Thanks guys. The car is in Fort Lauderdale. Rick, If you could go check this thing out it would be a big help to me. You can email me or PM me your phone number.

It looks like a go, pending on a few things.

1. He can pick me up from the airport (the lot is 20 minutes away).. on the phone before he flat out refused, I don't know why but I am going to press the issue.
2. He drops the rediculous $179 doc fee
3. Everything is as described "everything works except the a/c is cool, evaporator has a leak". No accidents or paintwork, as what he said.
4. It passes Rick's inspection

He says that I must pay my 6% NJ sales tax to them directly. I wanted to pay it here at the DMV when I got home but he says he must collect it there because something about FL tax laws and auditing. Does anyone see a problem with this? I just don't want to get home and have my DMV tell me I need to pay another $600 in tax.

From the Florida DMV web site:
Non-residents also are eligible to secure a temporary license plate for "in-transit" purposes if they purchase a vehicle in Florida and want to drive it back home. However, proof of insurance (from Florida or home state) and sales tax in the amount required by the home state must be paid. If you feel you may be eligible for a temporary license plate, inquire through your local tax collector's office or the regional DMV office that serves your area.

John, if I happen to be there when you fly down, rides will be no problem. You'll have to slum it in the Jetta, though. BTW, my place is 5 miles from the airport and 7 blocks from the car lot. I don't know where the guy is getting 20 minutes from - in rush hour traffic, maybe.

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Rick Miley
2014 Tesla Model S
2018 Tesla Model 3
2017 Nissan LEAF
Former MB: 99 E300, 86 190E 2.3, 87 300E, 80 240D, 82 204D Euro
Chain Elongation References

Thank you, I really appreciate all of your help. I will keep you updated and hopefully you will be there if and when I fly in.

This could be a problem. He should be collecting the amount of tax that is required by Florida. Then, when you return to NJ, there should be a "reciprocal agreement" whereby the amount of tax that you paid to Florida is deducted from the final tax that you pay to New Jersey.

However, it might be possible that the current tax rate in FL is 6%. As long as there is a "reciprocal agreement" with the state of New Jersey, and you have the bill of sale, you are OK.

If NJ has no "reciprocal agreement", then you must have the car shipped so that you don't pay double tax on it.

Brian, see my post above referencing the Florida DMV rules.

Hope you get it John. I hate the thought of one of these babies going to someone who won't appreciate it.

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Rick Miley
2014 Tesla Model S
2018 Tesla Model 3
2017 Nissan LEAF
Former MB: 99 E300, 86 190E 2.3, 87 300E, 80 240D, 82 204D Euro
Chain Elongation References

I did see it.

Is this a new change? When I picked up the SDL last year, the situation was that Florida dealers collect the Florida tax at the Florida rate. Then, if there is a "reciprocal agreement" with the home state, everything works out fine.

I don't know how FL works but in CT when you buy a car from a dealer you have to pay the tax when you buy it.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Well it looks like the deal is dead now.

I spoke with the dealer last night, he told me he would call me today between 10-11AM to finalize everything. I got a call from him at 2:30PM saying the mechanic says the car has a rod knock and it is no longer available for sale, either they will try to fix it in a few weeks or sell it as is at auction. I thank him for his honesty.

I get home a little while ago, and see someone has clicked the buy-it-now price of $11,989. Our agreement was $10,500 with the known bad evaporator (which wasn't listed in the ad). I was furious. I call him up, ready to rip him a new a**hole. He swears that he didn't have enough time to end the auction and someone clicked the buy-it-now and the car is not for sale.. he is trying to contact the "buyer" to let him know. I already emailed him asking him to get back to me to find out who's telling the truth. Either way I am bummed out about it. Oh well, maybe I will put a down payment on a house now.

1) The house purchase is probably a wiser decision in the long run.

2) It's nice to hear there are at least *some* honest dealers left. Definitely a dying breed.

3) I just spotted this disturbing thread, reducing my opinion of the W210 chassis even more:
W210 Diesel owners: Spring Perch Failure - Please read

How common is an internal failure like a rod knock on a 606 engine? I say it isn't common at all, infact I find it very unlikely, considering the condition the car is in. I still think something funny is going on.

Yes, I know about the spring perch issue on the 210 cars, but thankfully this was a southern car.

WTF is a rod knock. Sound slike he's knockin' you around. These engines are solid other than the plastic parts that wear out around the engine like the fuel lines and the such...

Sounds garunteed that the car has been sold for the Buy it Now price. Granted the price was too good to be true. He swears about no paint work but a car like that with a clean history will not go for that price, maybe at an auction with another half as many miles....

Get the house, sounder investment.

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#dieselFLEET
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'97 E300
'99 E300

Easy enough to tell, contact the eBay buyer and find out if he was told the same story or if he's completing the transaction. If it's the latter, please post the seller's business name and eBay ID here so we can all avoid the weasel in the future...

I already did and I am waiting for a response. The seller swore up and down he wouldn't do that, we had an agreement (which we did). We'll see..

What agreement, verbal agreement?

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#dieselFLEET
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'97 E300
'99 E300