Some people boggle the mind - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

spdrun · #31 06-21-2013, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

............obviously you didn't learn a damn thing from the episode............

Not to test drive cars without bringing along a MMA-afficionado friend with a strong Russian accent.

JB3 · #32 06-21-2013, 12:49 PM

wow, the most ive ever run into is repeated incidents with people who come to look at cars saying they can drive a stick and cannot. Several incidents I made them get out and switch, and one incident I had some sharp words for a kid who had the gall to claim there were clutch issues after trying to put it in gear without depressing the clutch.

Though mostly I ride with them unless its some ratty old truck im getting rid of that not much can go wrong that hasn't already.

Brian Carlton · #33 06-21-2013, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdrun

Not to test drive cars without bringing along a MMA-afficionado friend with a strong Russian accent.

.............not to get into verbal altercations with unknown persons with uncertain weapons.............

JB3 · #34 06-21-2013, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdrun

It actually did. Guy flipped out over something that was pretty trivial and wouldn't have bothered me on a test drive. Running through the gears at high RPM should be expected, if only because that's when bad synchros make themselves known.

trivial?

if you are buying a used car, im usually pretty gentle on a test drive. Just because the car was designed for something doesn't mean it can do it. I favor a gentler treatment as nearly as much info can be collected about the car.

As a similar trivial example, I once went to look at an early 90s escort GT (the one with the mazda engine and 5-speed, pretty fun) and the seller said "look what it can do" as he initially drove it out of the drive way, and redlined it trying to burn rubber. well somehow in his violent stick handling, he managed to kiss the reverse gear at about 4k, and blew 4 holes in the transmission.

I still bought it, but for about 300 bucks then. replaced the tranny and drove it for a couple years, very nice little coupe. The guy screwed himself by pounding on it in the test drive, making the car worthless.

rs899 · #35 06-21-2013, 01:09 PM

^^ better him blowing it up testing it than you. I tend to like to do the testing for others, unless they seem very trustworthy. Even then, I am riding shotgun.

If it's got bad syncros (like my Jetta has), I don't want it handed back to me worse if they don't buy it.

aklim · #36 06-21-2013, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zakatekaluka

Their "collateral" was their 2012 Jeep in our driveway they left with the keys in it while they were gone. Kind of wish they had stolen the car outright...our pal would have gotten a significant upgrade! LOL

You mean to say: Their "collateral" was A 2012 Jeep in our driveway...."

You have no way of knowing who owns it or if it is mostly bank owned, etc, etc.

aklim · #37 06-21-2013, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdrun

On the flip side, a few years ago, I test drove a Miata with the owner. Little limp-wristed guido flipped out when (after the car was fully warmed up), I accelerated hard and shifted at about 5-6k RPM from 2nd gear to 3rd getting on a freeway. Redline is 7k and I shifted well before -- I didn't do anything it wasn't designed to do. Refused to sell me the car at any price because "you got no respect."

My last words to him were, "HAHAHAHA, I hope it seizes up on you tomorrow, you little prick," whereupon he kicked the side of my rental car. Guy looked like a 3/4-scale version of Joey Buttafuoco -- hilarious.

If you want to test drive a car, go ahead. If you want to beat the car, buy it first. NFW would I lest you flog on my car before I get paid. If the thing blows up, you'd walk away and I own a glorified boat anchor. So kudos to him for standing up to a jerk.

If wishes came true, 90% of the people I know would be on the other end of a meat grinder so it is just words.

spdrun · #38 06-21-2013, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JB3

trivial?

if you are buying a used car, im usually pretty gentle on a test drive. Just because the car was designed for something doesn't mean it can do it. I favor a gentler treatment as nearly as much info can be collected about the car.

Miatas have certain known coil/ignitor problems that tend to only show at higher RPMs. If it can't run at 80-90% of redline for all of a few seconds, I don't want it, because it won't stand up under my driving. Freely admitted, I have a lead foot and make no apologies for it.

aklim · #39 06-21-2013, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zulfiqar

I have personally seen the battery theft on test drive job with the elderly neighbor, He usually calls me for any car help.

He says the car wont start, battery is flat. When I bring out the jumper cables I look at the battery and find an ancient everstart battery with fresh hand marks on it, cradle missing etc. I was the one who replaced his car's battery with a NAPA battery 6 months ago.

Then he tells me that as he was selling it a person took it for a test drive and when he came back the car wouldnt start.

How cheap can one get, stealing batteries??

I've seen a returned computer at Best Buy. It wasn't working because someone took out the CPU and returned it.

aklim · #40 06-21-2013, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.Kenny

I don't want them calling me later complaining that I swindled them somehow.

You give me a signed statement that I provide that says that there are no warranties expressed or implied.

aklim · #41 06-21-2013, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdrun

As long as they have someone over legal age sign the bill of sale, I would sell to them. Discrimination due to age isn't right -- how would you have felt if some old fart told you "I don't think you can handle the project, boy?"

Happened to someone who sold an ATV to a minor. Father came back later and said the contract of no warranty was null and void because the kid was too young. Sell to an adult and have them sign a "No warranties expressed or implied". I don't think a minor's signature is legally binding.

spdrun · #42 06-21-2013, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

You give me a signed statement that I provide that says that there are no warranties expressed or implied.

The parents would. I'm not sure if a minor could be held to understand such a contract.

aklim · #43 06-21-2013, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdrun

It actually did. Guy flipped out over something that was pretty trivial and wouldn't have bothered me on a test drive. Running through the gears at high RPM should be expected, if only because that's when bad synchros make themselves known.

And if you break something or crash the car, who pays? Would you offer to fix it? I'd be fine if you want to bring it to a shop for a full test. In fact, to all my buyers, I suggest it. After you agree and money changes hands, I am not entertaining ANY returns or arguments.

aklim · #44 06-21-2013, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

I nearly always will take a prospective purchase to redline at least once to make sure the engine is sound. I have had several people get all pissy about it. I probably would ask permission to do so now to avoid such a reaction.

THAT is fair enough. If he doesn't give permission, you either take it as is and bargain from there or walk. Crooks were EXACTLY why the dealership in town where I lived refused to work on cars and only for commercial trucks.

Guy comes in, flogs the car on the dyno, it breaks and he blames the shop for reckless handling.

spdrun · #45 06-21-2013, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

And if you break something or crash the car, who pays? Would you offer to fix it? I'd be fine if you want to bring it to a shop for a full test. In fact, to all my buyers, I suggest it. After you agree and money changes hands, I am not entertaining ANY returns or arguments.

I'm not paying for a mechanic to "run tests" on a car that I can do myself. I've been on mechanic test drives, and they do the same thing: run the car through the lower gears at a brisk RPM short of redline.

There was no danger of crashing (I got up to all of 55 mph merging onto a 4-lane) or breaking anything (not as if I held it anywhere near redline for any length of time), assuming the car was well maintained as the owner attested it was. If I broke it, I had enough in the bank to buy about 20 cars of that price