I don't know why the market for classic German cars attracts so many rogues, but when I was looking for a decent Karmann Ghia a few years ago, I got lied to by sellers more than I have been lied to when buying all my other cars put together.
In the end I gave up after driving for hours to see a car that was meant to be "absolutely perfect mechanically and with mint bodywork". The car was awful; rusty and in need of major money spending on it. I later spoke to the seller's local dealer, who told me that he knew the seller and had already told him how much the car needed spending on it. Yet, the seller quite happily lied to me in the knowledge that I would have to drive for hours to see the car. He must have hoped I'd be blind or stupid. To tell you what the bloke was really like, just as I was leaving trying very hard to bite my tongue but having politely explained what I thought of the car, the seller said "no worries mate, I have someone flying in from Ireland tomorrow who is really keen to see it". I hope the Irish fella was less polite than me.
It seems that things are starting all over again with a 930.
I have seen a lot and they have all been far, far less good than described. But last week I got properly stung. I spent a day going to and from London to see a car that is very good, but that the seller seems not to own. At least he claims to have no proof of ownership and seems not to care. The car is registered to someone else and he has no bill of sale. The car is also not properly registered and there are other distinct differences between what he claims about the car and the truth.
Just by chance, I spoke to a fella today who had been offered the same car. He too had been lied to and taken down to London on false pretences. He too deduced that the seller is a rogue.
I have since done some background checks on the car and the seller and it seems that the extent of the problems go far further than I thought. It is so serious, in fact, I am wondering whether to inform the police..
So, if anyone gets offered a white 930 with low mileage in London W9, mail me off-line before wasting any time going to see it. You will save yourself a lot of time and may save yourself a lot of money.
Manks
In the end I gave up after driving for hours to see a car that was meant to be "absolutely perfect mechanically and with mint bodywork". The car was awful; rusty and in need of major money spending on it. I later spoke to the seller's local dealer, who told me that he knew the seller and had already told him how much the car needed spending on it. Yet, the seller quite happily lied to me in the knowledge that I would have to drive for hours to see the car. He must have hoped I'd be blind or stupid. To tell you what the bloke was really like, just as I was leaving trying very hard to bite my tongue but having politely explained what I thought of the car, the seller said "no worries mate, I have someone flying in from Ireland tomorrow who is really keen to see it". I hope the Irish fella was less polite than me.
It seems that things are starting all over again with a 930.
I have seen a lot and they have all been far, far less good than described. But last week I got properly stung. I spent a day going to and from London to see a car that is very good, but that the seller seems not to own. At least he claims to have no proof of ownership and seems not to care. The car is registered to someone else and he has no bill of sale. The car is also not properly registered and there are other distinct differences between what he claims about the car and the truth.
Just by chance, I spoke to a fella today who had been offered the same car. He too had been lied to and taken down to London on false pretences. He too deduced that the seller is a rogue.
I have since done some background checks on the car and the seller and it seems that the extent of the problems go far further than I thought. It is so serious, in fact, I am wondering whether to inform the police..
So, if anyone gets offered a white 930 with low mileage in London W9, mail me off-line before wasting any time going to see it. You will save yourself a lot of time and may save yourself a lot of money.
Manks
