Dealers not taking my used car. what now?

[Hiscousin]

I just brought a "newer" used car but the dealer and other dealers as well doesn't seem to want to accept my old car.

My "older" car is a 1995 ford escort wagon that I have brought quite a while ago and now has slightly over 200,000 km clocked on it. It still works fine and its quite a shame cause the wheels are replaced and a few mechanical parts have been tuned and renewed recently too.

It seems the year 1995 was probably the main turn off and the milege. But I don't want it to sit in the lot either.

Someone suggested me to get it to an "auto-wreckers" or "vehicle scrap yard", but I am thinking of using it last. I am thinking of selling it for $300- $800, just to get something back. Is it possible?

A Ford 1995 escort wagon, over 200,000 km. Suggestions? Do "scrap yards" pay you for your car or vice versa or something else?

I apologize if it sounds awkward but changing a car and getting rid of my old one is a new experience for me, not sure what to do.

[DragonZealot]

Is there anything wrong with the Escort?

If it passes safety and emission there are always someone looking for clunkers.

[Pete_Coach]

Put in the local websites, sell it for 500 or so. Dealers don't want old cars on their lot. There is somebody out there looking for a winter beater and will snap it up in a heartbeat if it can pass safety and e tests. No one wants to stick any money into a 15 year old car.

[JohnB]

Is there anything wrong with the Escort?

If it passes safety and emission there are always someone looking for clunkers.

I agree if it runs someone always wants a cheap car that runs.

Maybe a highschool student who only has $1,000 to spend or someone who is handy with cars who wants a winter beater.

To sell it you need to see if it passes a safety test and an e-clean test. Then sell it as-is.

[ES_Revenge]

Not really a surprise. Most new-car dealerships will not even touch a car that's 10 years old and anything over 5-6 years old they will probably take on a trade-in but they won't keep on their lot (they go off to wholesalers/auctions).

Previously some dealers would run the ol' "push, pull, or drag it in" events where they'd give you like a minimum of $1000 trade-in value for whatever car you owned that you brought in when buying a new car. These type of "deals" have essentially evolved into the "cash for clunkers" type incentives that are going around now. Though the incentives suck in Canada compared to the US, it hasn't stopped Canadian dealers and manufacturer divisions from jumping on the hype bandwagon of offering something miserable in dollar amount but similar in name.

Your best bet is probably one of those programs (though you're still getting little for it you can't expect much for that car either), or sell it privately for something like $500. You could take it to a wreckers but they would probably give you only about $50 for the car--probably not as much as you want.

I also have a car that's over 10 years old; and, when I got a new car a while ago, I didn't even think of selling or trading in the old one because I knew how little I'd get for it. Like your car there was no way it would be taken on a trade and it's worth more to me than it would be to sell so there was absolutely no point in selling it. In fact that was probably the case with my car's market value well before I went to get a new vehicle (worth more to me than I'd get).

That's just the way it is with a lot of cars, particularly ones that have poor resale/high depreciation. You keep it over 3-4 years and you're screwing yourself if your eventual intention is to replace it with a new car. (Incidentally that's why I don't get why some people turn their noses up at leasing--in many ways it makes a lot more sense than financing. Of course now leasing has gone sour, but that's another story.)

[Hiscousin]

It seems okay now, its been over a year since the last emission and safety tests. I have driven on the highway with that before changing for a "newer" car, and that is only a few months ago.

I think it can last 2-3 years more before it goes kaput. Nothing is wrong with it but to get this years testing done it will cost me what I want to sell it for.

The buyer might be turned off having to do the test again for 09'. The emission test however has not expired.

And to the above post, I thought people oppose leasing is due to the interest rates... no? some folks figured out that they where paying 1/3 MORE by the time they are finished with it....

[rogerrabbit168]

you can also use Retire Your Ride to get $300.00

[ES_Revenge]

And to the above post, I thought people oppose leasing is due to the interest rates... no? some folks figured out that they where paying 1/3 MORE by the time they are finished with it....
Not from the comments on this site from the anti-leasers out there (they usually don't mention rates). One guy on here I recall, he kept going on in beligerent fashion essentially continually pointing out only that you "don't own the car" and that was his whole "argument" LOL.

While you're right that back in the day lease rates were typically poor compared to financing rates, in the more recent years they have been much more competitive. In fact my lease rate was much lower than the finance rate for my vehicle. But again for 09 this is changing as manufacturers have caught on to leasing being the losing game it was for them. Some car companies have stopped leasing altoghether, others have raised rates and/or lowered residuals or removed incentives.

[Hiscousin]

Not from the comments on this site from the anti-leasers out there (they usually don't mention rates). One guy on here I recall, he kept going on in beligerent fashion essentially continually pointing out only that you "don't own the car" and that was his whole "argument" LOL.

While you're right that back in the day lease rates were typically poor compared to financing rates, in the more recent years they have been much more competitive. In fact my lease rate was much lower than the finance rate for my vehicle. But again for 09 this is changing as manufacturers have caught on to leasing being the losing game it was for them. Some car companies have stopped leasing altoghether, others have raised rates and/or lowered residuals or removed incentives.

Hmmm, I don't really buy fresh out of factory new cars, but rather buying the right used cars.

But anyway do you think posting my clunker on hot deals or on craiglist would work? I am thinking if curious internet lurkers might be interested.

[ES_Revenge]

But anyway do you think posting my clunker on hot deals or on craiglist would work? I am thinking if curious internet lurkers might be interested.
Yep. I think it's well agreed that if your car is in good running and driving condition like you say it is, you should be able to sell it for something like "$500 as-is" without too much issue. Even if that is too high (doesn't sound like it but if it is) you'll surely get someone sending you something like "I'll take it for $400" or similar. I don't think you'll have that big of a problem selling it for something in the $300-$800 neighbourhood, depending on condition, options, etc.