The Buying Experience

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I have just parted with cheque for the Carrera GT, so I guess it is mine.
I just wanted to post the delightful purchasing experience I have had with Sherwood Restorations just North East of Nottingham.
After man many years of buying cars and "˜doing them up' to varied states of goodness a few tears ago I threw my toys out of the pram. Sold what I had (except the Beetle 1302 cabriolet which I bought as a present for my wife ) gave my tools to my cousin who build hot rods (we are Brummies for heavens sake "" we are born with a set of AF sockets) and drove Fords (which I like, so no dissing from the back) .
But the itch returned and apart from tripling the BHP of the 1302 (she likes to go fast) I had to have something to gaze wantonly at.
So, Alfa step front, Fulvia HF, Alpine 110, what to have? Usual conversation with equally tall, car diverse, drag racing friend drifted into Porsche territory and his knowing that I despise the design of the 911, so a call on 968 was made and then I thought 924 Carrera GT (all the idiots will think it's a 924 and say stupid things about van engines and all the aficionados will know) and so look for a good one.

Then to Sherwoods "" who had the only one I could see available in the UK (there was one in German and one in Padua "" almost worth going and buying just to have a friend in Padua). Well they were great to deal with and I reckon I have a great car with no need to do any work (what a relief and a change) just get out and drive it.
My few experiences of the classic car trade have left me feeling highly uneasy and worried, but I have to say (and this is why I am posting this) Sherwoods felt good through out and not like a bunch of fly by night wide boys.

Also their choice of cars is wonderfully eclectic.

They have a great 924 available for sale now BTW, looks in complete condition.

So a big up for Sherwoods.

 

[Nouveau]

Very Overpriced...I looked at a Martini 924 (£6K)a few Years ago and a 911SC.(£11K)..
It's Only a Few Miles From Me...I haven't seen the GT there Though..
I bet the 924 is at least £4k?
Don't Forget to put Pics up when you get yours...

 

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ORIGINAL: Nouveau
Very Overpriced...II bet the 924 is at least £4k?
Don't Forget to put Pics up when you get yours...

mmm .... maybe - but I reach for the phase the price of everything and the value of nothing.
The 924 is 4k - well done.
But the way I look at it - 4k buys you a car with a good provenance, you deal with decent folk, and you have lots of come back.
Maybe you could buy the same car for £2,500 (I really dunno) but you have to NOT have £1,500 worth of grief to get to the same point. I hope you got from my attempt at a light hearted post that I have spent my time under, over and in cars rebuilding and fixing and enhancing (laugh) them that I now want to spend my time doing summat else - ie rock climbing - rather than replacing a fuse or a turbo bearing.
I would also say that any Porsche is over priced. Go buy yourself a BDA engined Escort and you are going to have more fun than you can ever in a Porsche. And you will get your money back.

A couple of pics in the sticky at the top of this forum.

 

[Nouveau]

Just Been to Have a look at the Red 924 at "SR"....
There was also a Very Nice Marcos in there!

 

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I hope my reply was not taken as rude - not meant.

I agree - they have some tasty motors.

Elan S/E, late genuine Cobra 427, a couple of 'non-standard' E types - but i distinctly do not like E- Types - good untill you drive one and then you want spiritual healing

 

[Nouveau]

No Offence Taken....
.

 

[Nouveau]

I went to see it today £3995...Very Good condition only 1 or 2 minor issues..cosmetic

 

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ORIGINAL: Pete_Porsche
£3995 after a year on sale is still too much. Fuel Pump aside and a few minor chips on the nose my car is identical, has 20k less on the clock and a full porsche history, 2 owners and cost me less than half of that from its last private owner. £3995 is condition 1 S money.
If you read the classic car mags you can often see cars sold at auction being marked up in the adverts for 000's more. I know people have to make a living and I make profit on what I do but that kind of mark up is mad for a service and valet. I had a rare car in my family which was sold far too cheap at auction, 15k mark up the dealer put on it when I saw it for sale!

All true - so very true.

 

[Guest]

Only £4999 profit ?

How about the dealer who bought the 'Dellow' Morgan at auction for around £8500 as I recall. Appeared instantly in dealers ad. in Classic & Sportscar for ......

£18950 [FONT=courier new"]! and is "needing cosmetic attention".

Mind you, a year or so on he is still trying to find a mug.

 

[Guest]

Crazy is the word.

The 'classic car' world is perhaps worse than the normal motor trade. You don't have to look far in fresh issues of the Automobile and C&SC to see cars in auction reports that are already in dealers ads. for attempted vast mark-ups.
You will of course never see editorial material being critical of greedy dealers - as the mags make so much money from the advertisers.

With Classic & Sportscar it is becoming hard to find the diminishing amount of 'writing' such is the vast number of pages now given over to glossy adverts. What little journalism appears is riddled with errors - and puerile puns for headlines.
Rant over.