I made a little trip (a little bit over an hour one way) yesterday with a cashier's check in my wallet, ready to drive an '84 300SD back home. I had looked the car over and taken a test drive earlier in the week, then negotiated a price with the seller by telephone a day later.

When arranging the deal, I specified very plainly that the purchase was contingent upon me having the chance to see how the car handled a cold start the day I picked it up - and being satisfied with what I saw. I did not want it warmed up beforehand. As weather patterns would have it, Saturday was going to be a reasonably cold morning for this time of year (low 30's Fahrenheit). Super!

I showed up Saturday morning, right on time. First thing, I popped the hood... then pulled out ye olde Raytek IR thermometer and shot the engine block. It was >100 degrees Fahrenheit! I asked the seller why the engine was so warm already, when we had specifically discussed the importance of seeing a cold start. He told me that he had only brought it around to the front of the house.

What a meanie I am, eh?

(That's not the only thing that helped to sour the deal for me - further inspection and discussion contributed - but hey, it was a start.)