In typical fashion, the wealth of information and sane advice on this forum never ceases to amaze me
Hoping you can share your opinion on the matter and what you would do in this scenario:
Summary: verbally agreed to purchase the vehicle (2002 Mercedes Benz G500 with 80K miles) for a specific price based on pictures he provided me and the written comment "brand new interior as well as mechanically perfect". Deal should have taken place ±6 months ago, but the mechanic working on it has yet to finish pending repairs. Cosmetic condition is NOTHING like the pictures he sent me. Two months after verbally agreeing on the price, I finally saw the vehicle and nearly died because it was so disastrous looking, but I was told "it will look like new when done". The current reality is that it will easily take ±$10K to make it look like it does on the pictures he sent me. Agreed upon price is fair (perhaps $2K below market price) ASSUMING the condition would be as in the pictures.
What would you do? Back out on your word (I've never done that) and risk losing a friendship? Ask for a $10K discount and run the risk of him thinking I'm trying to take advantage of him (it is not the case)? Buy the truck and just deal with it knowing I got screwed by $10K?
Neighbor (he parks his vehicles 30 feet away from mine)/friend is a super nice guy and we know each other since ±10 years ago. I've purchased art from his wife's art gallery that easily equals the agreed upon price of this truck. He was a mentor to my son during an internship for the past six months (and paid him very well). He works 60+ hours per week and is super busy all of the time (hence no time to follow up with the mechanic). He is very well off financially speaking (he has an newer version of this truck, as well as five other vehicles he could use at any moment).