Sold my truck without having a replacement- what am I thinking…

So - just decided to play the Vroom/Carvana/Carmax version of “The Price is Right” this afternoon.

First contestant was Vroom - entered my vehicle info in - bid was 12k.

Thought there must have been a sudden spike in demand for 2012 Silverado WT - so better see what Carvana will offer - $9400.

So - I pulled the trigger and will sell to Vroom.

For perspective I think the CarMax offer on that truck 3 years ago and 5400 miles ago was around 6k. I recently offered to a family member/interested party at 9k and they passed. Gotta thank them for that.

I mean - it’s going to be bittersweet saying goodbye - dad bought it new for 16,100 (still have the BOS) and it’s been a good vehicle- but it’s time to upgrade and at 12k - I couldn’t say no.

Knowing there’s a Tundra on the way to dealer at some point in next month with my name attached helps a little too…I realistically felt I’d clear 9k from it either via trade/sale - so a 3k bonus was too good to pass up on - even if it means going without a truck for a few weeks.

 

Nice! What’s the new one?

 

It’s not just trucks either - I wound up buying my moms recent SUV from her estate. She owed 25k on it - and trade was about the same.

Instead of turning it in - I said I’ll buy it out for payoff - thought I’d dangle it to dealer as trade on my new truck and use it as a tax offset (save sales tax on the trade value given - like 1500 on 25k).

In the meantime prices go stupid - today’s offer - 37k!

Only issue - still awaiting DMV to process title to my name - so technically cannot sell it as it’s not mine….just awaiting that slip of paper and she gone.

 

2021 Tundra Pro on order - build date given of 5/19

Got a couple of other options if I want them - but at this point can’t see turning down new at sticker Pro - even if I had to buy a few accessories - it’s worth it getting new to me.

 

Wait... you have >200 messages on a Tundra forum and you don't have your Tundra yet? Baller.

 

So....Yota is building your Tunny tomorrow? What were you quoted as to the wait time again?

 

Time until delivery “quoted” - (take these dates for fear they are WAG wild ass guesses) June 1.

I gotta admit - this one just feels “destined” or some sort of crap like that.

A truck to be built on my birthday - delivered to the lot on my mother’s bday.

Especially given that for the last 2 years before she passed - my mother had been urging me to buy a new truck. I resisted out of cheapness and probably in a way just not wanting to seem ungrateful to her and dad.

The Silverado was dads last truck - before he passed he had told her to make sure to give it to me as a “thank you” for driving him to chemo so many times.

It was always just a combination of cheapness and not wanting to let go I think that made me hold onto it - even though I really wanted a 8cyl and 4x4.

Oh - and one other little thing played out too that I took as a sign. 3 months ago - got a call on a life insurance policy mom had I had no idea about. I was beneficiary to a sum almost exactly the price of the truck I wanted but couldn’t justify paying that much for. So yea - this one will probably stick around a while with me for a few reasons.

Figured I better go Tundra as the story doesn’t go so well with a Ram sitting on blocks in the driveways. Retelling it 10-20 or 30 years later with a RUNNING truck will help I think.

 

That's good stuff right there!

 

Who is the executor of the will? If you are then you can sell it with the old title if you attach a "Letter Testamentary" to the title and sign it as the executor. If not then you are right.

 

This line here got me. Dad passed in January 2019 due to brain/stomach/lung cancer (Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam); I've got my dad's table saw and other stuff for the same reasons.

 

Sorry to hear that! My dad was Jan 2018 for the same thing.

 

My older brother is going through the same situation now. Sucks.

 

Wassup!! Long time no hear lol. How are you and Manny these days? Good here....getting to know the newly discovered family out in Texas...

 

I appreciate it. The GOOD thing is that, not even 6 months prior, he was *finally* awarded 100% VA disability, and back pay for like 5 years.

 

My brother is fighting with the VA now. Was exposed to Agent Orange back in 68/69. Was a Marine grunt in Nam. Was 18 when he was in country there. Was part of a 4 man fire team. He carried the 50 cal.

 

Good luck to your brother. It's a pattern with the VA. The burn pits are the new Agent Orange.

 

That’s part of the problem - estate has not been set up yet (near 6 months later) - finally got the ball rolling on that as simply tired of waiting on the attorney to resolve the only thing stopping us from opening one. It will be shortly hopefully and I will be executor. Because of the estate it’s not as simple as just transferring over to myself without court ok - but not much more involved either.

Then comes the 2nd issue - getting it back. So short version is mom hasn’t driven in years, but liked having a fancy new car to ride in. So helped her into this and her caregiver drove her anywhere she needed to go.

While mom was in a nursing home - caregivers car crapped out…and mom let her borrow hers until she could get it fixed. Mom passes unexpectedly a few days later and caregiver tells me she’s going to return the car that day - she just needs to find a replacement as can’t afford to fix hers that moment.

Now I’m not an uncaring asshole and didn’t need a 3rd car - so say simply “keep using it for winter (it’s AWD) and just plan on handing it back over in March” - knowing that by March there would be time to get taxes/stimulus and either fix her car or get a better one. So March comes and she asked can I have till April - sure, no rush as I can’t do anything with it - and aside from that I was getting ready to cut a check to her for a bequest from mom (not her fault we couldn’t open the estate - and $$ will help simply buy a better car) - I mean the gift from mom wasn’t life changing - but enough to pay cash for a decent daily driver that will last 10+ years and not give you problems.

Then we get - mechanic is tied up, won’t be done with mine till end of April..ok - I mean I personally wouldn’t keep tossing money into a financed non working car - just hand keys to finance company and buy me something for cash - but not my business there. So sure - end of April is fine.

Here we sit 5/19 and still not done. All the while I pay payments and insurance on the car.

I hate to say anything- as moms caregiver did so much for both parents the last 6 years, and probably was never paid properly for all she did by my tightwad parents. At the same time - I made sure you got what you had coming (plus a little extra) to help out - and I kinda feel like the situation is being taken advantage of. Hell - if nothing else say “how much is the insurance monthly” and offer that - not that I’d accept…but just the offer.

Moment I can get a title - I’m letting her kniw I need it back and selling. Avoids any hard feelings and simply can put it on need to recoup what I had to pay out/getting rid of the payments.

 

Sounds like you need to kick some ass. Start with your attorney and finish up with your Mom's personal assistant. You have gone above and beyond to make things right with her. It sounds like she is stringing things out on purpose. No mechanic would take that long to do anything short of a total off frame restoration. I have been in ass kicking mode for the last month and I am just now starting to see some results. I am closing out one estate this week and the estate sale for the other estate starts this weekend.

The other aspect that you need to be thinking about is the liability if she has an accident. As the owner of the car and presumably paying for the insurance you could be partially liable for any injuries someone else could incur in an accident. It's a fine balance between being an uncaring asshole and covering your own ass. Good luck.

 

Yea..don’t think we are to ass kicking time yet.

First - if you’ve ever dealt with attorney’s, you know they can be a funny group. Most move at their own pace and simply have a “don’t like me - hire someone else who will charge 2x as much and take 3x as long figuring out what I’ve done to date” attitude - kinda like plumbers with a fancy diploma showing they wasted 125k in law schools only to make half the hourly rate a plumber charges.

On top of this, he’s small town - only game in town - they know I need them worse than he needs my business. Fortunately- I think I’ve got them moving on this.

As to moms caregiver- I don’t think it’s anything out of taking advantage- just too many other things going and trying to deal with them. I mean - I get it, but it’s not like you borrowed a wrench and forgot to return it - it’s a damn vehicle.

Liability - no worries there, I pay the insurance and have her listed as an operator. I am protected to an amount well beyond what most people carry on their coverage. It’s just kinda the point.

Whole damn situation is a mess - this is probably the smallest mess of it. My worthless ass sister is a complete leech and did little for my parents while they are alive and now can’t rely on them to pay her bills. Got a house of moms personal stuff that needs sorted/packed and donated (house is in my name already) - but I’m 400 miles away. Wanna guess how many times my sister has stopped to help pack in 6 months - 2.

First was to scavenge for any cash on hand, grab dads guns (which there was a list of who got what she felt free to ignore and just took it all) and anything else she could see that was small and valuable (not much - even the guns were mainly cheaper) - 2nd was after I asked if she wanted dads memorial flag and when she said no - it was promised to you, I let her know I hadn’t gotten it yet and was having a presentation case made. Next trip up I see it’s gone - asked what happened.. she decided she was entitled to it and grabbed it the day of our conversation.

Pretty much did me in on “family” - sad as it’s the only immediate family I have - but once you have reached that low - not really anyone I want it to be known I’m related to. I mean hell - let her have it if it makes her feel better after ignoring them the last 7 years when they needed help. I got memories - that’s worth more than a flag and a few inexpensive firearms.

 

Used vehicles are crazy right now. Buddy of mine has a used car lot and I go to auctions with him fairly often. We used to pick used vehicles up between rough and average trade value. Dealers are now paying above clean trade, almost retail for these same cars.

 

No kidding - I know of a few “mom and pop” type independent’s. Stopped in at one I know seeing the lot completely empty - thought something might have happened and they were closing up shop.

Nope - just took all the inventory to auction and taking a summer off. Simply no way to buy and resell at their typical gross margin of 1-1500 per unit. Made more selling to an auction than other dealers.

It’s stupid - but people will pay it, cause the “gotta have it” - makes you wonder what market will look like in a year. It could remain tight for some time - as fewer will turn in their recently purchased new when manufacturers revise pricing upwards on 2022/2023 models and the people driving 2017-2020s begin to get new car fever having paid off their 5-6 year loans.

There is no way manufacturers hold the line on pricing - this is a golden goose situation - buyers standing in dealer showrooms with fistful of cash demanding they build more trucks. They learned their lesson on incentives and trying to pull them back. Somehow the average consumer hasn’t quite pieced together 78k sticker with 13k “rebate” or overpaid trade is = 65k sticker truck. Hang a 65k sticker and they scream overpriced - but 78 and 13 rebate - they call it Cadillac like and go on about what a deal they got.

In a way they are correct - it is “Cadillac like” at least the pricing strategy - ever notice how Caddy/Buick/Lincoln have used that strategy of “specials” for years. Ditto Macy’s/JC Penny and Sears (before they ceased to exist most places) - older consumers wanted “bargains” - so overprice and give them “insider coupons” and points. JC Penny tries to pull away Apple’s retail genius a few years back and first thing they did was end this - opting for “everyday low pricing” and a huge marketing campaign - think he lasted 8 months before getting canned and the whole strategy scrapped.

 

To add on to the above - there are a lot of similarities between retail of the 80s and modern car sales.

To those over 50 - remember your first credit card. I’m willing to bet for greater than half it was a Sears card - that you likely signed up for to get that awesome frisbee/beach ball/t-shirt or free pizza the college aged cutie with the clipboard was passing out for new sign ups. Besides - you needed no past credit to qualify for it.

They had your name/address - so they flooded you with no interest/payment offers until you have in and bought something. Pretty soon you had a high credit limit/comfort level using their card and with their stores and when you bought that first house and need appliances - they were all Kenmore.

0/72 with Ram works a lot like that - buy one and they hope to keep you on the line trading in every few years and trading up. Hell - for that matter Apple works that way with IPhones on a shorter term cycle - why you think big wireless gives you 30 months to pay interest free - and a service credit equal to your phone payment.

 

Your sister is determining the worth of your relationship. Sorry to see that. I have a sister and a sister in law that are heirs. My sister is a co executor but pretty much backed out and let me do it. She just doesn't have the time to deal with it. We talk to deal other before we take anything. I get $30.00 an hour for performing duties as an executor and .54 cents per mile. I could have asked for more but I don't need the money and I have to watch how much I make so my Social Security doesn't get dinged. The estate is pretty big as far as material items go. There were two vehicles that weren't worth much. We gave one to my sister in law, as that is what my mother wanted, and my sister bought the truck. My sister got my mother's wedding ring which was worth a small fortune. It's all worked out pretty good.

There are a lot of lawyers in this town and I got one of the best. He knows his stuff and responds real fast. He is handling both estates. My first question when I am hiring an attorney is , "Will you fight for me and how hard?" If they don't answer right then I don't hire them.

That sucks about your Dad's flag. As executor you can demand it back. It's not like you two are best buds. You could change the locks and notify her that she is not allowed back on the property.

I feel for you, That just sounds like a sucky situation.