dubwarrior2
Part of things
"Open up, its the filth"
Posts: 576
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Jan 10, 2017 16:12:07 GMT
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My bothers been telling me for some time about a VW splitscreen camper thats been sat rusting away on a guys drive near me. Apparently my bro spoke to the guy about it 9 years ago and he was "going to restore it one day".
Today I thought I would take a punt and make him an offer. The bus is properly rotten. I've done few in the past and know that there is a tipping point between savable and a massive pile iron oxide. This bus is teetering. So I politely knocked the door and asked if he'd be prepared to sell me the bus. He said No because " he was going to restore it one day". Now heres the thing that annoys me. (I might be jumping to a few conclusions but I don't think so)- The house was an absolute shack. Completely falling apart. The old guy has no kids and came to the door on a walking frame and carrying an oxygen bottle. This tells me he probably isnt going to be lying underneath it welding it all back together. He does not appear to have two pennies to rub together, so I doubt he can afford the 15 plus grand a pro would charge to restore it (window rubbers alone will cost him over £1000). So instead he'd rather it just on his drive and turned to dust. Truly gutted. I offered him a good price for it considering the only salvagable parts appeared to be the windscreens and the chassis rails. Why are people so stubborn? I appreciate that it probably has sentimental value to him but soon there will be nothing left. Its a real shame. I'm looking to buy it and use it, not just flip it for a few quid. Perhaps he just wants it to die with him. I'll respect his wishes.
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Jan 10, 2017 16:19:10 GMT
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The guy's probably seeing his health disappearing, and the camper is something that he knows will never get finished, but that small part of him wants to hold onto that dream of driving the thing around the coastline of Britain, going to festivals, and enjoying life.
If he sells it, that dream will forever be gone, and he will be left with the realisation that he's now an old man with no hope or future.
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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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merryck
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 477
Club RR Member Number: 9
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Grrrr!!! What a waste!merryck
@merryck
Club Retro Rides Member 9
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Jan 10, 2017 16:24:04 GMT
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What if it belonged to his wife, and she'd passed, and it was all he had left to remember their youth together?
You don't know what it means to him, and if it turns to dust then so be it, there are plenty more VW campers around.
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dubwarrior2
Part of things
"Open up, its the filth"
Posts: 576
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Jan 10, 2017 16:26:47 GMT
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Yeah I supose. Or he could buy something with money the I offered him and truly make the most of his time. I can understand why he doesnt want to sell I surpose. I had one on my drive that was taking forever to restore due to work and finances and I would rather have died than got rid of it. but then I had a reality check and realised it wasnt my time and somebody else could use it.
There are so many cars sat on peoples drives that will be restored "one day". Sadly, for most, one day never comes and they end getting crushed😕
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dubwarrior2
Part of things
"Open up, its the filth"
Posts: 576
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Jan 10, 2017 16:29:15 GMT
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there are plenty more VW campers around. Not really. Well, none that us mere mortals can afford.
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Jan 10, 2017 16:33:29 GMT
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Not everyone out there is "normal" so you have to account for that too.
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Jan 10, 2017 17:48:44 GMT
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His so he can do as he wishes.
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Jan 10, 2017 17:49:38 GMT
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I understand the frustration but without knowing his story you have no idea what the car means to him, or the memories and hopes attatched to it. You made an effort, it didn't work out, just accept it and keep looking out for something to pick up. Not everyone out there is "normal" so you have to account for that too. Errm - do you mean "not normal like us car nuts on RR" ?
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Jan 10, 2017 18:27:40 GMT
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Many old people just refuse to admit they are getting old and always have that belief that when they become ill they'll get over it and be back to normal.
My nan was one of those people, right into her 80's she was still doing, or should I say attempting to do things people half her age would struggle to do. The family used to warn her but she wouldn't listen and in the end that's what killed her. Fell off a ladder while attempting to cut down a large conifer tree in her garden, caused a blood clot in her leg and died a few days later in hospital.
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Jan 10, 2017 18:36:35 GMT
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I can totaly understand how you feel, years ago i wanted to buy a mini that sat on a drive because its number plate was registered directly after my dads, i tried several times but it just sat there and rotted. The reasons they have to keep these things don't matter, what matters is its theirs to do what they wish with and unfortunatly that camper will probably sit there until someone comes along to sweep it up. Currently I'm trying to get my uncle to empty his shed so that A)he can use the shed again, its stuffed B)i can get him some money by selling whats in there, its an aladins cave to some extent, and C)so that someone can actualy put whats in there to good use. He hasnt done anything with the stuff for nearly 20-25 years, and he is never likley to, but for all the help i offer him, i cant force him, its his.
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Jan 10, 2017 18:38:04 GMT
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You could use the same argument about almost anything. I own quite a lot of motorcycles, hardly ever ride any of them, some are quite valuable, drives some people crackers & they want to buy one. Not for sale mate. It's his stuff, he does what he want with it, you could almost go on forever, with stuff, we are all guilty of it to a greater or lesser degree
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Jan 10, 2017 18:41:18 GMT
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It'll probably sit there until he dies, then some family member willcome round to clear the house, have no idea of its parts value and call the scrap man. Seen that happen on more than one occasion.
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Last Edit: Jan 10, 2017 18:41:38 GMT by southside
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People like that wind me right up!! Guy not a mile from me had a yard full of cars incl several Mk1 escorts, rotten but loads of spares left on them. Offered to buy multiple times to no avail. Eventually the council forced him to clean up and they all got baled! I was very upset. Turned out he was afraid to sell in case he was laughed at.....for selling too cheap or asking too much never did became clear.
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I think most of it in these cases us money and tightness. People have something like that and know that it will be worth a fortune done up, but think they will be blasted if they let somebody else make all the money off it. Theyvwoild rather let it rot than think somebody else has there car and made 15k profit which could have been there's. There is a council house near me with a Bristol under a green algae tarpaulin. It's been there 20 years and it's completely ruined many people have tried to buy that but its the same story. It's most likely beyond the means if any restorer and now where near being financially worth it, it would basically be a completely new car.
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dubwarrior2
Part of things
"Open up, its the filth"
Posts: 576
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The only waste I see in this case is the time you wasted with racking your brain about the old guy's reasons not to sell and fuming at this and with starting this thread, sorry. As said above: his car - his decision. Well yeah of course. But then if we all thought like that, nothing would ever get done
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Jan 11, 2017 11:21:42 GMT
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As above it's his he can do what he wants.
Out of interest did you ask was it for sale at any price or just do you want to sell it, I'll give you £xxxx?
Probably get sentimental value that you couldn't put a monetary value on.
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miaspa
Part of things
Posts: 829
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Jan 11, 2017 11:48:41 GMT
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Have the same issues with my Dad mentioned over Christmas he wanted to sell his cars and could I help out. One hasn't been used more than 5000 miles in 35 years, the other 15,000 miles in 25 years.
Made some calls got recommended a garage for a commissioned sale on one, a firm minimum offer from a collector on the other.
Spoke to Dad Sunday, gave him the news and a fairly guaranteed six figure sum worth more than my house.
His response I'm not sure, I want to get the old one back on the road! Famous last words for the past decade!
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Found my flashing Pao again.
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fad
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,781
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Jan 11, 2017 11:54:38 GMT
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Write it off as "Too far gone" and forget about it buddy.
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Rob M
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,915
Club RR Member Number: 41
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Grrrr!!! What a waste!Rob M
@zeb
Club Retro Rides Member 41
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Jan 11, 2017 13:51:21 GMT
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The old fella has probably had one knock on his door per week about that van for the past 9 years..... Like 'Mr Trebus' ( If you remember the TV doco from years back) some people never let go of anything, no matter how much of a waste of time it is keeping it. It could be nostalgia, mental health or greed that prevents that wagon being shifted on to somebody who will cherish it and bring it back to life but thats just how it is, its not really worth trying to understand the mindset of other people it will only serve to frustrate and exasperate. There may be one more shot though, a very nice letter explaining how much you would love to rstore it and bring it back to life before its beyond the stage of restoration, how much you appreciate that he is constantly asked about it and to ask him to consider you should he wish to see it given a loving home etc etc. Flattery as well as £ notes can work wonders.
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merryck
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 477
Club RR Member Number: 9
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Grrrr!!! What a waste!merryck
@merryck
Club Retro Rides Member 9
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Jan 11, 2017 14:21:58 GMT
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There's a mk1 Mini near Faversham, been sat in a shed for years, the guy won't sell it, I stopped and asked last year.
No idea what the story is, and it's sad to see it, but it's his.
Funnily enough I spoke to his wife, and asked if I could leave my number in case he changed his mind, she sarcastically said "Yeah, I'll add it to the list!".
Seems she's sick of people knocking on the door after his Mini!
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