Automotive

1997 Pontiac Sunfire - sell or scrap?

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  • Oct 16th, 2012 4:13 pm
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Newbie
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Feb 9, 2006
92 posts

1997 Pontiac Sunfire - sell or scrap?

HI! I just replaced my 1997 sunfire with a newer car and I'm trying to decide what to do with it. It still runs though there is no a/c anymore and there's a hole in the gas tank.(close to the top). It hasn't been to the mechanic in a while so who knows what other evils lurk beneath the hood that I don't know about. It has 216k on it.

I was told to take it to the wreckers and I'd probably get the standard $100-200 for it but I am wondering if I can get more if I try to sell it for parts.

I have seen them going for up to $2-3000 but I wouldn't expect that much obviously. It seems like there are alot of them out there which hopefully means theres someone who needs them for parts but am I wasting my time trying to get anything for it?
17 replies
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Feb 7, 2008
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Ottawa
AmberB wrote: HI! I just replaced my 1997 sunfire with a newer car and I'm trying to decide what to do with it. It still runs though there is no a/c anymore and there's a hole in the gas tank.(close to the top). It hasn't been to the mechanic in a while so who knows what other evils lurk beneath the hood that I don't know about. It has 216k on it.

I was told to take it to the wreckers and I'd probably get the standard $100-200 for it but I am wondering if I can get more if I try to sell it for parts.

I have seen them going for up to $2-3000 but I wouldn't expect that much obviously. It seems like there are alot of them out there which hopefully means theres someone who needs them for parts but am I wasting my time trying to get anything for it?
I think you can easily make more than 100-200 selling for parts or for a cheap beater vehicle for someone...

As long as you sell "as-is", should be a much better option for ya...
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Aug 11, 2008
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Ontario
could call the local highschool and see if their auto shop wants it as a donation.
RIBO LICENCED INSURANCE BROKER, over 35 years experience
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Feb 9, 2006
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I had considered donating it but right now I'm short on cash so I'm really hoping to get some $ for it instead. Since it still runs well it'd feel like a waste to just scrap it...
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Aug 30, 2006
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you might be able to get $4-500 at the most.
shaka braddah!
Deal Expert
Aug 2, 2001
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Donating it to a school may get you a tax receipt, which could in turn be better off than giving it to the wreckers (of course, you'll have to wait for the $$).

As for selling it, in Alberta I think you'd expect to get up to $1000 for a 97 with minor issues (Which non-working AC and a hole in the gas tank are not minor issues). I assume you're in Ontario, where prices are lower, and the car needs to pass a safety. If the car won't pass a safety with the hole in the gas tank then you may be better off selling it for scrap.
Deal Expert
Feb 29, 2008
30106 posts
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Montreal
I'll take it. My dad's '97 J body is on it's last legs, and we wouldn't mind having a twin we can harvest for organs :)
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Aug 11, 2008
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Ontario
maybe they'll give you a receipt, claim it on your taxes....
AmberB wrote: I had considered donating it but right now I'm short on cash so I'm really hoping to get some $ for it instead. Since it still runs well it'd feel like a waste to just scrap it...
RIBO LICENCED INSURANCE BROKER, over 35 years experience
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Feb 9, 2006
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Update....

I ended up signing the car over to my father-in-law for $20 at the ministry and then donating it to a local highschool. The school gives a $1000 tax receipt which I couldn't use myself because I have no income but signing the ownership over to my FIL means he can claim the deduction on his taxes. Since I owed him money for helping me buy my newer car this works out great.

The school even takes care of the towing...though it could have been driven if it had plates....
Jr. Member
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Apr 8, 2009
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Does every high school accept cars?
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Oct 5, 2008
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Brampton
These are the numbers I called to get rid of my 98 Neon. I put the price they offered beside the number to give you an idea who to call first.

416-303-8881 $180
647-704-3351 $220
647-991-1441 $250
647-702-6501 $200
416-312-1269 $250
647-404-5548 $250
416-732-8868 $200
905-586-4869 $175
416-786-4585 $150
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Apr 27, 2010
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Help me
aemi wrote: Does every high school accept cars?
If they have space in the garage, I don't see why not.
Sr. Member
May 20, 2010
801 posts
118 upvotes
I sold my 1997 sunfire 2dr no options back in 2010 at auction for $800..... Needed a ton of work too. Too late to help OP though! If I had a beater again that I needed to get rid of, I'd go back in an heartbeat.
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May 24, 2006
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Nice job with the school donation OP.
Offspring22 wrote: I sold my 1997 sunfire 2dr no options back in 2010 at auction for $800..... Needed a ton of work too. Too late to help OP though! If I had a beater again that I needed to get rid of, I'd go back in an heartbeat.
What auction was this?
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Feb 5, 2009
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oksir wrote: No income but new car? Nice!
If she was driving a '97, newer could mean a lot of things.

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