Discussion
Hi Nigel,
I personally would have no problems buying from an auction; although we sort of know each other in the american-car community, there are a few people who love their Yanks, but we don't know about them!
So, obviously normal common-sense rules apply, but I'd see no probs. buying off an auction... in fact, there seems to be the odd bargain!
In summary, American cars are quite easy to repair, and normally not too much should go wrong with them anyway... So, I'd probably put buying off an auction at the same level of "safety" as just buying one out of exchange and mart etc...
I personally would have no problems buying from an auction; although we sort of know each other in the american-car community, there are a few people who love their Yanks, but we don't know about them!
So, obviously normal common-sense rules apply, but I'd see no probs. buying off an auction... in fact, there seems to be the odd bargain!
In summary, American cars are quite easy to repair, and normally not too much should go wrong with them anyway... So, I'd probably put buying off an auction at the same level of "safety" as just buying one out of exchange and mart etc...
If a car appealed I'd go and have a look at it and treat it just as if it's advertised anywhere else.
However the Corvettes I've seen advertised are generally ones I've seen advertised for a long time and maybe hard to get rid of (e.g. the white RHD 90 - on sale on autotrader again - that car is constantly for sale! the famous "chopper edition 98 convertible", a red 95 (in Scotland, may be a good car but might be a bit too far away for some)).
I know someone from the Surrey meet (can't remember his name) successfully sold his 87 (?) through ebay as it was also advertised on the French site. Sounded like a good car though.
Like I said you'd have to view a car before bidding. I know the 66 vette advertised on UK ebay at present and that is a PEACH. Still been selling it for a long time though, maybe it's too dear...?
You have to see the stories to believe them sometimes: one guy recently had a guitar for sale and guess what, turned out he didn't know what he had (he said he never noticed the name on the label but he had noticed the "made in USA" in smaller type as he put it in the ad). He said if he put it on US ebay he'd set a reserve of £1500 and accept £2000 but he couldn't be bothered so he was obviously happy to accept bids of around £300.
I personally think I would put it on the US site, eh?
BTW that particular bargain is available in the UK, brand new, at £699!!!
However the Corvettes I've seen advertised are generally ones I've seen advertised for a long time and maybe hard to get rid of (e.g. the white RHD 90 - on sale on autotrader again - that car is constantly for sale! the famous "chopper edition 98 convertible", a red 95 (in Scotland, may be a good car but might be a bit too far away for some)).
I know someone from the Surrey meet (can't remember his name) successfully sold his 87 (?) through ebay as it was also advertised on the French site. Sounded like a good car though.
Like I said you'd have to view a car before bidding. I know the 66 vette advertised on UK ebay at present and that is a PEACH. Still been selling it for a long time though, maybe it's too dear...?
You have to see the stories to believe them sometimes: one guy recently had a guitar for sale and guess what, turned out he didn't know what he had (he said he never noticed the name on the label but he had noticed the "made in USA" in smaller type as he put it in the ad). He said if he put it on US ebay he'd set a reserve of £1500 and accept £2000 but he couldn't be bothered so he was obviously happy to accept bids of around £300.
I personally think I would put it on the US site, eh?
BTW that particular bargain is available in the UK, brand new, at £699!!!
V8 ETE said:
Would any one on this site really consider purchasing a car from an online auction site, especially from some of the numb-skulls who advertise. Just curious.
I wouldn't mind where the car had been advertised but would never buy any car without having driven it and I would never part with the money without immediately being able to drive the car away. When you test drive cars of similar age and mileage they can feel so radically different depending on how they have been used/abused before. IMO you can't guarantee you're buying a "gem" but you should be able to avoid the "dogs".
You have to wonder why some cars are auctioned to start with - usually because they can't be sold but bargains are rare and once you get some keen bidders, the price will often scoot up to market value fairly quickly and you might just as well have gone and found one in a private ad.
I bid on a couple of C4 Corvettes last year but knew exactly when the car ceased to be a bargain and stopped bidding. They nearly all went for what I'd expect to pay privately and when buying privately, you have more time to go see the car etc and haggle the price down.
I bid on a couple of C4 Corvettes last year but knew exactly when the car ceased to be a bargain and stopped bidding. They nearly all went for what I'd expect to pay privately and when buying privately, you have more time to go see the car etc and haggle the price down.
[quote]Would any one on this site really consider purchasing a car from an online auction site, especially from some of the numb-skulls who advertise. Just curious.[/quote]
I did! I bought my GMC truck from a very nice lady in Florida. I did get a "local" mate of mine to go have a look though. The truck is everything she said it was and more, she had an ABS problem AFTER I bought it and spent over $1000.00 fixing it!!
I did! I bought my GMC truck from a very nice lady in Florida. I did get a "local" mate of mine to go have a look though. The truck is everything she said it was and more, she had an ABS problem AFTER I bought it and spent over $1000.00 fixing it!!
:blackzr said:
I did! I bought my GMC truck from a very nice lady in Florida. I did get a "local" mate of mine to go have a look though. The truck is everything she said it was and more, she had an ABS problem AFTER I bought it and spent over $1000.00 fixing it!!
You always land butter side up!
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