Bruce Anderson is the most diplomatic man in America

Dueller · 07:20 AM

Let me preface this with the fact I'm relatively new to the Porsche fold. And I certainly haven't read every Excellence magazine in the last five years cover to cover. AND finally I truly admire the knowledge BA shares on Pcar technical matters in magazines and books.

BUT, he must be the most tactful person on the face of the earth based on his readers sales reports in Excellence. Perhaps the only people submitting their sales information are highly informed enthusiasts. Maybe he only picks out the good deals for illustrative purposes. I dunno.

But once. Just once. I'd like to see Bruce close an assessment of a transaction with "MAN...did you get hosed."

pwd72s · 07:24 AM

I just sold my car to a dear friend. The price will NOT be reported in Excellence because I fear I'd knock the price averages askew. You see, I could have could have sold for much more if it was only about the money. It wasn't. I wanted to choose my car's next home. I did not want it to be a commodity for the flippers, strippers, and pimps out there.

Dueller · 03-07-2007, 07:31 AM

Admirable. I understand where you're coming from. I have directed in my will that my Pcar is to go to a close friend who wants one in the worst way but is not in a position to own such a toy at this time.

Zeke · 03-07-2007, 08:41 AM

OK, this is moving away from the initial idea quickly.

I don't see how BA could or would do that. Keith Martin doesn't even do that and he can be fairly acerbic. One doesn't win any friends by embarrassing people because we all fear we could be next.

JeremyD · JeremyD's Garage

You don't sell magazines by calling your readers dumba$$es...

RarlyL8 · RarlyL8's Garage

"MAN...did you get hosed."

Hehe, I have often thought that out loud when reading Excellence.

Dueller · 03-07-2007, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by milt
OK, this is moving away from the initial idea quickly.

I don't see how BA could or would do that. Keith Martin doesn't even do that and he can be fairly acerbic. One doesn't win any friends by embarrassing people because we all fear we could be next.

Point well taken, Milt. But as a journalist/analyst is his purpose to win friends? Or give an accurate assessment of the current marketplace?

Don't get me wrong...I admire the man and I've never met him. So let me rephrase the question.

Do people reporting sales/purchases in Excellence only do so if they know they got a really good deal?

berettafan · 03-07-2007, 09:14 AM

i guess if you are somewhat current on the market you can pretty much figure out yourself that someone got hosed.

i don't know why but i always read that section myself.

JohnKo · 03-07-2007, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Don't get me wrong...I admire the man and I've never met him. So let me rephrase the question.
Do people reporting sales/purchases in Excellence only do so if they know they got a really good deal? [/B]

My take on Bruce's feedback on sales reports is that he'll gush a little if there is reason to think it was, in fact, a bona fide good deal, make pretty straightforward comments about price/value when nothing more is warranted, and respond with a minimalist, deafening silence when the guy "got hosed." IMHO
John

petrolblue83911 · 03-07-2007, 10:04 AM

I've seen some instances where BA will comment something to the effect of "this buyer/seller did very well" I think that means, -dude you paid too much.

Who knows if the people writing in even give accurate sale prices?, so to go by these figures is tough...then again I like hearing that my 83sc is worth 13-20k....

pwd72s · 03-07-2007, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by milt
OK, this is moving away from the initial idea quickly.

I don't see how BA could or would do that. Keith Martin doesn't even do that and he can be fairly acerbic. One doesn't win any friends by embarrassing people because we all fear we could be next.

+1 Though I have disagreed with Bruce's early 911S values for quite some time.

the · 03-07-2007, 10:20 AM

We estimate that this particular board is for the exchange of Porsche 911 technical information. However, given the interest in this thread, and the ensuing discussion, we believe the inclusion of the thread in the technical section was fair.

88911coupe · 03-07-2007, 10:42 AM

He probably writes something along those lines...chuckles a little and then edits it to what we see. There may be some that we don't see too.

Sonic dB · Sonic dB's Garage

I sent him an email a while back and he wrote back promptly and we
ended up exchanging several emails back and forth. He was a very
cool guy in our exchange which was regarding a specific part
of the 911 engine, he was/is mild mannered and interested in all things 911.

Joeaksa · 03-07-2007, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sonic dB
I sent him an email a while back and he wrote back promptly and we
ended up exchanging several emails back and forth. He was a very
cool guy in our exchange which was regarding a specific part
of the 911 engine, he was/is mild mannered and interested in all things 911.

Have emailed with him several times and he was always very helpful and nice. A real asset to the 911 world.

Dueller · 12:35 PM

Hmmm...well here we are in OT. Suprised it didn't get buried in marketplace discussions.

Hopefully I made the point that I truly respected BA. And I, too, love the fact that my 87 is "worth between a low $17,673 and...$26,900 [for an excellent example]"....especially in light of the fact I paid $15K for it nearly 5 years ago.

But I digress...I picked up the April 2006 issue (which I haven't looked at yet) and these are excerpts from each sale:

"reader made a very good buy"
"reader got a phenomenal deal"
"any way you cut it, this was a solid deal"
"it was a great buy"
"sounds like this was a great buy"
"this is certainly a beyond excellent example"
"a decent buy for the money"
"excellent buy on an exceedingly rare Porsche"
"sounds like it was a fairly good deal"
"it was a very good buy"
"another great deal on a used 996"

BUT...I must stand corrected. On two of the sales he had this to say:

"This 986S went for top dollar"

and his most critical yet highly tactful : "If the car really doesn't have rust and he's handy, however, he may be just fine." (referring to a $3K 912)

Finally, referring to a seller reporting he sold a 1986 944 Turbo for $18K after having purchased it for $13,900 four month earlier, he pretty much implied the seller made out quite well by essentially saying it wasn't worth more than $12,200. But you had to read between the lines and do the math.

Now THAT was tactful.

Dueller · 03-07-2007, 01:19 PM

Well, you better believe if my Carrera gets totalled, I'm using BA and not NADA when talking with the insurance company.

Deschodt · 03-08-2007, 01:06 PM

>Keith Martin got booted from SpeedChannel's TV coverage because of his comments about cars being overvalued. He mentioned this in a recent newsletter...

Actually, Keith got booted out of the BJ auction partly because of his views (in print) about the muscle car market, and supposeldy badmouthing BJ while eating their food in the hospitality tent, which he denies he ever did. And he had to return as a paying spectator. Msut have been embarassing...

I believe he got let go from speed way before that "ejection" happened, though, but it might indeed be related to his views. They also ditched de cadenet, I guess he is not as knowledgeable about cudas as he is about european cars. Both have found a new home on the RM auction show on ESPN !

Zeke · 03-08-2007, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts
Keith Martin got booted from SpeedChannel's TV coverage because of his comments about cars being overvalued. He mentioned this in a recent newsletter...

-Wayne

Keith Martin was brought into this because I don't think I've ever read where he said, "Man.. did you get hosed." But, he HAS uttered a few zingers. BA is seemingly just a polite man. I don't see the need for either one to tell people they got hosed.

I might have paid a little to much for my car. Just after I bought it, someone who I notified to keep a look out for a car for me called to say he just got one for much less than I paid. He inspected the car that I bought, so he knew exactly what I had. That made me feel good, huh?

So, which way would you go with this guy next time around? Count on him to score a better deal, or let him alone?

For the record, I counted the accessories that came with the car I bought as capital. I sold off some Fikse wheels and a couple of other things that reduced the net price I paid for the car. Then, I got in a minor accident and settled. I started off with no money, only a private loan for the full amount. I also sold off a ton of rat-holed early car parts. Today, it's paid for in full and I can start messin' with it.