I crashed my car; sell or part out?
I crashed my car; sell or part out?
I crashed my car last week. I was going to keep driving it but the transmission leaked out overnight. Should I try to sell it or part it out?
I have some pretty bad luck. There was a rock that hit the transmission.
I have some pretty bad luck. There was a rock that hit the transmission.
....right?
A week ago when it was really icy in north jersey I was driving early morning at around 3am and my car lost grip. I slowly slid into a tree sideways. Yes it looks like a head on hit but my license plate is in the trunk all fine. And in front of the tree was a rock. It’s a gxe, vg auto. One of the bolts going around the transmission was hanging loose like it was just about to get ready to be bolted in and I see a fracture along the bottom most bolt hole. I was thinking of trying jb weld but I have to drive far to school (NY) so I'm afraid of my transmission crapping out on me and being the broke college student that I am I had cheap insurance so I’m on my own. The car has 113k miles and I just bought new shocks for it and was about to buy rotors, pads, etc. I’m still sad that this happened.
A week ago when it was really icy in north jersey I was driving early morning at around 3am and my car lost grip. I slowly slid into a tree sideways. Yes it looks like a head on hit but my license plate is in the trunk all fine. And in front of the tree was a rock. It’s a gxe, vg auto. One of the bolts going around the transmission was hanging loose like it was just about to get ready to be bolted in and I see a fracture along the bottom most bolt hole. I was thinking of trying jb weld but I have to drive far to school (NY) so I'm afraid of my transmission crapping out on me and being the broke college student that I am I had cheap insurance so I’m on my own. The car has 113k miles and I just bought new shocks for it and was about to buy rotors, pads, etc. I’m still sad that this happened.
Just checked the autozone repair guide, damn thing was hard to find but I found it using google. I'm going to go clean off the oil on the bottom and try to see if that one bolt can be put back in. It's from the outer most part of the transmission closest to the left wheel.
Just checked the autozone repair guide, damn thing was hard to find but I found it using google. I'm going to go clean off the oil on the bottom and try to see if that one bolt can be put back in. It's from the outer most part of the transmission closest to the left wheel.
I don't remember the last time I looked at the stickies. I'm trying to clean off the area but small amounts of oil are still there. I'm trying to figure out what to do. I have the RE4F02 
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 138
From: NYC
Quickywd01: i have seen worse damaged front ends than yours. for example my car, i wrecked the living hell out of the front end on my '93 and look at it now. i think i still have images of the accident in my cardomain. all you need is just a hood, bumper, grille, core support, possibly radiator and condenser. you can find all these parts in a local yard dirt cheap. that car still has a long life, don't let it go to waste.
Last edited by GRNMAXDMON; Dec 27, 2007 at 06:44 PM.
Did you read the part where I hit a rock which cracked the tranny causing me to slide into a tree and you dont see the damge of the radiator being pushed in. Only thing that leaked out is the tranny oil and the air bag didn't come out as I was going slow.
The transmission is cracked so I can't drive it. I need to drive all over the place so I'm looking for a car right now. I'm thinking about doing something with the maxima though, gotta do some "research" and if it's doable I might.
i would say 1/2" but how would i know? i can't remember since my car ain't an autotragic anymore.
Quickywd01: i have seen worse damaged front ends than yours. for example my car, i wrecked the living hell out of the front end on my '93 and look at it now. i think i still have images of the accident in my cardomain. all you need is just a hood, bumper, grille, core support, possibly radiator and condenser. you can find all these parts in a local yard dirt cheap. that car still has a long life, don't let it go to waste.
Quickywd01: i have seen worse damaged front ends than yours. for example my car, i wrecked the living hell out of the front end on my '93 and look at it now. i think i still have images of the accident in my cardomain. all you need is just a hood, bumper, grille, core support, possibly radiator and condenser. you can find all these parts in a local yard dirt cheap. that car still has a long life, don't let it go to waste.
U wanna try me young boy?
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,024
Why would you give an undrivable car to charity? They're just gonna junk it. The charity would benefit more if you junk the car yourself and give the charity the $$ in cash.
If you're not going to claim on insurance then either junk it, part it out or fix it. What is the extent of the damage behind the bumper? How are the upper radiator support an lower tie bar? What about the radiator and condenser?
If you're not going to claim on insurance then either junk it, part it out or fix it. What is the extent of the damage behind the bumper? How are the upper radiator support an lower tie bar? What about the radiator and condenser?
if they keep it for their own "use" you get full kbb as a write off, otherwise you get whatever they sell it for.
99% of the time you are better off selling it private party because the tax write off will amount to less than you can sell the car for.
to make it more clear, if you write off $2k from your taxes you don't owe 2k less in taxes, it's like you made less money this year by something like $200 which will save you only a couple of dollars in tax, UNLESS you are pulling down over 6 figures of taxable income.
consult a tax attorney, but there is a limit to how much "charitable" donations you can take off your taxes
*disclaimer* I am not a tax attorney, nor do I work for the IRS. all numbers stated are theoretical and not to be considered for anything other than examples
U wanna try me young boy?
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,024
I donated a Grand Prix to Goodwill. They have a program that matches donated cars to needy folks. The GP only needed front rotors and was otherwise in great condition. I ggot a letter back saying that they put rotors on it and are keeping it for their matching program.
I could have gotten ~$1500 from selling it, but I had just gone through he hassle of selling my maxima the month before (where I wasted a ton of time with 'buyers' who were not serious) and didn't want to mess about with it. Given my tax bracket, it's gonna be worth about $500. An easy sale to a car dealer would have gotten me the same amount of money.
I also get the benefit of knowing my old car is being put to good use, and isn't just making a car dealer rich.
EDIT: I just checked KBB and it says $1955 for excellent or $1655 for Good. I took a bunch of pictures and a video of the car before it was donated showing the paint and interior were in excellenet codition - no rust or blemishes on the paint and no problems in the interior. Engine was great, trans rebuilt at 125k and many new parts such at A/C system, radiaor/cooling systems etc less than 5k miles old. I'm going to claim the 'Excellent' condition value and subtract the cost of repairs reported by the charity ($200 I think). I can claim $1755, which will net me about $600 bucks in my pocket)
I could have gotten ~$1500 from selling it, but I had just gone through he hassle of selling my maxima the month before (where I wasted a ton of time with 'buyers' who were not serious) and didn't want to mess about with it. Given my tax bracket, it's gonna be worth about $500. An easy sale to a car dealer would have gotten me the same amount of money.
I also get the benefit of knowing my old car is being put to good use, and isn't just making a car dealer rich.
EDIT: I just checked KBB and it says $1955 for excellent or $1655 for Good. I took a bunch of pictures and a video of the car before it was donated showing the paint and interior were in excellenet codition - no rust or blemishes on the paint and no problems in the interior. Engine was great, trans rebuilt at 125k and many new parts such at A/C system, radiaor/cooling systems etc less than 5k miles old. I'm going to claim the 'Excellent' condition value and subtract the cost of repairs reported by the charity ($200 I think). I can claim $1755, which will net me about $600 bucks in my pocket)
Last edited by Scruit; Dec 29, 2007 at 07:50 PM.
U wanna try me young boy?
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,024
Which is why I questioned the OP for suggesting donating a wrecked car. The charity can't do anything with it expect pay to have to towed to a junkyard. They're not gonna fix it. If you're gonna donate a car to charity then do it should be something that benefits the charity - else junk it yourself and donate the $$$. Too many folks out there think that donating a car is like a free towing service.
I cant get anything from my insurance for it so I'm at least trying to get some money for it. I can't part it out because I can't leave it sitting here so that's why I had that question. Maybe an org member might want it for parts. If I fill the transmission with oil it will drive and I once drove almost six thousand miles on a single oil change and it barely used up half a quart so if someone needs an engine it's worth it.
