ebay cars

Jeff Jagusch · 05-26-2005, 01:52 PM

Boy, I'm really coming to realize how ebay is affecting the price of collectables.
After looking at a car locally that is listed on ebay, I am shocked to see what people will bid for cars they have obviously not seen!
I guess it's buyer beware as usual, but I'm really suprised !

Jeff

jcc911 · 05-26-2005, 01:58 PM

Jeff, What vehichle did you go to look at?
What was the auction?

FenderGuy · 05-26-2005, 02:35 PM

Ebay is crap you're not really seeing what is going on. Most auctions will be relisted because the buyer overbid or was caught up in the moment. If you see a super high price and the bidder has (O) feedback, good chances its a shill bid or friends of the seller. These type of tatic will always drive up the prices of the car, doesnt mean it was sold for the ending price.

Plavan · Plavan's Garage

I have bought 2 Porsches off of Ebay. One sight unseen after many calls and documentation from a PCA region president. Both were more than I expected. If you have a funny feeling in your stomach, do not buy it. I flew out to Texas and bought my 996 (yeah, yeah, I know). I bought a red 1970 911 RS clone with a 2.2L S motor (Spud from this board bought it from us).
Both deals went smoothly.

HardDrive · 05-26-2005, 05:56 PM

I bought my car off E-bay and it went smooth as silk.

You have to ask the owners some pointed questions, before you buy. If you get back evasive answers, or the person does not know what the hell they are talking about, move on. And get the PPI done.

Jeff Jagusch · 05-26-2005, 06:08 PM

I agree with all the posts, my problem (maybe it's just me) is that everyone has a different opinion of the condition.
I would assume that No rust means no rust, not no visible rust under the bubbles!
Suffice to say if I would have won the auction based on the description in the listing, I would have been VERY upset.
The point of my post is to make sure buyers ask the right questions and try to get as much info as possible.

Jeff

cyprusx · 05-26-2005, 06:26 PM

I bought two cars off of ebay. My 911 and my wifes 3000GT Spyder. Both transactions were cross country and also went very smooth. Both cars were right on as far as meeting expectations.

To me, it doesn't matter where you buy your car from as long as you have a chance to do "do diligence". If not, then that is the real issue. IMO, it doesn't matter if its in auto shopper or a local paper, dealer, etc. You mileage can always vary.

Bobboloo · Bobboloo's Garage

I bought my 73' Targa recently off ebay. I did everything you should NOT do. No PPI, no emaii questions, no phone questions. I took a gamble and won big. The car exceeded my expectations.

I don't suggest, by any means, that anyone do that but I will say that I've been an enthusiast for quite some time and having owned several early cars, as well as eat, drink, and sleep early cars that it was an educated gamble.

I hedged my bet on the fact that the car was from the southwest and it had a 3.2 Carrera motor.

The car I bought was advertised rather poorly. Limited info, bad pictures and the car was not "prepped". It had mocha brown seats in a black interior (Yuk) Ride height is too high. 7' fakes with no spacers under rear RS flares (yuk)
i.e. The opposite of a glossy California Classix ad with text designed to inject emotion into buyers.

I could easily do a makeover on this car, take some great photos, write some catchy text and sell it back on ebay for double my money.

I'm not trying to herald ebay by any means because you are right. It has inflated collectables prices. It's diffenently a sellers market where demand exceeds supply but if your patient and well informed you can hedge your bets.

I guess what I'm saying is, that with ebay, assume the worst and bid accordingly. You can only go up from there.