JPTL

This is either a scam, or some kind of bait and switch....maybe he means (starting bid on eBay of $3,900 with reserve at $12,500).
But....maybe it's legit... here's the link:
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...en&cardist=156

Vancouver83LTD

trying to get people to bid up?

Fabio421

The phone number doesn't work.

Mark

I emailed him thru Autotrader asking for the VIN yesterday. No response, yet.

Fabio421

Me too. I have e-mailed him and I finally got through on the phone but reached his voice mail. I left a message but haven't recieved a response.

Fabio421

OK. I spoke with the seller. The car has 145K miles and is an automatic. The A/C doesn't work and neither does the sunroof. The battery will drain when the car sits for a little while. The seller says that he thinks it is caused by one of the alarm systems (it has two). The vin # is WP0JB0926KS860088

He is selling the car in an odd fashion. He is going to open it up for bid at the end of the month. You can bid via phone at 6pm . It seems like a crazy way to sell a car but he claims that he is doing it this way because he doesn't know much about computers or EBAY. The guy seems like a nice fellow. I spoke with him for about 30 min and never felt that he was being less than genuine. I may send my uncle by to look at the car for me.

JPTL

Interesting. Seems like a better way to 'bid' on a car than eBay from a buyer's standpoint. I see more of an advantage to a potential buyer than the seller in this arrangement than eBay.
It doesn't seem much different than "$3,900, or best offer by 2/28."
A serious buyer can get a good look at the car before making an offer.
No disincentive for a bidder to bail after offering the highest $.
Less exposure than eBay, so less offers.
If the highest offer bails, then the seller will likely turn to the next offer...until he gets somebody seriously interested in the car, ready to put his $ where his mouth is.
I'd be interested to see where this goes.
Fabio, keep us posted if you pursue this, OK?

IcemanG17

Seems kinda odd....but it might be a good deal for someone?

BlueMaxx

Guys, I know this seller. He is the pastor of my church. He had this car as a daily for 7 years. He had Stuttgart of Williamsburgh service the car. I'm sure you can call them and they will tell you about the cars service history. I haven't looked at the car in any detail. He wouldn't consider any offer from a member of his parish. He is a stright up guy.

Vancouver83LTD

Interesting.....
Wouldn't consider an offer from anyone in his parish?
explain?

JPTL

It looks like he wants to sell the car 'as is'. To give this guy the benefit of the doubt, he may be uncomfortable selling a car with known problems (maybe big - maybe small) to some non-mechanical parishioner to whom he sets an example every Sunday.
I knew a contractor who had a beat up old pickup truck that he refused to sell to his framer. He said "Who do you think is going to get a call when it breaks down.......as it will? And who do you think is going to get badmouthed as taking advantage of his employee by selling him a piece of junk?" He had a point. He ended up giving it to somebody far away, and I didn't blame him for doing that.
BlueMaxx?

1981 Shark

One of the worst mistakes I ever made involving a car, actually a Jeep, was selling it to a next-door neighbor. He REFUSED to take it to a mechanic, although I strongly encouraged him to do so. Two days later it died. Needless to say, guess who HE blamed. No love lost when we finally moved. Never again!