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Questions about selling a car for salvage...

pflash4001

pflash4001

Dec 2, 2011
2,166
169
#1
So, I am in a financial funk...I need some cash pretty quickly and I have a 2002 Dodge Durango that had a piston sieze and break in a cylinder. The car has been sitting in my driveway for a bit over a year. It has never been wrecked. The body is in good shape, transmission is good, electical works, interior decent. It needs a new engine. The blue book value on this car in fair condition is just over $1800. What would a reasonable asking price be for a car like this for salvage. Forgive me if they're asinine questions, but I've never done this before and don't know just how to get this info without being ripped off. I appreciate all your insight on this. Thanks guys. I've found that you guys can be a source of info on lots of different topics. I appreciate your help.
 
#8
pflash4001 said:
So, I am in a financial funk...I need some cash pretty quickly and I have a 2002 Dodge Durango that had a piston sieze and break in a cylinder. The car has been sitting in my driveway for a bit over a year. It has never been wrecked. The body is in good shape, transmission is good, electical works, interior decent. It needs a new engine. The blue book value on this car in fair condition is just over $1800. What would a reasonable asking price be for a car like this for salvage. Forgive me if they're asinine questions, but I've never done this before and don't know just how to get this info without being ripped off. I appreciate all your insight on this. Thanks guys. I've found that you guys can be a source of info on lots of different topics. I appreciate your help.
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Call around and see what they're paying. Go to the truck forums and look for a classifieds section. Someone in a place where vehicles rot from road salt and Winter are always looking for clean bodies and frames. If you want to sell it off as parts, you'll probably have to store it out of public sight but you will come out ahead in the long run.
 
#12
Pilgrim said:
It's worth what you can get - I'd put it on Craigslist and advertise it as needing an engine. Ask $800 OBO - buyer tows it off your property immediately...what do you have to lose? Someone out there probably has an engine in a rolled or rear-ended truck.
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I like this idea.

There is a guy in my building who would buy that in a minute, throw an engine in it and turn around and sell it for a nice profit. He makes nice money buying and selling cars entirely on Craigslist.
 
#13
Asses the value of the car as if it was running fine (value A), then get a quote for the cost of replacing the engine (parts plus labor etc.), (value B). Subtract value B from A (value C) and that will tell you where to start. The only thing is, why would somebody buy that car and then pay to have the engine replaced when they could just buy the same make and model somewhere else already running for the same total amount? This is why you then need to come down a few (or possibly several) hundred dollars from value C. Your best option is to sell to someone as a mechanics special, someone who already has a motor for it or has more time than money and is willing to find one swap parts R/R etc. Sometimes the value of having a quick easy sale and a giant boat anchor removed from your life is worth taking the hit on your sale price. My two cents...
 
#15
Yeah I'm afraid you're not gonna like what you hear from a salvage yard.

I just got in a fender bender with a truck hitch so the front end of my 2000 Toyota solara was totaled. I got 300 for the car and everything about the car was in great shape besides the front end. It even has brand spankin new tires worth $600. They just see it as another car, doesn't matter how good it looks or what it's got underneath.
 
#16
keiththebassist said:
Asses the value of the car as if it was running fine (value A), then get a quote for the cost of replacing the engine (parts plus labor etc.), (value B). Subtract value B from A (value C) and that will tell you where to start. The only thing is, why would somebody buy that car and then pay to have the engine replaced when they could just buy the same make and model somewhere else already running for the same total amount? This is why you then need to come down a few (or possibly several) hundred dollars from value C. Your best option is to sell to someone as a mechanics special, someone who already has a motor for it or has more time than money and is willing to find one swap parts R/R etc. Sometimes the value of having a quick easy sale and a giant boat anchor removed from your life is worth taking the hit on your sale price. My two cents...
Click to expand...

We're dealing with an 02 Durango, not a 67 Chevelle. By the time you subtract B from A you're going to be close to zero or maybe even negative.
 
#17
Are there any recycling incentive for older cars in your state ?
I sent a 96 accord to a registered scrap yard and the provincial gov gave me a year worth of public transportation passes (worth around 1200$) plus a tax deductible receipt. I could have chosen between a few hundred bucks, a large discount on a bicycle or on a new car...
Maybe there's a program like that in your area for 10 years old and up cars.
 
#18
are you trying to scrap it or sell it?

if you're going to scrap it you need to remove the catalytic converter, the radiator, and if the rims are aluminum remove them too. You'll be payed for scrap steel if you bring a car to the junk yard, aluminum rims and a radiator should be taken in as aluminum. a catalytic converter has platinum in it. that's why there is big business in stealing these things.

if you're just trying to outright sell the thing. 300 bucks.
 
#20
Around my area, cars like yours scrap out for 300-400 dollars. Just pick a scrap yard out of the phone book and they'll come and haul it away. If you think you can sell the wheels and tires for more than $150 then take them off the vehicle and tell the scrapyard it doesn't have wheels. They'll give you about $100 less, but it won't affect them hauling the vehicle away on the flatbed wrecker truck.

Alternatively, see if there is a Durango enthusiast online forum. Become a member and put an ad in their classified section selling the car as-is with a blown engine. It's hit or miss but you might get lucky and find someone who really wants it and might give you a bit more than the scrap yard.
 

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