Hello all, I'm in the market for another car (again) and went to see one last night. I want to (a) check that this bloke is nuts, not me and (b) share the joke assuming I'm right. See email chain below:
From: >
> To:
> Sent: Thursday, November 19, 2009 12:24 PM
> Subject: RE: 'T SPARK 2.0 LUSSO'>
>
> >
> >
> > Hi,
> >
> > This looks like a nice car that you've spent a lot on. Why are you
> > selling it at quite a low price? Are there any problems with the
> > suspension?
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > Adam
From:
> To:
> Subject: Re: 'T SPARK 2.0 LUSSO> Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:57:01 +0000
>
> Adam
>
> Thanks for the interest.
>
> The money was spent by the previous owner who was a bit of a fusspot and
> liked to maintain it in A1 condition. I have it as I had to sell one of our
> 2 cars, namely our Audi TT, to cover my mother's nursing home fees as the
> overdraft was getting dangerous. So I took a sum of money and the Alfa in an
> exchnage deal I was very happy with as I had struggled to sell our TT as it
> was high value in today's climate.
>
> It is in lovely condition as stated in the ad, and I have found nothing
> wrong with it all all. In fact if I did not need the money I would keep it
> as it has been so well maintained and looks so good inside and out. I have
> advertised it as the price just to recover what I knocked off my TT for it.
> The suspension is fine. It has had no accident damage and the respray was
> for purely cosmetic reasons. It passed it's MOT with no advisory notice
> which is a very good indication of it's condition.
>
> I have just returned froma week abroad and currently someone is due to have
> a look on Sat and 2 people on Sund. If you would like to have a look before
> then you are very welcome. I am in Wimbledon Village SW19. Day or evening
> (up till 10pm) is fine. My view is that the first viewer will buy it as one
> would have to search long and hard to find better. If someone is a distance
> away it is definately worth travelling for.
>
> Do write or call if you have any further questions.
>
> Regards
>
> Peter
From:
To:
Sent: Thursday, November 19, 2009 1:43 PM
Subject: RE: 'T SPARK 2.0 LUSSO
Peter,
I think it's certainly worth me coming to take a look. I am working in South London today, so could some and see it tonight at about seven. I take it you're within walking distance of the tube and the car's somewhere reasonably well lit?
If you could let me have your address, I will see you there at seven.
Thanks
Adam
After seeing it last night and saying I wouldn't be buying it...
From:
To:
Subject: Re: 'T SPARK 2.0 LUSSO'
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:08:12 +0000
adam
a tyre and mirror are £100...£120 max
car has had £2000 recent spend cambelt, major service, respray
it's car to keep for at least 5 years
you need to take more realistic approach
peter
From:
To:
Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 10:57 AM
Subject: RE: 'T SPARK 2.0 LUSSO
Peter,
Thank you for your time last night. I'm sorry you felt that I was wasting your time but the car wasn't quite in the condition I thought it was going to be and buying it was just a little risky for my taste.
With four different tyres on it, there was no way for me to see how it had been wearing them and the fact that it got through an MOT with no advisories when one of the tyres was past its wear bars makes me wonder how thoroughly they looked at the rest of the car.
I was also a bit worried that the header tank on the cooling system had nothing in it.
On balance though, and for the price you're asking, it is almost certainly worth someone taking a punt on it. I was probably 90% sure that there was nothing major wrong with it but I have neither the time nor the space to carry out a series of small jobs.
I hope you find success selling it this weekend and I don't doubt that someone with a little more stomach will snap it up, spend a couple of hundred fixing it and enjoy it for many years.
You may well be right that I need to be more realistic but, as I said, I think the adjusment I need to make is to expect to pay a bit more, rather than expect a bit less. As I said, I have bought a fair few cars privately over the last few years and have always managed to find one that fits the bill.
Good luck with your viewings at the weekend.
Adam
From:
Sent: 20 November 2009 16:25:12
To:
adam
i checked the tyre this morning, it currently is legal
there is no way in the world that mots are mickey mouse things nowadays
you are mad to read anything into the fact that the rad was not topped up
in short, u are a tinewasting piece of rubbish people need protecting from
you know the price of all but the value of nothing
i pity you
now kindly #### off
From: >
> To:
> Sent: Thursday, November 19, 2009 12:24 PM
> Subject: RE: 'T SPARK 2.0 LUSSO'>
>
> >
> >
> > Hi,
> >
> > This looks like a nice car that you've spent a lot on. Why are you
> > selling it at quite a low price? Are there any problems with the
> > suspension?
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > Adam
From:
> To:
> Subject: Re: 'T SPARK 2.0 LUSSO> Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:57:01 +0000
>
> Adam
>
> Thanks for the interest.
>
> The money was spent by the previous owner who was a bit of a fusspot and
> liked to maintain it in A1 condition. I have it as I had to sell one of our
> 2 cars, namely our Audi TT, to cover my mother's nursing home fees as the
> overdraft was getting dangerous. So I took a sum of money and the Alfa in an
> exchnage deal I was very happy with as I had struggled to sell our TT as it
> was high value in today's climate.
>
> It is in lovely condition as stated in the ad, and I have found nothing
> wrong with it all all. In fact if I did not need the money I would keep it
> as it has been so well maintained and looks so good inside and out. I have
> advertised it as the price just to recover what I knocked off my TT for it.
> The suspension is fine. It has had no accident damage and the respray was
> for purely cosmetic reasons. It passed it's MOT with no advisory notice
> which is a very good indication of it's condition.
>
> I have just returned froma week abroad and currently someone is due to have
> a look on Sat and 2 people on Sund. If you would like to have a look before
> then you are very welcome. I am in Wimbledon Village SW19. Day or evening
> (up till 10pm) is fine. My view is that the first viewer will buy it as one
> would have to search long and hard to find better. If someone is a distance
> away it is definately worth travelling for.
>
> Do write or call if you have any further questions.
>
> Regards
>
> Peter
From:
To:
Sent: Thursday, November 19, 2009 1:43 PM
Subject: RE: 'T SPARK 2.0 LUSSO
Peter,
I think it's certainly worth me coming to take a look. I am working in South London today, so could some and see it tonight at about seven. I take it you're within walking distance of the tube and the car's somewhere reasonably well lit?
If you could let me have your address, I will see you there at seven.
Thanks
Adam
After seeing it last night and saying I wouldn't be buying it...
From:
To:
Subject: Re: 'T SPARK 2.0 LUSSO'
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:08:12 +0000
adam
a tyre and mirror are £100...£120 max
car has had £2000 recent spend cambelt, major service, respray
it's car to keep for at least 5 years
you need to take more realistic approach
peter
From:
To:
Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 10:57 AM
Subject: RE: 'T SPARK 2.0 LUSSO
Peter,
Thank you for your time last night. I'm sorry you felt that I was wasting your time but the car wasn't quite in the condition I thought it was going to be and buying it was just a little risky for my taste.
With four different tyres on it, there was no way for me to see how it had been wearing them and the fact that it got through an MOT with no advisories when one of the tyres was past its wear bars makes me wonder how thoroughly they looked at the rest of the car.
I was also a bit worried that the header tank on the cooling system had nothing in it.
On balance though, and for the price you're asking, it is almost certainly worth someone taking a punt on it. I was probably 90% sure that there was nothing major wrong with it but I have neither the time nor the space to carry out a series of small jobs.
I hope you find success selling it this weekend and I don't doubt that someone with a little more stomach will snap it up, spend a couple of hundred fixing it and enjoy it for many years.
You may well be right that I need to be more realistic but, as I said, I think the adjusment I need to make is to expect to pay a bit more, rather than expect a bit less. As I said, I have bought a fair few cars privately over the last few years and have always managed to find one that fits the bill.
Good luck with your viewings at the weekend.
Adam
From:
Sent: 20 November 2009 16:25:12
To:
adam
i checked the tyre this morning, it currently is legal
there is no way in the world that mots are mickey mouse things nowadays
you are mad to read anything into the fact that the rad was not topped up
in short, u are a tinewasting piece of rubbish people need protecting from
you know the price of all but the value of nothing
i pity you
now kindly #### off
Comment