<VV> Tale of woe -- still looking for a good car
Cliff Tibbitts
tibbitts at qx.net
Mon Nov 6 19:10:40 EST 2006
I had a similar experience, except I was dealing with an honest person. I
really wanted a 66 Corsa convertible. I found a one-owner that had been
buried in a garage since the mid eighties. The guy told me up front that
his parents originally bought and drove the car, but that he and his brother
had trashed it. When queried about rust in the door pillars, he checked
further and sent additional pictures that showed the rust to be worse than
previously thought. I thanked him for his truthfulness and backed out of
the deal.
I then decided to narrow my search to cars within a 200 mile radius so that
I could easily drive to the house and check it out in person. I found the
car I wanted through the CORSA online ads. Now I consider EBay to simply be
entertainment.
Cliff Tibbitts
Lexington, KY
-----Original Message-----
From: virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org
[mailto:virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org] On Behalf Of Eric S. Eberhard
Sent: Monday, November 06, 2006 6:17 PM
To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
Subject: Re: <VV> Tale of woe -- still looking for a good car
I have never before "tried" to buy a car. It was always one of those
deals where I "happen" to see something I want (trolling CORSA and
ebay contributes to this :-)) -- but I never really tried to just go
out and buy one. It is MUCH more frustrating when you have a
specific goal/car in mind and can't find it ... takes some of the fun
out of it.
At 01:50 PM 11/6/2006, you wrote:
>Eric,
>
>Sounds like a bum deal. I have found that photos make both
>excellent and average cars look the same "good". When I bought the
>Crown Corvair the seller made a video walking around the
>car. Although the resolutionis not as high as still photos, every
>flaw in the paint showed up (you were seeing from many different
>angles) when the car showed up there were no suprises.
>
>I have had excellent results buying off CORSA online
>classifieds. Only one car did not live up to my expectations, but
>it was still worth what I paid for it.
>
> Saturday went on a 600 mile (round trip) to pick up a 1965 Monza
> Convertible purchased off the CORSA classifieds. The owner had the
> car since '78 and was stalled on his restoration. He had already
> sandblasted and painted the underside, rebuilt the suspention,
> shifter and engine, done most of the bodywork with tig welded
> steel patch panels. Needs the bodywork finished, an interior
> (which I already have) and a top. 110 4 speed $2000. Lots of NOS
> trim including a LM nosebar. Maybe it is the "Grass is greener "
> syndrome, but when I am looking all the great buys seem to be on
> the west coast <G>.
>
>Hang in there, something should turn up.
>
>Terry Kalp
>---- "Eric S. Eberhard" <flash at vicsmba.com> wrote:
> > So I won a nice little 62 Coupe on ebay. All original, low miles,
> > one owner, excellent shape except for the ugly seat
> > covers. Advertised as a daily driver. The price was OK, not cheap,
> > not expensive.
> >
> > I won it on Friday, and I don't like to pay anything until I see the
> > car. So Sunday I started out with a friend on the 500 mile drive,
> > trailer in tow and cash in hand, to pick up the car.
> >
> > Wow! Quite a car. I cannot believe anyone could that cleverly take
> > pictures of a car and avoid the obvious flaws. I don't have the time
> > to give a complete list but:
> > RUSTY everywhere. Very poor and old repaint over rust. Respray over
> > everything (rubber, carpets, cardboard, whatever). 90% of all rubber
> > missing (the rest was painted). See through floors (the better to
> > enjoy the view of the pavement while driving?). He had a nice
> > picture of a fair looking hubcap. The rest were completely trashed
> > and smashed. Rear engine mount broken, shrouds missing, no engine
> > compartment seals, crunchy suspension. Dents everywhere the camera
> > was not too close to in the listing. Heater system removed (ducts in
> > engine compartment, the body, and even the defroster ducts, etc. No
> > glove box. At all. Any empty hole. It ran!!!! Knocked. Touch the
> > brakes and one of the wheels (right front) had brakes. Easy to turn
> > to the right!!!! Every piece of chrome was pitted beyond
> > repair. Not seat covers, it was a two buck re-upholstery ... they
> > did not use new buns but apparently used old packing foam to cram
> > under the covers, leaving bare metal bulging up the cloth.
> >
> > It was so bad that if he had offered to give it to me, I would have
> > refused. SO I got to drive back 500 miles with an empty
> > trailer. Joy joy. I have never seen a car to badly misrepresented
> > as this one. Pure JUNK. It practically screamed "RUN, DON'T WALK!"
> >
> > The only thing that could have been worse would have been if I
> > actually paid money for that fright pig!!!!!! I have purchased all
> > of my existing Corvairs on ebay, all pleasant experiences, so I was
> > not prepared for this at all. To really round out the day, he was
> > mad at ME!!!! After I drove 1,000 miles round trip for no reason. I
> > could see him not noticing a few things (his excuse was he was not
> > Corvair expert) but the missing glove box with old ducting and wiring
> > hanging down, the bad brakes, and the see through floors are really
> > hard to miss, even for non-experts!
> >
> > Still looking ...
> >
> > This email sent by:
> >
> > Eric S. Eberhard
> > (928) 567-3727 Voice
> > (928) 567-6122 Fax
> >
> > 928-301-7537 -- you may call any time day or night, I turn it off
> > when I sleep :-) Please try to use a land line first (reception
> often poor).
> >
> > Note the change in the domain from vicspdi.com to vicsmba.com !!!!
> >
> > For Metropolis support and VICS MBA Support!!!!
> >
> > http://www.vicsmba.com
> >
> > Completely updated web site of personal pictures with many new
> > pictures! Includes horses, dogs, Corvairs, and more.
> >
> > http://www.vicsmba.com/ourpics/index.html
> >
> > Corvair pictures including the Judson setup on our 62 Sedan and lots
> > of pictures of Cheryl's 62 Monza Wagon and our 62 Spyder convertible.
> >
> > http://www.vicsmba.com/ourpics/corvairs.html
> >
> > My younger brother Martin has started a very serious car company. A
> > hot rod (very fast) electric roadster is the first offering. The
> > chassis is built by Lotus to their specs. Check it
> > out: http://www.teslamotors.com
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > This message was sent by the VirtualVairs mailing list, all
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> > of the writer, please attribute properly. For help,
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> > _______________________________________________
This email sent by:
Eric S. Eberhard
(928) 567-3727 Voice
(928) 567-6122 Fax
928-301-7537 -- you may call any time day or night, I turn it off
when I sleep :-) Please try to use a land line first (reception often
poor).
Note the change in the domain from vicspdi.com to vicsmba.com !!!!
For Metropolis support and VICS MBA Support!!!!
http://www.vicsmba.com
Completely updated web site of personal pictures with many new
pictures! Includes horses, dogs, Corvairs, and more.
http://www.vicsmba.com/ourpics/index.html
Corvair pictures including the Judson setup on our 62 Sedan and lots
of pictures of Cheryl's 62 Monza Wagon and our 62 Spyder convertible.
http://www.vicsmba.com/ourpics/corvairs.html
My younger brother Martin has started a very serious car company. A
hot rod (very fast) electric roadster is the first offering. The
chassis is built by Lotus to their specs. Check it
out: http://www.teslamotors.com
_______________________________________________
This message was sent by the VirtualVairs mailing list, all copyrights are
the property
of the writer, please attribute properly. For help,
mailto:vv-help at corvair.org
This list sponsored by the Corvair Society of America,
http://www.corvair.org/
Post messages to: VirtualVairs at corvair.org
Change your options: http://www.vv.corvair.org/mailman/options/virtualvairs
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