Kinda irritating.

Had the foreign dude that flaked out on me, probably cause I knew a little something about the marque. He decided to go to his home country early.

Had found an 87 in Missouri, 145K miles for $2,900 (moving...uhm you guessed it...out of country). Inquired here if anyone was close by to check it out for me. Did get one PM from a newbie. Sent him the particulars and never heard back, but the car sold the following day , and the person hasn't been back on the forum since.

Found anothern in Michigan's UP, about 150 miles from where I'm staying for the next couple months. The seller isn't returning my calls . I figure that since the temps are down and snow has been falling (been snowing since the day after I got here, until yesterday...warmed up above freezing today) it would be a time to see how well it cold starts. If I would only get a call back.

Jeez, this can be a little frustrating at times.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.

It can really be a tough gig. My criteria were broader (early '80s 300D or 300SD, solid but not necessarily pristine), and it still took way longer than I expected to turn up something suitable within a few hundred miles of my location. I feel your pain!

It takes some effort to cull through what turns up in the ads, a lot of which is junk. When a really fine deal does turn up, it's often gone quickly - so quickly that you'll miss out on it unless it's really local to you, and then only if you're following the ads closely.

One thing you might consider (if you haven't) is putting "want to buy" ads in local papers. Sometimes that can turn up a car that isn't currently "up for sale", but that the owner might be willing (even eager) to sell. Discussion of the vehicle, viewing, inspection, etc. can be a low-pressure affair then, too, because there aren't ten other guys ringing his phone off the hook responding to an ad in the paper.

I took this approach years ago when shopping for a motorcycle, and it worked out great - sweet success after much frustration chasing the "for sale" ads.

Sounds like the newbie is probably driving a SDL nowadays. Ain't that a heckuva note.

That's a good one isn't it eskimo.

__________________
Jim

Oh, that would hurt!

This may be too high $. This dealer usually is, and doesn't move much on price. It is a CA car now in SC. 130K mi. It's at the specialty shop where I have mine maintained. Looks pretty nice. I saw no rust at all.Other than that, I know nothing about it.

http://guntermercedes.com/Inventory/ViewInventory.aspx?ID=79

Maybe a real prize is right around the bend?

If you had gotten one of these cars, you wouldn't be 'available' when she appears.


I often find that things which I at first viewed as curses,
turn out to be blessings.


Good luck!

__________________
'87 300SDL

dieselbenz