# What should I do with my car? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 31, 2003, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-car/192221 "2003-07-31T20:58:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LilyoftheValley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@LilyoftheValley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheValley)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-car/192221/1 "2003-07-31T20:58:29Z")
I bought a new car yesterday. We negotiated a price _before_ I told them I had a car to trade in, as recommended by Consumer Reports. (And if I may say so, I think we got a pretty good deal.) So after we negotiated down, we asked how much they’d give us for trade-in of my old car. You should know that I love my old car with a passion. It’s a 1990 Toyota Celica, 145,000 miles, a bit beat up in the body, but not embarassingly so. It runs great, gets great gas mileage, and never needs major repairs. I think it could run for another 50,000 at a minimum. I would still be driving it if not for the fact that I’m pregnant. It’s a two-door with no easy way to put a car seat in the back, plus I don’t want to risk a breakdown out here in the sticks with a little one in winter. Anyway, they offered me $50 for it. $50 for a running car, with a CD player? There was no need to insult me, just say you don’t want the damn thing. Not to mention the snotty look he gave me when I told him that I would still be driving it if I could. (Whoops, this is not the pit.) Anyway, so now I have two cars. And I have no idea what to do with the Toyota. I’m hoping Dopers will come to the rescue with suggestions. Anyone know about “donating” a car? It’s due for reregistration by the end of August, so I need a solution before then. ---
**Author:** ![OTA\_56x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/2bfe46/32.png) [@OTA\_56x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OTA_56x)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-car/192221/2 "2003-07-31T21:04:45Z")
Roll if off a cliff! Of course, this must be videotaped. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-car/192221/3 "2003-07-31T21:10:15Z")
Various charities seek donated cars, the donee gets a tax deduction. Check out organizations for the blind, Kidney Foundation, ask at a church who would take it, etc. For a bit more of your time and trouble, you could sell it to an individual for considerably more than 50 bucks. An ad in the paper usually works well. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-car/192221/4 "2003-07-31T21:14:12Z")
In 1971, “runs” was worth $75. “Runs good” was worth $100. Now, 32 years later, you ought to be able to do better than that. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-car/192221/5 "2003-07-31T21:15:56Z")
Various charities seek donated cars, the donee gets a tax deduction. Check out organizations for the blind, Kidney Foundation, ask at a church who would take it, etc. For a bit more of your time and trouble, you could sell it to an individual for considerably more than 50 bucks. An ad in the paper usually works well. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-car/192221/6 "2003-07-31T21:19:28Z")
In 1971, “runs” was worth $75. “Runs good” was worth $100. Now, 32 years later, you ought to be able to do better than that. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-car/192221/7 "2003-07-31T21:21:27Z")
Various charities seek donated cars, the donee gets a tax deduction. Check out organizations for the blind, Kidney Foundation, ask at a church who would take it, etc. For a bit more of your time and trouble, you could sell it to an individual for considerably more than 50 bucks. An ad in the paper usually works well. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-car/192221/8 "2003-07-31T21:40:21Z")
college students wouold love a car like that you could put an ad at the local college. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-car/192221/9 "2003-07-31T21:41:22Z")
Wow! A double post encased in a triple post! Anyhoo, Gary T has the right idea. You could always try to sell it outright, but that can be a bigger PITA than its worth. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-car/192221/10 "2003-07-31T21:45:42Z")
college students wouold love a car like that you could put an ad at the local college. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-car/192221/11 "2003-07-31T21:51:14Z")
college students wouold love a car like that you could put an ad at the local college. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-car/192221/12 "2003-07-31T22:01:10Z")
Keep it. It is always good to have a second runner at your disposal. I personally could not imaging having any less than 5 vehicles at the ready. 😃 Right now, we have 16. If you must ditch it, you should be able to $200 min. easy. Sell it some kid as a first timer car. * * * _“Lets get them meek bastards **NOW!** ”_ ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-car/192221/13 "2003-07-31T22:07:27Z")
Keep it. It is always good to have a second runner at your disposal. I personally could not imaging having any less than 5 vehicles at the ready. 😃 Right now, we have 16. If you must ditch it, you should be able to $200 min. easy. Sell it some kid as a first timer car. * * * _“Lets get them meek bastards **NOW!** ”_ ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-car/192221/14 "2003-07-31T22:14:06Z")
Keep it. It is always good to have a second runner at your disposal. I personally could not imaging having any less than 5 vehicles at the ready. 😃 Right now, we have 16. If you must ditch it, you should be able to $200 min. easy. Sell it some kid as a first timer car. * * * _“Lets get them meek bastards **NOW!** ”_ ---
**Author:** ![Rabid\_Squirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Rabid\_Squirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rabid_Squirrel)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-car/192221/15 "2003-07-31T22:48:03Z")
Find a small bump in a long, straight road. Now jump it and try to crack the oil sump on the way down. Either that, or go rally racing on a dry river bed. Or give it to a desperate student. They’ll love you for it :). ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-car/192221/16 "2003-08-01T02:29:23Z")
What the #%&@ is going on with this thread?!?!? Just to see if it happens to my post, I’m going to take the time to second saying “sell it to a college/high school student”. My brother’s first car, and consequently, my first car, was an 84 Corolla which was rusted beyond belief, but with a strong engine, which we bought for a dollar from our grandmother. It lasted 2 years, until the hood finally yielded to the rust, but when it died (at the age of 14) the mechanics we went to told us the engine was good for another 5 years, at least! Toyota’s can be run into the ground, and then some! Do you have nieces or nephews or cousins who are of driving age? Offer it to them, if the parents are willing. Even if you sell it for very little (50$!) at least it’ll be put to good use rather than sold for scrap like the dealership would do! ---
**Author:** ![im2evil4u](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5ac83/32.png) [@im2evil4u](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/im2evil4u)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-car/192221/17 "2003-08-01T04:03:30Z")
This thread is great!!! This thread is great!!! I was offered $500 on a trade in for a car that I purchased for $10,000 from the same dealer three years ago. I told him to “go screw” and sold it to my neighbor for four times as much as the dealer offered me. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-car/192221/18 "2003-08-01T04:09:27Z")
A junk yard will give you more than $50 for it. They can sell your engine or its pieces for several hundred dollars. I wouldn’t be surprised if you couldn’t get $150 at least just to junk it (and they will come and tow it away for you). You might drive around to other dealers and see what you can negotiate. ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-car/192221/19 "2003-08-01T04:10:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gatopescado \* > **Right now, we have 16.** :eek: I think it’s good to have an extra car, but some people do not want the extra insurance & registration expense. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-car/192221/20 "2003-08-01T04:42:09Z")
A year and a half ago, we negotiated a deal on a new car in the way you describe and then presented our 84 Celica for trade. That little gem had 210,000 miles on it, the paint was wearing thin in spots, and it barely ran. We got $200 for it. I’d say sell it privately if you don’t mind the trouble; donate it if you do. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-car/192221.md?page=2)