the BMW is dying fast and the Saab is not yet ready for primetime.. so I need something to get me down the road in the meantime. As I am a eurosnob.. this means another Saab, BMW, or Volvo. I can't afford a porsche at the moment and I definatly can't afford a VAG offering.
So I am on the lookout for a 240 or a 740 wagon.. I see them on CL.. but the sellers keep flaking out and never get back to me when I send them a note asking about a good time to come and see the car.
Any help from the peanut gallery?
The trick for fast moving CL cars is to be holding the phone in one hand and $2000 cash in the other.
Look for a different kind of car? I didn't have a flexible enough schedule to get an e30 or mk2 vw before they sold so I bought an Alfa Milano and drove it for about 3 years.
Alfa 164 might be a good option. Volvo 850s seem to stick around on CList longer than their RWD brethren and they're pretty good cars.
it's just annoying.. I send an email asking of the car is still availible.. thanks to the storm, I am sitting at home by the computer... as soon as I get a reply, I sent off an email asking to see and buy the car.. and silence....
It is common in the phishing world to get emails asking only, "is it still for sale?"
The scammers hope that you will write back with "yes" and then they have your real email address to add to their lists.
I find it best to open with an email asking one real question and in the same email to ask what is a good time to see the car. Finish that email with your name and phone number. I also add a little local descriptor which can be your neighborhood or specific suburb.
Example:
Thanks,
John in Huron Township
419-XXX-1315
I do all this to make myself look as much like a real buyer as possible and approachable.
I personally do not reply to emails only asking if the item is still for sale.
good idea... when I wrote about the one 240 I want.. I did ask if the car was still for sale or if it had floated away in the storm (they are up by asbury park) and her reply that it was moved to higher ground and still for sale.. I have since sent her 4 emails explaining what days I have off when I can come up and see the car (every day now through monday, thanks to the damage to atlantic city) so these are not just 'spam bots' sending out notes...
i also sign my name to the bottom.. but i will try leaving her a number.
I did find some cheap 850s in the area.. but no wagons...
Your email #1 inquired to availability and then in email #2 through #5 you presented your schedule.
My method would present your availability right away.
The good (and underpriced) cars go fast and often to the first person who sees them. I do everything possible to shorten the time needed to get an appointment.
I find that your typical CL shiny happy person will simply ignore emails after the vehicle has sold, and lacks the common courtesy to remove the listing and inform previous interested people of the sale. If communication drops out, that's usually what it is.
well good news.. the owner of the Volvo I am looking at got back to me today. I am going up to see it tomarrow
well the 240 owner never got back to me on a time.. but I did go peek at a nice 850 sedan. non-turbo.. but with a 5 speed and every option but the sunroof (I am going to miss that) for 1500 at a used car dealer.. I am going to wave 10 100s under the dealer's nose and see if he bites. The car has been there a while, needs new seats and a driver's side interior door panel.. but is in good shape otherwise. He only has 4 euros on the lot (2 volvos, 2 vdubs) and nobody really wants a mid-sized luxury car with a 5 speed.
