History repeats itself...?

[jdbubb at verizon.net (Dan Bubb)]

These cars have problem areas well known to listers. Buying one without checking those known problem areas and subsequently identifying one does NOT make the seller responsible for rectifying it!
Also, these cars are 20 years old. They will have problems no matter how well they were maintained or resurrected. (witness my PITA 16V!)Unless you get a warranty from the seller, the problems are the buyer's problems!

There is nothing that needs to be said about not paying for something you've purchased!
Especially considering the offer to buy back the car.
my $.02
Dan



From: "Allyn" <amalventano1@tds.net>
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 8:18 AM
Subject: History repeats itself...?


> Fellow listers,
> 
> I am disgusted by the very thought of even having to make this post, but I believe after reading it, you will find it was necessary
> for the greater good that makes this list happen.
> 
> I have recently been made aware of some rather crappy things that have been going on behind the scenes.  One of our fellow listers
> is being taken advantage of - by another lister (unfortunately).  Since the involved party is nice-to-a-fault, and is hesitant to
> "stir the pot," I am taking the initiative to make this post.  I have assembled the pertinent facts below, and tried to present them
> in an unbiased manner, omitting names, such that other readers can formulate their own opinions on the matter:
> 
> - (Sale of a Scirocco from one lister to another)
> - The seller was not originally to be a seller - they simply were coordinating a sale of another local Scirocco to a remote lister.
> - The buyer made a total deposit of $750 towards the local Scirocco.
> - Buyer arrives in town, and when checking out local car, backs out of deal, as there turned out to be issues not originally known
> before the sale.  Buyer offers local Scirocco owner $100 for trouble.
> - Since the deal fell through, seller offers possibility of sale of their MK1, which was not yet running properly, with the backup
> plan of offering to arrange for a rental car to get the buyer back home.
> - Buyer comes up with a third option, offering to purchase the sellers MK2.
> - Seller voices reservations about MK2 not being ready for sale, having not been driven for several months, and having parts they
> wanted to keep, etc.
> - Buyer works out deal with seller.  Seller keeps some parts, but leaves some other parts (euro bumpers, etc) on the car.  Deal is
> for $2800.  Buyer offers to also purchase an intake manifold for $75, bringing total to $2875.
> - Seller offers to later recoup the $650 from the Scirocco sale that fell through, accepting that as the down payment.  Buyer offers
> to pay remaining balance in 3 payments, but seller feels that is too steep for the buyer, so seller mitigates payment plan to $500
> per month for 4 months, with the leftover balance paid on the 5th month.  Seller also agrees to sign over title to facilitate
> vehicle registration by buyer, doing so without even having the $650 down payment in-hand.  Also of note - the loan is interest
> free.
> - Upon leaving, buyer notes fuel leak while filling tank.  Fearing recall-related leak that would prevent buyer from safely making
> trip home, seller offers tank from on-hand spare rear Scirocco clip.  Tanks are swapped.  Leak turned out to be from transfer pump
> assembly o-ring seal.
> - Seller throws in additional pair of rear shocks during fuel tank swap, as rear suspension was noted to be soft.
> - After some further typical Scirocco-style road trip hiccups, buyer is on their way with a running and driving MK2 Scirocco.
> - After buyer makes it home with the MK2.
> - The buyer later discovers damage to front cross member (pre-existing damage that was unknown to buyer or seller).  Even though the
> buyer is a capable welder, they get a repair quote for $700 for the repair, and present this figure to the seller.  The seller had
> offered a replacement front cross member which they had on-hand, but this was turned down by the buyer.  Seller initially offered to
> deduct $500 to help cover costs of the repair, but ended up deducting $700 following further complaints from the buyer.
> - After further complaints from the buyer, seller feared list reputation would be damaged based on buyers list postings.  Sseller
> offered to buy back the car.  After this point, complaints escalated suspiciously, including:
> - Complaints of wiring issues.
> - Complaints of missing various plastic interior clips.
> - Complaints of slipping clutch.
> - Claims of necessity to replace all front end bushings and engine mounts, even though those same parts were all replaced less than
> 15k miles ago (during a 2.0 16v swap).  These parts were replaced by more than one lister, so their newness is a matter-of-fact.
> 
> Note: seller is a fairly conservative driver (my opinion), while the buyer posts to the list about how they rev the engine to 8k to
> see when the shift light comes on, and how they 'drop the hammer' while racing SUVs.
> 
> Now for the really crappy part:  This car was sold many months ago.  The buyer received ONLY the $650 downpayment until just a few
> days ago.  After repeated "the check is in the mail" assurances that never materialized, the seller had to resort to directly
> calling the buyer.  The check finally arrived.  The check amount: $150
> 
> Hearing that $150 figure from a fellow lister was, for me, the proverbial straw that broke the camels back.  I simply will not sit
> back and watch as the buyer continues to bask in the friendship that this list provides, while simultaneously taking advantage of
> one of our most generous members.  This whole situation reeks of the past Josh/Dirk dilemma that threatened the very well-being of
> our community.  We didn't find out about that unfortunate situation until it was too late, but I'll be damned if I'm going to sit
> back and watch as those events repeat themselves.
> 
> This whole thing just irks me.  Why would someone stoop to such levels to try to weasel their way out of paying for something they
> wanted (and supposedly still want)?  Why would someone complain so much after a final sale?  Mark and I traded some vehicles after
> Cincy.  We agreed on the trade and shook hands like gentlemen.  We both had issues with our traded vehicles after the fact.  Did we
> whine to the list about it?  NO.  Did we whine to each other about it?  NO.  We both knew the potential pitfalls of what we were
> getting into.  We both knew we weren't out to screw each other over.  We both accepted responsibility for our actions and decisions.
> 
> So, to the seller:
> Hang in there.  I sincerely hope this post acts as a wake-up call to the buyer.
> 
> And, to the buyer:
> STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT A SALE THAT WAS FINAL, FOR A CAR THAT WAS NOT EVEN MEANT FOR SALE - ESPECIALLY WHERE YOU HAVE NOT EVEN PAID
> THE BLODDY THING OFF!  IF YOU ARE UNHAPPY WITH THE PURCHASE AND THE SELLER HAS OFFERED TO BUY IT BACK - EITHER STICK TO YOUR PAYMENT
> AGREEMENT OR GET YOUR MONEY BACK AND QUIT YOUR WHINING.
> 
> I sincerely hope that our "fellow lister" makes this right, and does so in short order.  It deeply saddens me that I have
> essentially pissed away a friendship (the buyer), and now face the possibility of feeling unwelcome at future Cincy events (friends
> of the buyer), just for bringing this matter to light.  If I burned all of my list karma by making this post, then so be it - I will
> still sleep better tonight knowing I did the right thing.
> 
> Disgustedly,
> Allyn Malventano, ETC, USN
> 
> 
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