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A "Car For Sale" Mystery

allen griggsallen griggs Member Posts: 35,665 ✭✭✭✭
edited October 2011 in General Discussion
I was looking at a 1982 Mercedes 240d on Ebay.

One of the ones for sale was up in New York, blue.
Said it had 28K original miles, one owner.

I ran the VIN, it wouldn't run on Carfax or Autocheck.
Said "Incorrect VIN."

I emailed the seller and told him this.
He emailed me back, he was playing dumb. Said Carfax didn't go back as far as 1982, and it was the correct VIN.

I emailed him back told him Carfax goes back to 1981, and I had run VINs on 3 1982 Mercedes 240d.

He emailed me back, claimed he had pulled the ad from Ebay because he had just sold it for $16K cash!
Said it was the correct VIN, I was wrong.
I checked Ebay, sure enough the ad was gone.

The next day, today, the same car popped up on Autotrader for $16,999.


And here it is:

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=307600203&dealer_id=6048450&car_year=1982&systime=&doors=&model=240D&search_lang=en&start_year=1981


No dealer buys a car for $16K and then sells it for $16,999.

I smell a rat.

Comments

  • SpartacusSpartacus Member Posts: 14,415
    edited November -1
    check the vin # he's listing this time. the ad says car fax reports available (3 records)


    tom

    btw, the car looks just a little TOO good, if ya know what i mean.
  • Sav99Sav99 Member Posts: 16,037 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I just check the CarFax. 3 owners, no accidents. Last reported mileage was 21,589 reported 05/24/2002. If you want this report I can fax it to you.
  • Riomouse911Riomouse911 Member Posts: 3,492 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I bet he'll ask to have the $$ sent in a money order to England.

    Fraud is what I'm thinkin'
  • Wolf.Wolf. Member Posts: 2,223 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Sure it's fraudulant.

    The car actually does not look "too good" to me.

    The paint could easily be in good shape on a car like this and just detailed out very well. Not too expensive or very difficult to do.

    However, take a look at the wheels and tires. They do not look all that great. Also take a good, judgemental look at the vehicle. There is not much to it at all. The car is thirty years old. $17k for a beater like this is nonsense. This thing is not a collector's item and the interiors of German cars are Spartan, at best today, even. Think about how plain they were in 1982. German interiors may last for some time, but they wear very ugly. The entire inside would have to be redone. What if a previous owner was a smoker?

    Also, the mechanics of this thing are going to be questionable. Sure a diesel will last 200k+ miles, but given the age and a questionable past maintenance history, there could be a lot of wear on the thing. Rubber hoses and tubes are just hanging in there at this point, hard as a rock. Parts are going to be expensive if they can be found. Whoever is selling this thing has maybe $3-4k in it and is trying to turn it for a big profit.

    Lastly, this thing is in New York, which means it is a rust-bucket.
  • john wjohn w Member Posts: 4,104
    edited November -1
    Tell him your interested and want to send an apraiser to check out the car and papers. If its bullpucky he will not allow it to happen.
  • roswellnativeroswellnative Member Posts: 10,188 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    check the carfax
    Although always described as a cowboy, Roswellnative generally acts as a righter of wrongs or bodyguard of some sort, where he excels thanks to his resourcefulness and incredible gun prowesses.
  • leadlead Member Posts: 2,311 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    A gas station near work had a similar MB for sale, but a station wagon version, about 9 months ago. It sat there for about 6 months before someone finally bought it. He had it priced at $4,000. All of us that looked at it were afraid that you could never find parts around here if you ever needed to work on it.
  • shilowarshilowar Member Posts: 38,811 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'd have to see this one in person. No interior pics? No odometer pic? 6 or 7 digit odometer? Obviously your spider senses are tingling, I wouldn't ignore them.

    I doubt a "buy here, pay here" used car dealer is going to have anything collectible in his inventory!!
  • swampgutswampgut Member Posts: 5,555
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by lead
    A gas station near work had a similar MB for sale, but a station wagon version, about 9 months ago. It sat there for about 6 months before someone finally bought it. He had it priced at $4,000. All of us that looked at it were afraid that you could never find parts around here if you ever needed to work on it.


    AutohausAZ.com has parts as do many other outlets.

    These cars are highly sought after.

    I saw one go for about $11K on fleabay a while back.

    It was so rare that it had a manual transmission and was absolutely flawless.

    Previous owners were a retired German-American couple.
  • HandLoadHandLoad Member Posts: 15,998
    edited November -1
    Not commonly known, the 240D engine parts are available from Thermo-King, as they used that motor for years after the cars were out of production. Injectors, pistons, heads, etc.
  • shilowarshilowar Member Posts: 38,811 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I think there is one for sale locally here in the Roanoke Area of VA...you want me to get the number and some pics if I can??
  • allen griggsallen griggs Member Posts: 35,665 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I am surprised y'all can run that VIN.

    I tried it on Autocheck and it kicked it out, said "Incorrect VIN."

    Shilowar: Yes send me the scoop on that jewel.
    I am looking for manual transmission only.
  • allen griggsallen griggs Member Posts: 35,665 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I sent the guy an email through Autotrader yesterday, told him I thought he was making up a story.
    I just got this email back:


    HI ALLEN

    NO STORY!!!!!!

    WOMAN HAD THIS CAR IN A GARAGE IN FORT LEE , NEVER SEEN RAIN, ALL ORIGINAL DOWN TO THE PAINT. IF YOU DO NOT BELIEVE IT COME IN AND LOOK AT IT.. LOOK FOWARD TO SEEING YOU



    STEVE
    Sent from my iPad
  • thesupermonkeythesupermonkey Member Posts: 3,905 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Wolf.
    This thing is not a collector's item and the interiors of German cars are Spartan, at best today, even.


    Boy you aren't kidding!
    I was seriously considering a GTI until I got in one and saw the interior... changed my mind on the spot.
  • shilowarshilowar Member Posts: 38,811 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by allen griggs
    I am surprised y'all can run that VIN.

    I tried it on Autocheck and it kicked it out, said "Incorrect VIN."

    Shilowar: Yes send me the scoop on that jewel.
    I am looking for manual transmission only.


    K...I won't be back to work until Monday but I will keep my eye out for it next week.
  • swampgutswampgut Member Posts: 5,555
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by thesupermonkey
    quote:Originally posted by Wolf.
    This thing is not a collector's item and the interiors of German cars are Spartan, at best today, even.


    Boy you aren't kidding!
    I was seriously considering a GTI until I got in one and saw the interior... changed my mind on the spot.


    I don't understand what y'all are getting at.

    German cars interiors are functional and understated.

    They're also durable.

    I prefer a German interior to anything made in America.
  • allen griggsallen griggs Member Posts: 35,665 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Sav99:

    Thanks for the offer to send the carfax but I can't buy the car.
    Too expensive.


    I am gonna try to run that damn VIN again I still smell a rat.

    By the way I love the interior of the Kraut cars.
    Big and roomy. This is one of the few cars I have ever driven where I can't put the seat all the way back. I am 6-3 and get crowded in many cars.
  • allen griggsallen griggs Member Posts: 35,665 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I just tried the VIN on Autocheck again, and Autocheck ran it!

    Which means, the guy has changed the VIN, after I twice told him it was a bogus VIN.


    Something's rotten in Denmark.
  • GuvamintCheeseGuvamintCheese Member Posts: 38,932
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by roswellnative
    check the carfax
    Great advice!....[:o)]
  • JamesRKJamesRK Member Posts: 25,670 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by allen griggs
    I just tried the VIN on Autocheck again, and Autocheck ran it!

    Which means, the guy has changed the VIN, after I twice told him it was a bogus VIN.


    Something's rotten in Denmark.

    Tell him you want the car, but you want to pay for it with a $25,000 certified check. He needs to send you $8,000 and deposit the $25,000 check into his account and your representative will be there next week to pick up the car and do the paperwork.
    The road to hell is paved with COMPROMISE.
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