R129 SL60 AMG For Sale - Strange Seller!

[rockits]

Just a heads up for anyone that may be interested in this one as the seller doesn't seem too accommodating or pleasant

OK, it is not on Ebay but Car & Classic and the ad is here:
Mercedes SL60 AMG For Sale (1997) on Car And Classic UK [C593056]

I sent over a genuine message to show an interest in the car and asked a few questions. The response came back with no reference to the ad so I wasn't sure what it related to at first.

Response was:
"Cars at top money is it see how many you can buy for 26000 dont waste my time"

No greeting, no reference, no subject, no effort, no answers. Needless to say I wasted my time indeed but won't be wasting any more! I put a great deal of effort in preparing my cars for sale and into the process with potential buyers. Obviously everybody doesn't think the same way!! Very strange.

 

[Scott_F]

I've never seen a situation where a vendor has dropped the price twice within the space of their own advert but it's still monumentally over-priced.

Maybe he's a couple of sandwiches short of a picnic ?

 

[rockits]

I think he put the ad on from what I can see about 1st April for £27500 naively expecting to sell it with no effort in 5 mins. No takers (funnily enough!) then dropped it a month later to £26000 ono. That is my guess.

Definately a few cards short of a full deck! I am sure we could keep this one up for a bit....anyone else want to add a few?!

I don't think the seller realises it is a near 20 year old car.....is still a fair bit of cash for most at £26k and will take some time to sell. Any cars like this could take months or years to sell. The SL60 I bought originally had been up for sale on and off for about 3 years. The Maser 4200 I just bought was similar and had been up for sale a few times over the last 2-3 years.

These cars won't sell in 5 mins unless they are stupid cheap or the best out there. Seems strange to alienate a potential buyer immediately. Maybe he doesn't really want to sell it

 

[Giantvanman]

"nice car fast clean lovely summer drive £30,150,
a major change in circumstances,car is ready to go at £27500.
£26000 Or near offer

I would have thought it would be better for him if he didn't appear so desperate. Or careless.

 

[rockits]

Ah, yes. Didn't read that right did I so missed the £30150 bit! Three prices indeed....bonkers.

 

[BTB 500]

Apart from the price ...

It's got an odd non-standard exhaust, not too keen on the black(?) grille, it's had '99 facelift rear lights fitted, and hard to tell from the small pics. but the wheels look suspiciously like replicas.

 

[Sjmw]

Has anyone on this list viewed or driven the vehicle in question?

Ps I'm not the seller!

 

[MD5]

I sent over a genuine message to show an interest in the car and asked a few questions. The response came back with no reference to the ad so I wasn't sure what it related to at first.

Response was:
"Cars at top money is it see how many you can buy for 26000 dont waste my time"

No greeting, no reference, no subject, no effort, no answers.

I'm guessing part of your opening gambit was stating that you think the car is at top money? I can understand how it might get the recipient off on the wrong foot, to be fair, and first impressions may prejudice the interpretation of the rest of your enquiry.

Compared to others currently on offer, this one probably doesn't seem excessive in the vendor's eyes, but with rare cars like this, it only takes a couple of the best available cars to shift for good money at the same time, and every owner then thinks theirs are worth the same, regardless of how they compare, and so they move up a notch!

 

[rockits]

I did suggest the car was at top money so suggested the car had to be a top car. I didn't suggest it was too expensive and wanted to beat him over the head on price. Just merely suggested that it needed to be pretty mint at that level. I wouldn't want to waste either of our time if we are singing from different song sheets.

I suspect you are right that top cars go up for top money and rightly so (aside from some dealers pushing pricing boundaries often!). Some owners then think mine is worth that and pop them up not actually realising that their car isn't actually truly mint or anything close.

Most of us here know what is a top car for top money and how much you can spend getting a car right. Unfortunately not all sellers do. Regardless he isn't going to sell the car with the amount of effort displayed so far which is little if any above zero.

 

[MD5]

I did suggest the car was at top money so suggested the car had to be a top car. I didn't suggest it was too expensive and wanted to beat him over the head on price. Just merely suggested that it needed to be pretty mint at that level. I wouldn't want to waste either of our time if we are singing from different song sheets...

Regardless he isn't going to sell the car with the amount of effort displayed so far which is little if any above zero.

Fair comments. I have met sellers like that, who think the short supply of rare cars affords that kind of attitude! Even more annoying is when you travel hundreds of miles and the car isn't as described, or they omit to tell you other faults or problems.

 

[W4E300]

I like the counter on the bottom of the ad, saying it's had 958 views....956 of which have been us lot just to go "you're having a laugh"...

Sent from my iPad using MBClub UK

 

[rockits]

Indeed....I have viewed it quite a few of those! Deluded is a word some sellers should look up and learn not to be. It has always been easier to buy in this world rather than sell. Don't see that changing anytime soon!

 

[Sjmw]

As a follow up to this, I spoke to the seller, Gary. He sent me 4 more photos (low res, the 'looked good from 10yards' type). I asked politely for some history and detailed photos yo be told he'd done that for others who hadn't bought so it wasn't worth the effort. Told him I was serious, had the cash etc but heard no more. Maybe he sold it for the asking price (or rather the lowest of the 3 prices in his advert!)

 

[rockits]

As a follow up to this, I spoke to the seller, Gary. He sent me 4 more photos (low res, the 'looked good from 10yards' type). I asked politely for some history and detailed photos yo be told he'd done that for others who hadn't bought so it wasn't worth the effort. Told him I was serious, had the cash etc but heard no more. Maybe he sold it for the asking price (or rather the lowest of the 3 prices in his advert!)

Thanks for sharing. I don't get it with some people. Don't they want to sell their cars? Or more likely they aren't aware what work you need to put into it to sell and at the best price.

Surely nobody is going to buy this car blind or pay that money if it's rubbish.

Went to look at a 1998 SL500 today. Decent enough honest car but not as good as I was hoping. One of those that you would pay more for a better one or would need to pay less for the one I saw today.

Are you looking for another SL60?

 

[jonnstee]

He has one!!! Lucky bugger!!

 

[Sjmw]

No, not another one (at least not until the Silver Arrow's sold!). I was simply interested in his (although I was still committed to buying Ian's old car). Had he been more cooperative and the car had lived up to its description then I would have been seriously tempted to buy it. But, as you say, he was using his best sales prevention techniques

 

[rockits]

No, not another one (at least not until the Silver Arrow's sold!). I was simply interested in his (although I was still committed to buying Ian's old car). Had he been more cooperative and the car had lived up to its description then I would have been seriously tempted to buy it. But, as you say, he was using his best sales prevention techniques

I see. Have you bought Ian's or will be? How much is the Silver Arrows up for? Just sold the Touran & the E320 Sportline Cabrio goes at the end of the month so I have space for another one or two.

Looking around for something interesting at the mo.

 

[Sjmw]

Hi

Yes, I bought Ian's car.

Re the Silver Arrow, not sure what I'll be asking yet. It has good options, has been very well looked after, but has done 118k (was owned for many years by an enthusiast on the 'other' MB forum, from whom I bought it last year). I bought on condition and history as I always do. Asking prices (ignoring the silly, 15k mile examples at Avantgarde or other modern classic dealers) seem to be around £14-16k for 60-80k mile examples, so will be less than the lower end of that range.

As I mentioned, I'm just about to enter the throes of moving house so won't have chance to properly advertise it for a couple of weeks but if you're interested email me at [email protected] and I'll email some details

Regards

Stuart

 

[nickod]

Thanks for sharing. I don't get it with some people. Don't they want to sell their cars? Or more likely they aren't aware what work you need to put into it to sell and at the best price.

Surely nobody is going to buy this car blind or pay that money if it's rubbish.

Went to look at a 1998 SL500 today. Decent enough honest car but not as good as I was hoping. One of those that you would pay more for a better one or would need to pay less for the one I saw today.


Was that the azurite blue one on classic cars for 8k? I was tempted to see that but the price put me off as I figured if it was decent it would be more. I'm struggling to find a nice 500. They seem to have dried up.

 

[jonnstee]

I agree! 500's are scarcer and what's left now mostly seem so-so. On the other hand, many 320's about, but the best are rocketing well into £12-13k!! Specialist and some private. So..a decent 500 would be similar??

Someone on the Official Club sold a fantastic one recently for upwards of £11k.

Jon