Honest Queston: What do I do with my gas guzzler?

[skydiver30960 0]

I am currently driving the wife's honda civic hybrid, and love it (more importantly I love the 40+ mpg).
She's driving a company car now, and my 1996 Chevy Tahoe is pretty much sitting around and rusting in the parking lot. Here's the critical info:

1996 Chevy Tahoe, LT, overall fair to good condition
for it's age, 170,000 miles, new brakes. Maintenance
issues: the air conditioning compressor is shot, it'll
need new tires in the next year, and it has a small
leak in the water system that has been a bitch to
track down, so you have to top off the reservoir every
week or so when you're driving it every day. It's probably the head gasket, a pricey fix, it's way cheaper to buy a gallon of coolant every six months or so.

So I'd like to sell it, but the fact of the matter is
it's a 13 year old SUV that only gets 17mpg and has a couple maintenance issues that are relatively minor to me but are costly to fix and would be a major problem for a soccer mom. Blue Book online says it's "worth" around $4,000. My guess is it'll be a cold day in hell before anyone pays that much for this vehicle.

Do I stand any chance at all of selling this thing for
any amount? I'm tempted to just put a $2000 price tag on it, let someone talk me down to $1500 or mebbe even less, and buy a new canopy with the dough.

Or, am I better off donating it? My concern there is
that the wife and I aren't homeowners yet and take the standard deduction, so I don't think I'd get anything back on the tax return if I did donate it.

The only other way I can see this vehicle being worth
anything to me is as a trade-in on a future vehicle
purchase. Thing is, if I get my way it'll be a few
years before we consider buying another car, so it'll
be even older and in worse condition by then.

I dunno, waddaya think?

Elvisio "17 mpg ails me" Rodriguez

PS sorry bout the funky formatting, I cut and pasted this from an email I sent someone.

PSS we TOTALLY need an automotive forum.

[LisaH 0]

Ebay.

I just sold a 1982 Toyota Starlet that needed a new carb and some electrical work for $2,500.

Be yourself!
MooOOooOoo

[skydiver30960 0]

I would TOTALLY need somebody to broker it for me on EBay. I've only ever bought one thing online, and never sold anything...

Elvisio "not feeling bad about it though" Rodriguez

[LisaH 0]

Quote

I would TOTALLY need somebody to broker it for me on EBay. I've only ever bought one thing online, and never sold anything...

Elvisio "not feeling bad about it though" Rodriguez

I didn't do it myself. A friend did it for me.

Try to find someone who knows how to sell on Ebay to help you.

Be yourself!
MooOOooOoo

[DougH 270]

Park it until WW3 when we wipe the rest of population off the face of the earth for their oil, and can once again enjoy sub dollar gas.

"The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall"
=P

[bigway 4]

If you are on the west coast my brother arrives in a few weeks and is looking at spending up to $4000 on a wagon but a tahoe might be cool if it can be slept in. It would have to make it from the west to the east coast.
You would get more money if you got it fixed up proper as well.

.Karnage Krew Gear Store
.

[AggieDave 6]

I sold my truck back in February. That worked like a champ since gas was still $2.50 back then, so the father that bought it for his 16yr old son thought the 13mpg was ok.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[davelepka 4]

Sell it. Ask for 20% under book value, and see what happens. Don't lowball youself right off the bat. Plenty of guys will lowball you regardless of what price you ask, so aim high. Just take names and numbers, and when you get tired of trying to sell it, start calling the lowballers.

Even though it seems like a tough sell, there are still people who need a large vehicle. Bigger families, or people who tow, or maybe as a work truck for a contractor.

[skydemon2 0]

Put it out in your front yard and charge 2.00 for a few sledge hammer hits from the passerbyers....

Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clean to the bone!

I like to start my day off with a little Ray of Soulshine™!!

[FlyingJ 0]

Quote

Even though it seems like a tough sell, there are still people who need a large vehicle. Bigger families, or people who tow, or maybe as a work truck for a contractor.

Not to mention, for those folks that need larger vehicles for work, etc. might see 17mpg as a step up!

Killing threads since 2004.

[shermanator 4]

I wish my minivan got 17mpg.

CLICK HERE! new blog posted 9/21/08
CSA #720

[Broke 0]

Tow vehicle for a race car

Divot your source for all things Hillbilly.
Anvil Brother 84
SCR 14192

[JSBIRD 1]

Find a trade school that will accept it as a contribution, and then take a tax credit for the maximum value amount.

359

"Now I've settled down,
in a quiet little town,
and forgot about everything"

[buff 0]

The tweaking meth mite crowds are stealing all of the metal they can and selling I guess to unscrupulous scrap yards so there may be some value there.

Or you could shortcut the process and leave it running near a "known area" and then call the insurance agent with "it was there when I left it". But if you do that, you didn't hear it here man.

A Tahoe is probably chock full o' scarce natural resources.

It's called the Hillbilly Hop N Pop dude.
If you're gonna be stupid, you better be tough.
That's fucked up. Watermelons do not grow on trees! ~Skymama

[LongWayToFall 0]

Thats still a valuable vehicle. As noted, some people need something with a large capacity and towing ability. Post it for blue book value and see what kind of interest you get

[RkyMtnHigh 0]

Have fun with the soon-to-be-obsolete gas guzzler. Take it to a Demolition Derby!

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[LongWayToFall 0]

I retract my previous statement and second this notion.

[coconutmonkey 0]

One word... Detcord!

Hearts & Minds
2 to the Heart-
1 to the Mind-
Home of the Coconut Lounge, Spa, & Artillery Range

[Squeak 17]

Donate ity to a local "in need" school for auto shop.
That's what i did with my old 4x4, the body was shot but the motor and drive train were in good condition.
The kids made a sand rail out of it.

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

[RkyMtnHigh 0]

Not sure over there, but I wonder if that would be a tax writeoff to donate the vehicle for a program like that. If so, that might be a good option for the OP.

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[porpoishead 8]

no way in hell a 96 tahoe gets 17 miles to the gallon.

cold day in hell somebody will pay 4K for a 96 tahoe even without the fore mentioned issues.

shit-can the doors and all of the glass (you wont have to worry about the fuck stick a/c anymore) so you can shit can it too.
put about 12 inches of lift and some 44inch swampers on it you'll need some nasty fucking gears( 5.25: 1 or better)

bust the hood open and start ripping all the useless shit in there out. dont be scared theres plenty useless shit in there it really really just wants to breathe. strip all the pipes from underneath go with open headers or just straight pipes out to the sides.


*** optional***

cut a hole in the top and mount an automatic rifle on a rotating turret.

go run amuck with your machine til you hear shit snap then just walk away. it was a great ride woohoo!!!

if you want a friend feed any animal
Perry Farrell

[DrewEckhardt 0]

Quote

Not sure over there, but I wonder if that would be a tax writeoff to donate the vehicle for a program like that. If so, that might be a good option for the OP.

$0 for the original poster who is not itemizing their deductions.

Demolition Derby would definitely be a much more interesting way to get at least that sort of return. You could probably even get some value for scrap (engine, unbent axles...) after the fact.

[RkyMtnHigh 0]

Quote

Quote

Not sure over there, but I wonder if that would be a tax writeoff to donate the vehicle for a program like that. If so, that might be a good option for the OP.

$0 for the original poster who is not itemizing their deductions.

Demolition Derby would definitely be a much more interesting way to get at least that sort of return. You could probably even get some value for scrap (engine, unbent axles...) after the fact.

Well, if the OP decides to SCRAP THAT CRAP at a Demolition Derby...I want to be there!!!! Wooo HOOOOO!

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[wrightskyguy 1]

Some people make donations because they want to be charitable, not just so they can write it off on thier taxes. Happens every day.

John Wright

World's most beloved skydiver

[rehmwa 2]

Sell it

even though it stays in circulation and someone ELSE will be driving it about and burning a ton of gas (i.e., no real change in the big picture) it'll be his problem

then pat yourself on the back for saving the planet


(we had our F150 valued at $4000, and ended up selling it for nearly $5000, why wouldn't you try to get what you can for your SUV?)

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants