -- that won't work, trust me.)
But if the value is low, save yourself the hassle of dealing with the no-shows and the scams by just donating it for the tax advantage.
posted by Forktine at 7:17 AM on June 26, 2011
But if the value is low, save yourself the hassle of dealing with the no-shows and the scams by just donating it for the tax advantage.
posted by Forktine at 7:17 AM on June 26, 2011
Where I live, there's often signs by the side of the road saying "cash for cars" & specifying that they don't care if they're driveable. Haven't tried such a service, but I did just google "we buy junk cars" [my city]. The first thing that came up was an 800 number for a nationwide (U.S.) company that wants your trash car.
posted by Ys at 8:07 AM on June 26, 2011
posted by Ys at 8:07 AM on June 26, 2011
Seconding calling a junkyard. I had an old car with no engine and still got a few hundred dollars for it that way.
posted by something something at 8:24 AM on June 26, 2011
posted by something something at 8:24 AM on June 26, 2011
Call Pick-n-pull or similar. They will give you a quote over the phone.
posted by zippy at 8:38 AM on June 26, 2011
posted by zippy at 8:38 AM on June 26, 2011
We had one of those, sold it to a scrapyard for $50 as the oil leak made it unsafe to sell on.
posted by L'Estrange Fruit at 11:39 AM on June 26, 2011
posted by L'Estrange Fruit at 11:39 AM on June 26, 2011
Put up a post at NASIOC or some other Subaru enthusiast forum. Someone might buy it from you. Those guys regularly buy problem cars in order to fix them or use them for parts. They know the cars very well and can give a good estimate of the value based on the problems it has.
posted by twblalock at 3:03 PM on June 26, 2011
posted by twblalock at 3:03 PM on June 26, 2011
Do what I did, and donate the car to the American Kidney Foundation. They will come and tow it away.....
posted by pushing paper and bottoming chairs at 6:33 PM on June 26, 2011
posted by pushing paper and bottoming chairs at 6:33 PM on June 26, 2011
I was in a car accident in January that basically totaled my 2000 VW Jetta. Before the accident it wasn't worth more than $3K-$5K, and the accident broke the rear axle. A local junker quoted me $200, which seemed really low considering that I had some valuable parts including a new transmission.
I ended up selling it to damagedcars.com for $800 sight-unseen. Transaction went pretty smoothly. The only annoying thing is that you have to get some paperwork notarized two separate times (however I have a friend who is a notary so it didn't cost me anything). However it was a good experience and it gave me enough cash for three months' payments on my new car.
posted by radioamy at 9:08 AM on June 27, 2011
I ended up selling it to damagedcars.com for $800 sight-unseen. Transaction went pretty smoothly. The only annoying thing is that you have to get some paperwork notarized two separate times (however I have a friend who is a notary so it didn't cost me anything). However it was a good experience and it gave me enough cash for three months' payments on my new car.
posted by radioamy at 9:08 AM on June 27, 2011
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posted by Glinn at 6:59 AM on June 26, 2011 [1 favorite]