Hey guys (and from the threads, it looks like you're all guys), I'm a new member and have a bunch of questions regarding your favorite car. I've been lurking for a few months and reading the great information here, but just registered last week. I'm re=posting this message from a thread on straightening a chassis in which I originally posted it.
I was the high bidder on a GT on Ebay last Friday. It was the red one in Miami, with a salvage/rebuilt title. I'm looking for your collective wisdom on buying this car, or buying a GT in general. I want some advice on what to look for on this car to make sure it was correctly repaired. I have a lot of experience working on cars, so I am not put off by things that I can fix myself, but I am not very good at bodywork--that's a real skill and art.
Here is some additional info: The car was wrecked in 2010 in California, then sold through a dealer/insurance auction site. The current owner says he had it repaired, and he's owned it for 3 years, so that means he probably was the buyer at that auction. He says he had it shipped to Panama (he is from Panama) and then back to the US. At first he said it was repaired in the US, then he said it was repaired in Panama. His written english is not very good, so it's hard to make out the exact chronology.
However, I am proceeding with caution, since his written communications to me were not clear.
The VIN is 1fafp90s05y400540. Here is the link to the site that auctioned it in 2010:
http://www.autobidmaster.com/carfind..._SAN_DIEGO_CA/
You can see from the pictures it was heavily damaged in the back, where it appears it hit a wall going backwards as it ended its spin. The right rear wheel was visibly of alignment, and the rear panel was pushed in enough to push forward the air box in the engine compartment. At the price I bid, I don't have a problem with this situation, as long as it was correctly repaired, using new or good used parts. He claims it was repaired "LIKE NEW." Of course, we've all heard that before...
If it looks like it was poorly repaired, or there are parts that were bent and straightened, but not very well--especially structural parts--I have no qualms walking away from this one and paying more for a better car. I have a Mercedes Club friend looking at it for me tomorrow, and I plan to go Miami this Thursday to inspect it, at an independent shop he referred me to. If it checks out, I'll close the deal and drive it back to Northern Virginia.
As your member "Xcentric" signs his messages, "If you don't drive it, what's the point?" I like to say, "If you want art, get something you can hang on the wall--cars are for driving!" I plan to drive it regularly, so a low-mile pristine example is not what I'm after. A good driving car with higher mileage and a few bumps and nicks will make me less concerned about collecting a few more.
Thanks in advance for your patience and answers to a newbie--I've been on the opposite side of the exchange on the MercedesList mailing list (aka, the Stu Ritter List). So if any of you have questions about Mercedes, I probably can return the favors.
And if any of you are in northern Virginia (I live in Great Falls), or the DC area, I'd love to talk to you about this car and GT's in general. My phone is 703-772-5525.
Pete K, in Northern Virginia
I was the high bidder on a GT on Ebay last Friday. It was the red one in Miami, with a salvage/rebuilt title. I'm looking for your collective wisdom on buying this car, or buying a GT in general. I want some advice on what to look for on this car to make sure it was correctly repaired. I have a lot of experience working on cars, so I am not put off by things that I can fix myself, but I am not very good at bodywork--that's a real skill and art.
Here is some additional info: The car was wrecked in 2010 in California, then sold through a dealer/insurance auction site. The current owner says he had it repaired, and he's owned it for 3 years, so that means he probably was the buyer at that auction. He says he had it shipped to Panama (he is from Panama) and then back to the US. At first he said it was repaired in the US, then he said it was repaired in Panama. His written english is not very good, so it's hard to make out the exact chronology.
However, I am proceeding with caution, since his written communications to me were not clear.
The VIN is 1fafp90s05y400540. Here is the link to the site that auctioned it in 2010:
http://www.autobidmaster.com/carfind..._SAN_DIEGO_CA/
You can see from the pictures it was heavily damaged in the back, where it appears it hit a wall going backwards as it ended its spin. The right rear wheel was visibly of alignment, and the rear panel was pushed in enough to push forward the air box in the engine compartment. At the price I bid, I don't have a problem with this situation, as long as it was correctly repaired, using new or good used parts. He claims it was repaired "LIKE NEW." Of course, we've all heard that before...
If it looks like it was poorly repaired, or there are parts that were bent and straightened, but not very well--especially structural parts--I have no qualms walking away from this one and paying more for a better car. I have a Mercedes Club friend looking at it for me tomorrow, and I plan to go Miami this Thursday to inspect it, at an independent shop he referred me to. If it checks out, I'll close the deal and drive it back to Northern Virginia.
As your member "Xcentric" signs his messages, "If you don't drive it, what's the point?" I like to say, "If you want art, get something you can hang on the wall--cars are for driving!" I plan to drive it regularly, so a low-mile pristine example is not what I'm after. A good driving car with higher mileage and a few bumps and nicks will make me less concerned about collecting a few more.
Thanks in advance for your patience and answers to a newbie--I've been on the opposite side of the exchange on the MercedesList mailing list (aka, the Stu Ritter List). So if any of you have questions about Mercedes, I probably can return the favors.
And if any of you are in northern Virginia (I live in Great Falls), or the DC area, I'd love to talk to you about this car and GT's in general. My phone is 703-772-5525.
Pete K, in Northern Virginia
