Reluctant seller/friend

A friend of mine received a newer car as a gift from his parents and no longer needs or uses his old car. While he was in town to pick up his new car, we agreed on a price for his old car. He was very clear that his old car wasn't in the best of shape and made sure that I understood that.

Last night I called him to tell him when me and the lady friend were flying down, talk about what to do, where to get a hotel, so on and so forth. Of course I bring up the car to make sure he has the title, and he gets a little touchy about it. He states that he really doesn't want to sell it to someone he knows.

I can understand where he is coming from, as in general selling to friends/family is not a recipe for success, but at the same time I made it clear to him that I'm aware that this is a 17 year old car with its share of issues, and that in no way are there any expectations on the condition or quality of said vehicle.

Anything I should say or do? In my current position flying to fl for a social visit sounds great, but I'd be lying if I said that was the sole purpose of the trip, I really hoped to be driving back with a 200X contender!

I dated a girl whose parents owned a 4x4 Chevy Truck, right at the time I was looking to buy a truck. They wouldn't sell it to me, no matter what. Apparently, the truck had been in many accidents (one fatal to the at-fault other car), and this truck had a lot of "bad luck" associated with it. The last few years they had it, they used it as a farm truck, even though it was very road-worthy.

I sold a car to one of my paralegals once. About a month later one of the balljoints failed and the wheel folded up under the car sort of like the DeLorean at the end of Back to the Future. ("Where we're going we don't need roads.")

I still get grief (mostly good natured) about it from said paralegal. Since then, I refuse to sell a car to someone I know.

have the conversation about "it can explode/burn to the ground moments after signing the title over and I will assume full responsibility." just be sure that's actually how you feel.

I've had luck with a reassurance along the lines of: "There's this part on the car I really can use for that other project, and even if it died on the way home I could part it out and make my $ back off the rest, so no matter what happens I'll come out all right."

A clear message that even if their worst fears are realized and it is as bad as they think I'm prepared to still come out OK and be happy with the transaction.

You also need to keep in mind that even if it only needs a $2 part for you to drive it for the next decade you need to not bring it up to your friend again. Let them bring it up if they have to, but diffuse it promptly and make sure there are no hard feelings.

billy3esq wrote: I sold a car to one of my paralegals once. About a month later one of the balljoints failed and the wheel folded up under the car sort of like the DeLorean at the end of Back to the Future. ("Where we're going we don't need roads.") I still get grief (mostly good natured) about it from said paralegal. Since then, I refuse to sell a car to someone I know.

Funny you should mention that - I got a free Dodge truck from a friend because things happened in the opposite sequence. He had a ball joint fail while he was driving, and promptly asked me if I'd like to get the truck as-is, where-is.

Sounds to me like the friend well understands the risks, and is concerned that you might become the squirrel. If you can reassure him that you do understand the car isn't perfect, and don't plan on hating him if it blows up on the way home, things will be ok.

Maybe if you agreed to put into writing that the car is being sold totally "as is", it might help to rest his (somewhat understandable) fears.

Ive bought a few cars from friends, my speech is always the same.. "Once i leave the driveway, its mine, no you cant have it back in a week,unless you offer me twice what im paying you, and no, i wont come knocking on your door if it blows up a mile down road, itll be my problem and my problem alone...now are you sure it will make it out of the driveway?" I dont complain about the car to them later, and I pay them a bit more than they ask..but if they're reluctant, and the little speech doesn't work, id back off.. not worth loosing a friend over...