A rant about buying a classic car **THE SAGA CONTINUES** need opinions and pics

[UDT89]

Well i was eyeing out a 1954 bel air on ebay. It was about an hour from my house, but the auction ended before i could go get a look at it. I told the seller to let me know if anything goes fubar with the sale.

I get an email a week and half later that the buyer couldnt buy it for whatever reasons. Something like he needed a title, but NY doesnt issue them for cars older than 1970. So hes says its going back on ebay that night we talked. I ask if i can come see it and he says no problem. That was a week and a half ago.

I called him last friday, and setup a day to see it, Yesterday. He told me to call after 2pm. I call at 3 and 5. Leave messages both times, no call back. I see him online later that night at 930. I dont IM him and send him an email asking what happened and when can i come see it. No response.

I see him again online just before. This time i IM him. I say "let me know when you're putting the car back on ebay," he still hasnt relisted it, "because you seem reluctent to sell it." No response. Then i get a beating of IMs. Sorry cant talk gotta go. I've been really busy and the car will go on ebay tonight. (he said that 2 weeks ago).

I talk to him for all of 3 minutes and find out hes 18 years old. Nothing against young adults, but its hard to conduct business with an 18 year old. If i didnt like the car so much i'd say, f-him. But i like it.

The best part is this. Ever bargain with an 18 year old? Its pointless in this case. The car first sold for 3700, so i said pending i like the car i could give you 3400 cash the day i come see it. He tells me he wants 4500. At first i was like whoa. He said that the guy that was supposed to buy it said he can get more. I emailed the guy who was supposed to buy it, and he said he never said that.

Either way, its getting frusterating. Never calls back, never responds to emails. I wish i could do business with his parents, but im too much a baby to say "hey kid lemme talk to your pops"

UPDATE

Well he opened up the line of communication with me. His mother yelled at him b/c she wants it sold before december, and she yelled at him b/c i called the other day looking for him and she answered. I talked to her for about 5 minutes and basically got the message across that i want the car, and hes blowing me off. I did it in a nice round-a-bout way. It looks like im going to go see it on tuesday, but i got the feeling that it wont happen. Either way I plan on seeing the car before next friday. I asked him how he got the car, and he bought it off ebay sight-unseen, not too smart, and had it for a year. Hes going to college in the fall and needs to sell it. Thank God for mothers that are nags, if mine wasnt i'd be worse off than i am today.

I will update again after i see the car, and take my own pics. Then you wont hear from me till i take my pic inside the car in my driveway.

UPDATE #2

Well i think im over the initial shock of this email, just figured i'd let you guys read it. I sent him an email to confirm tomorrow being the day i look at the car. We agreed on seeing the car tomorrow last week. So i sent an email to ask how its going for tomorrow i get this:

i'm sorry homeboy i'm in jersey, i just got to use the computer right now. i don't know if i'm even going home. i think we're staying here for thanksgiving, but i'm not sure. i will let you know tomorrow what is up but right now it looks like we're staying over here. -=( sorry homeboy. but don't worry i will try another date if not tomorrow to set up with you again. i'm sorry homeboy.

Im a homeboy, pretty cool

Well my interest in the car is dwindling to zero. Im the kind of person where when you buy a car, or any other large purchase, you just get the feeling that you're doing something good. Like things just fall into place. I think im gonna move on to something else. Something with more attitude, maybe a barracuda or a charger. Who knows.

Any suggestions on what car to get? With pics?


heres a link to what it looks like, nothing special:

1954 Bel Air custom

 

[MichaelD]

I have to admit that by the title of your thread, I figured you were looking at a 1999 Honda Civic DX or something. My bad.

I'm sorry to hear what a messed-up experience you had. I have a question: How the hell does an 18-year old get his hands on such a masterpiece of a car as a 1954 Bel Air? Sounds awfully screwy to me.

AFA how he acted goes...he acted exactly like an 18-year old; irresponsibly. I hope you have better luck next time.

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: MichaelD
I have to admit that by the title of your thread, I figured you were looking at a 1999 Honda Civic DX or something. My bad.

I'm sorry to hear what a messed-up experience you had. I have a question: How the hell does an 18-year old get his hands on such a masterpiece of a car as a 1954 Bel Air? Sounds awfully screwy to me.

AFA how he acted goes...he acted exactly like an 18-year old; irresponsibly. I hope you have better luck next time.

Not all people of this age act like this.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: Yield

Originally posted by: MichaelD
I have to admit that by the title of your thread, I figured you were looking at a 1999 Honda Civic DX or something. My bad.

I'm sorry to hear what a messed-up experience you had. I have a question: How the hell does an 18-year old get his hands on such a masterpiece of a car as a 1954 Bel Air? Sounds awfully screwy to me.

AFA how he acted goes...he acted exactly like an 18-year old; irresponsibly. I hope you have better luck next time.

Not all people of this age act like this.

You're correct; my apologies for the sweeping generalization. However (there is always a caveat!) when it comes to business, it's RARE that someone of that age can act maturely, responsibly and responsively (ie call the poor guy back...tell him to fabuck off, but at least have the courtesy to call him back, you know?)

 

[UDT89]

i agree, when i was 18 i feel i was over-matured and responsible. Just in this case im dealing with a kid from the NYC burbs. Plus his answering machine has a Ja Rule song on it

 

[Oakenfold]

Did you verify that someone wasn't shill bidding on their own auction?
Just win the auction next time, I'd be wary of high dollar items and that sort of thing though.

get an email a week and half later that the buyer couldnt buy it for whatever reasons. Something like he needed a title, but NY doesnt issue them for cars older than 1970. So hes says its going back on ebay that night we talked. I ask if i can come see it and he says no problem. That was a week and a half ago.

That statement sounds odd.

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: Yield

Originally posted by: MichaelD
I have to admit that by the title of your thread, I figured you were looking at a 1999 Honda Civic DX or something. My bad.

I'm sorry to hear what a messed-up experience you had. I have a question: How the hell does an 18-year old get his hands on such a masterpiece of a car as a 1954 Bel Air? Sounds awfully screwy to me.

AFA how he acted goes...he acted exactly like an 18-year old; irresponsibly. I hope you have better luck next time.

Not all people of this age act like this.

You're correct; my apologies for the sweeping generalization. However (there is always a caveat!) when it comes to business, it's RARE that someone of that age can act maturely, responsibly and responsively (ie call the poor guy back...tell him to fabuck off, but at least have the courtesy to call him back, you know?)

correction accepted.
I agree... I definitely follow up properly with deals, like how you mentioned..

 

[notfred]

Just wait a little longer and get the '57 that you know you really want

 

[Squisher]

Originally posted by: MichaelD

How the hell does an 18-year old get his hands on such a masterpiece of a car as a 1954 Bel Air? Sounds awfully screwy to me.

 

[UDT89]

updated.


I know the statement about the NY title is iffy. Im going to email the last winner and see what happened.

NYS doesnt issue new titles for cars Pre-1970. You have to transfer the registration upon sale, so since the guy was from michigan i dont know how it would work.


He told me he'd like to sell the car to me b/c im in NY, but we'll see

 

[SaintGRW]

Originally posted by: Squisher

Originally posted by: MichaelD

How the hell does an 18-year old get his hands on such a masterpiece of a car as a 1954 Bel Air? Sounds awfully screwy to me.

you have to be over 25 for NYS cause it's an antique. my brother is having trouble w/ this because he's 24 and we want to put the 68 dodge Chager R/T on the road, but we now have to wait another year til he hits 25.

 

[Lucky]

you have to be over 25 for NYS cause it's an antique. my brother is having trouble w/ this because he's 23 and we want to put the 68 dodge Chager R/T on the road, but we now have to wait 2 more years til he hits 25.

Wait a second, you have to be 25 to register/title an antique?

 

[UDT89]

u got a link about the 25 thing in NY

 

[UDT89]

b/c i know the car has to be 25 years old, but i found insurance companies that only ask for 5 years of driving experience to be insured. That means 22. Some ask for 10

 

[CurtCold]

I think the scenero here goes something like this....

Kid owes parents dough, they want him to sell, he doens' t wanna sell his toy, for obvious reasons. Tells them he's trying to sell to keep them off his back.

End Scenero

 

[UDT89]

bump for a funny email

 

[notfred]

don't buy a dodge, you'll never get parts for it!

Get a chevy 350 or a ford 302 or 351.

how about a Ford Torino with a 351 in it?

 

[Ns1]

omfg those only cost 4k

i would love to have one of those and detail the hell outta it

 

[Ramses]

Man, blow that kid off and start looking somewhere like here.. http://www.collectorcartraderonline.com/

Ebay is, well, Ebay.

Don't give up, there are plenty of great car's owned by great people out there. You might look up any classic car club's in your area, they can be a good resource.