AO

I wanted to take a minute to tell you a story about the generosity and kind heartedness of other 928 rennlisters.

For the past few months, I’ve been looking a for old VW Beetle Convertible. My very first car was a 1972 Beetle convertible that I shared with my older brother in Minneapolis where I grew up. It was a POS! The floors were rotted (I replaced with plywood), heater channels were rotted, running boards fell off after the first year. The windows would not roll down in the winter. So in January when I would be driving down the road with a buddy and we’d spot a cute girl we wanted to talk to, we’d pop the top while driving down the road and then try and stand up to talk over the window while driving. The crazy **** kids do! Sure it was cold with -40° wind-chill, but it impressed the chicks!

In an attempt to regain part of my adolescence, my wife gave me approval to get my new toy. Budget $4k (but I had a few extra dollars stashed away.) Now before you go and tell me that I could have bolted on a SC on my 82 928 (BTW that’s an palindrome), I decided I’d get more benefit out of a convertible that I can take the whole family in than my lust for more power… but I did seriously consider it… maybe next year.

Anyway, about a or two month ago I found one in Tacoma that seemed to fit the bill. I posted on rennlist if anyone could check it out. Our beloved Heinrich stepped up to the plat… bad news was that the seller was a TOTAL FLAKE! His loss. Thanks again Heinrich for your offer.

Shortly after that, I found a car in Cincinnati, looked great, but a guy from Chicago bought it out from under me. I knew there’d be others, so I just kept searching.

A few weeks back I came across this one. Not perfect, but then I need something to play around with. I bid on it curiously to see if I could win it under $4k. My max bid was $3500, and you can see it went to $3550 without meeting the reserve. So I emailed the seller asking if we might be able to work out a deal. I also asked for some additional photos to see if I wanted to pursue it further or not.

Everything started looking good. The seller was responsive and the car fit my criteria. Only problem was that the car was located in Seattle and I live near Ann Arbor, Michigan and there was no way I was going to be able to get out there to look at it even though my wife is a flight attendant and I get free flight benefits. It was a lack of time.

So out went the call to rennlist yet again. No one answered, bump, no one answered again, bump, PLEASE!?, then our own BARRY JOHNSON stepped up to the call and said he’d look at it for me.

We set up the appointment and he got over there in short order. Checked it out, and Barry’s report matched up with the description and reported condition. Huston, we have a deal. But the seller and I were having a tough time figuring out how to put the deal together. She didn’t trust me sending her the money, and from our conversations it was apparent that she needed cash! Plus her tone in her emails was a bit abrasive. So I was a bit apprehensive sending the cash without assurance that the car would be coming. The seller is deaf, and I think that lead to her general inability to trust others that she’s not met face-to-face (also explains why there's no radio!). I suggested we use an escrow service. She refused. Now I’m really starting to get cold feet. But she liked Barry and thought he was a good guy. I didn’t want to impose on Barry again, but I wanted the car so I did.

I asked Barry if he wouldn’t mind being the money man. Not only did he not mind, he said he’d take the car to his place to make sure the shipper loaded it on the truck properly. What a guy! Now I’ve never met Barry aside from his posts here on rennlist. But yet, I had no problem trusting him with my cash. Don’t know why, but I think it’s the brotherhood (siblinghood for you gals out there), that allows me to trust a fellow 928 rennlister. I think this is truly a 928 attribute. I’m not so sure I’d be as trusting on some of the other p-car boards – no offense, just my perception.

Anyway, I’m happy to report that yesterday, Barry swapped cash for car, and the car is presumably safe and sound at his place and is to be shipped out tomorrow.

All I can say is that this community ROCKS! Thank you Barry Johnson! Thank you Rennlist!
I’ll post additional pics as soon as I get the car back to Michigan.

Thanks for reading.

heinrich

Barry is a nice young man, that's a fact

Styln928

Isn't this what 928 ownership is all about? Even if the car in question isn't a 928, it's stepping up to the plate to help a fellow/gal rennlister. I tip my hat to Barry. Andrew, good luck with the new toy.

Ferris B

Congrats on the new acquisition, looks cool!

I'm also here to echo your sentiments regarding the Rennlist community-- a great group of folks!!

goliver

That is great. I love to read stuff about how good people are. Way to go Barry Johnson!

Cheers,

Randy V

Great story!

We are indeed fortunate to be part of such a close-knit community.

Big Dave

I have to agree. Rennlist is fantastic, and I wouldn't still have my 928 if this site didn't exist.

Sueden

Andrew, I agree with every one else on that and just want to add one thing. Are you going to sc or tubo it !

Dennis
82 weissach

AO

No... but you might want to read the nitrous thread

Big Dave

SWEET! You'll be able to hang with us 32v cars for 6-8 seconds at a time!

j/k. Hope you do it. I'd like to see it in person.

jserio

Great story Andrew. All it takes is one person to start great things. WTG Barry with the back up.

AO

Dave... Excuse me, but how fast does your car go right now?

Big Dave

Ummm.....the Saab can outrun your 928...for about 500 feet anyway

Chris Lockhart

This just goes to prove the adage: "You come for the cars, but you stay for the people." I'm not sure who the originator of that sentiment was, but I have said it hundreds of times in my 5+ years on Rennlist. I have been associated with different types of enthusiast groups and fraternal organizations in my time, but the 928 brother and sisterhood is far greater than any of them. You guys/gals rock!!!!!!!

heinrich

Chris IIRC it was Elijah, as he left on the flaming chariot into Heaven, Elisha is said to have heard an incredible "BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"