Ripped off!

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Graeme
Posts: 2039
Joined: Wed 15 Oct 2008, 15:08
Location: Johannesburg

Ripped off!

Post by Graeme » Thu 29 Oct 2009, 22:04

I have been thinking for awhile now and have decide to import my next car
from the states.My mate bought an adertised 65 mustang fastback (was in fact a 66)from a young dealer in the Cape who is known and has good photography skills because the pics are always perfect.Anyway my mate bought this car from him and had it sent up for around 265k.The car arrives
and this is what we found.
1. wiring was a mess
2.suppension was sagging on one side
3. panels were falling off
4. There were pit marks on both bumpers.
5. The brakes were shot
6. The flaps to open the air scoops were none existant.
and the list goes on.
Now what gets me is that we are all known in this game and its all a big circle
and news travels fast so instead of screwing us,be honest and buisness will
be good to you because we will refer people to you.
Moral of the story is word gets around this small communty.
Friends don't let friends drive JUNK.

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peranaman
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Joined: Sun 02 Dec 2007, 16:25
Location: South Wales U.K.

Re: Ripped off!

Post by peranaman » Thu 29 Oct 2009, 22:30

The moral of this story is - Never , ever buy a car on pics alone.

I also produce good pics of my classic Capri's and the comment I always get is 'Wow the car is even better than the pics' !!

If you're investing time, effort and cash on a dream car - fly / drive /swim to wherever the car is and check it out. Small price to pay for peace of mind (plus a nice day out to boot). Or get a trusted fellow to check it out locally for you.
Two wrongs don't make a right, but three lefts do

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drgfinger
Technical Guru
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Joined: Wed 01 Jul 2009, 12:35
Location: Cape Town

Re: Ripped off!

Post by drgfinger » Fri 30 Oct 2009, 06:24

Did you decode the vin...?
I see a lot of stangs where folk seem to think they have bought no's matching v8's and these turn out to be L6's or the like.
The guy down the road from me paid R225k for a hoenderhok of a stang , he thought it was originally a 429 cobra jet -- or was told that , vin said otherwise - 6 cyl
From what I have observed , R250k or thereabouts seems to be the base price for a just ok example , normally requiring a further 100k+ to be spent to get em to stunning condition.
At any rate , if I were spending the R265k on a old classic car I woulda flown to see and test it first..
The nicest thing about smacking your head against the wall is........the feeling you get when you stop!!

05 Jag S-type R - supercharged v8
95 C4 lt1 corvette

RIP

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FairmontGT
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Location: Potchefstroom RSA
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Re: Ripped off!

Post by FairmontGT » Fri 30 Oct 2009, 07:18

Graeme I think you might get even worse from the states. Its very difficult to buy a car from photos and there will always be things you discover that you didnt know. I always make myself ready for the worst when buying a car of a photo, but going to have a look yourself is always the best (especially if a ticket down to cape town and back is R1 000).
Yes we did build muscle cars in RSA!!!!
http://www.africanmusclecars.com

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wally
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Joined: Fri 23 Nov 2007, 14:44
Location: Cape Town
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Re: Ripped off!

Post by wally » Fri 30 Oct 2009, 08:34

i won't mention how i got ripped of 2 years ago - not as much, but valuable lesson learned!
http://www.projectamazinggrace.org - Uniting the world's Christian community in one song on 8 November 2015 @ 15h00 GMT. Come sing with us!

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drgfinger
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Joined: Wed 01 Jul 2009, 12:35
Location: Cape Town

Re: Ripped off!

Post by drgfinger » Fri 30 Oct 2009, 08:55

I recon you SHOULD name and shame , might stop others from making an expensive mistake....
The nicest thing about smacking your head against the wall is........the feeling you get when you stop!!

05 Jag S-type R - supercharged v8
95 C4 lt1 corvette

RIP

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Insomnia
Posts: 5832
Joined: Tue 07 Jul 2009, 12:29
Location: Bergbron ,Johannesburg

Re: Ripped off!

Post by Insomnia » Fri 30 Oct 2009, 09:15

That is sad.
Unfortunately an expensive lesson was learnt.
Just a thought , surely all of us on the forum would gladly go and have a look at a car for anyone wanting to buy it.And give feedback.

Name and shame the culprit.

Just to mention.
site - WWW.LASTREETSLIVE.COM
Importers of American cars.
Have had a look on their site,they allso do RHD conversions.
Saw a couple of Mustangs that looks good.Lower priced that the R265k
What they basically do is source cars for prospective buyers.
Do a full write-up of the car from their USA office.
The buyer then has info to make on to purchase or not.

Has anybody done business with them?
To give us an idea how good they are.

Correct me if I am wrong, Did JOHN SMIT(bok captain) not purchase his Mustang through them? :?: . His was converted to RHD.Just wondering.
Saw it on Top Billing- Beautifull.

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drgfinger
Technical Guru
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Joined: Wed 01 Jul 2009, 12:35
Location: Cape Town

Re: Ripped off!

Post by drgfinger » Fri 30 Oct 2009, 09:24

Surely a RHD conversion negates the value of that rare muscle car?
You might as well pick up a basket case over here and do it up....I cant see anything like a 67 SS/RS camaro costing any less than 1/2 a bar (if you lucky) when its all done and dusted...
The nicest thing about smacking your head against the wall is........the feeling you get when you stop!!

05 Jag S-type R - supercharged v8
95 C4 lt1 corvette

RIP

Doug Hirkham
Posts: 700
Joined: Fri 11 Jan 2008, 21:20
Location: Cape Town

Re: Ripped off!

Post by Doug Hirkham » Fri 30 Oct 2009, 09:31

We must name and shame - its the only way to try and stop these bastards. When I think of my 'favorite' panel beater and the dozens of people he has handled I feel it is my civic duty to warn all the people, not just pals, about him. There is nothing wrong in preventing folk being screwed as long as in so doing we don't exaggerate the shortcomings of the sharks. Stick to facts and just warn the people!!!

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Insomnia
Posts: 5832
Joined: Tue 07 Jul 2009, 12:29
Location: Bergbron ,Johannesburg

Re: Ripped off!

Post by Insomnia » Fri 30 Oct 2009, 10:16

drgfinger. With things they are in S.A. that is a way to import a muscle car and be able to drive it on S.A. roads.
Yes converting it to RHD does not do any justice.
Thing is it can always be converted back to LHD.

Seeing as there is much debate about LHD cars.

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