What to do with old vehicle?
 

Ok here's the scoop on my situation: Driving home Monday night in my 100,000+ mileage Isuzu Hombre. It's a VERY hot, humid day. To save the engine, there is no A/C running, just rolled down windows. Cruising at about 30-40 in freeway traffic, suddenly my check engine light comes on, the temp gauge starts moving from overheat to under 100, then back to overheat. The engine starts clanking and clunking. I just get pulled onto an off-ramp when the engine dies. This all happens within the span of about 1 minute... from the time the check engine light comes on to the motor actually stopping.

Tow it to a dealer repair shop. The water pump decided to fail, dumping all the coolant out, which of course, overheated the motor very quickly on such a hot day. Also, the spark plugs appear to have gone bad. Now, the vehicle won't start, and it's going to cost at least $780 just to start the thing. THEN...once it gets started up, there is no promise that the engine block and internals don't have serious damage. The mechanic says there is a 50/50 chance this engine is now worthless. With that possibility, I am looking at $1400+ for a rebuilt engine, plus the existing repair bill.

So, with that level of risk, I've decided not to sink a dime more into this vehicle and get a new/used car, as it's very possible that the damage repairs will be more than the value of the vehicle. But, my situation is now this: I've got a useless pickup, sitting at a dealer repair shop, that I've got to figure out what to do with.

So my question is...what do I do with my old pickup? I know I can donate it to charity. What kind of a tax writeoff would I be looking at with that? Can I just have a salvage yard come tow it away for me? Is it worth anything as a trade-in?

Help!! :crazy: :confused: :crazy: :confused:

From what I understand, when you donate a car to charity you get to claim the full value on your taxes.

I had an old Honda Accord when I was in college and when the transmission finally failed (among other things) I decided to scap it. A local junk yard told me I could get $150 for the car if I dropped it off or $100 if they came to pick it up. I told them to pick it up.

It probably is worth something as trade-in. Local dealers around here will sometimes have a "push, pull or drag it in" sale and give you a couple grand for anything (of course all the cars on the lot are marked up a couple grand). Parted out your truck is worth quite a bit, so a dealer should have no problem getting their money out of it.

I've heard of this idea as well. What I also heard is that, whatever the car dealer promises you as a trade-in value for your "towed in" car, they raise the price an equal amount on your new car. You don't really get anything for your car, but you do get into a new or new-to-you car.

Thanks for the input!

Sink it in a local quarry and charge divers to come see it. Then, with the proceeds, buy a new car. :)

I junked my pride and joy and only got 100, for it:(



So if you can talk to a number of places who ever gives you the most money go for it:cool:

I got $100 for taking in my old car, but I made sure the ride to the junkyard was well worth it. Jumped my car over a nice hill, did spin-outs in a few large parking lots, and then took it for some fun on dirt roads (a few more jumps there). When I did show up at the junkyard all the tires were hissing out air, and the exhaust had fallen off. I made sure to pull anything worth parting out before hand (most of the interior, taillights, and signals).

The wreckless jumping of the car which had served me for so long made it worth it.

My dad got $500 for our semi-worthless taurus. Granted, the AC worked, turn signals etc. etc. worked, but the engine was completely shot (lower bearings or someother had gone out, and engine would keep stalling, or bucking on me). Haha, i had to drive the car about 20 miles, all while it was stalling and going kerpoop on me. But, alas, it was my last ride, in my first ride :cry:

Maybe, if you wanted to, you could trade ur car in at a dealership for $$ for a used car.

It's the equivalent of the Chevrolet S-10. Drop a 350 V8 in it!

:) Donate it to the blind :) that way you can say that a blind man is now driving your old ride ;)

Heritage for the Blind

I should have done that with mine but the frame probably would have folded in two.The frame had big time stress fractures...could have been fixed but I also blew the engine so it was 3K for a new engine and 1500+ for the frame repair.

I know Gm own Isuzu but didn't know a 350 would fir in there...well it might fit but I guess you have to do some bracket relocating.

from what I understand, most charity donations must be running vehicles. If you have a little spare change rod it up like DEI37 says, some side pipes would look good on the old hombre.

And wouldn't be just show, would love to race someone with a 300Hp Isuzu...they wouldn't see it coming!:D

Well, of course you would. You have to with an S-10 as well. It'd most likely be the exact same things to change over to make it all work. Yeah, a 450+hp Isuzu would be just cool. Not see it coming in a million years! DO IT!!!

don't forget to slam it down nice and low:D

This could develop into a new Tilted Motors show. Post your car, we give you ideas of what to do with it. We could make it a low-budget show and call it "Tilt my Ride."

All interesting responses! lol.

Well, just to let y'all know, I've finished up with this whole deal. Wound up turning the car in at one of those weekend specials at a dealer. I know I said I wouldn't do this, but I wound up doing it anyway.

I had my eye on a Mazda6, and a local dealer had a used one in stock. They were also running a $1000 dollars off every used car during their weekend special. They also offered to give me $1000 dollars for my trade-in, so I figured what the hell, and took the deal. I didn't have to spend a dime on my car, and I got my new-to-me Mazda6 for about $1000 less than I could find it anywhere else.

zoom-zoom.

When the old Dodge blew a head gasket a few months ago we called Goodwill and gave it to them. It was at the mechanics' shop so we left the signed title and key on the seat and walked away. A couple days later we got a receipt in the mail for tax purposes.

They did not attempt to value the car for our taxes - that is up to us. I will take the Blue Book value next April.

That is weird how they take busted cars....what do they do with them?




P.S. cartmen34 congrats on your new ride enjoy, I always wanted a Mazda6.