Bill Ball

Offer him $10000. If he says, OK, and just to wire him half now and he'll ship the car for free, and you pay him the rest when you get it, only if you like the car......

SteveG

YMMV from mine.

Jadz928

I'm sure it does.

Just curious about what your's may be in this case? Sometimes understanding how another person approaches a situation helps me shape how I might approach a similar situation.

SteveG

I had typed a 10 point fast and dirty and deleted it b/c of other posts. Here goes in some kind of descending order: IIRC, there is a PPI list in tech forum.

The whole subject of valuation and "I probably paid too much" is personal and difficult. Who knows what goes through a buyer's head. How much money and expertise do they have? What is their financial situation at the time? How much time do they have to devote to this? How much is it going to cost me to get this thing home? Did they get laid last night? I refer to "other" buyers b/c that recent record influences the current market, i.e., possibility someone else will come in and buy the car out from under you. Or maybe you know there is no possibility of that happening.

1. Tbelt, tracks straight, miles/less than 5 years old, documentation? Personally I don't fear an older belt, but the visual is required.
2. Dipstick: No flecks on dipstick, oil old?
3. Endplay ever been check on A/T?
4. No leaks under car 10 minutes after you drive it; visual inspection of P/S hoses from reservoir.
5. MM, engine has not settled, or you can see it move on acceleration.
6. Suspension, drives/corners tight or at least 5 out of 10.
7. Tires, 50% tread left.
8. Paint/exterior, no rust. Condition of undercarriage.
9. Interior, wear on drivre's bolster, excepted, YMMV
10. A/C works??
11. Electrical, YMMV. Visual inspection of the relays and wiring. How much has been tampered with? Keys, door locks, windows, blower, turn signals. Wind shield washer, forget it.
12. Mileage, probably the least important on cars this age; but we all probably start there subconsciously.
13. Sound. Lifters. Does it sound like it is running normal? Subjective, this should go up around #3.
That's my list.

panchosouth

*did not get laid last night*

WyattsRide

That $14.9 K price must be KBB or something. Here's an 85 for sale VERY local to me for about the same price, 5 speed, Blk/Blk and sim. miles. No sport seats.

http://www.foreign-traffic.com/idetail.php?AutoID=885

I checked it out myself and talked to the salesman about it. Nice "looking" car from the outside but, needs a lot of deferred maintenance done.
No TB done for at least 13k miles and over 5 years ago.
No AC
lots of warped interior panels because of all leather interior. Rear panels are pretty bad and front dash around the vents are bad. Almost looks like the windshield leaked too. Lots of corrosion/water marks.
No record of MM done
I know I'm forgetting some things too.

Saleman says that most of these will be taken care of before sale.

Other notes:
All seat leather looks really good.
Two sets of wheels. Twists that are shown and I believe GTS C2 wheels also.
Set of WSMs.

When he told me $14.9K, I didn't say a thing, even though I though that was pretty high. I know what I paid for my 85 and I think the condition of mine (int & ext) is better and maintenance was MUCH better.

It will probably sit on the lot for a while or move onto another.

SteveG

Panchosouth: You might tonight. The subject is like poker. Many variables. Market is thin to non-existent in some areas. Even a dealer, you don't know what the seller's time frame is. I said several times, what I think it is worth is not important if I'm not putting $$ up. But here we are jazzing about the subject.

panchosouth

Rick-
Have spoken to Bill at FT about the 928, usual blah-blah about how people are lined up to buy it- he is very proud of that price, and told me two days ago that he had sent out the dash and panels for re-covering, but just emailed me today that the outfit had come back with a double-the-estimate and that they were now reconsidering the price, I asked him to send me pics of the interior with the above mentioned parts out- I figured this would keep him honest about taking them out- No mention of the extra set of wheels...Your report about conditon is a little more....detailed than his was...

SteveG- No poker here, unless a wayward sheep wanders by (work in the desert).
I subscribe to the belief that something is worth what the buyer is willing to pay for it....I have a price point in mind, and won't budge off the 5 spd aspect, but Im open to OB or S4 ...PPI decides all either way...

panchosouth

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you.
The 928 is sold, I have the order in front of
Me. If it falls out of bed, I will get in touch
With you right away.

Thank you Larry.

WyattsRide

Yes, I've talked to Bill many times. Nice guy, but a salesman. I don't know about people lining up for it. Who really knows. I can tell you though it hasn't been on the lot for a few days, so it could be getting fixed up. They say they have a good 928 mechanic there too but, I've never had to use them to know for sure. There have been 928's sitting there for repairs and for sale at times over the last few years.
If you want me to, I'll do some more investigating on your behalf. I'll even drive it if you want, to see how it shifts compared to my 5 speed. Mine is very smooth through all the gears even cold. PM me if you are interested and I'll give you my #.

panchosouth

Rick-
If Bill gets back to me with some shots as requested then I'll shoot you a flare.
Would be good to have a Rennlister have a squiz at it. Truth be told I'm holding out hope that the other 928 comes back up for sale....
Thanks.
Frank

WyattsRide

Frank,
No problem.

A couple other things I remembered.
In April, before I saw this car on FT's lot, I saw it down the road a few miles at an Auto Body shop behind the fence. I took some pictures with my cell phone because I've never seen another black 928 around here before. It is the same car because I asked Bill about it and he said it was getting some paint work done. I don't remember what was painted though. I knew it was the same because the out of date inspection sticker (6/10) was on it even when it was on FT's lot. I asked about the different wheels from then and he said they just put on the twists and still had the others. He mentioned that they (FT) painted the calipers too.

panchosouth

Hmmmm.
What's your gut tell you?
F

WyattsRide

GET A PPI FROM SOMEONE OTHER THAN FT.
I do know another mechanic in Pittsburgh that I would have look at it if you get serious about this one.
We all know that looks can be deceiving.

SteveG

Very unusual for a dealer to put money into a car (like recovering a dash), other than detailing and minor body repair.