The One That Got Away?
03-04-2016, 09:04 PM
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
The One That Got Away?
What's the one that got away from you? A deal you couldn't close, or a missed opportunity?
Mine is a '78 5sp Copper Brown that popped up on CL the day before Christmas Eve. Really rough, probably pretty much a parts car even though it was claimed to run, $300. Best part was it was 10 minutes from my folks farm and my brother could have picked it up in a heartbeat. It would have to sit outside and I didn't have the time to restore or part it it out. I talked myself out of it and it was gone within 24 hours. I keep wondering what could have been and thinking about a second 928 for less than what I paid for 2 1/18 models...
Mine is a '78 5sp Copper Brown that popped up on CL the day before Christmas Eve. Really rough, probably pretty much a parts car even though it was claimed to run, $300. Best part was it was 10 minutes from my folks farm and my brother could have picked it up in a heartbeat. It would have to sit outside and I didn't have the time to restore or part it it out. I talked myself out of it and it was gone within 24 hours. I keep wondering what could have been and thinking about a second 928 for less than what I paid for 2 1/18 models...
03-04-2016, 09:21 PM
#2
Mine was a 90 s4 owned by an old lady. I tried to buy it in 2014, but the owner got cold feet, the son promised to call me when his mom was ready to sell. But he lost my number and re-listed it while I was away in Myrtle beach last summer.
I got home and emailed him after seeing it listed again. Decided not to go that night because I was tired from the drive home. It sold that night.
I got home and emailed him after seeing it listed again. Decided not to go that night because I was tired from the drive home. It sold that night.
03-04-2016, 11:17 PM
#4
Don't know forsure if I missed it, yet...but I sure as heck can't find it.
Two and a half years ago, my wife and I were doing some garage/estate sales on a Saturday, as she was always looking for stuff to flip at her antique store. Anyhow. Stopped at this one place, where tucked away in the corner was a 928. I'm just kind of mildly interested at the time and study the interior and exterior. Lady running the garage sale says...$4500...and it could be yours.
End up leaving without it, but one year later...I now have two 928's.
My wife and I searched high and low for that polebarn and property, satelite pictures, hours upon hours of driving...but haven't been able to locate.
Brian.
Two and a half years ago, my wife and I were doing some garage/estate sales on a Saturday, as she was always looking for stuff to flip at her antique store. Anyhow. Stopped at this one place, where tucked away in the corner was a 928. I'm just kind of mildly interested at the time and study the interior and exterior. Lady running the garage sale says...$4500...and it could be yours.
End up leaving without it, but one year later...I now have two 928's.
My wife and I searched high and low for that polebarn and property, satelite pictures, hours upon hours of driving...but haven't been able to locate.
Brian.
03-04-2016, 11:28 PM
#5
Rennlist Member
Back when I lived in PA, there was a gold Weissach for sale for 7800 bucks. It was mint and I think it even had the luggage. I loved that car, but was still going back and forth about buying it..... and then it was sold. I think it was an 81. So long ago, but I still remember it.
03-05-2016, 12:33 AM
#6
Rennlist Member
Just this last Monday I saw a new listing on eBay for a nice looking 85 5-speed that was Garnet Red Metalic with a tan interior and showing 154k miles on the odo. It was listed for $6899 or best offer. I got ahold of the small time dealer, in NorCal, on his cell at home about an hour before he went to work and ended up offering him $5500 for it. He said he would call me after he got to work and could check what he had in it and would call me in about an hour.
After about an hour and a half I had to make an appearance at court so I told my secretary to call me if he called, but I left in a hurry and forgot my cell phone on my desk. When I got back she said he had called about 20 minutes before and had said that he had another buyer wanting the car. When I called him he said he had sold it to the other guy for $5900. I was pissed.
The car looked really nice, had a repaint that looked good in the pictures and the interior looked original, but it also looked like it has only about 20k miles on it. The interior was a little odd though since the dash was nicely covered in tan leather except for the glove box door and the center console. I'm not sure what that was all about. He said there were a lot of maint records with the car. The buyer was someone in NY.
Since I am on the rebound I am using my money for the 5-speed conversion parts for the Radical 928.
After about an hour and a half I had to make an appearance at court so I told my secretary to call me if he called, but I left in a hurry and forgot my cell phone on my desk. When I got back she said he had called about 20 minutes before and had said that he had another buyer wanting the car. When I called him he said he had sold it to the other guy for $5900. I was pissed.
The car looked really nice, had a repaint that looked good in the pictures and the interior looked original, but it also looked like it has only about 20k miles on it. The interior was a little odd though since the dash was nicely covered in tan leather except for the glove box door and the center console. I'm not sure what that was all about. He said there were a lot of maint records with the car. The buyer was someone in NY.
Since I am on the rebound I am using my money for the 5-speed conversion parts for the Radical 928.
03-05-2016, 12:35 AM
#7
You can call me Otis
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Mine, got away from someone, the day I seen it, I called the car lot owner, (neighbor/friend of mine) he met me at the lot, he didn't know much about it, he said someone from Indy was coming to look at it, so without any knowledge of any Porsche or rennlist, I gave him a deposit, he gave me the keys, and it sat in my garage till I got him paid.
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03-05-2016, 01:01 AM
#8
Burning Brakes
'81 original paint Talbot Yellow 5 speed, low miler on Chicago craigslist, $3500, called less than 1 hr after ad hit, owner said another guy called 5 min before and was on his way. Couldn't get the guy to give me the car sight unseen. Then it showed up at a chicago dealer for 14k. Called and asked what it would take to buy, dealer said he needed 10k. Out of spite knowing what he paid, (and because Jim Doerr has tainted my psyche with his bad '80-84 US car juju) I turned it down. Still haunts me because even at 10 it was a steal....
On the other hand, I've bought and sold a lot of cars over the years and there are a couple I wish I HAD missed out on...
On the other hand, I've bought and sold a lot of cars over the years and there are a couple I wish I HAD missed out on...
03-05-2016, 07:35 AM
#11
Rennlist Member
an 88 S4 in need of a torque tube job. It was a very strong and powerful driver car, clean inside and out, and perfect color - guards red with tan interior! It would have been a perfect DD, and the prices was $6000!
03-05-2016, 09:33 AM
#12
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Last February, before buying my current '89 S4, I saw a Craigslist ad on Friday for an '84 Auto with full black and red leather interior located in my wife's home town of Portland. ~55k miles, new AC system, meticulous interior and owner asked for $8900. Communicated with the owner several times during that weekend, and I asked my wife to have her best friend in Portland to see if it starts, and I would have bought it that Monday full price and have it stored in my inlaw's driveway.
Noticed the ad was taken down that Sunday night, and owner told me that someone arrived and bought it on the spot. Less than 6 weeks later, an ebay ad listed the same car in Eugene for >$12,000 and sold, and the flipper stated in the ad that he "took care of" this car "for years" and only had to sell it for the IRS.
Still search for that car in Pacific NW, whenever I browse for cars when my wife isn't looking.
Noticed the ad was taken down that Sunday night, and owner told me that someone arrived and bought it on the spot. Less than 6 weeks later, an ebay ad listed the same car in Eugene for >$12,000 and sold, and the flipper stated in the ad that he "took care of" this car "for years" and only had to sell it for the IRS.
Still search for that car in Pacific NW, whenever I browse for cars when my wife isn't looking.
03-05-2016, 09:50 AM
#13
Race Car
70 Cuda convertible, 440 six pack, pistol grip 4 speed, original no rust good paint, ran well. Broken windshield, needed glass, seats, possibly carpet. $1500. About 25 years ago.
Oh, for 928s, 85 Euro 5 spd, garnet over grey-green about 85K, $8900. About fifteen years ago.
I think the parable goes,
A happy man has no past, a sad man has nothing but.
Oh, for 928s, 85 Euro 5 spd, garnet over grey-green about 85K, $8900. About fifteen years ago.
I think the parable goes,
A happy man has no past, a sad man has nothing but.
03-05-2016, 01:33 PM
#14
Rennlist Member
A 1981 930 for $31K, greymarket, one of 2 in the US, really wish I had that kind of money at the time.
More recently a 928 Weissach for $2,500. I had the choice of that one and the one I own now as my first car. Still don't regret my decision of buying one without a sunroof
Just a few months ago a 1985 S2 for $2500. It was being sold by the original owners (a woman who got it as a 16th birthday present).
It had every single piece of documentation since new and was as complete as it gets. Plus it was literally 5 minutes from my parents house.
More recently a 928 Weissach for $2,500. I had the choice of that one and the one I own now as my first car. Still don't regret my decision of buying one without a sunroof
Just a few months ago a 1985 S2 for $2500. It was being sold by the original owners (a woman who got it as a 16th birthday present).
It had every single piece of documentation since new and was as complete as it gets. Plus it was literally 5 minutes from my parents house.
