i go look at this car, 100 miles away from me

http://orlando.craigslist.org/ctd/2257552319.html

looks too good to be true, but i figure i would kick myself if i didnt at least go take a look....its a mercedes 500SE, meaning its supposed to have a 5.0L V8...as luck would have it, the cable for the hood release was broken....so, i wait 15 minutes for the guy to get a pair of pliers and pop the hood....lo and behold, there sits an inline six cylinder, not a V8....he tries telling me that some of the 500's came with six cylinders...im pretty sure they call those 300's, not 500's...anyway, strike one


i try to call and get an insurance quote on the car....i called at least 10 different insurance companies, all of which cannot verify the VIN on the car...none will write a policy...i do all the calling on the way to see the car, my mistake


so, i drive it...it drives out perfectly, shifts great, plenty of power ...idles a little high, but thats minor...the car is excellent mechanically speaking

i get back from driving it, and tell the guy ill give him $3500 cash if he can get me an insurance quote for that specific vehicle, he says oh yeah no problem....we go inside and talk to the boss....boss says have a seat and we will get you all taken care of....he gets on the phone with some insurance person and says he wants to get a quote for me on a "mercedes sedan"...not a mercedes 500SE, a mercedes sedan....i wait a few minutes and give him time to hang himself....after he has given all the car info, i say...give him the specific model and the VIN and see what his quote is....this is when he gets all defensive, saying he is wasting his time on me, he doesnt have to sell the car...he doesnt appreciate me trying to be all detective on him...all the while i have my wallet sitting on the desk, with 45 crisp one hundred dollar bills bulging out of it....so, i say **** it...i think im being tried here, you ****s are trying to commit fraud...im out



im not an expert, but i do know a little about mercedes...number one...if it came from the factory with an inline 6 it would not be badged a 500....and number two, if you are selling something that costs that amount of money and the customer has a stack of cash on front of you, you arent likely to get defensive about much at all...especially when they ask you something as routine as verifying a VIN



yet another wasted day looking for a decent vehicle

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1985 300SD 192,000miles...Astral silver/ Grey MbTex

1983 300D 194,000miles...White/Tan MbTex...my newest addiction