Help Me Oppo (possible legal issues)

"E30Joe drives a Subaru" (325joe) 10/01/2014 at 18:31 • Filed to: None

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I'm going to concentrate this story as much as possible.

I owned (my name on the title) a silver 318is coupe, 5 speed manual and black sport interior. Lovely car. I needed to sell it because of school. So some guy came and my firm price was 1500 bucks.

He paid me about half the money and said he'd have the rest within a week or two so I said whatever that's fine I'll hold on to the title until I get paid.

Fast forward a long time, I almost forgot about this car but I still have the title and no payment. Turns out he traded it for some B5 A4 1.8T that's a POS and barely runs. I get in touch and he still is "just catching up on rent" or "Had to pay the bills and catch up" so he keeps messing with me and I just want my money. So he traded this car without the title, and is driving a car that is under the name of the person who traded him the audi because they wouldn't transfer until he had the title for the E30.

This kids mom (owner of audi, now in possession of MY E30) gets in touch and asks if I have the title, I do.

I told them there are 4 options.

1. I get the car back, it is still mine and I own it

2. I get paid the remaining amount owed and transfer the title to whomever owns the car now

3. First buyer of my car trades audi back to current owner, I get my E30 back

4. I get the police involved and waste A LOT of everyones time including my own.

Here's the problem, the current owner of the E30 wants me to pay what I was paid for my e30 to them and they will then give it back, which is a load of shit. It's my car that was illegally sold to you, and to make matters worse the guy who traded it to them for the audi lied about where the title was.

What should I do?

Long story short: Sold my E30, was only paid half of the amount asked, kept title, guy then traded my E30 with no title for an Audi which is still owned by who he traded the E3o to, need my car/money back because I am liable for this car still and I'm getting worried about that.

3vil-Monkey > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/01/2014 at 18:35

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Do you have any written agreement regarding the sale of the car.

tromoly > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/01/2014 at 18:35

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Contact your lawyer. Plain and simple.

Jonathan Harper > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/01/2014 at 18:36

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Where's Steve Lehto when you need him? :/

Sorry this is happening, but you should ALWAYS get payment before ANYTHING. Either that, or write up a legal document.

Jedidiah > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/01/2014 at 18:36

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I'd get the police involved and contact your lawyer.

Might as well resolve the problem with full force and as quickly as possible.

You've not done anything illegal and the other guy has.

E30Joe drives a Subaru > 3vil-Monkey 10/01/2014 at 18:36

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Nope, which is good/bad. I could just report it stolen and have it impounded and pay whatever it costs to get it out of the impound lot. I had a bill of sale at one point but I honestly couldn't find it if I tried.

E30Joe drives a Subaru > Jonathan Harper 10/01/2014 at 18:37

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Oh this is 90% my fault but honestly the guy who wanted to buy it was a dumbass and didn't get the title and then sold/traded it which is illegal.

Turbo666 > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/01/2014 at 18:37

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This is a crap situation. I say they pay for the title or you get the car back. Would suck to get the authorities involved but it looks like it is headed that direction.

Or go steal the car back since you still own it.

E30Joe drives a Subaru > Turbo666 10/01/2014 at 18:40

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I should do that. That sounds like fun. But in reality I own the car, there is ZERO documentation of me selling it, so in reality I just own the car. The bill of sale is to protect the buyer generally, and there is no way he still has his copy.

Jonathan Harper > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/01/2014 at 18:40

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Yeah he's an idiot for trading a car with no title that he has only paid half for.

E30Joe drives a Subaru > Jonathan Harper 10/01/2014 at 18:41

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I might just have to upset all these people and get my car back.

This guy has not actually owned the last two cars he's been driving, my E30 and the current B5 A4 he is driving. So the current owner of my BMW would probably get their audi back.

ttyymmnn > tromoly 10/01/2014 at 18:43

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If he has one. I sure don't.

Turbo666 > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/01/2014 at 18:44

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Well in that case, you still own the car. Tell them to return it to you, if they don't get the cops in on it ASAP while the situation is still fresh. If there are no bills of sale/legal documents, then i don't see how you wouldn't get it back.

Though I am definitely not a lawyer, but seems pretty clear to me.

ttyymmnn > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/01/2014 at 18:44

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Call the police and report it as stolen, which it is. Explain the situation to the detectives when they show, and I'm sure they'll tell you your options. Maybe small claims court? I don't really know. It's a shitty situation.

jkm7680 > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/01/2014 at 18:47

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I'd contact Steve, get a lawyer and start making legal actions.

Leadbull > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/01/2014 at 18:48

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I think the bill of sale for a car is a document one should keep track of...

3vil-Monkey > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/01/2014 at 18:59

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I believe you would be well within your rights to report it stolen, or you could advised the guy who took the car it will be reported stolen unless he pays up or returns the car.

CAR_IS_MI > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/01/2014 at 19:05

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I would say seek good legal council before contacting the police. The police will just come in and cock shit up and might give you shit for not having a proper bill of sale or written agreement. A good lawyer can guide you in the proper direction and how to handle this without causing a major to do.

Your boy, BJR > Turbo666 10/01/2014 at 19:44

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this is why I keep 1 set of keys for every car I owned. When I want it back, I'll just take it

ly2v8-Brian > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/01/2014 at 21:26

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No one is going to give you your money. So seeing as you are technically the owner still you should get it back. If that means police is going to be involved then so be it. But I would suggest seeking legal council.

If you get it back and still wish to sell post it here. I doubt anyone around here would F you over like this.

Squid > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/01/2014 at 21:31

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essentially the car is stolen, I would say not to let them know you will report it as such for fear of damage as retribution. Bottom line is that dude sold/traded a car he did not own and is refusing to finish payment on, you are well within your rights(I believe. . .) to get the car back with out paying the dude what he has already paid for the vehicle. Essentially dude has defaulted on a loan and now shit is going to get repossessed. . .

I would probably talk with a real life lawyer first to consult your options. But seeing as you have not transferred the title over, you have also assumed financial responsibility for any and all parking violations and that shit, I would say report it as stolen and get possession of the car back as soon as possible then negotiate the full payment of the vehicle or resell the car to someone who has cash in hand. Pretty much if they felt like racking up parking violations you could be fucked. . . so get that car back or transfer the title ASAP.

E30Joe drives a Subaru > Your boy, BJR 10/01/2014 at 23:07

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I still have the keys ;)

E30Joe drives a Subaru > Leadbull 10/01/2014 at 23:07

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Totally lost it, moved twice since selling it and it probably is hidden somewhere.

E30Joe drives a Subaru > Squid 10/01/2014 at 23:08

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It is not being driven, and hasn't been since the registration expired, which is how I was reminded that I owned the vehicle.

E30Joe drives a Subaru > ly2v8-Brian 10/01/2014 at 23:09

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I'd probably keep it. I love the car so much, even the 318is is so much fun to drive in stock form.

E30Joe drives a Subaru > CAR_IS_MI 10/01/2014 at 23:10

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That's what I was worried about despite not needing a bill of sale legally to sell the car.

Your boy, BJR > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/01/2014 at 23:11

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Repo it. Seriously. empty the new guy's shit out and drive off. nothing they can do, you have the title.

E30Joe drives a Subaru > Your boy, BJR 10/01/2014 at 23:11

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They contacted me and said "We think its fair if you give us 500 dollars and we will give you the car" Bitch I still own the car.

Your boy, BJR > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/01/2014 at 23:13

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I'm not joking. go take it right now.

E30Joe drives a Subaru > Your boy, BJR 10/01/2014 at 23:14

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I think I will tomorrow, there is just no way to make everyone happy in this situation.

ly2v8-Brian > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/01/2014 at 23:22

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I don't blame you. That's why I want one eventually.

E30Joe drives a Subaru > ly2v8-Brian 10/01/2014 at 23:23

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The LSD, super linear power, weight, and balance of the 318 just makes it fun, with some stiffer springs it literally drives like a gokart.

ly2v8-Brian > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/01/2014 at 23:30

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That's what I'm lookin for but i'm not sure where else to look online other than Craigslist. Almost all listings on there are two door which is awesome, but almost all in the price range I want (under 2 grand) are auto.

Your boy, BJR > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/01/2014 at 23:34

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When in doubt, make yourself happy. Make an event of it, your first GTA. Have a buddy drive you, steal your car back, get home, have a few drinks, let the adrenaline cool.

Leadbull > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/01/2014 at 23:34

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:(

E30Joe drives a Subaru > Your boy, BJR 10/01/2014 at 23:36

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That sounds like a great time haha.

Leadbull > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/01/2014 at 23:37

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Don't do what Benjamin says, lol.

Teport it stolen, that will be much cleaner on your end. Don't try to reason with them anymore, as they're obviously unreasonable. Just report it first thing in the morning.

Aaron James > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/02/2014 at 00:05

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report it stolen, Don't under any circumstances give anyone the money back or give up the title. Is it still registered in your name too?

E30Joe drives a Subaru > Aaron James 10/02/2014 at 12:07

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Yep, I still own the car, title is actually right on my desk.

Aaron James > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/02/2014 at 12:44

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Just go get it, you can't steal your own car. You don't need a lawyer unless you can't get the car back on your own. The police will side with you because you have the legal ownership of the car.

Dsscats > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/05/2014 at 00:56

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And hide it in the garage. Always hide it in the garage. And maybe respray it in 3 seconds.

Dsscats > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/05/2014 at 00:58

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Does it run? Go there, drive it home. If they try to sue you, they ain't got shit.

E30Joe drives a Subaru > Dsscats 10/05/2014 at 01:06

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Oh she purrs, best car I ever owned reliability wise. Left it sitting outside in the snow for 5 months and it started first crank when I went to fire it up after college.

JoelA237 > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/05/2014 at 10:17

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I guess this is a lesson learned for you. Never let a car leave without full payment in hand. Now technically the car is still yours. You could by all legal rights take the car I believe. They could try to sue you for the 500 dollars, but you could counter that with the diminished value of extra wear and or damage on the vehicle. Personally I would just go late at night, pick the car up and be done with it. They can't report it stolen because it is not owned by them.
I don't know about Minnesota laws, but in Wisconsin it's not legal for me to sell a car to someone on payments and let them drive it on my name. So be prepared for that, or look it up online/call a lawyer for a consultation.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/06/2014 at 01:27

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Boy am I late to this one. This story is interesting, how old are these kids?? When I was buying the 944, I didn't have all the money up front; so we made an agreement that I couldn't take possession or the title to and of the car until I paid it in full. And we signed MANY bills of sale(seriously, I think we've got at least 4-5). This shit sounds shady, and if I were you, I'd get the cops involved to your E30 back! That'll teach them a lesson and hopefully you won't do that again. :P

Do you have any pics of the E30?? K-Roll wants to see. :)