private sales, was : how classic dealers can get you

[dardal@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

When I bought by black/black 68 LeBaron a bit over a year ago, i was almost 
had.  The seller (not a dealer) lied on many fronts.  Lots of damage on the 
chrome, some on interior pannels, paint weak.  He said "almost evrything works" 
while only few items worked.  He said "brand new tires" while they were all dry 
rotted.  And there is some hidden rust in the 1/4 pannels.  So,I travelled 600 
miles to Mississippi for a car that was not what it was supposed to be.  But I 
still liked it, and I really wanted to take it home with me.  So, I contained 
my anger, gave him a lower offer than what we had agreed upon (but still 
probably higher than the car's value), and drove the car home.  I am sure I 
paid a bit too much for the car given the state of the economy and the car's 
condition, but I have not regretted it.  Still, I did not pay much money for a 
great car.  If that was a Mustang or a Plymouth A body, or even a Cheby Camaro, 
I would have paid a whole lot more for a lot less car.
D^2, 2x68s


Quoting kenneth leighton <kenleighton@xxxxxxx>:

> Here here.  Let's stop this thing about dealers and go on to something
> more 
> interesting.  Its the old saying "Buyer Beware".  If you don't know what
> you 
> are getting into then get out of the old car hobby.  There are tons of
> books 
> and information sources out there to find out what a car is worth.  Take
> a 
> mechanic along if you are uncertain about the car.  Follow your gut
> feeling 
> and go with it.  It's not your business what profit is being made on the
> car 
> its your business what you think the car is worth and what you are
> willing 
> to pay.
> Ken
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> >From: "Rog & Jan van Hoy" <vanhilla@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >Reply-To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >Subject: IML: how classic dealers can get you
> >Date: Wed, 15 Jan 2003 08:08:48 -0800
> >
> >Folks, we're straying off the two lane blacktop onto the
> >shoulder with this thread.  The gravel is flying and the
> >Imperial is about to lose control.
> >
> >Let's wrap up the crooked dealer crooked customer crooked
> >car body thread by sunset tonight.
> >
> >--Roger van Hoy
> >OIC Admin Group
> >
> >
> >