Episodes like this are why you really shouldn't buy a car off eBay unless it's local and you can go see it. The guy used some adjectives he should not have used to describe the car. There is a principle there that was violated. However, you got a car for 950 bucks, with shipping 1450. The average new car today costs 26k. You will not achieve satisfaction tangling with eBay, and hiring an attorney will only cost you more than this whole fiasco is worth. Threats may or may not work. You want justice, and I feel your pain. I'm telling you with a little work you could make a few dollars and put this whole debacle behind you. I noticed in your sig you have a TDI, after you get rid of this car I think you should stick to those, or newer vehicles w/ warranties(you know the kind where they change your wiper blades out for you and the rest of the world's candyasses
just kidding keep your shirt on). These w123s are cars that you have to work on, simply put. Not to be rude but folks like you don't have any business buying 25 year old cars expecting the sky out of them regardless of what the seller promised. In a nutshell, you should have seen this coming because 1)it's eBay after all 2)it's a 25 year old car fer chrissake!
I hope you get your money back because putting myself in your situation I can empathize. If you intend to pursue this to the bitter end you are in for a protracted battle, so make sure and clear a good spot for the car on your property because it will sit there for a while. Newbies shouldn't go buying 25-year old cars off eBay unless they have secured the proper can-do-can-cope-will-learn attitude beforehand, and if you've ever been to this forum before you'll know that PPIs are recommended for long-distance auctions. So basically you are in the wrong on every front except the seller misrepresentation aspect. That's the only ground you have to stand on. I will be rooting for you but you should never ever do this to yourself again. That eBay ad was obviously sketchy; you're in OH and the car's in CA. Hmmm. Gotta do your homework or you'll get burned.
There ain't no WAY I would have bought a car in the manner that you chose to. I can't believe your Dad let you do it. That's just taking an unnecessary risk. You gambled and lost, and now you're pissed. At some point you have to buck up and take some responsibility. Also, remember this- if you had taken the seller's writeup with a grain of salt(meaning totally disregarded his version of the car's current condition) and ASKED him POINTED questions beforehand and he STILL misrepresented the vehicle, you probably would have made a better case for yourself and would have a better chance for a refund.
Dems da breaks.