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Hi,
Would just like some opinions.
I have been in talks with a guy about his car for a good few months. Finally got to see it New Years Day. Condition not quite as great as I had hoped but still loads of potential, subtle, period mods. I spoke to the seller to see if there is any movement on the price, he is standing firm, saying price is fixed at 2k.
Had he dropped it to 1.75k I would have done the deal.
I do have the money to go to 2k but I just wonder if it is not quite worth it. Needs a bit of bodywork doing and history is totally undocumented.
He doesn't need to sell so the time of year and economic climate aren't working as bargaining powers.
Problem is, now I just feel gutted . Am I cutting off my nose to spite my face or should I hold out and see what happens? He is not going to advertise it anyway if I don't buy it.
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All depends what car it is....
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1951 Split Window Beetle - SOLD!
1965 Mercedes 230SL
1966 VW Beetle
1968 Mercedes 280SE
1972 VW 412LE Variant - SOLD!
err.... 2004 Toyota Corolla
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tux
Part of things
Fat Bloke
Posts: 417
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The only person that can answer that one dude is you! Is it worth 2 large to YOU? Forget market value etc, I think most of us have invested far more in our cars than they are likely to be "worth" at sale time.
If you have the cash available and the car is worth it to you personally, then go for it. If you think you will be forever telling yourself that you paid too much then give it a miss.
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History, in a lot of regards, on something like that and the age it is, is mostly irrelevant.
Just look at what's there, instead.
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All depends what car it is.... Not sure that what car it is comes into the dilemma really as the choice of car is down to personal taste. Here it is anyway, always interested in opinions. Tax exempt 2 door Triumph Toledo. Converted to Dolomite Sprint engine and running gear. Resprayed 4 years ago in crazy green.   |
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Leave it a few weeks.....if he doesn't come back to you then buy the Saab  |
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Why not just get a dolomite sprint  . A good one can be bought for around £1000-£1500. Unlike the Toledo which has been 'modded' with sprint bits, the dolly will be standard with sprint bits, so should be better for insurance. |
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1993 Fiat Panda Selecta
2003 Vauxhall Combo 1.7DI van
2006 Mercedes Kompressor Evolution-S AMG SportCoupé
"You think you hate it now, wait til you drive it"
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looks nice but don't think i would be able to justify 2k on that. as PANDASELECTA said you can get what its trying to be for less  but again the personal choice thing comes into it and you seem to think the way i do and just "like what YOU like" |
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Why not just get a dolomite sprint . A good one can be bought for around £1000-£1500. Unlike the Toledo which has been 'modded' with sprint bits, the dolly will be standard with sprint bits, so should be better for insurance. That is a very good question. I am making life more difficult with this option. It comes down to one thing really - aesthetics! I personally think that the 2 door shape and the tail of the Toledo is far better looking. Evidence -  2 door shell is also lighter and stiffer. I have owned a Dolomite but for me the longer tail of the Dolly looks out of proportion and the rear panel is just too damn ugly! Think I will wait a few weeks and see what occurs.... |
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The 'what car' bit is relevant to it's value. As above 2k might be a tad steep, depends what bodyworks needed and how tidy/sorted the rest is (does look nice from pix).
I like a bit of history on an up & running thing, helps sell on later and shows whether the PO took care of it. Lack of bills makes me wonder - if things have been maintained, why no bills.
Maybe he's not dropping because he knows you've been on it a few months so yr keen. But if yr really taken with it and cash is not a prob, there's nothing to stop you really.
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'66 Amazon <-> '94 LS400 <-> '86 Suzuki 1135 EFE
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The 'what car' bit is relevant to it's value. As above 2k might be a tad steep, depends what bodyworks needed and how tidy/sorted the rest is (does look nice from pix). I like a bit of history on an up & running thing, helps sell on later and shows whether the PO took care of it. Lack of bills makes me wonder - if things have been maintained, why no bills. Maybe he's not dropping because he knows you've been on it a few months so yr keen. But if yr really taken with it and cash is not a prob, there's nothing to stop you really. I know what you're saying. The car is generally excellent. I reckon it needs about £400 of paint and labour to make the body perfect - it is very solid(wish I had the skills to do it myself). I can afford the 2k but am reluctant to pay that, knowing another £400 is on top. Starts pushing it further into realms of stupidity (according to the Mrs!). The no history thing is also not helping. Lots of mates rates going on I think but don't like the fact there is no evidence of last oil change, plugs, perishables etc. Mileage on engine is also unknown. Writing all of this stuff down, it is obvious my heart is ruling my head even having got this far - but that's what old motors do to us I guess. |
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MWF
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,945
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There's a lot to be said for letting your heart rule your head imo. People turn cars into too much of a science when really it's all about passion. Only you know the answer to your question really.
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Personally, I don't believe in paying full price for the car. Tell him what you think it's worth to you, if you do want it.
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dugong
Posted a lot
One Of Us Will Live To Rue The Day We Met Each Other (Wire : 2008)
Posts: 3,292
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I think you're right in looking at the car coldly.
I've done things by the heart more than once and it has cost me dear.
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ezzysi
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,189
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As others have said, its got to be your choice at the end of the day.. but i'll tell you of my recent experience. I was desperate for a rwd bmw and looked at a few e30's the last one being a 325i 70 miles away, buyer wanted £600 but in my opinion it was worth £500 tops.. he'd only drop to £550 so I walked away.... for days after I convinced myself i'd been stupid to turn the car down for the sake £50 and nearly called back to say i'd have it. Hung on for another 2 weeks still looking and another car turned up 10 miles away, much much nicer than the 325i and I got it for £200!! ;D ;D The moral of this story is.... there's always another one round the corner.. all depends if you can wait and don't mind doing a bit of searching. P.s the car I ended up with (that I love to bits) came up on this very forum |
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Last Edit: Jan 7, 2009 13:56:02 GMT by ezzysi
1991 Mk2 Golf Gti 8v
2005 Passat tdi (daily)
1971 Mk1 Escort
2004 Touran (her's)
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If you really like the shape, that's a fairly major plus it sounds like. Could compression test the engine, reckon miles is not so important as general health. e.g last Amazon had 140k on, never burnt oil, comp test within less than 10psi. Does it drive nice, feel tight etc, interior good. All that can be worth the £400, another car might have iffy suspension brakes etc etc.
Tricky! But there's a nice side to these dilemmas eh!!
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'66 Amazon <-> '94 LS400 <-> '86 Suzuki 1135 EFE
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,195
Club RR Member Number: 170
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Regarding service history, look at the oil etc. as I'm sure you know.
I'd say to get a tidy Sprint that you are looking at £1.5k-2k to be honest from some of the 'mint' examples I have seen with a mate. I spent a little bit too much on my Peugeot with little service history, but it turned out to be great (so far). I since found out it's had a new rad, condensor, and front coil springs, the former two being things that go on 306s. It felt 'right' a the time, and thankfully, it still is (for now!).
My dad criticised me at the time saying I could have got a 'good' one for £1500, but that would have needed new AC bits, probably more suspension bits as well as having ripped bolsters which are common on GTi-6s. This one seems to have been taken care of by a decent owner, and that IMO is what matters more than purely the price.
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Last Edit: Jan 7, 2009 15:03:33 GMT by ChasR
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DutyFreeSaviour
Europe
Back For More heartbreak and disappointment.....
Posts: 2,944
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Always a personal choice on 'is it worth it' - BUT - unlike the 'standard-ish' purchases, you're not going to find more than a handful of Toledo shells that have been swapped for the Sprint gear - so there's your crux  (IMO of course). I agree with the two door shell preference, and have a shed load of Sprint gear for a future swap I'll do. The pain of doing it has to be worth a small hike if you think of the work that goes into it. If it's been done 'right' then you'll want it enough to compromise. See if he'll meet you half way in a few days......... good luck! |
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Back from the dead..... kind of
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Not good selling tehnique unless he knows its worth that all day long or already discounted it. maybe its cos its cost him loads n bits, labour and paint jobs, but he really ought to move on price even if it is just £100 post bartering, 200 off isn't out of the question, least he couldve done is offer some parts or summat I do know that when i don't budge on price I get to scrap my heaps or live with em for ever. Whats it worth, and whats this particular one worth to you, any more fish int sea? |
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 it doesn't matter if it's a Morris Marina or a Toyota Celica - it's what you do with it that counts  |
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Wait a bit. Offer £1750 again, final offer. If it's gone, it's gone. If he says no, he says no.
I do agree though. I quite like the short-tail Triumphs myself.
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1986 Citroen 2CV Dolly Other things. Check out my Blog for the latest! www.hubnut.org |
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. A good one can be bought for around £1000-£1500. Unlike the Toledo which has been 'modded' with sprint bits, the dolly will be standard with sprint bits, so should be better for insurance. 
but again the personal choice thing comes into it and you seem to think the way i do and just "like what YOU like"
(IMO of course).
