I have a 1996 Intrepid car that has 185,000 miles I want to sell. My husbands brother wants to buy the car but the most he can buy it for is $400. He doesn't know for sure if I am going to sell it anyway. The book value is $2,200. I may not be able to get that much but at the same time I will get more then $400's. I may have to take a $200 dollar cut because the window has a crack. I was getting ready to sell it to the public for $1,200 dollars. How much do you think is reasonable? I am a stay at home Mom and we cannot even afford to fix the door on our van. I feel like I am caught in the middle but at the same time I know we need the money. My husbands brother has a truck that stopped working and also he is giving it to the bank. His brother filed bankruptcy 2 years ago. His wife has a car they drive. The sturggle here is should I just give the car to my husband's brother or should I sell it to the public for more money when I know I need the money? Please help. Thanks
2007-02-07 04:59:47 · 14 answers · asked by lovelyandcarefree 5 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Buying & Selling
NEVER sell a used car to a family member! It's a lose,lose situation. first they will be pissed off that you did not just "Give" it to them, second, the first time it breaks down they will blame you anyway. Sell you car to a stranger and keep the money. Tell your brother in law that you need the money. Don't make his problems YOUR problems!
2007-02-07 05:07:06 · answer #1 · answered by SGT. D 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
WOW that's a tough one. We raised 5 kids so we always passed the cars down with no money. They would pay us a little, it always went to tags, insurance, title work, repair work. I say this, religious or not, good deeds are rewarded. I f he is truely trying to make an effort to live his life right, give him a break. Tell him $800, $400 down, and make payments on the rest. Give him the title and try to trust him. If he doesn't finish paying then don't worry about helping him again. Has anyone, a parent or relative or friend ever helped you? If they haven't, they should have. You have a good heart. Good luck, and, since your a mom, it won't be the last time you do this!
2007-02-07 13:10:54 · answer #2 · answered by Baw 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it depends. does your brother in law deserve your charity or will he take bad care of the car and run it without maintence until it dies like he apparently did with his truck. cars are expensive to keep running and a lot of people buy a car for 500 and then drive it until it dies without any kind of maintence on it, then just find another 500 dollar car and do the same thing.
the question is should you trust your brother in law or will that extra 800 dollars make enough of a difference. also assume if your asking 1200 for the car you will probably get less than that, just because everyone likes to lowball person to person car sales.
2007-02-07 13:07:13 · answer #3 · answered by grasshopper 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it really has 185,000 miles on it, by all means just give it away. You'd be lucky to even find a buyer. Really...would 400.00 make that big of a difference for you? That's probably the most generous offer you'd get. I would give it to a family member in a heartbeat and save yourself the insurance payment. That's gotta make a difference, and you'd be helping someone else.
My Mama used to say, doing good for someone less fortunate puts things into perspective.
2007-02-07 13:04:37 · answer #4 · answered by Playing 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
As hard as it sounds, you need to explain to your husband that the best help you guys can give his brother is to help him help his self. His bad finances seem to be an ongoing problem. By helping him, you are teaching him that luck will get him by.
Let him buy another car for 400. They are out there. He just has to look.
2007-02-07 13:05:06 · answer #5 · answered by Dear Cabbie 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you need the money, then you should sell it to the public. If your husbands brother is a good man, he will understand your dilemma.
2007-02-07 13:03:46 · answer #6 · answered by Daniel-san 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
try to expain to him that your is a tight spot and that you really need the money , if it was under other surcumstances you would gladly sell it to him for what he is asking, but right now you need to sell it for the most you can get out of it. you could always replace the window and get your 2200 out of it. i might be worth the investment.
2007-02-07 13:06:58 · answer #7 · answered by tpippi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you really need the money then sell it but if not give it to someone. Did i mention we are cousins?
2007-02-07 13:02:18 · answer #8 · answered by campbell412 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
why dont you do this, and have the best of both worlds. first list it and try to sell to the public first, and then if it doesnt sell, sell it to your family member.
this way, you wont feel guilty that you sold your self short.
2007-02-07 13:04:32 · answer #9 · answered by susan q 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It depends on the condition of the car
2007-02-07 13:02:34 · answer #10 · answered by A kid 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋