Fred:
At the risk of offending you, which I don't want to do, I learned two
rules of thumb when I started looking for my TR6. The first rule was
that anyone selling a "used car" is lying about something. And second,
every used car needs at least $1,000 worth of work no matter how good it
looks and checks out. My TR6 has lived up to the latter and then some -
much of the expense by my choice.
You seem to be an unusually qualified seller, but in the world we live
in, it's buyer beware.
The car I bought was similar in a way to your Karman Ghia. I took it to
a garage known for its work on Triumphs and had it checked out. As much
as I enjoy my TR6, the thought that I dislike the most is the day I have
to put up with the crap from prospective buyers if I decided to sell the
car. For the foreseeable future, however, I don't have to worry about
that. I must admit I was even uncomfortable being on the buyer's side
of the transaction at times.
No intent to offend, just to share my fairly recent experiences.
Jack Radley
-----Original Message-----
From: vafred@erols.com [mailto:vafred@erols.com]
Sent: Sunday, April 11, 1999 12:34 PM
To: triumphs@autox.team.net
Subject: buying/selling
Listers, I just recently sold a 1970 Karman Ghia conv.
that I have owned
since 1973, purchased from the original owner, who was a
doctor at the
German Embassy. The car had 24 K on it when I bought it
and 43 K when I
sold, of the 19 K I put on it 25 years, 13 K was done in
1 year. I had
every paper and log maintenance record since day 1,
including the
original bill of sale. have no idea how many best of
show, best
original, etc awards it took at the many shows I entered
it in, but, the
car was as close to new as you could get. I was not
looking to sell the
car,but, a fair offer was made and I starting thinking.
Having a pit and
lift in my garage as well as all the records I invited
the would be
purchaser to come for a better look, he showed-up with a
1/2 A@#$% very
unknowledgeable so called mechanic and they "informed"
me they would be
taking the car for the day to put it through all their
own check-up. Well
my driveway is about 60 feet long so I walked them down
it and pointed
my finger up the road and told them please don't come
back. My point in
this, if my records of the car, my garage, and your just
looking at the
car and knowing the complete story behind the car, you
are not a buyer or
a a person who knows anything about a car,. I was not
hiding anything
and my home was open, look at it, look at 25 years of
ownership and you
set the price for purchase, if you know what type car
you want and did
your homework, "go to your hip and not your lip" the
talking has stopped.
Just a 25 year owner who did know. "FT"
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