Date:         Mon,  3 Jun 1996 04:35:00 GMT
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         don.gates@thuemmel.com (Don Gates)
Subject:      For What Its Worth...

MI>From: "Mike White" <MIKE.WHITE@law.utah.edu>
MI>Subject: For What Its Worth...


MI>On a lighter note:

MI>A friend and I went over to the neighbors house to check out and
MI>possibly purchase that Ghia I'd mentioned a week or so back.  In all
MI>honesty I estimate it was worth about $1500-$1900.  Little rust here
MI>and there, missing some chrome and a couple dents, but overall in
MI>good shape (with a new rebuilt 1600).  As I said this neighbor would
MI>not say how much he wanted or even expected for it.  He wanted us to
MI>make an offer first, and of course if we were going to offer way over
MI>what he wanted he'd take it.  Good for him huh!?

MI>So Rich offers him $900 for it.  That's about what Rich has so spend,
MI>"Oh, (heh), I can't take anything less than $3500 for it."
MI>I laugh out loud, and Rich chuckles.
MI>"Well we spent $1500 on the engine, and when this is restored it will
MI>be worth $10,000."

Sounds like a dreamer!

MI>I proceeded to tell him that in Provo (20 minutes away) there is a
MI>fully restored Ghia with redone interior, whole shooting match for
MI>$3500.

MI>I realized that was really a stupid thing to say as the words came
MI>out my mouth, and he said "Well go buy that one then!"

My experience is to say, "Sorry dude, you'll be sitting on it then".
I had a similar experience with a nasty old guy and a '78 Champagne
Edition Bus (I had the same but it was a rust bucket). I saw the ad in
VWT with a picture and it looked nice. I contacted the old geezer and he
said price was "negotionable". So my buddy and I drove 6 hours to Cincy
to see it.
It was a nice Bus, real nice in fact. But the old guy kept pushing and
pushing. Finally I told him to back off, I have an identical Bus at home
and you can't tell me anything I don't know.
I took it for a ride and it was just gorgeous. A little squeal in the
brakes but no big deal. It was really kept up on the maintenence, but
the old guy considered that as "restoration".
So it came to offer time and I had $2500 in my head as the real worth.
So I figure I'd say $1500 and work from there. Hey, even if it was
$2500, I'd take it.
SO I told the old man I had a number in my head, what do you want for
it? He tells me he had an offer for $5000 from some guys 2 hours away.
And they'd come back. Now, if I'd like to top that....
Needless to say, I was really pissed! Trying to whipsaw me with an
imaginary buyer. I told him see ya then, good luck. He look dejected but
kept insisting it was "vintage" and "classic". I told him to quit BSing
me. It's got a few years to go to be considered classic. So I gave him
my phone number and told him to call ME when he's ready to deal. He
pouted at me and said maybe I can call him in a few days in case them
$5000 guys don't return. I insisted, no. You call me.
I was bummed because I really wanted the Bus, but I wasn't going to be
BSed or pay twice it's worth. I guess when you deal with unknowledgeable
jerks that own VWs you can expect that.
The good news is I did find another decent Bus. Things always work out.
Don
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