Best options on getting rid of a truck near northeast NJ?
June 19, 2017 12:52 PM Subscribe
Long story short: the 22RE engine on my 1990 Toyota pickup is no longer viable and repair is not an option. What is my best option in this area either for getting rid of it and possibly making a few dollars or at least not having to pay a fee? Donation, selling as-is/for parts, salvage yard, etc?
I've never been caught with a broken car like this before, so I'm just trying to get a sense of whether it's likely that there's a market for a private sale (for parts) for something like this or if it will be to my benefit to find the place that's willing to dispose of it for free? There is some rust damage but most everything else is pretty good actually.
Full context: it's deemed that the head is cracked and that it's time to get rid of it, but it will start and drive a few miles at a time before overheating, so it would actually be able to drive somewhere nearby without a tow.
I've never been caught with a broken car like this before, so I'm just trying to get a sense of whether it's likely that there's a market for a private sale (for parts) for something like this or if it will be to my benefit to find the place that's willing to dispose of it for free? There is some rust damage but most everything else is pretty good actually.
Full context: it's deemed that the head is cracked and that it's time to get rid of it, but it will start and drive a few miles at a time before overheating, so it would actually be able to drive somewhere nearby without a tow.
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posted by brentajones at 1:04 PM on June 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by brentajones at 1:04 PM on June 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
If you are patient and want to maximize your profit: Craigslist
If you need to get rid of it quickly and are ok getting scrap price for it: Drive it to an auto recycler (aka junk yard)
If you want to feel warm and fuzzy and get a tax deduction: Donate it (most places will come get it)
I can't think of any scenario where I would pay someone to take it.
posted by jmsta at 1:05 PM on June 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
If you need to get rid of it quickly and are ok getting scrap price for it: Drive it to an auto recycler (aka junk yard)
If you want to feel warm and fuzzy and get a tax deduction: Donate it (most places will come get it)
I can't think of any scenario where I would pay someone to take it.
posted by jmsta at 1:05 PM on June 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
You have considered that you can get a replacement engine for it, I assume? Remanufactured looks to be about between $1600 -$2,500, depending on source. A breakers yard (used engine) will likely be much less.
So it is not economically viable to repair the existing engine, but it isn't a hugely pricey job to swap it out for one with a ton more life.
posted by Brockles at 1:06 PM on June 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
So it is not economically viable to repair the existing engine, but it isn't a hugely pricey job to swap it out for one with a ton more life.
posted by Brockles at 1:06 PM on June 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
I imagine SOMEbody wants your frame and body and other good parts (AC? heater core? etc).
You could put it up on Facebook and craigslist with full disclosure of issues and come out ok. Or find an enthusiast forum and sign up so you can post it in their "for sale" section.
posted by ArgentCorvid at 1:08 PM on June 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
You could put it up on Facebook and craigslist with full disclosure of issues and come out ok. Or find an enthusiast forum and sign up so you can post it in their "for sale" section.
posted by ArgentCorvid at 1:08 PM on June 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
Even if you don't want to replace the engine, someone else might. People love little old Toyota pickups. I would be surprised if you couldn't get at least a few hundred dollars for that on craigslist.
posted by mskyle at 1:18 PM on June 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by mskyle at 1:18 PM on June 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: So it is not economically viable to repair the existing engine, but it isn't a hugely pricey job to swap it out for one with a ton more life.
@Brockles -- my mechanic said his sources think most places have been harvested clean of these engines, so doing the work, let alone finding a new one, would be trouble. A way for him to get out of doing the work? Sure -- but I'm also about to move to university so i'm not sure this is my cup of tea.
Even if you don't want to replace the engine, someone else might. People love little old Toyota pickups. I would be surprised if you couldn't get at least a few hundred dollars for that on craigslist.
@mskyle -- the one thing i just remembered is that in CT (where it is registered) they give no titles for cars older than 25. I have to do some research on whether it's a pain to transfer to a state where they don't do that crap.
posted by Tamagotchi at 1:25 PM on June 19, 2017
@Brockles -- my mechanic said his sources think most places have been harvested clean of these engines, so doing the work, let alone finding a new one, would be trouble. A way for him to get out of doing the work? Sure -- but I'm also about to move to university so i'm not sure this is my cup of tea.
Even if you don't want to replace the engine, someone else might. People love little old Toyota pickups. I would be surprised if you couldn't get at least a few hundred dollars for that on craigslist.
@mskyle -- the one thing i just remembered is that in CT (where it is registered) they give no titles for cars older than 25. I have to do some research on whether it's a pain to transfer to a state where they don't do that crap.
posted by Tamagotchi at 1:25 PM on June 19, 2017
Remember that if you itemize your taxes, donating will save you marginal tax rate times the value of the donation. That value is either the blue book value if it's less than $500, or the amount the charity sells the car for.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 1:28 PM on June 19, 2017
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 1:28 PM on June 19, 2017
my mechanic said his sources think most places have been harvested clean of these engines
Fair enough, but that is patently false. I got those prices from a very cursory search from a ton of real world examples. That was not a range I was guessing at. There are loads of those engines out there. I get you (or him) may not want to do it, but not being able to get an engine is not a valid reason for that decision.
posted by Brockles at 1:36 PM on June 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
Fair enough, but that is patently false. I got those prices from a very cursory search from a ton of real world examples. That was not a range I was guessing at. There are loads of those engines out there. I get you (or him) may not want to do it, but not being able to get an engine is not a valid reason for that decision.
posted by Brockles at 1:36 PM on June 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: @Brockles
True, thanks for the heads up! I won't take it off the table.
posted by Tamagotchi at 1:38 PM on June 19, 2017
True, thanks for the heads up! I won't take it off the table.
posted by Tamagotchi at 1:38 PM on June 19, 2017
Donating it is often a waste of time, since many people don't itemize their deductions. Put it on Craigslist as-is and you can probably get $300-500 for it. Make it clear that it'll have to be towed or whatever. It'll take you 20 minutes to take photos and list it, and you'll clear several hundred dollars easily.
posted by Slinga at 1:50 PM on June 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Slinga at 1:50 PM on June 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
Also, there are tons of those engines on eBay for $1200-2k, and there are full rebuild kits for around $200.
posted by Slinga at 1:52 PM on June 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Slinga at 1:52 PM on June 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
Normally I would say donate it, but let me tell you what happened with my last car:
After the wheels fell off while my husband was driving it down the highway - which was the last straw in a LONG line of problems - we had it towed to the closest Auto Zone (or Pep Boys, can't remember which.) When the mechanic on duty found out we were going to donate it, he offered us $500 cash. Cha-ching!
So, at least try to get some cash for it. Otherwise, donate. Definitely don't pay someone to come get it.
posted by lyssabee at 2:15 PM on June 19, 2017
After the wheels fell off while my husband was driving it down the highway - which was the last straw in a LONG line of problems - we had it towed to the closest Auto Zone (or Pep Boys, can't remember which.) When the mechanic on duty found out we were going to donate it, he offered us $500 cash. Cha-ching!
So, at least try to get some cash for it. Otherwise, donate. Definitely don't pay someone to come get it.
posted by lyssabee at 2:15 PM on June 19, 2017
my mechanic said his sources think most places have been harvested clean of these engines
These trucks are famously hard to kill, and people love these. Offroaders love them, teenagers love them for a first car (well, their parents love them), mechanics love them (they're easy to work on!), etc. If you're realistic about the condition, have some patience, and are okay playing the craigslist game, you'll probably have no real problem moving it. YMMV, but in the PNW these normally go for 900-1300 bucks if there's something major needed on it, depending on the overall condition. If the rest is unmodified and fairly straight, I'd even bet you could get a bit more.
Depending on how much you trust them, my guess is your mechanic is laying the groundwork to 'take it off your hands, real cheap, because no one knows where to find parts for those darn things anymore!'
posted by furnace.heart at 2:34 PM on June 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
These trucks are famously hard to kill, and people love these. Offroaders love them, teenagers love them for a first car (well, their parents love them), mechanics love them (they're easy to work on!), etc. If you're realistic about the condition, have some patience, and are okay playing the craigslist game, you'll probably have no real problem moving it. YMMV, but in the PNW these normally go for 900-1300 bucks if there's something major needed on it, depending on the overall condition. If the rest is unmodified and fairly straight, I'd even bet you could get a bit more.
Depending on how much you trust them, my guess is your mechanic is laying the groundwork to 'take it off your hands, real cheap, because no one knows where to find parts for those darn things anymore!'
posted by furnace.heart at 2:34 PM on June 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
Just a heads up, Kars for Kids is kinda bullshit.
posted by saladin at 5:33 PM on June 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by saladin at 5:33 PM on June 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
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posted by CoffeeHikeNapWine at 1:01 PM on June 19, 2017 [1 favorite]