Seeing a Van for first time

[Silver]

hi.  So I make an apt to see a 97 Nisan Quest  118 k miles $ 1.6 k.
Listed in good condition.

the owner says no repairs R needed.
i get ther & thers $ 200 - 400 of body work to do.
Broken tail light.
interior moderately dirty.  ripped drivers seat.

basically dirtier than my car & lots of stuff I wouldn't hesitate to fix
on my own vehicles.

test drove & felt a lil knocking in the exhaust but could be nothing.

Come to find out car was bought @ tow yard auction for $ 1.9 k so the man says.
DMV registration wasnt paid in 6 months ( not mentioned in ad ) $ 145.
I start to see red flags.

"so the van was driven for 6 months with out registration?"
Husband ( his wife is the owner) says "ah yep"
he drops price to $1400 then 5 mins later $1350.

husband starts slappin me in the shoulder to wake me from my daze of looking over the Tow Lien Sale papers & DMV stuf.  

He slaps me about 3 times & says "i'm a f*kin straight up man!  I wouldnt lie to U!
I have my wife & kids here.  U know wher I live!  I don't hav time to waste your time!
when u go to DMV it mite b $190 tops."

"i thought it was $145 ?"
" Oh uh...might be extra for ... uh the extra months we didn't register."
( or tickets or liens on the van? )

I say "I'm goin to driv around with my friend & we'r goin to talk it over."
husband looks dejected & shakes my hand "alright man"
i feel like he's goin to pull out a piece & demand $$

i gues i need the VIN # & check the fax . .
i price was fine but i was worried about the red flags & posible liens & back fees.

am i over thinking?
would U hav bought?
thanks

 

[ttpadilla]

am i over thinking?
would U hav bought?
thanks

Always listen to your gut. No way I'd touch it.

 

[Silver]

Yeah.  My friend says he trusts the Husband .

It was in a not great part of town.  It was a lil scary being there.

I should of asked for the VIN before hand

 

[TucsonAZ]

I go with my gut, lots of flippers in AZ so I normally pass on anything that hasn't been titled in the sellers name for at least a year. I have bought A LOT of vehicles, I mean A LOT and have been what I would call "burned" once, another time I just made a poor choice buying something site unseen.

Anyway, whatever, fair price crappy vehicle so I would have passed without a lot of history. Or low balled like mad! You could get something better with the same money, I'm sure of that! Look for a Previa, Sienna, Odyssey, you can find deals, on the Previa for sure!

 

[ttpadilla]

Yeah.  My friend says he trusts the Husband .

It was in a not great part of town.  It was a lil scary being there.

I should of asked for the VIN before hand

This right here: "He slaps me about 3 times & says "i'm a f*kin straight up man! I wouldnt lie to U!
I have my wife & kids here. U know wher I live! I don't hav time to waste your time!
when u go to DMV it mite b $190 tops.""

Honest people don't resort to these tactics. Typically only dishonest people feel the need to convince people that they're honest. This guy is trying WAY too hard. And clearly not honest because the prices and information keep changing. My last 2 cents right there... :shy:

 

[Reducto]

I wouldn't touch that thing for any price. I don't deal with flippers like that. They know all the tricks to make a car run just well and long enough for it to sell. A really clean and shiny engine is another giveaway. It doesn't mean it was well maintained, just that someone went at it with a steam cleaner to cover up whatever calamity happened that allowed him to buy it for next to nothing.

 

[Silver]

The coolant reservoir looked dirty & neglected.
I couldn't even see the level.

They definitely had the car for less than a year.
I would feel more comfortable if I could take the next van to
a mechanic.

Yeah I sensed that the Husband was trying super hard to sell 
right now.  Like his rent on the apartment was due.

They couldn't even afford to put gas in the van . .
Who leaves the tank on Empty ?

I think car.fax is $65 / year for unlimited access ?

 

[ttpadilla]

Also, a Nissan Quest is so low to the ground. I drove over one little concrete median in mine (never mind the details) and it knocked a hole in the oil pan, which subsequently caused the engine to seize up (within about 3 blocks).

*This is obviously a tongue-in-cheek post, and is not to be considered a serious contribution to the conversation.

 

[Silver]

The quest does hav oil pan issues.

Previa n Siena hav more room.

Odysey hav to check on the year for
transmision issues.

I hav the best luck with jap cars.

Reliability is very important

 

[SillyLilly]

This sounds like a bad deal any way you look at it. I would not trust this seller and you can already see that the van has a dodgy history: lien sale, unregistered, dirty and neglected mechanically. If the guy wants to make money flipping it, he should at least get the title and registration in order and make it presentable.

His statement "i'm a f*kin straight up man! I wouldnt lie to U!" is a clear indicator of dishonesty. An honest person does not need to boast about not being a crook.

Whatever problems are going on in his life are not your concern. He sounds desperate to get rid of it which is never a good reason to buy unless you're knowledgeable enough to understand the actual value of what you're buying.

There are plenty of good vehicles out there that won't involve you in someone else's personal drama. Thank the seller for his time, say "I'm sorry, this isn't the right one for me" and keep looking.

 

[GotSmart]

First, PLEASE use full words. I have trouble with text talk.

Second, how much work and money are you willing to put into that body? Think of it as a money pit that you drive around. Do you want to be identified by that van? (Sounds like NO)

 

[LeeRevell]

I have a hard and fast rule - failed English and/or Text Speak gets one into the 'illiterate pit' ASAP.
That being said, gleaning the gist from the literate posters that I can see, I would say if the van/RV has any serious problems, or gives one pause, then walk away. Plenty other good units out there to look at. Some are okay with a major project, but most of us don't have the money, time or other resources to deal with a 'fixer-upper'......

 

[akrvbob]

I'll delete all posts passing judgement on the quality of someone writing or English.

ALL are welcome here, not those you find acceptable.
Bob

 

[Gary68]

walk,and fast
if you have any bad feelings of any kind,dont buy
there are many,many vehicles for sale just be patient,keep building your funds up and get exactly what you want

 

[cdiggy]

I don't trust anybody that says trust me. Or I wouldn't lie. Especially someone trying to sell me a used car.

 

[highdesertranger]

run forest run. highdesertranger

 

[sisterearth]

Run don't walk away from that! Seriously, that inner voice that nudges us to lean one way or another, listen to it. If you are having doubts, and sounds like it, that says it all. Hope you find the perfect vehicle for you, it's out there! Peace!

 

[gypsychic]

My *biggest* regrets in life are when I over thought something to where I ignored that little voice. As everyone else says, listen to your gut.

Even if you passed up the deal of the century, how damaging is that to you, really? There are other vehicles that will fit your criteria and serve your needs. After I got burned on a car buy I really educated myself on how to buy. I believe the best tool is the knowledge that I can walk away at anytime if something doesn't feel right. I owe the seller nothing but maybe a courteous demeanor.