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Login to post Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » Little things that piss me off...

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Oct. 30, 2009 7:47 p.m. irish44j Reader

on the chance of finding that rare, cheap car that would be just perfect for (rallycross, challenge, restoration, etc), I, like most of you, browse craigslist regularly..

And the one thing that I see all too often that pisses me off is that asshat who is selling a car that "runs perfect but doesn't start because it needs a new battery." Or even worse if it has no battery, and the ad DOESN'T say it...I actually went to see a car over the summer and when I get there the guy says "well, you could take it out for a drive, but the battery was no good so I took it out."

How about this? You're selling a car for $3000, so go buy a $50 wal-mart battery motherf&%$er. Do you expect me to bring my own or run jumpers from my car. WTF...

Or, if as is more likey you took the battery out so prospective buyers would just take your word for it that the car runs, and tow it away....I mean, does anyone actually fall for that?
Oct. 30, 2009 8:51 p.m. dean1484 Dork

I just tell then that my time is $$$ and that it will cost me $1000 to get a battery there for your $3000 car just became worth $2000 to me (even if I get it running and it checks out)

Ya I am a PITA but screw them.

I almost got punched once due to this tactic but hay time is $$$ don't wast my time.
Oct. 30, 2009 8:53 p.m. patgizz Dork

theres a roadmonster wagon locally that the guy emails like he just learned english last month who says it runs and drives great but wont start because the alarm is messed up.
Oct. 30, 2009 9:13 p.m. irish44j Reader

I saw a local ad last week for a nice 944 (as i recall) that said "car is in great running condition and you can drive it home today"

Then at the bottom of the ad it says "car is currently on jackstands because it doesn't have any wheels, so bring your own wheels."

ya know, since all of us has a set of Porsche wheels just sitting around..
Oct. 30, 2009 9:24 p.m. JThw8 SuperDork

irish44j wrote:

I saw a local ad last week for a nice 944 (as i recall) that said "car is in great running condition and you can drive it home today"

Then at the bottom of the ad it says "car is currently on jackstands because it doesn't have any wheels, so bring your own wheels."

ya know, since all of us has a set of Porsche wheels just sitting around..

2 actually....glad this isnt near me :)

(and the only porsche Ive ever owned was a 914...go figger on the 944 wheels
Oct. 30, 2009 10:36 p.m. AngryCorvair SuperDork

In reply to JThw8:

so did you get the phone dials from Andy? if so, are you happy with them?
Oct. 30, 2009 10:41 p.m. JThw8 SuperDork

AngryCorvair wrote:

In reply to JThw8:

so did you get the phone dials from Andy? if so, are you happy with them?

Going out to Andy's next weekend, there's a bit more involved than just driving out there (I have some things to pick up from Andy which require scheduling assistance)

But if they are round and will mount a tire Im happy. I got them on the very outside chance we went with 944 suspension on the wartburg so we would have a spare set of wheels/tires for Lemons. Now it looks about 80% confirmed that is the way we're going so they will be great to have on hand.

My mental image tells me they may look more interesting on the Wartburg than the Fuchs so they may get moved to primary wheels :)
Oct. 30, 2009 10:41 p.m. littleturquoiseb HalfDork

patgizz wrote:

theres a roadmonster wagon locally that the guy emails like he just learned english last month who says it runs and drives great but wont start because the alarm is messed up.

My Mee-Otter was a $200 steal for this very reason ... Previous owner said it dosn't start "Needs Starter" ... I asked what it 'does' when you turn the key he started to explain the way to disable the alarm/ignition cut off, and it included "flip that switch down there hanging on the wires".

I charged the battery, retwisted the wires and she fired right up!
Oct. 31, 2009 1:45 a.m. Appleseed Dork

patgizz wrote:

theres a roadmonster wagon locally that the guy emails like he just learned english last month who says it runs and drives great but wont start because the alarm is messed up.

Being GM, I wouldn't rule that out.
Oct. 31, 2009 9:38 a.m. poopshovel UltraDork

You're selling a car for $3000, so go buy a $50 wal-mart battery motherf&%$er.

Yes! Feel the hate flow through you!!!
Oct. 31, 2009 9:46 a.m. Raze Reader

You know what really grinds my gears...?

The battery thing for sure, it just happened when I looked at the Alfa someone tossed up in my "Help put me in a cheap convertible" thread. The other is someone who strips all the parts worth a damn off a car, like said Alfa, and then tries to not only sell you the car, but get you to buy all the parts he stripped off and replaced with junk!

...and that ladies and gentlemen is what really grinds my gears!
Oct. 31, 2009 9:51 a.m. Giant Purple Snorklewacker Dork

That has happened to me too - and I am ashamed to say that I dragged it home anyway... and I still I don't bring my own battery with me.

I need to remember to bring another person with me who is coached to say "This car is a piece of E36 M3. You do not want this car" over and over and over.
Oct. 31, 2009 9:56 a.m. PHeller HalfDork

I love the peeps who are like. "It runs but needs a battery"

and then you say "ok, well I'll bring one along"

the next email says "car is sold, sorry".
Oct. 31, 2009 11:43 a.m. dean1484 Dork

irish44j wrote:

because it doesn't have any wheels, so bring your own wheels."

ya know, since all of us has a set of Porsche wheels just sitting around..

Wait.. . . I have 2 extra sets sitting around. Where is said car?
Oct. 31, 2009 11:57 a.m. plance1 HalfDork

what about when you are selling a cheap, running car, say for a few hundred bucks and people call up and ask, "what color is it?"

Ummmm, yeah right.
Oct. 31, 2009 12:39 p.m. mrwillie Reader

I got one. How about test driving a car, shaking on the sale, coming back in two days w/ the money and then finding out on the drive home that the oil pan was dented since the test drive and that the engine isn't getting enough oil. Didn't complain too much 'cause the car was so cheap, but still....
Oct. 31, 2009 12:42 p.m. kb58 New Reader

My favorite, "Selling car for friend."

Translation: "I won't take responsibility for anything you find wrong with it."

What's wrong with just saying, "as-is?"
Oct. 31, 2009 7:33 p.m. irish44j Reader

This one I saw today was funny.....

"isn't that the car that sort of, um, catches on fire?" NO, that's the 1984 Fiero! This is an '86! Yeee-hawwww!) "
Oct. 31, 2009 7:34 p.m. irish44j Reader

ok, another one:

"Audi 4000 SPORT Quattro: 1984 ,, stored since 1999 last time on road, all in good shape ,no dents no rot ,verry rare ,no title bill of sale only .parts will fit from 1982 to 1987 rally cars like group b, rally trany with diff lock on dash will run if u spray gas into intake ,gas in tank is from 1999"

well here's an idea: Since you're trying to sell the car, why not put some fresh gas in it?
Oct. 31, 2009 7:40 p.m. Appleseed Dork

Runs but needs battery. Have you tried looking for a sub $1000 motorcycle? This is easily interchanged with needs carbs cleaned.
Oct. 31, 2009 7:57 p.m. CLynn85 New Reader

My recent pisser....

Found a honda nighthawk on craigslist that was the right price, met all my requirements, seemed to be an honest seller with good pictures, and was 15 min from work.

I e-mail the guy sunday, within an hour of posting, tell him I want it, have cash, and want to ride it and load it on the truck, he says, can't til wednesday, I say sounds good, see you then.

Tuesday comes and I shoot him an email to get directions and establish a time, and he says that he has someone coming wednesday already and will let me know if it sells; needless to say, it sold.

/rant
Oct. 31, 2009 8:18 p.m. mrhappy New Reader

About a month ago i went to look at a 95 civic hatch. It was in rough shape but was an ok car. So I offered a $1000 and we shook on it. They didnt have the title with them so we agreed to meet back there in 2 hours So i could give them the money and get the title. Well 2 and a half hours go by and there arent there so i called them and they told me they sold it to someone else.

That one made me mad for about a week until i picked up a 95 golf for $800.
Oct. 31, 2009 8:20 p.m. tuna55 Reader

I went to be the voice of reason for a friend buying a 71 Corvette. We drive from central new york to someplace in Ohio. We get there, and is is incredibly obvious that someone has grafted (poorly) the rear 2 feet of another Corvette onto this one. It was pretty much just glued into place over the shredded remains of the original body. We passed.

Another one, we caught on the phone. The picture sucked, and had grey areas on the front and back so you could really see the ends of the car. After calling the guy, he said first that the bumpers were in great shape. Then he said they could use some work. He later admitted thaat they weren't on the car, or in his possession.

The one we actually bought was in Virginia. We asked the guy, as an afterthought, if the top sealed (convertible), because we were driving it back to NY in the winter. He said, sure, it seals fine - no water intrusion or anything. We get there, there is 8" between the deck lid and the bottom of the convertible top. Nice.
Oct. 31, 2009 9:25 p.m. mad_machine UberDork

went through that with my Ti. Drove 5 hours to pick up after work. Get there at 3 am and the car does not start... it is TOTALLY out of gas the only open station was 10 miles down the road at the highway.

My Father and I were not happy campers that night
Oct. 31, 2009 9:40 p.m. patgizz Dork

mad_machine wrote:

went through that with my Ti. Drove 5 hours to pick up after work. Get there at 3 am and the car does not start... it is TOTALLY out of gas the only open station was 10 miles down the road at the highway.

My Father and I were not happy campers that night

heh. i drove 5 hours to pick up my 76 C30 dump truck with my dad. guy wasnt home. i pulled up and it had a flat tire. i walked to the gas station at the end of the street and he was in there bs'ing with the clerk and apparently forgot i was coming. it had zero gas in it, and one of the rear brake lines popped as soon as i hit the pedal. it made it home - alternator died 70 miles from home and radiator blew as we pulled in the driveway.

i drove 6 hours to indiana to pick up my old 91 caprice wagon. got there and it wouldnt start and the tires were dry rotted. he was like "i put a new fuel pump in yesterday and it ran fine" - i had to get under it and whack the tank with a hammer to get the pump to run. this was dead of winter in an ice storm, my uncle starts driving it and calls me - car has no heat. we got home and dug around, lots of receipts in glovebox for this problem. there was one for a new blower motor, then several with plenty of charges to diagnose the no heat problem, so i got up under the dash - the dumbass that installed the blower motor put the black wire to red and red to black - it was running backwards.

then there is this local CL fiero. it's been listed for months for $500 "i wont take a penny less because i KNOW what this car is worth." it says the battery is dead so it wont start but it runs great. so i emailed the guy a few months back and asked if it would drive home if i brought a battery. his reply was "starter went bad too"

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