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Car Forum / Volvo Cars / June 2005Found an abandoned Volvo
Been making monthly stops at a business for a year and a half, noticed this clean, '86 760 Turbo Intercooled wagon always parked there, and just figured it belonged to one of the employees. Then it occured to me it never seemed to move, and on my last stop I asked an employee about the car. I was told that someone ababdoned it there more than a year ago. It's still unlocked, with some little kids' toys and stuff in it--looked like a mom's car. They had called the cops about it a couple of times, but there it still sits. I took out the registration and called 411 to get a phone number corresponding to the name, and was told it's unlisted; the address is about 50 miles away. The car has no rust or dents, every option, and 203k miles. Obviously nobody cares about the car, and I want it, preferably for little or nothing. A car dealer friend of mine said the most sensible thing to do would be to just go to the owner's residence (if they still live there) and try to get the key, title, etc,. and find out the story on the car, what's wrong with it, etc. Which makes sense, BUT: Maybe they're under the assumption that it's been towed and they are now obligated for a bunch of fees for storage, towing, etc. But that's not the case: The business owner has just let it sit there, all this time. And I'm sure it will continue to, indefinitely. I'd like suggestions on the optimal way for me to procure this car, possibly getting it for nothing, without making a mis-step and botching the whole thing. I would go to the owner's address, tell them I'm interested in their car, try to find out if there is any lien or obligation on the car, and offer them $50 for the car, with title signed over to you. I might try to offer the additional incentive information that the car will likely get towed away eventually, with little likelihood that they will get anything. Be careful on this last point, as it inherently treads on ethical points. Be honest about your own interests. If they've really abandoned the car, your proposition of $50 to them adheres to the sound principle of a "win-win" game. No matter what the condition of the car, you will have at least $50 in value for you to use or part out as you please. After all, we are civilized Volvo owners, not GM SUV animals. (Just a little jest). > Been making monthly stops at a business for a year and a half, noticed > this clean, '86 760 Turbo Intercooled wagon always parked there, and [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > possibly getting it for nothing, without making a mis-step and botching > the whole thing. > I would go to the owner's address, tell them I'm interested in their car, > try to find out if there is any lien or obligation on the car, and offer [quoted text clipped - 40 lines] > > possibly getting it for nothing, without making a mis-step and botching > > the whole thing. Leaving a valuable car (with kids' toys!) abandoned for a year is a nut-bar thing to do, and you should take this as a guide to the people you will be dealing with. You will find yourself in the middle of some hopelessly disfunctional mess, likely a broken marriage mired in spite, mental health problems and (most relevant for you) legal wrangles that prohibit any disposition of assets. Or perhaps the car represents a horrible personal tragedy for them (hint: the kids toys); perhaps they'd be glad to get rid of it, but maybe they will resent any mention of it. I mean, ask yourself what it would take to make you walk away from a perfectly good car. Which is not to say it isn't worth a try, but I would not expect to find a rational well-balanced person who's been just waiting for someone to show up with $50. I would also recommend that you offer them, if not book value, something high enough that an impartial observer would not accuse you of gross exploitation. Most of us would be happy to get a car for, say, half its real worth, adjusted for the risk you're taking in not knowing its history and the costs of renewing registration etc. Chip C I've been under the assumption all along that there was something wrong with the car which disabled it there. And yes, I agree that no normal person walks away from a car, good or otherwise--unlocked, plates & registration intact, etc. And I was NEVER enthusiastic about showing up on the doorstep of someone like that. I went to the Motor Vehicle Dep't. for that county and told them the story and they knew which car I was referring to, and suggested I send them a registered letter stating my interest; and if it came back to me (unopened, I presume she meant) then I could say I tried to contact them, after which time I could have the authorities declare it abandoned. But I had to talk to the mgr of the business first, and he was apprehensive about doing anything with it at all, since 1.) He owned the place with several others and wanted to talk to them first, 2.) They didn't even really care that the thing was sitting there (obviously) and thus didn't care about helping anyone else procure it, 3.) He thought his associates would be reluctant to do anything with it since it's been sitting there for so long that EVERYBODY'S seen it and then they'd be 'involved' in someone else glomming onto it (I know how lame that is) But here's the good part: I went to the town which the registration gave as owners' address, and asked at a convenience store where their street was. She said it's out on the "settlement." That's right, kiddies, it's out on an Indian reservation. And I do mean OUT. Since it was still somewhat near the store I was at, I thought I'd just drive out there, never having been to such a fabled wonderland. As the gravel road wound ever deeper into wilderness, hovels on one side, swamp on the other, I had an epiphany: These are my people!! No, actually I deemed the idea officially uncool and don't know if I'm going to pursue it anymore. There wasn't gonna be any knocking on doors happenin', I'll tell you that much. I guess my intention was to somehow actually contact the owner, which is the only thing that would circumvent the management's reluctance to do anything with it. But it wouldn't appear that there's too many normal people in the equation. > I've been under the assumption all along that there was something > wrong with the car which disabled it there. [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > But it wouldn't appear that there's too many normal people in the > equation. Ok ignore the business, send the owner a registered letter, once you've got that part settled you can remove the car from the business without their involvement. Keep at it and chances are the car will be yours, I know I would, but then I've been looking for a turbo wagon for a while now. This has all the trappings of a great Made For T.V. Movie. > I've been under the assumption all along that there was something > wrong with the car which disabled it there. [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > But it wouldn't appear that there's too many normal people in the > equation. > As the gravel road wound ever deeper into wilderness, hovels on one >side, swamp on the other, I had an epiphany: These are my people!! > > No, actually I deemed the idea officially uncool and don't know if I'm >going to pursue it anymore. Please post the address. They sound like my people. Mmmm... Hovels. Actually I don't have anything against American Indian people. It was just that the economic status of the neighborhood made it seem rather foreboding. As such, if I were to ask someone about the car, they are likely to have dollar signs in their eyes right away. > Actually I don't have anything against American Indian people. It was >just that the economic status of the neighborhood made it seem rather >foreboding. > As such, if I were to ask someone about the car, they are likely to >have dollar signs in their eyes right away. Offer them $300, go to a max of $500 if the engine will turn over. After sitting as long as it has, it will need a new battery, tires, oil change, probably a coolant change, and new gas. If anything major is wrong (bad turbo, bad trans, engine) it becomes a parts car or a larger project. Send the letter to make the offer; the worst that can happen is that they say no and go get the car. Gary  SignatureGary Heston gheston@hiwaay.net Did you hear about the people caught falsely advertising Star Wars memorabilia? They were charged with Bait and Sith. "Gomer Einstein" wrote > As such, if I were to ask someone about the car, they are likely to > have dollar signs in their eyes right away. Of course,getting the car on the cheap never crossed your mind :-) True, but if I was ready to "pay up" for one, why would I even be dealing with this mess? I'd simply go to a dealer and buy one, known to run well, possibly even with a limited warranty, et. al. For all the dinking around this is likely to entail, it damn well OUGHT to be cheap. Plus I'm sure there are many car nuts out there who've encountered a car which actually needed be 'rescued' and took steps to do so, sometimes without regard to whether it could be gotten on the cheap or not. I'd like to have someone tell me with a straight face the wouldn't try to glomm onto an abandoned car 'for cheap.' Not to mention what all it might need ($$$) Talk about buying "Blue Sky." :-) > I'd like to have someone tell me with a straight face the wouldn't try > to glomm onto an abandoned car 'for cheap.' > Not to mention what all it might need ($$$) > Talk about buying "Blue Sky." :-) Actually, that is my big concern. Many abandoned cars are abandoned because they are too expensive to repair. I gave away a 1970 145 to a neighbor because it wasn't worth a fraction of the DIY repair cost just to meet emission standards. He was moving outside the county where there were no emission inspections and needed something to tool around in. If that car has a warped head from overheating, a radiator full of rust and a crankcase full of sludge you could have a challenge ahead of you. It goes without saying it has not had loving service. Mike But why would it needing expensive repair preclude one from merely selling it "as is"? Then they'd get something for it. Anything would be better than just leaving it in someone's parking lot-- that's just asking for a big hassle eventually. Or just HOPING someone would take it?? Mmmm. > But why would it needing expensive repair preclude one from merely > selling it "as is"? Then they'd get something for it. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Or just HOPING someone would take it?? > Mmmm. Well dang, just take a shot at getting the thing, if it doesn't work out, oh well, if it does, great. If it has some major problem, sell it to someone who likes to tinker. I guess another aspect of it for me was that I didn't really want to see it get junked, picked apart, etc. The private party value on Kelley Bluebook was $1650.00; a new transmission (which it could very well have required) would be more than that. So even if I got it for free, I wouldn't say I cut a fat hog. As my dad once said, "You can get a lot of money in 'em real quick." The whole thing was just kind of a whim: you see something and get kind of excited about it, etc., then it turns into an oddysey, then you just chuck the whole idea. Been there done that? > I guess another aspect of it for me was that I didn't really want to > see it get junked, picked apart, etc. > The private party value on Kelley Bluebook was $1650.00; a new > transmission (which it could very well have required) would be more than > that. Huh? They made a zillion of those transmissions, the 240's used them as well, you can get them at junkyards for a couple hundred bucks or less. Heck I finally junked a perfectly good one with a shot tailshaft bushing because I couldn't get anyone to take it away for free. I guess I wasn't thinking about putting in a used one since there are NO volvos in any of the three the junkyards around here. Perhaps if I checked the larger cities I could get one, although I've never put a used transmission in anything before, in this case I'd make an exception. Assuming that's what's even wrong with it to begin with. There was a partial bottle of ATF on the passenger side floormat. Nixt to a not-yet-filled-out "No-Contact" (restraining) order. No kidding. Chip (the previous poster) was very astute in his assesment of the situation. And I appreciate it. > I guess I wasn't thinking about putting in a used one since there are > NO volvos in any of the three the junkyards around here. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > Chip (the previous poster) was very astute in his assesment of the > situation. And I appreciate it. Might just have a leak, I wouldn't be surprised if the fuel pump relay, hall sensor or air mass meter failed. Call Leutenant Columbo. > I guess I wasn't thinking about putting in a used one since there are > NO volvos in any of the three the junkyards around here. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > Chip (the previous poster) was very astute in his assesment of the > situation. And I appreciate it. You know what, though... Without looking any farther into it, this really does look kinda spooky: There was a not-filled-out restraining order on the passenger side floor. The woman left without locking her car, apparently abruptly. She was staying in a motel. If it was incumbent upon the motel owners to report her suspiciously abandoned car (and thus get people looking for her if she was abducted or otherwise disappeared): It never happened--even a year later. She was 28 according to the bill of sale. She had three heads and seventeen arms (ok I'm making that part up). Of course she might even be in the trunk? Just a thought! Steve. > You know what, though... > Without looking any farther into it, this really does look kinda [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > She was 28 according to the bill of sale. > She had three heads and seventeen arms (ok I'm making that part up). > Been making monthly stops at a business for a year and a half, noticed > this clean, '86 760 Turbo Intercooled wagon always parked there, and [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > possibly getting it for nothing, without making a mis-step and botching > the whole thing. Talk to the business, I believe there's a way they can legally sieze the car in exchange for storing it, at which point they should be able to apply for lost title and transfer it to you. Once you have it in your name, it's just a matter of going to the dealer with the VIN number to purchase a new key. I'd talk to the local police about this vehicle and what you've been able to find out. The legal paperwork (filled out or not) is a BIG RED FLAG! ("Legal landmine or sinkhole present!") I'd have the police check out the vehicle, especially if you can find out who handles domestic violence situations. Explain what you've seen and don't make any coclusions -- that's their job. Yeah, but all along I've been EXTREMELY apprehensive about involving the police, such as simply having a cop take me out to show me where they live ("What the hell you doing bringing the cops out here, $%*@&!!). > Yeah, but all along I've been EXTREMELY apprehensive about involving > the police, such as simply having a cop take me out to show me where > they live ("What the hell you doing bringing the cops out here, > $%*@&!!). Why? Most cops are pretty benign unless you're doing something wrong. "Why? Most cops are pretty benign unless you're doing something wrong." That's exactly right. But what if they ARE doing something wrong? Bye-bye car. They could have a meth lab out there for all I know. They don't seem to be the most normal people in the world to begin with. >"Why? Most cops are pretty benign unless you're doing something wrong." > That's exactly right. > But what if they ARE doing something wrong? Bye-bye car. > They could have a meth lab out there for all I know. > They don't seem to be the most normal people in the world to begin >with. That's why it would be best to make the initial contact via mail. Gary SignatureGary Heston gheston@hiwaay.net Did you hear about the people caught falsely advertising Star Wars memorabilia? They were charged with Bait and Sith. > "Why? Most cops are pretty benign unless you're doing something wrong." > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > They don't seem to be the most normal people in the world to begin > with. Well all the more reason to get cops out there I suppose. > "Why? Most cops are pretty benign unless you're doing something wrong." > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > They don't seem to be the most normal people in the world to begin > with. Are you sure you want the car they abandoned? Mike On 18/6/05 12:59 AM, in reference to 3432-42B2E565-349@storefull-3278.bay.webtv.net, going by the name of "James Goforth" <jamiegoforth@webtv.net> wrote the following: > "Why? Most cops are pretty benign unless you're doing something wrong." > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > They don't seem to be the most normal people in the world to begin > with. You still talking about cops? Hammo Just thought that if it's unlocked and the local car theives haven't touched it, there may be a very good reason. Since you've done the legal legwork of chasing down the ownership, you can be certain that it isn't a bait-car. I neglected to mention that my 14 year old boy likes Volvo Wagons (as do I) and that's what piqued my curiousity at seeing one abandoned. It was going to be a father-son project to resurrect it. Any, I composed a letter and will send it registered; that's probably the easiest and most sensible way to start with. Will be interesting to see if I hear from her...(dramatic pause)...if she still walks among the living (insert scary music here). After that we'll probably try a good ol' fashioned seance. (sp?) Seriously, I guess with a registered letter, only SHE can sign for it. I gave my P.O. box # and my cell phone number, but it would be a long-distance call for her. But if she's that destitute, she might take the $150 I offered her. I'll keep you posted. Gomer, Your friend is correct you are obligated to try to find the rightful owner. This is not only the moral thing to do but a legal requirement. You stand a good chance on getting legal title to the car but in every state there are requirements that must be met to take possession of an abandoned vehicle. Many state you need to by a tax stamp, send a certified letter to the last registered owner and title holder. Make all reasonable attempts to contact these people and then file for a title. Look at it this way what if your car was stolen and no one bothered to tell you where the car was and you could have recovered the car. Good Luck no go and do the right thing. NDS > Been making monthly stops at a business for a year and a half, noticed > this clean, '86 760 Turbo Intercooled wagon always parked there, and [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > possibly getting it for nothing, without making a mis-step and botching > the whole thing. |
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