WIBTA if I told my friend’s mom the truth?
Some background… I had someone I thought was a friend, let’s call her Tara… she needed a car a few years ago because, according to her, people kept giving her cars that were in poor condition. I kept up on all the maintenance for my car and it only needed some spark plugs in a few months, plus I was looking for a new one anyway, so I offered her mine. She said she couldn’t pay the KBB, so I just gave it to her for $1 since she really needed a good car. I lost the title in the 8 years I’d had the car, and the local DMV said we had to go back to the state I’d originally bought the car to transfer it over. Tara didn’t want to do that, so we agreed not to transfer the title. She still managed to register and insure it somehow without the title and I didn’t think anything of it. Covid hit and she bought a house, so that irked me (so much for broke) but whatever.
Fast forward 7 years and she’s looking for a new car. She begged me to let her mom “just have it for free.” I told her if she’s getting rid of it, let me take care of it since the title is still in my name. She brought my car back to my house in AWFUL condition. I asked her if there was anything wrong internally with it and she said no. I told her I was looking for a new car because of gas prices, and I’d probably trade it in. She told me to give my old car to my teenager who’s about to get her license because “it’s a really good car.” I said no thanks.
About a week later, one of my good friends (Jen) showed interest in the car. Tara got angry with me and informed me that there were a lot of issues with the car, including a faulty catalytic converter, and I should just give the car to her mom instead for $500. I said I would get the car checked out and see what all was wrong with the car. Tara freaked out at me, saying I was never planning to trade it in, I was always planning to sell it, etc… my plan was to trade in that car, sell my current car, and use that money to give to my parents so they would have a down payment for a new car for themselves, and I would get THEIR hybrid car with a payment plan to THEM. But that wasn’t up for discussion.
Anyway, Jen decided she didn’t want the car, so I told Tara I needed KBB for trade in but her mom could have it. I wrote “as is” on the bill of sale just in case. Lo and behold, 2 months go by and the car fails inspection (and Tara wanted my kid to drive it?!). Tara is now telling me I need to refund her mom.
WIBTA if I told her mom I was being pressured to give the car to her the entire time, and Tara knew (and was hiding) she trashed it the entire time??