Miata Mailing List: March 2000, Message #87

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I went through similar trauma trying to sell my '71 bug convertible so I 
could get a miata.  I had people ask me what sort of financing I could offer 
them or if I could offer them a payment plan.  I had a lot of them ask (face 
to face)if I was the original owner. Yessiree - bought it when I was just 5 
years old.  Most asked questions that would have been good questions for a 2 
year old modern car, but were down right silly for a 24 year old bug.  It 
took me 3 months to finally sell it.

Take your dad up on his offer to sell it for you.  I would.


Barb Williams
Atlanta, GA
'97 White touring package (hers)
'99 10AE #2264 (his)




>From: "Lisa E." <clash_girl@yahoo.com>
>Reply-To: "Lisa E." <clash_girl@yahoo.com>
>To: Multiple recipients of list <miata@list.miata.net>
>Subject: Selling a car (NMC) (long)
>Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 10:13:28 -0500
>
>Hey,
>Just had to share my car-selling experience with you.
>I guess more accurately it would be car-NOT-selling,
>but anyway...
>
>The old Camaro is for sale, although I'm not trying
>really hard at this point, just a free ad on the
>internet autotrader.
>
>So I was surprised when a kid from Indiana called and
>inquired about it a few times.  He said yesterday he
>and his dad were coming down to take a look at it.
>Yay!
>
>I thought it would be nice to run it through the car
>wash before they arrived last night, but when I went
>out to start 'er up --- NOTHING.  Battery was totally
>dead.  This surprised me (although it shouldn't have)
>-- in the six months I've been at the apartment, I've
>driven it once.  It had been sitting a few months and
>started right up.....IIRC, that's the only time I
>started it up, too. (I know, BAD Lisa -- should have
>listened to Dad and started it up once a week).
>
>Sooooo, I'm freaking cause it would be pretty bad if
>they wanted to take it for a test drive and the thing
>won't start -- LOL.  After various methods of trying
>to start the car (praying, cursing, scraping the
>battery terminals, etc.) still nothing.  Ended up
>calling my roadside assistance company to come jump
>it.
>
>The kid and his dad are late, the tow truck gets there
>in time to breathe some life back into the poor car.
>We just let it sit out there and idle while trying to
>decide whether to take it to pick up some dinner to
>charge up the battery, since it looks like the kid and
>the dad are no-shows.
>
>Just as we were ready to leave, the phone rings, and
>kid and dad are right around the corner. (It's
>completely dark by now, they got lost on the way, and
>Dad is NOT in a good mood at all.)
>
>Well, the cat's bad on the car, and the exhaust
>rattles pretty bad, so since the car is running that's
>the first thing the Dad asks about (although I
>divulged all this in the ad I had online.)  He then
>pokes around looking under the car with a flashlight,
>asked us to turn the car off.  LOL -- we were just
>crossing our fingers hoping it would start back up
>again if they wanted to take it out. LOL
>
>Dad looks under the hood -- not familiar with Camaros,
>asked a couple of questions (oh, it's fuel-injected?
>What size engine is this, etc.)  and sounds very
>skeptical of every answer, as if I'm some kind of used
>car lot professional.
>
>He then asks if I have the title, and asks to see it.
>He then compares the VIN on the title to that of the
>car!!!! (Like I'm selling a stolen car or
>something???)
>
>He asks how many miles is on it -- I answer 115,000.
>The odometer on the Camaro does not go that high, so
>it reads 15,000.  Dad looks to verify my statement and
>mutters to himself "Well, it's rolled over AT LEAST
>once..."
>
>I'm flipping out!!!  If that car managed to have TWO
>hundred fifteen thousand miles on it, I'd be a
>monkey's uncle!!!! LOL  I don't think dad was used to
>car shopping.
>
>I understand the need to be skeptical and cautious
>when looking at used cars, but this guy was just
>insulting.  I divulged everything that was wrong with
>the car in my ad, I have no interest in lying to
>anyone about it, and I don't think I come off as a
>dishonest person.
>
>I know I shouldn't take it personally, but I was
>really stunned by this guy's attitude!  I've never
>tried to sell a car before, and I didn't expect them
>to go bananas over it or anything.  It's a so-so car
>with a really good engine, and I'm asking only $1500
>for it -- I have no delusions that it is what every
>shopper is looking for.
>
>Anyway, I found the events amusing and thought you
>might too.  Felt sorry for the kid.  He's really young
>(maybe 16 or 17) and the Dad didn't even acknowledge
>his existence, or show him what to look for in a car
>or anything.
>
>I hate this whole process.  Dad offered to sell it for
>me if I bring it down there, but I don't care to put
>him through all this crap either.
>
>Just venting, thanks for listening!!! :)
>
>Lisa & Spike 95R BB
>Lose a Camaro, Gain a parking spot for 7690! LOL
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