I'd walk but not before I let him know with no doubts that the ONLY reason he didn't sell that car is because he was too lazy to call you.
I wouldn't swear or yell doing so. I just hate to walk away with stuff on my mind irritating me.
I guess it's called closure?
I can see things from the other side of this transaction. I have a bunch of TR8s. None of them are perfectly done ready to sell, but all would be for sale if someone wanted one. Every one of them is either under restoration or needs a touch up on the paint, or recently started skipping or something. Its the curse of having way too many irons in the fire. Offer to buy the car the way it sits for less than what the guy is asking. You'd be surprised how often people sell just so they don't have to spend a couple of days they don't have putting the car right. You don't get good deals on cars that are perfect. Your best deals on on cars where the owner is frustrated with the car.
In reply to tr8todd:
I assume that you're not advertising them as ready for sale, though? Keep in mind these things have been advertised on CL for a while with no mention of them not being ready for sale.
In reply to BoxheadTim:
Tim: The president of our car club and his father are Caterham dealers on the east coast. Let me know if you're interested and I will give you contact information. The shop is about a 30 minute drive from Philadelphia airport.
Duke wrote: ...The shop is about a 30 minute drive from Philadelphia airport.
That would be one epic - and long - drive back to Nevada! 
One possibility hasn't been mentioned, that some people just aren't motivated by money. It's possible that he runs his business more as a hobby, and that tinkering is what's fun for him, keeping him busy. As was suggested, maybe call him up and offer to take it as-is - to free up space in his shop so he can get another something to play with.
petegossett wrote:Duke wrote: ...The shop is about a 30 minute drive from Philadelphia airport.That would be one epic - and *long* - drive back to Nevada!
I'd gladly offer my services to drive a Caterham cross-country. 
tr8todd wrote: You don't get good deals on cars that are perfect. Your best deals on on cars where the owner is frustrated with the car.
If someone offered me $2000 for my Quantums (they come as a pair) cash, right now, no screwing around, they'd be gone. I have way more than that in them but I'm at that point where I'm tired of looking at them.
(I'll also sell just the good one but that will cost extra )
Datsun1500 wrote: Any of the other dealers have a car? You know what you want, shipping one is cheap
The ones I could find via the US Caterham site are either outside my budget and/or have no engine.
Duke wrote: In reply to BoxheadTim: Tim: The president of our car club and his father are Caterham dealers on the east coast. Let me know if you're interested and I will give you contact information. The shop is about a 30 minute drive from Philadelphia airport.
That might be interesting if by any chance they have something in my price range available (basically for similar money or less to a new ND MX-5). Still a long way to go to look at a car, but now that the Maxton on ebay has reached a price level that's above my comfort level...
I'd move on. If you haven't found something by the time he finally contacts you to say it's ready to go, then go get it.
If you've already bought something else, I doubt he's going to care. In fact, I'd kinda be surprised if you heard from him at all...
There are people who are really good at things, and then turn that passion into a business, and then find out that they are really terrible at business. Some times its entitlement, sometimes a lack of giving a crap, and sometimes people are just not that good at it. They just don't see the big picture, or they want to do what the enjoy and they skip out on the rest. I would walk, far far away. There are plenty of other places to by cars.
IF you really have to have this car, then you will have to do some of the work for the guy. Be the squeaky wheel, keep calling, keep pushing, set deadlines...basically force him to do his job.
Turns out that he actually did get back to me but as we were communicating via the CL mail relay and the ad had expired, it looks like CL ate the email.
Now that contact has been reestablished, I'll be going to check out the now running 7 on Saturday.
Sweet!
good luck, hope its what you are looking for
Well that is good news. Good luck.
Good news! Hope it works out.
You'll need to log in to post.
