Dealer has 3 prices for same classic car

MrCostington

I've been window shopping for a specific make/model of a classic car for some time now, and finally have a budget so looking with real purpose now.

So almost a year ago I see a really nice example advertised by a dealer for €8k. It's on the car site (not DD) for that and also listed on their own site for that. The ad is really detailed and has over 20 pics. However, it's advertised as being one engine variant, but I can clearly see it's another engine (the one I want) Dealer seems to have a small but high quality stock. Anyway, I just kept an eye on it as I had no budget.

Skip ahead to last month and I'm on a UK classic site and see same car, from same dealer (both ads say call 'Jack' on 087 1234567). However the price is £5k (about €5,600). So I get on the phone to 'Jack' to check the price, and am told it's €12k!

I double check we are talking about the same car, and point out what I just said above. His response is basically so what, as if this is normal (I imagine him shrugging his shoulders when I speak).

So I hang up and say f*** him.

Anyway my search is going nowhere so I'm tempted to re visit this car, checked ads again and still has €8k and £5k on them. What the hell is going on there and how can I nail down the price?

work

Sound like your dealing with a person that in not sane. He is happy to, get a friend to call saying they want to see it but that the 5K is a bit of a stretch and is there any movement on that for example if you pay with cash ( of course mean "legaly" it means he has nocheue to clear.
You would want to do full checks on this one.

MrCostington

Thanks, I was getting worried it's me gone insane!

The £5k price is fine, maybe even the €8k if the car is really as good as it says in the ad. But not €12k.

I forgot to say, the UK site has an email dealer function so I asked the price there - some other guy replied saying to call Jack on the mobile number... would not tell me price over email. I might try calling from another number, doubt he will remember my voice after a month.

ba_barabus

Is it possible he is adding vrt to the price?

punisher5112

Possible vrt rebate for selling to UK if on Irish plates.

Dealers do this with prices to wheel you in..... Pun intended.....


Go see the car, don't pander on the phone, see what he has to say in person, check car over and make sure 100% and then work on a price.


If it's not worth the higher price keep looking.

You may well find something you like in the UK easier anyway.

MrCostington

mmm did not think of VRT, however, the ad states the dealer is located Ireland (South) and there is nothing to suggest car is not in Ireland (edit in fact on UK site he talks about shipping options to the UK). Reg appears to me to be an old Irish reg (MZV 123). Given out lack (or less) use of salt in winter that's a bonus

Second edit - VRT is just 200 anyway for over 30 year old

ba_barabus

Can you link to the ad? That REG is for a 1983 Audi 80 TD

MrCostington

Sorry ba, I made up the 123 but the reg is mzv followed by 3 digits. An '82 car so unless imported in '86 or before, an Irish car, yes???

I'd rather not identify car or dealer if you don't mind as I have no just cause to sling mud at this point.

ba_barabus

Its very hard to give you a specific idea of what the dealer is thinking without seeing the car you're talking about. He could be a chancer or have a very good reason for what he is doing.

Its not naming and shaming in this case as you've not made any claims about the dealer.

ba_barabus

Any of these?

Golf
https://m.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C762629

Merc
https://m.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C759578

Wheety

MrCostington wrote: »

Skip ahead to last month and I'm on a UK classic site and see same car, from same dealer (both ads say call 'Jack' on 087 1234567).

Well alarm bells would be ringing with that phone number. Looks fake to me.

lol

MarkN

Depending on the car, a classic could easily have increased in price in 12 months!

MrCostington

Wheety wrote: »

Well alarm bells would be ringing with that phone number. Looks fake to me.

lol

Yeah, it keeps ringing out

MrCostington

ba_barabus wrote: »

Any of these?

Golf
https://m.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C762629

Merc
https://m.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C759578

Wow, I'm impressed, you should change your username to Sherlock


Yes the Merc.

MrCostington

MarkN wrote: »

Depending on the car, a classic could easily have increased in price in 12 months!

I guess it's possible (but I think 12k is way too much), but why would he not update the site after I alerted him to the issue?

punisher5112

MrCostington wrote: »

I guess it's possible (but I think 12k is way too much), but why would he not update the site after I alerted him to the issue?

Why alert him, I told you the most likely reason already.

Go and see it and see how much then.

Get a friend to inquire from the UK as in say that's where he is.

H3llR4iser

mmm...just shooting it out there, could this be a way of trying to avoid tax, or maybe website charges? Afaik he's a trader.

He could be trying to sell the car for 12k, while invoicing 5 ot 8k, and (badly) attempting to cover his tracks with the adverts.

ba_barabus

MrCostington wrote: »

Wow, I'm impressed, you should change your username to Sherlock


Yes the Merc.

Tbh I don't think it's worth 8 never mind 12. Better examples are out there.

Incidentally, for such a mint example it doesn't have an NCT

punisher5112

ba_barabus wrote: »

Tbh I don't think it's worth 8 never mind 12. Better examples are out there.

Incidentally, for such a mint example it doesn't have an NCT

Nct most likely be put on when sold I would guess.

Most leave it till they need to do it.

ba_barabus

punisher5112 wrote: »

Nct most likely be put on when sold I would guess.

Most leave it till they need to do it.

No mention of it in the 2 ads I've found. Paint mismatch, damaged interior and some other issues would lead me to find another at that price level

MrCostington

punisher5112 wrote: »

Why alert him, I told you the most likely reason already.

Go and see it and see how much then.

I alerted him when I spoke last month, not today. Agreed I'll go see it, nothing to loose other than a few hours and good to see as many cars as possible for comparison.

MrCostington

ba_barabus wrote: »

No mention of it in the 2 ads I've found. Paint mismatch, damaged interior and some other issues would lead me to find another at that price level

Re post a few back, sorry cant do multi quote - if you know of better I'm happy to look.


Where do you see the paint mismatch? I see the door, but am willing to say it could be the picture, for now.

tc20

I'm fairly sure that particular car has been for sale for quite some time..
Also, I wonder if the interior is original to that car, it could be, but it's a most unusual combo for the W123.. edit - in pic 8 of the donedeal ad you can see in the rear that the interior C-pillars were originally cream (a more regular colour combo - I had a saloon version with the wine/cream)
Not that swapping an interior is necessarily a bad thing, if you can live with it, its yours to do as you please..

https://www.donedeal.ie/vintagecars-for-sale/mercedes-benz-280-ce/12631986

MrCostington

tc20 wrote: »

I'm fairly sure that particular car has been for sale for quite some time..
Also, I wonder if the interior is original to that car, it could be, but it's a most unusual combo for the W123.. edit - in pic 8 of the donedeal ad you can see in the rear that the interior C-pillars were originally cream (a more regular colour combo - I had a saloon version with the wine/cream)
Not that swapping an interior is necessarily a bad thing, if you can live with it, its yours to do as you please..

https://www.donedeal.ie/vintagecars-for-sale/mercedes-benz-280-ce/12631986

Ah OK it's on DD now. I think you're right about the interior. I actually like the blue and half leather/MBTex. Reg comes up as a 230 - previous owner trying to save tax?