How much did you pay for it?
Buying experience dilema
- Thread starter cutter
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- Thread starter
- #23
I'm in Raleigh, NC
I paid $8200, which I thought was average for a vehicle in good condition. At the time I had just sold my truck and was without a car (for me) and figured I wouldn't take too much of a loss even if I bought high. We made a last minute decision to hop in our car and head down to Ga, even brought the dog along. Wife and kids were really good sports. Being without a vehicle and wanting a LC I lowered my expectations way too far.
I paid $8200, which I thought was average for a vehicle in good condition. At the time I had just sold my truck and was without a car (for me) and figured I wouldn't take too much of a loss even if I bought high. We made a last minute decision to hop in our car and head down to Ga, even brought the dog along. Wife and kids were really good sports. Being without a vehicle and wanting a LC I lowered my expectations way too far.
You paid for a lot more than you got.
CDan - In his defense, if the rig was as advertised, it was a fair price IMO. A little on the high side but with lower miles and a clean, leak/damage free truck it would have been a decent deal. Not a steal but a decent price for how it was advertised and what the pictures showed.
Hi-jack - I will be calling you next week for some parts. My list is about as long as I can stand it right now.
Now back to
As stated earlier, I will help however I can, including going on record, statements or whatever. I am a calm, quiet kind of guy but this is like stealing and in my book, it doesn't get any worse than that!!
Curt
Hi-jack - I will be calling you next week for some parts. My list is about as long as I can stand it right now.
Now back to
As stated earlier, I will help however I can, including going on record, statements or whatever. I am a calm, quiet kind of guy but this is like stealing and in my book, it doesn't get any worse than that!!
Curt
Get a carfax on the thing and find out when the accident happened. See if he owned it before or after the accident. He could be BSing you about that as well. If he is you have him. He sounds like a not so honest fella to me and I would be in his face quickly.
I am leaving for Mexico in the morning and I'll be back in the office on April 1st.
What I was wondering was if he paid, like, 2500 bucks for it he got what he paid for. But, he clearly paid too much for the actual (disguised) condition of the vehicle.
Get your money back if you can. If not the next question is the mechanical condition. Is it in good shape mechanically? If the mechanical condition is good you might consider fixing it instead of selling it. It is a body on frame, a strong frame. A good body shop can fix it easily whatever it is, strength and safety will not be a problem when repaired (probably not even now but why take a chance with family) My point is for the amount you are going to loose by selling it as is, you could probably get it repaired. You have owned it long enough now to determine if the rest is worth keeping. Most likely it will be hard to find an 80 series for that price that doesn't need something, if all yours needs is some body repair that wouldn't bother me at all, I would rather have that then mechanical problems but that is just me.
Rusty
Rusty
Rusty - The door sill is pushed in probably 1-1.5" about half way between the hinges. The frame had flaked finish, meaning it was stressed to the point it should have braces added. I always tried to relate frame damage to customers as a piece of aluminum foil, sure you can straighten it but it doesn't make it flat or better yet, as strong as original. If I owned a body shop I would not sign up to fix it and then put my name on it. Knowing my family was riding in it, it owuld be gone one way or another. I on the other hand am not worth much, so I would be ok with it....it's just not what was advertised and cutter was lied to!! There is more wrong than pushed in pillars and flexed/bent frame rails, that is what you can visibly see. There is always more once you dig into them.
10-4 CDan - I can and will wait until after April 1st - have fun!
Cutter has my info so we will see what happens.....
Curt
10-4 CDan - I can and will wait until after April 1st - have fun!
Cutter has my info so we will see what happens.....
Curt
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- Thread starter
- #30
I Did run the car fax after the fact...Stupid me! It's been in 3 accidents, one while in his possesion. The first 2 reported moderate damage, no salvage title or airbag deployment. The one in his possesion doesn't indicate the extent of damage and he did say that the bumper was hit and repaired. His story is he only knows of 1 previous accident to the drivers side fender, which is fair enough. Beyond that he has no idea. I don't really fault him for not knowing the complete accident history but it's obvious the damage sustained in the accident is more than cosmetic and consequently that should have been factored into the price. If I paid $5000 for it I wouldn't be complaining but $8200 for a 3 accident vehicle that hasn't been repaired properly is not cool.
- Thread starter
- #31
rtarh20,
The body shop repair is the issue. I've been to 3 different body shops (and 1 mechanic) just to repair the door hinge and see if they can do anything about aligning the body panel. They won't touch it because it would involve going over someone elses work. Everyone points to the extent of damage that is beyond cosmetic...which I could live with for a while if need be. All 3 body shops have been consistent that repairing it right would not be worthwhile and I don't think i bought it cheap enough to sink that kind of cash. It's something someone would either just have to live with or be proficient enough to do themselves and I'm not a body man. Mechanically I think it's OK but as I go along I"m seeing a few things that may be of concer (eg the ditributor cap was cracked and held together with a cable tie...what cheap ass does that!). The engine isn't rough and the transmission shifts smooth so that's priobably OK.
The body shop repair is the issue. I've been to 3 different body shops (and 1 mechanic) just to repair the door hinge and see if they can do anything about aligning the body panel. They won't touch it because it would involve going over someone elses work. Everyone points to the extent of damage that is beyond cosmetic...which I could live with for a while if need be. All 3 body shops have been consistent that repairing it right would not be worthwhile and I don't think i bought it cheap enough to sink that kind of cash. It's something someone would either just have to live with or be proficient enough to do themselves and I'm not a body man. Mechanically I think it's OK but as I go along I"m seeing a few things that may be of concer (eg the ditributor cap was cracked and held together with a cable tie...what cheap ass does that!). The engine isn't rough and the transmission shifts smooth so that's priobably OK.
Sounds like you are liking this cruiser but not sure about the integrety of the body to make it safe for your family. I suggest that you take your LC to one of the body shops again and ask them to put it on a frame rack and take measurements to figure out how far off it really is. Yes it may cost you a $$$ but you'll know exactly what the issues are like bent or twisted frame, caved in pillar and so forth. Something to consider...
Don't give him too much (ANY) credit - he was told by a body repair professional that the vehicle had MAJOR damage and was not safely repaired - this guy ripped you off and now both of you know it. With mxvet354's word you are golden here.
I would advise calling the guy back and telling him you are in on his scheme... you have someone willing to testify that HE KNEW the vehicle had major damage which he wrongfully kept from you.
Once you get this all settled and taken care of (I'm sure you will - the law should DEFINITELY be on your side at this point), you have learned 2 things to do when searching for your next 80:
1. Always get a carfax
2. Pay mxvet354 to drive with you to look at your next truck!
Sorry this had to happen to you man... it really sucks!
-Phil
- Thread starter
- #34
Appletech....your 2 points are 100% right
I'll have to seriously consider flying mxvet354 to inspect my next LC....what's your consultant fees like?
I appreciate everyones input and it's great having a support network like this. I hope I can return the favor sometime. I'm going to give the guy a call today and see if he'll try and do the right thing with respect to the knowledge i now have.
I'll let everyone know how it goes
I'll have to seriously consider flying mxvet354 to inspect my next LC....what's your consultant fees like?
I appreciate everyones input and it's great having a support network like this. I hope I can return the favor sometime. I'm going to give the guy a call today and see if he'll try and do the right thing with respect to the knowledge i now have.
I'll let everyone know how it goes
very sad story indeed.
hope it all works out for you in the end.
and that said PO 'douche' gets his.
hope it all works out for you in the end.
and that said PO 'douche' gets his.
- Thread starter
- #36
vkfzj80,
[Sounds like you are liking this cruiser but not sure about the integrety of the body to make it safe for your family. I suggest that you take your LC to one of the body shops again and ask them to put it on a frame rack and take measurements to figure out how far off it really is. Yes it may cost you a $$$ but you'll know exactly what the issues are like bent or twisted frame, caved in pillar and so forth. Something to consider...]
I wouldn't say I am really liking this cruiser. In fact on the way home I had already decided that it was not going to be the one I kept for a long time. And mxvet354 comments on repairing frame damage are exactly why I hesitate doing anything more with it. I've already had a few mechanical problems (not major) but they are (in my opinion) associated with the accident. I think more things will develop as time goes on. The last body shop I went to specializes in fixing frame damage and reconstructing cars. Their opinion was it's just not worth fixing and they thought it was really low that the PO was trying to pawn this off to someone.
[Sounds like you are liking this cruiser but not sure about the integrety of the body to make it safe for your family. I suggest that you take your LC to one of the body shops again and ask them to put it on a frame rack and take measurements to figure out how far off it really is. Yes it may cost you a $$$ but you'll know exactly what the issues are like bent or twisted frame, caved in pillar and so forth. Something to consider...]
I wouldn't say I am really liking this cruiser. In fact on the way home I had already decided that it was not going to be the one I kept for a long time. And mxvet354 comments on repairing frame damage are exactly why I hesitate doing anything more with it. I've already had a few mechanical problems (not major) but they are (in my opinion) associated with the accident. I think more things will develop as time goes on. The last body shop I went to specializes in fixing frame damage and reconstructing cars. Their opinion was it's just not worth fixing and they thought it was really low that the PO was trying to pawn this off to someone.
Sounds like it had or has firewall damage . Thats a "total" by most insurance companies around no matter how new or old .
You could always part it out but I dont think you'll break close to even though
Sorry about your truck
good luck finding the next
You could always part it out but I dont think you'll break close to even though
Sorry about your truck
good luck finding the next
I had a great idea this morning that I will follow up with tonight... I'm going to create a "Cruisers to Avoid" Registry in the 80's forum (and other forums too if the admins go for it) that will be stickied. Then, when someone goes to look at a truck in bad condition, they can list up here the VIN, name of the seller, selling location, and why they wouldn't buy it. That way, anyone looking for a new truck can do a search for the VIN or seller name on MUD first and be forewarned. Since not all users on here have the same technical merit as others, we need to band together as a community and draw from each other's experience, even from the point of purchase. This will help protect our community members from going through the horrible experience you went through.
I'll iron out all the details tonight and post it up. Any moderators on this thread I can PM when I set it up so they can sticky?
-Phil
I'll iron out all the details tonight and post it up. Any moderators on this thread I can PM when I set it up so they can sticky?
-Phil
AT - That is a wonderful idea, it won't be perfect but at least if it is listed here people know what they are going to look at. To someone a blown engine/HG may not be a big deal but it would be for me. On the other hand a few dents or fading clear coat wouldn't scare me a bit. I think this would be a good place to start.
If it helps one person, it would definately be worth it. As I look back now in my first post on MUD, instead of mentioning my horrible trip down there I should have provided names and details in order to try and help someone else.
Curt
If it helps one person, it would definately be worth it. As I look back now in my first post on MUD, instead of mentioning my horrible trip down there I should have provided names and details in order to try and help someone else.
Curt
cutter, don't be wishywashy... You sound like a nice decent guy who doesn't like confrontation. Good for you. But here, you gotta lay down the law on this guy. You got screwed royally by a liar who was told in no uncertain terms there were significant problems. You got very lucky to hear from mx. So run with it, send the guy a registered letter first thing, perhaps from an attorney ($100 - will put the fear of god in him) get your money back and get a good cruiser...
Good luck to ya!
Good luck to ya!
