Should I buy 1992 lumina euro???

tblake · 07-15-2006, 11:03 AM

Hey guys, i found a 1992 lumina euro in the junkyard that is complete all but for the set of keys. I was wondering if i am able to get a set from the dealer for this car, and upon asking the salesperson there, he said they might not be able to find the title for it. Am i able to get a new title written up for it coming from a junkyard. The car looks very good to be in the junkyard. No coolant in the oil or vice versa, tranny fluid is red and doesnt smell burnt, and its only got 100,000 miles on it. It has the nice rims with pretty good tires yet, the tabs are up to date, and the paint looks very nice with only minor rust behing the rear wheels. What would you guys do? Missing keys, and possably missing title. Whats the car worth. I dont even know if it runs yet. Thanks btw, 3.1L V6, old style Vin T. What should i watch out for with this motor? I pulled up carfax on it, and it only said there was one entry. Could be good or bad.

jeffcoslacker · 07-15-2006, 11:30 AM

They must play by different rules there...here if they get caught with ANY car that they don't have a title to, it's automatically assumed stolen until proven otherwise...handled by the State Patrol here...occaisionally they will buy one with a missing title if it's going in the crusher THAT DAY...they sure as hell wouldn't try to sell it...

I assume the one you are looking at was abandoned or illegally parked, whatever...in that case the company that impounded it can apply to put a lien against the title for money owed for towing and storage, and if not paid the car's title can be tranferred to them as compnsation after a period of time (I'm not sure how long, and it doesn't matter, your state is obviously different)

So if it was here, they (the impound yard/salvage yard) would have to accquire the title through a lien process, then transfer it to you...there is also a lost/abandonment title process here, I'm not familiar with it, but it allows you to apply for a title against an abandoned vehicle after reasonable effort has been made to locate the registered owner and a certain amount of time has passed afterwards...I'd have to read up on how it works exactly..

I know some states are very different about title process, like I was talking to friend in Vermont recently, and found out that the state doesn't even issue a title on vehicles over ten years old...apparently they don't care where it came from, as long as the plates and registration are current...weird. I didn't belive him so I looked up the VT DMV on line, he wasn't kidding....

richtazz · 07-15-2006, 12:31 PM

Getting the title shouldn't be that difficult. Have the yard apply for the title for you like a car dealer would, and you'll have to pay the sales tax on the sale, and the title transfer fee and tags. Make sure the fiberglass transverse rear leaf spring is still there (finding one is virtually impossible). There must be a reason the car is there, if it isn't due to an impound (which the salvage yard should have a record of), then it may have a serious problem that the previous owner didn't feel the car was worth the cost of the repair. Check the front engine cradle and mounts for rust, as this was a common failure point on 88-94 w-bodies.

tblake · 07-15-2006, 12:38 PM

thanks guys, any ideas what the maximum dollar amount i should pay for it?

richtazz · 07-15-2006, 01:13 PM

$200 or so is all I'd pay, unless they can get it started and let you hear it run.

gw84 · 07-15-2006, 04:44 PM

I agree. A couple hundred and no more. If you can't get it to run, you could put the parts on ebay or keep it as some kind of lawn ornament

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tblake · 07-15-2006, 11:43 PM

well, see the thing was, its at french lake. www.flapinternational.com the biggest junkyard i've ever been in. If it only costs a couple bucks for the keys to be made, i'll do that myself, i have the vin, (if a dealer can do it), and i'll mess with it at the junkyard, if it needs an ignition module, just go get one from a different car. Keep trading parts around untill i get her going. 200 is all?

jeffcoslacker · 07-16-2006, 02:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tblake

well, see the thing was, its at french lake. www.flapinternational.com the biggest junkyard i've ever been in. If it only costs a couple bucks for the keys to be made, i'll do that myself, i have the vin, (if a dealer can do it), and i'll mess with it at the junkyard, if it needs an ignition module, just go get one from a different car. Keep trading parts around untill i get her going. 200 is all?

I was gonna say $500, if I'm gauranteed a title...

tblake · 07-16-2006, 04:39 PM

thats what i was gonna offer how it stands if its got the title. How would one lose a title and keys of a car thats got only 100,000 miles on it? The place is closed on monday and the salesman of that specific car will be in on tuesday. So i'll call first thing in the morning. I just hope i can get a good price, they see a teen like me and they think they can screw us over. My little sis has just started driving and wants a good reliable beginners car.

tblake · 07-16-2006, 04:42 PM

btw jeff, 2:55am? isn't it a little past everyones bedtime, lol, just kidding. i know i've been on late before too.

tblake · 07-16-2006, 05:02 PM

hey guys, here's the law requarding minnesota state law of slavaged cars. And who knows, the junkyard might have the title, the salesman just said that they 'may not". So i am just assuming they dont and have been reading up on things in case they claim they cant sell it without one. Can anyone confirm that the dealer can cut keys with a VIN number, and what kind of proof of ownership do I need for them?

Vehicles with No Proof of Ownership: When tangible proof of ownership cannot be established, and no record of the vehicle can be found on file in the central office, (vehicle records are maintained for a seven year period), the following items are required:

A bill of sale signed by the seller. The bill of sale must provide a complete description of the vehicle (year, make, model, and vehicle identification number[VIN]), the name of the purchaser, and the date of sale. All owners must sign.
Application to Title/Register a Motor Vehicle (PS2000) completed by the purchaser.
A statement of facts, written and signed by the seller of the vehicle. This statement must give as much information as possible regarding the history of the vehicle and indicate why there is no documentary proof of ownership. It must also contain a complete vehicle description (year, make, model, and VIN).
A signed statement from purchaser that s/he agrees to defend and protect the state of Minnesota against any and all future claims of ownership.
Photographs showing all sides of the vehicle (photographs are not required on utility trailers with a gross weight of less than 6000 pounds).
Note: The Department may require that the purchaser obtain a surety bond to protect the State against any possible claims of ownership.

jeffcoslacker · 07-16-2006, 08:01 PM

My friend bought a Caprice from an impound yard that told him the titled owner had given up the title to them, and they had misplaced it...he bought it with a bill of sale and waited for several weeks for them to produce the title and they finally concluded that no, they never did have the title, and he had to return the car to them and get his money back...but he'd been cleaning it up and doing little stuff to it in the mean time...was kind of a pisser....

I've been through so many bad title deals I just won't even take out my wallet until I see an open title with the correct info on it...no matter how enticing the deal is...but if you think it's legit, but have to apply for a salvage or abandonment title, don't do a damn thing to the car until you recieve that title, just to avoid a similar situation...

richtazz · 07-17-2006, 12:47 PM

To answer your question, yes a dealer can cut a key with the VIN #. You may need a title, registration or bill of sale for proof of ownership. As far as the price goes, what if the engine is blown, trans is shot, fuel pump is dead, etc...etc...etc...? Since it's an unknown, I wouldn't pay more than $200. $500 is too high for an unknown entity. The car's average retail blue book value is only $2000 if it's clean. Knock 25-40% off that because it will most likely have a salvage title, and if there is something major wrong with it, you'll be exceeding it's value real quick.

tblake · 07-17-2006, 04:50 PM

yeah, true. If I could pull some strings and get some keys and get her running in the junkyard, i may purchase it if i can get it for about 200-300. Thanks for the valuable insights guys. Take care. And btw, if the fuel pump is bad, its not that major of an issue is it?

tblake · 07-18-2006, 10:32 AM

Yeah, i just got off the phone with shawn from french lake junkyard, and he said that they send the title of the car in for "junk" and there is no way to obtain a title for it. I questioned Junk? meaning salvage, and said, i dont mind if its got a salvaged title. They wern't very much help at all. He assured me there was no legal way for me to buy the car. I was kind of pissed. But anywyas "Life goes on, long after the thrill of livin is gone"

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