How do you get rid of a car and get something for it?
 

My family has had a 1982 Mazda b2000 truck for over a decade. It has served us well and helped move things, but now the compression in one cylinder is way off and it needs carburetor work that would total over $2000 I assume that a do-it-yourselfer could fix it for much less, but we simply can't spend the time on it, life's a struggle as it is. So we need to get rid of it. With the tax bracket that we are in, deductions would do us absolutely no help. Money's tight now, is there anyway to get anything for it? Surprising me every time, we've been asked many times if it was for sale. I just wish I had taken phone numbers. Everything besides the carb and compression is good. Recent tranny rebuild too.

Thanks

Edit: I drove it limping to the shop (running rough, little power), but I wouldn't expect it to get far without a tow truck.

put an ad in the paper, be honest, ask a reasonable price, and it will be sold. Cheap used small trucks are a hot commodity down here in LA.

What he said. Make sure your ad reaches the right demograpics, i.e., Oakland or......?..(I don't know the area any more) Only problem with an '82 is that it will need a smog for title transfer. Better if this one goes out of state.

Insure and burn... OK, bad idea. :p

The problem is they don't have a lot of value if they're in good shape. I had the same problem with an old Dodge minivan I used for work. Bad engine... no value. I got around $250 for it at a garage sale.

Here's a B2000 that sold on eBay for $400 needing an engine.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6317&item=24465756 14

You might call around to the junkyards to see what a used engine would cost.

really? I remember selling my '85 Toyota pu in '92. It had 100K on it and a leaky engine (warped head with a cheap fix that I disclosed). I put it in the paper for $2750 and the phone started ringing at 6:30am. First caller showed up with cash and it was gone.

Like I said, in SoCal, small trucks are a hot commodity. The gardeners use the snot out of them.

but make bank when in bad shape?? :D

I'm not saying it won't sell... People are just usually afraid to pay much for a vehicle that has problems fearing the worst.

no way, i work with guys that buy beaters for sport. i think they would rather pay a few hundred for a clapped out vehicle, and treat it as disposable. when it gives up, they junkyard it and get another beater. it will sell, just be prepared to see it driving around with cardboard stacked to the sky.

I've been out of town. I'm going to put an ad up today or tomorrow. I was worried people wouldn't even pay $300. Thanks for the advice.

Don't know your tax picture, but you might consider giving the car to a charity, take a deduction. They auction the car, you get a deduction. If you want the deduction for this year, better do it soon..

Donating to a charity should get you more than $300 in the big picture too.

I'm not sure if the cut-off is 1980, but the air resources board buys back smoggable(this can be "arrainged"cough),operational cars for $500. They sent me a letter for the Pcar but I had to think it over.