Buying a car from an idiot

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Sucks to hear about your experience Jim, but I've seen quite a bit of that sort of thing buying vehicles.

My one buddy has been looking for another Ranger, he's grown to love his 97 but he wants 4x4, a/c and the third door on the extended cab, so he's been looking for a couple months now and it's ridiculous what some of these yahoos are trying to sell. They'll have something like a 2000 Ranger 4.0L Auto 4x4 Ex cab and say it has 190k on it and that it will not pass inspection so you can't test drive it but "my mechanic said it just needs new spring hangers in the back and the parts are only like $30 for both sides, and so it's like in great shape man and you know 4x4s are worth more going into winter so it's like a wash man and I want $11,500 for it." WTF! (for the record that is what I paid for my Ranger brand new off a dealer lot).

 

[turtle3.0]

If you really want 78-79 GP and are serious about it you HAVE to look in the south and southwest. As someone that has grown up in the rust belt, I was completely astonished my first adult trip to the south. Being in Ohio all my life it became common to see a car/truck that is 5 years old with some rust . . . it happens right? When I was around 20 I went to Alabama and was flabergasted when I saw late 60s and early 70s muscle cars sitting in peoples yards on block with blown motors but without major rust . . . Long story short, I'm looking for my dream cars in the south and southwest, if you have the means I'd recommend you do to.

 

[BeefStew42791]

^^ x2, even to go down from upper pa to philly there's a HUGE comparison. Anybody who's smart from up here (and knows about it) gets their cars from down near philly/allentown/jersey border area since they don't use anywhere near half the amount of salt as this area does.

 

[heptofite]

I'd just forget about that one Jim. I've condemned cars that were in a lot better shape. Basically told the owner "there is no way that car is close to legal inside your budget, and it's not leaving this shop on it's own until it is legal".

this is why shops never get a hold of my vehicles unless i have no other choice.

 

[cammeddrz]

I hate people who sell cars and don't know anything about them.

i literally buy and sell cars for a living also while running a cars classified site (i run http://www.carsold.com/ i buy cars from the public, or they can sell them on my site)

anyway i am telling you this because it has been my experience that if i play dumb and act like a total idiot (like call an alternator a generator) or if i list the ad with mis-spellings etc. the person on the other end of the deal thinks i am an idiot and therefore lets their guard down because they think they know more than me, and also that i don't even know what i have. i end up buying it for less or selling it for more... it has worked well for me

think about it, if i am selling on an ad and i list the description extremely accurately, with perfect grammar, listing details about specific things that are desirable to that vehicle.

you call me and then i sound just as articulate, and very knowledgeable on the phone. by the time you come over you already have your guard up because i obviously know exactly what i am talking about. and therefore i am a threat because a well informed person (e.g. a "smart" person) wouldn't do something "stupid" like sell a car for less than it is worth. but if you think i am stupid there will always be a part of your mind that thinks you are getting one over on me

 

[Jim Oaks]

Found one I really want up in Buffalo, bit I'm a bit short on the $$ for that one. I think I might start putting money in an envelope until I have enough to start looking a bit more seriously.

Here's one I found online. Not for sale, but it's like the one I had except mine didn't have the t-tops.

​

I felt a little irresponsible looking for one because I feel like I should be putting that money towards something in the house, but my wife (Vanessa) says I should just buy one. She says I've wanted one for a long time, they're getting harder to find, and there will ALWAYS be something around the house that I feel like I should be spending the money on.​

 

[cody93]

i keep hearing stories about used cars from PA, my friend (rangerkip) tells me how everyone thinks there stuff is gold and over prices it, eventho eventhing there is rusty and can be found for half the price elsewere. i dont recomend buying used cars from PA most the time

 

[Psychopete]

Probably just acting like he doesn't know, someone out there will buy it. Those are notorious for rusting out bad in the floor boards, trunk and the rear frame, big reason I got rid of mine:

'85 w/ a 327ci and TH350..

If it doesn't feel right, hold off on buying one. IMO I would spend a good amount of time finding the right one that's going to cost you less in the long run.

 

[pontiacfieroguy]

Found one I really want up in Buffalo, bit I'm a bit short on the $$ for that one. I think I might start putting money in an envelope until I have enough to start looking a bit more seriously.

Here's one I found online. Not for sale, but it's like the one I had except mine didn't have the t-tops.

​

I felt a little irresponsible looking for one because I feel like I should be putting that money towards something in the house, but my wife (Vanessa) says I should just buy one. She says I've wanted one for a long time, they're getting harder to find, and there will ALWAYS be something around the house that I feel like I should be spending the money on.​

dude she is a keeper

 

[Mark_88]

Ah, I remember that body style now...didn't really care for it myself because I thought it looked more like a Monte Carlo...but if you like them...I like the purple (?) one pictured...but my preference would be black...and I disliked the fake convertible tops that they put on so many cars back then...between the hidden rust and the peeling vinyl they were more work than they were worth...

I think they put "half-vinyl" on many of them back then...with the T-bar roofs...

 

[adsm08]

]I felt a little irresponsible looking for one because I feel like I should be putting that money towards something in the house, but my wife (Vanessa) says I should just buy one. She says I've wanted one for a long time, they're getting harder to find, and there will ALWAYS be something around the house that I feel like I should be spending the money on.[/LEFT]

Jim, I think I love your wife.


Seriously though, you are one lucky guy.

i keep hearing stories about used cars from PA, my friend (rangerkip) tells me how everyone thinks there stuff is gold and over prices it, eventho eventhing there is rusty and can be found for half the price elsewere. i dont recomend buying used cars from PA most the time

A lot of people do ask too much around here, but at the same time you have to consider where (and for what) Kip is looking. He keeps finding rotted out junk because he is looked for vehicles under $500 at used car lots.

I've found plenty of great vehicles for good prices. You just have to look in the right spots.

 

[Jim Oaks]

Jim, I think I love your wife.

Seriously though, you are one lucky guy.

Ya. She's night and day from my ex. Sometimes she's so supportive I just look at her like WTF? She scares me. If I wake up one morning and find out it was all just a dream I'm really going to be pissed.

 

[adsm08]

If I wake up one morning and find out it was all just a dream I'm really going to be pissed.

I would be too.

 

[88_Eddie]

that story reminded me of some idiot i saw trying to selling a sterling 10.25 rear axle for $1500 a few days ago...jim, just tell him you'll buy it after he replaces everything