Broken car in Portugal - where to find a buyer?

CiniO

I know chances that anyone on this forum will be able to help with this are small, but hey - always worth trying.

The good friend of mine had a rather unusual occurance.
He lives in Spain, and had his Polish registered car with him (legallity of having foreign car in Spain is completely irrelevant here, as he wasn't living there for long then anyway). It was 1996 Audi A4 1.9 estate.
He drove the car on holidays to Portugal with his friends, and unfortunately car was stolen, with all their luggage inside.
He contacted local police, but he was told chances of finding the car are tiny, and most likely car is already being disassembled for parts, or it's on its way to Africa. He left all his detailes and eventually they had to arrange alternative transport home.
Car had no theft insurance, so it looked like my friend was at quite big loss.
Even though it's quite old car, it was flawless condition with many things repaired recently. Also cars like that are worth much more on the continent than Ireland so we are talking about few grand.

Anyway - he had to accept the fact that car is gone and he is down few grand.

That was 2 years ago.
Recently he got contacted by Polish police that his car was found and it's in some kind of international database of recovered theft vehicles.
When he contacted them, it was revealed that car was found only 6 days after it was stolen, and was on Police parking in Porto in Portugal since. Just waiting for him for 2 years.

Portuguese police never contacted him by phone or post at that time. All they did was they sent an email into incorrect address, even though my friend provided correct one.

Anyway - at the moment he's not sure what can he do.
He didn't see the car yet, but he was told by Portuguese Police, that it's got 4 flat tyres, flat battery and 2 rear windows broken. And it was parked like that for 2 years.

I strongly doubt he will be able to start it and drive off, and towing it from police parking to garage in Portugal to get it fixed might be acutally more expesive that car is worth at the moment (due to broken windows it might be all moulded after 2 years)
He though he could sell it for parts in Portugal, but he's not sure how to go about it. Maybe there are some companies which would buy old vehicles? Anyone could advice how to find them? Or any other ideas what to do with this car not too loose even more money?

My frined registered on one of Portuguese audi forums, but when he described the case in portuguese made by goodle translator, they assumed it was a scam straight away. (a guy with spanish phone number trying to sell a polish registered car which was stolen 2 years ago and recovered in portugal - it indeed sound scammy, while in fact it isn't).

He put up an advert, but got no response.

Any advice appriciated.

thecomedian

I can't do anything but where in Portugal is it?

TestTransmission

eBay?

166man

I'd go have a look at it if he can, see if it will run and then stick 4 second hand tyres on it, a battery and patch up the windows. The I'm sure he could drive it back to Poland or whatever and sell it on if he wishes?

CiniO

thecomedian wrote: »

I can't do anything but where in Portugal is it?

Porto

CiniO

166man wrote: »

I'd go have a look at it if he can, see if it will run and then stick 4 second hand tyres on it, a battery and patch up the windows. The I'm sure he could drive it back to Poland or whatever and sell it on if he wishes?

That's what I told him, but he reckong this wouldn't be worth it.

He would need to get it towed away from Police parking to the garage.
I'm not sure if second hand tyres are widely available in Portugal like here.

Battery shouldn't be a problem really as he can bring it himself and fit it, but starting it might be another issue. 17 year old car which was lying down for 2 years might not start that easily. Also it's ignition might be damaged due to theft.

He'd be rather looking for someone to just pick it up there and give him fee quid for it. But he's not sure how to go about it, especially that he has no word in portuguese.

CiniO

TestTransmission wrote: »

eBay?

That's actually probably not bad idea.
Put an auction from 1euro and see up to how much it goes...

ba_barabus

Maybe try put it on an ex-pat forum

georgefalls

He should cut his losses after 2 years, and tell the Portuguese Police to scrap it.

guttenberg

Surely the police would only release the car to the registered owner and not someone who has just bought it unseen? The ad does scream scam so he should take someone who knows the language to check it out.