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  #16  
Old 04-20-2015, 02:53 AM
TylerH860's Avatar
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Like in your last truck thread... Been through this so many times. If the seller is willing to part with their vehicle WAY under market value it's almost certain to be not as described. Your budget was way under market for the truck... This was to be expected.

Tried all of this with eBay and paypal. You are wasting their time. I even had bad feedback taken away because they called it feedback extortion. Car showed up not as described, I told them I wanted money back for repairs or I would leave bad feedback. When they didn't pay and I left the feedback they had eBay take it down. Floored me.

Get a used driveshaft for $150, swap it in a few hours. A quick google search shows them for $250 or less New or Reman if yo uwant that. $600 labor for the driveshaft is insane. It's a 3 hour job maximum on that truck. A good mechanic could do it in half the time. You were informed about the leaks. It could have been much worse. I've had much worse several times over. Like a 1998 S320 where the seller did bribe off the shop. Mechanically perfect inspection came back with a bad head gasket, transmission (wouldn't shift out of second) vacuum pump, and serious cosmetic issues.

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Last edited by TylerH860; 04-20-2015 at 03:08 AM.
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  #17  
Old 04-20-2015, 02:56 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aklim View Post
Who were your inspectors? How did you find them? Were they bribed by the seller? Problem is it is "my" inspector. Was there a way to escrow it? I usually buy it with a down payment and me placing eyeballs on it but if you hired the clown, the most you can get is a refund of your inspection fee. So how did you come about to hire these crooks to inspect? Was it his friend?
I have put an ad on craigslist for gigs and gotten random car enthusiasts to inspect cars for me. $50 and drive an interesting vehicle. I've had much better results than third party inspections mechanic shops, and the seller doesn't have to take the car anywhere. I get photos of all the bad spots and can even walk them through on the phone.
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  #18  
Old 04-20-2015, 03:26 AM
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Dodge Dakota SLT Crew Cab Pickup 4 Door | eBay

How could you not tell from the eBay ad it was not a plow truck until it showed up? The holes in the roof, wires, etc are obvious. The seller did his diligence and had a safety inspection done. Probably knew about the driveshaft but AHA! that's why it was so cheap. Also possible if he parks the truck in the street he would have no idea about leaks. From the photos you can tell it was obviously worked hard despite the low miles. You get what you pay for. The seller has nothing to apologize for especially at the $4000 you got it for. Now you want him to pay $1200? I'd have a few choice words as well. I would have given him $3500 for it and flipped it here in Wichita for $5000. It would have sold instantly.
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1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!
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  #19  
Old 04-20-2015, 04:38 AM
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How do you deal with a grossly not as described vehicle bought on ebay?

Sooo confused. Where are the holes? The tailgate says 4x4. Looks like a 4x4 switch on the dash. But the inspection says 2 wheel drive...

Am I victim of trolling?

If not, lighten up man. Take it easy on the poor guy.

Last edited by Lucas; 04-20-2015 at 05:15 AM.
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  #20  
Old 04-20-2015, 08:06 AM
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I had a similar deal with a vintage BMW I bought. The car was advertised as only needing tires. Right now I am rebuilding the AC, a complete suspension overhaul, and replacing the entire exhaust system. I already rebuilt the fuel system and replaced almost the entire cooling system.

Sometimes the only way out is to go all the way in.
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  #21  
Old 04-20-2015, 09:46 AM
waterboarding w/medmech
 
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$600.00 labor to replace a driveshaft? So very easy to do, and that is robbery..
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  #22  
Old 04-20-2015, 09:54 AM
A Talent for Obfuscation
 
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Ok, so bottom line is that, if you want to buy a used vehicle, you need to eyeball it yourself, not rely upon strangers to appraise a prospect.
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  #23  
Old 04-20-2015, 12:39 PM
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Yeah this is the story of my Benz. I probably realized what in needed but didn't realize the work involved. Financially, it worked out. Selling extra bits ads up, especially internationally on eBay.

But time. Ppfffttt. It was fun though.

Now I'm hoping to find a buyer that recognizes the work put in.

Now that I actually know a little, I want a 109.

What's the saying? There's nothing more expensive than a cheap Benz.
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  #24  
Old 04-20-2015, 01:11 PM
is thinning the herd
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucas View Post

Now that I actually know a little, I want a 109.

What's the saying? There's nothing more expensive than a cheap Benz.
As the owner of a W109 and many OM61x powered cars, you are in for a shock.
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  #25  
Old 04-20-2015, 01:15 PM
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Oh I have a 220D right now with a 615. It doesn't get much slower. It's fun because you need it 100% with the little power it has. Lol.

I want to do a a lot of custom stuff. 606 and different drivetrain and such. But I'm a ways away from a project like that. Kinda just watching for the right one.

Saw one awhile back with a straight body and blown motor. But if I bring a third one home I'll be in trouble.
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  #26  
Old 04-20-2015, 03:27 PM
is thinning the herd
 
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I'm discussing costs of ownership, not performance. A w109 air suspension valve costs more than my last 220D did.

Anyway, don't want to get the thread too off topic, if you buy one, drop me a PM, I may be able to shed some light on it.

To the OP, it sucks, I'm sort of torn. Tyler's assessment may read harsh, but he's entirely right.

However you did attempt to do your due diligence and pay for a UCI. Usually these threads are people who found a car on eBay for 1/10 market value and pulled the trigger without as much as phone call to the seller and they are shocked at what showed up.

As someone peripheral to the car business I'd like to see you sue the seller. People hold car dealers accountable for everything and car dealers generally lose lawsuits because juries hate car dealers. If my dad or Tyler used the term "mechanically perfect" they'd be entirely screwed. Private sellers should be held accountable for their B.S., however legally in a private/casual transaction, at least in Ohio you wouldn't really have a leg to stand on.

Send it to Judge Judy or something and you'll both get paid, I don't know what to tell you other than too good to be true always is.
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  #27  
Old 04-20-2015, 04:12 PM
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I'm horrible at that. Hey I remember now u had a motor.

I don't know how other states work but I know in Cali you would get sued for that. I agree.

I've recently adopted the attitude that if someone is shady I'll nail them to the wall of accountability. Nothing unfair. But no mercy.
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  #28  
Old 04-20-2015, 05:05 PM
t walgamuth's Avatar
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I believe its hard to collect judgments across state lines.
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  #29  
Old 04-20-2015, 07:12 PM
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Having been in and around the auto business for 40 years, here are a few things. ( This is in general and not directed to a specific person.)

Car dealers don't inspect every square inch of a car. Better dealers fix what the car needs to operate but even then they are not going to replace hoses / belts that are still working. A used car is just that, used.

For a PPI I'd use a new car dealer of the same make or at least the same parent company. A shop owned by an established enthusiast club would come in a strong second especially for an obscure / older car.

Customer expectations ( and to some extent IQ ) are proportional to the asking price of the car. As in the lower the price, the higher the expectations and lower IQ of the buyer. When I worked as a tech at a decent used car lot, I could watch someone get out of their car and by the time they got across the lot would have a pretty good read on how they would act. How one carries ones self speaks volumes.

There is a line between adding buzz to an ad and lying. Lying is never acceptable. Private sellers really might not know that there is something wrong with the car so what they say isn't considered reality. Don't mistake someones incompetence for lying, this applies to businesses as well.

Some time ago 2 people on this list made a deal on a car. Both were apparently well meaning but were lacking in skills. The seller apparently talked the car up not knowing that there were issues / didn't think they were critical and the buyer didn't know what to look for. Who was wrong? Both were with a slight tilt to the buyer.

On my end of things, I'm the one buying and make my own decisions as to if the item is as described. I've gotten some pretty good deals when the seller considers a slightly broken item completely junk.
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  #30  
Old 04-20-2015, 07:41 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 97 SL320 View Post
For a PPI I'd use a new car dealer of the same make or at least the same parent company. A shop owned by an established enthusiast club would come in a strong second especially for an obscure / older car.

There is a line between adding buzz to an ad and lying. Lying is never acceptable. Private sellers really might not know that there is something wrong with the car so what they say isn't considered reality. Don't mistake someones incompetence for lying, this applies to businesses as well.

I've gotten some pretty good deals when the seller considers a slightly broken item completely junk.
Kinda wondering who picked the person doing the PPI and how myself.

Either you tell me as it is or you are lying. If you don't know, say "I don't know". If you say IDK and I proceed, it is my fault. If you ask me about compression of the engine, what do you expect? Either I say it is within tolerance or not or IDK. There is no middle ground. Once you commit, you commit. Don't come back and say "OMG!! I didn't know". If you HONESTLY didn't know and made a mistake, it is YOUR job to make it right.

If you tell me it is junk and you want to let it go for $1000, that is your problem. Just as if I am a trained mechanic and I get creative on the faults to talk you down, it is my fault. That said, if the buyer doesn't check and takes it at face value, he is partly to blame.

When I sell a used car, I give you as much time as you want. I show you what is wrong and what the reasonable price is. Once money changes hands, you will have signed a "no warranty expressed or implied" and I don't accept anything else you said. So if it blows up 5 miles down the road, I told you everything I know and allowed you to have anyone of your choosing inspect it. If I misrepresent it and am called out, I take responsibility. If not go pound sand.

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