How Much Would You Pay For This Car? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Chris Bell · #1 02-15-2004, 03:14 AM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2460057928&category=6330
In my never ending search for a good 123 diesel I came across this one. The individual running the auction also has the car for sale locally, she says that who ever has the highest bid between the local bidder and the ebay auction winner will get the car. This sounds like BS to me but thats the way she's running the auction.
So...How much would you pay for this car?

DuncanM · #2 02-15-2004, 09:31 AM

So its BS she is trying to get the most she can for her car?

NC240D76 · #3 02-15-2004, 11:01 AM

Very nice car but over my limit for that car even in perfect condition. (which it seems to be)
If you want a car that will last almost forever with style and grace and do not want to work on it, it is a much better deal than a 5 year old dodge / ford or a 10 year old honda / toyota.
Car is probobly worth the money but I like to buy them cheaper and keep my hands greasy.

My brother just bought a 84 300d for $1700.00 that seems to be in very good shape, looks good, runs good, gets him to work (75 miles one way) every day but still has a few things for him to work on.

It is a individual choice, if you buy the car and drive it for years, it will save (or make) you money. If you try to resell it in a year or two you will lose money unless you keep it in the condition it is in.

Good luck

#4 02-15-2004, 11:38 AM

I'm not an eBay expert, but I'm pretty sure it is against eBay regulations to handle the auction the way this person is (selling locally & on eBay, taking the highest price). As far as I know, if you sell a car on eBay, it is SOLD, and you can not turn around and sell it to another person off of eBay once the auction is complete, unless your reserve is not met.

Chris Bell · #5 02-15-2004, 12:24 PM

Quote:

So its BS she is trying to get the most she can for her car?

No, everyone should try to get the most they can when selling something thats the basis of a capitalist system, everyone acting in what they percieve to be thier best interest. Whats BS is she's not really selling the car on ebay she's just "testing the waters" to see what she can get. What's BS is the seller in almost every auto auction stresses the point that the auction is a legally binding contract between buyer and seller, except for her. In her case it's a legally binding contract for the buyer only. What's BS is, I as a buyer, cannot tell a seller after I've won an auction "sorry but I've found a better one cheaper locally" without the seller leaving bad feedback, nor would it be morally right for me to do such a thing.

Would you like me to go on further DuncanM.

kerry · #6 02-15-2004, 12:40 PM

Seems to be a nice car. If it is as described and I was in need of a car right now, I might pay $4500 for it. However, this is the first thing the seller has sold on ebay. I'd be a little leary as a result of that. I would at least have someone else look at the car before bidding if I was not able to view it.

Chris Bell · #7 02-15-2004, 12:44 PM

Quote:

I would at least have someone else look at the car before bidding if I was not able to view it.

Thats the other point, I'm in the SF Bay Area and the car is in LA and I have no way of looking at it first.

Kerry: I love your taste in sailboats

kerry · #8 02-15-2004, 12:54 PM

It looks like we appreciate the same vintage sailboats. I wish I had a chance to use mine more. It's on Lake Ontario and I haven't sailed it in 2 years but I'm going to spend the summer on it this year.

There may be a forum member willing to look at the car for you. I'd pose a thread with that question to see if anyone lives close to it.

coachgeo · #9 02-15-2004, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chris Bell
.......The individual running the auction also has the car for sale locally, she says that who ever has the highest bid between the local bidder and the ebay auction winner will get the car. This sounds like BS to me but thats the way she's running the auction.
So...How much would you pay for this car?

I do not see anything in the Ebay ad that this car is also for sale locally. I have seen ads where someone claims that they can cancel the e-bay ad if it sales localy before the bidding date is over. I assume this is ok procedure by the rules of Ebay.

slowmoe · #10 02-15-2004, 02:33 PM

That looks like a nice car.

I would like to find another 123 sometime in that kind of condition but would not spend that much for it.

Green stuff in the radiator, brake fluid looks black, all pictures taken in the shade - hard to tell true condition.

edge · #11 02-15-2004, 04:23 PM

Look, the body & interior looks impeccavble. If the carfax and an indy checks out, it should be bought. I think it's better to pay more than pay less for a lesser conditioned car and eventually pay more with fixes.

wolf_walker · #12 02-15-2004, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by slowmoe

Green stuff in the radiator, brake fluid looks black, all pictures taken in the shade - hard to tell true condition.

Which says to me whoever has been maintaining it does not know the model well or at all. Who knows what else has or has not been done to the rest of it. And you can't bargin even if the indi finds something wrong with it as there is already someone willing to pay whatever the bid price is up to.

DuncanM · #13 02-15-2004, 04:39 PM

It depends on the order of operations here. If she sells the car prior to the auction ending she can just kill the auction. If she waits for the auction to end and then sells it outside of that then, yes, it is BS.

The Warden · #14 02-15-2004, 05:00 PM

The car's also California emissions...which means that, unless it's been to the dealer for the recall work, it's got a trap oxidizer. If the trap oxidizer's still on the car and it's damaged the turbo to the point where the dealer can detect it, the dealer should replace the trap oxidizer with something that's actually effective

along with replacing the turbo, free of charge. However, there could be damage to the turbo that the dealer doesn't catch, leaving you with a dead turbo down the road and needing to pay for a replacement yourself.

Unless the work's been done, I'd pass...the car looks nice, but the price seems steep even given that and the low mileage.

Just my $.02...it certainly is a beautiful looking car, though

and I like the air cleaner being off to the side...no rubber mounts to break

Chris Bell · #15 02-15-2004, 05:19 PM

Quote:

I do not see anything in the Ebay ad that this car is also for sale locally.

See the last sentence in the vehicle description portion of the listing.

Quote:

Everything works on this car. Original 20 year paint is in great condition with minor 1 or 2 clear coat chips from freeway driving. One 3mm chip on the interior wood and one on drivers armrest. Because of its age it is sold as is with no warranty, written or implied. Any 20 year used car will show wear and tear--this show very little. You are encouraged to inspect the car and judge for yourself. This vehicle is not new and will not be perfect. It is also listed locally for sale.

Quote:

It depends on the order of operations here. If she sells the car prior to the auction ending she can just kill the auction. If she waits for the auction to end and then sells it outside of that then, yes, it is BS.

But that is exactly what she is planning on doing. I sent her email asking her what the local asking price was. She responded that the car was listed locally for "best offer" and would not give me a price. She went on to say that the winner would be whoever had the best offer either locally or ebay. I'm tempted to post a ridiculously high offer than when I win tell that I found a better one cheaper locally.