My personal dilemma

Ghoste · June 15, 2006, 04:01:06 PM

Some of you may remember that about a year and a half ago, I tracked down and tried to buy back a 69 Charger that I once had. Everybody has a car in their past that they wish they had never sold and this one is that car for me.
Well, the current owner called me and is thinking about selling. He knows the sentimental attachment and he knows that I would pay more than what the car is fairly worth. My question to you is, what percentage would you pay above fair market for sentimentality?

Blown70 · June 15, 2006, 04:02:27 PM

Quote from: Ghoste on June 15, 2006, 04:01:06 PM
Some of you may remember that about a year and a half ago, I tracked down and tried to buy back a 69 Charger that I once had. Everybody has a car in their past that they wish they had never sold and this one is that car for me.
Well, the current owner called me and is thinking about selling. He knows the sentimental attachment and he knows that I would pay more than what the car is fairly worth. My question to you is, what percentage would you pay above fair market for sentimentality?

Not an extremely high amount. But that is your personal choice....... I would say 10%? But again, That depends on what he wants.

Ghoste · June 15, 2006, 04:04:39 PM

We're still dancing around each other. I'm trying to be realistic and ultimately my wife and friends will ensure that I do but I've regretted selling this car for over twenty years.

haueter66 · June 15, 2006, 04:05:02 PM

I think you should pay whatever its worth to you. If you can find the EXACT same car for a certain price, use that as a guide... if he wants to gouge you just because the car is special to you, I would let it go...

Ghoste · June 15, 2006, 04:12:15 PM

There is absolutely no question he wants to gouge me.

How willing am I to be gouged is the issue.

tan top · June 15, 2006, 04:37:07 PM

thats a tough one ,the chances of finding & or buying back your charger after years or decades is pretty slim at best, now you have a chance to buy it back . the guy who's selling it knows it holds sentimental value so he is going to increase its value knowing you want it. you know that you probably may never have the opportunity again to get it . only you know how much you want that 69 , i say buy it or you will regret it if you don't. if you pay over the current market value so be it just don't tell any one. just my

it is your decision dude.

694spdRT · June 15, 2006, 04:42:21 PM

I almost feel sorry for you Ghoste. If I was in the same situation and really wanted the car I would probably have some explaining to do with my wife when I came home broke. $:-\$

Ghoste · June 15, 2006, 05:58:37 PM

Whudduya mean "almost"?

Big Lebowski · June 15, 2006, 06:06:24 PM

Offer him what you want to pay, he knows local prices are way lower than e-bay prices, or Barrett/Jackson stupid money. He should give you a fair deal because you sound like you're not going to just flip it for the cash.

blackcharger · June 15, 2006, 06:27:06 PM

what kind of condition is it in? what would a similar car with no personal history be worth?
Those of us who have these mopars for the simple love of them put more $$ into them then we usually should. But that's what happens when you think with your heart. When I had my Charger, i keep recipts of everything I ever bought. When I started my road runner, I did the same thing, but after a year or so, I stopped, because it didn't matter when i took it for a ride. the smile it puts on my face is worth every penny.

Shakey · June 15, 2006, 08:25:31 PM

Does he want to sell it in general or just to you because he knows you used to own it?

I say, walk away if the price is too steep.

Then have one of your buddies (unbeknowst to the seller) show interest in the car, he can cut a deal and buy the car and then sell it to you.

Brightyellow69rtse · June 15, 2006, 08:35:55 PM

great idea shakey

i know a guy, an older gentleman who sold a 68 gtx years and years ago and a few years ago he started tracking it down. he actually found it and bought it back he still says he never shoulda sold it in the first place.

my advise if you have the means to go grab it up. my charger will no longer be mine the day im riding in the back of a herse lol not a day sooner.........Mike ive had her 6 years now still makes me smile when i open the garage door

Steve P. · June 15, 2006, 08:45:47 PM

I know how you feel, but you still have your memories.. Don't let someone Else's greed eat up your savings or put you in a hole. It's not worth it. As a matter of fact I think that's just what I would tell him.

(Look here, I love the car. It's special to me, but it's a car). I have others and my family comes first. Make a reasonable deal with me and if I can do it I will. If not please turn around so I can cry with her one last time and leave her for good.

I feel for you man. I found the guy that bought my baby almost 20 years ago. We both lived in Rochester, New York back then. I was looking for her for years when I received an email with another guys email addy. Sure enough I found her. Not only did I find her but in 94' I moved to Florida and around 98' my baby moved to Florida on the other coast. We wrote back and forth a few times and then nothing. It's like he's afraid I'm going to come and steal her or something.... Again I am heartbroke. At least I know it is still in great shape. No rust or ever wrecked... I'm very grateful to know that.

PS. I told him all about this site, so if your reading this post,,, IM me. I don't bite.....

Ghoste · June 15, 2006, 10:29:50 PM

All the practical and impractical arguments for or against, I already know. I was more or less just curious what percentage of a cars value you would attach to personal wants or sentimental needs. I know the car is worth much less than what we wants (from me) and I know that at the end I'm the only one who'll decide what's fair (to me).
I was just curious. Thanks all.

Steve P. · June 15, 2006, 10:34:24 PM

Sorry Ghoste... I hope you end up with your baby and don't end up breaking the bank to get her.. I wish I had the magic clicker for ya...

Ghoste · June 15, 2006, 10:40:27 PM

Me too Steve. In spite of it all, I remain philosophical about it. If it works out great and if not, then it's just meant that I am to own a different 69. (should I go apologize to the fastback in the garage?)

Steve P. · June 15, 2006, 10:45:49 PM

Hahaha..... No.. Your first love is your first love. No excuses... I'm sure you will have plenty of great memories with this and maybe other mopars also.. It's all in what you make of it... Just as life... Sometimes I wish I could share a beer with my girl...

89MOPAR · June 15, 2006, 10:46:02 PM

50 %

firefighter3931 · June 15, 2006, 10:51:10 PM

That's a tough call. Is this the same guy that you sold the car to 20 years ago or has it changed hands a couple of times ? It's too bad when sellers try to capitalize on the buyers emotions because things aren't on an even playing field. I've sold 2 chargers and have 2 now. From my perspective, i would rather have the current cars then the old ones.....maybe i'm just not that sentimental. It's just a car and can be replaced with another. Let logic dictate the outcome and don't let this joker hold you over a barrell.

Ron

Steve P. · June 15, 2006, 10:54:45 PM

Quote from: 89MOPAR on June 15, 2006, 10:46:02 PM

50 %

50% !!!!?? WOW!! So if the car is worth $50,000 in reality, you say he should pay $75,000.oo for the car??

You must be the guy he's trying to buy it back from....... Even at $25,000 you would have him spending $37,500 for it.. I would have to say that this amount of money could go a long way toward making his other 69 even better than the original.. It's already a nice ride...

Ghoste · June 15, 2006, 11:00:04 PM

It's changed hands a few times. It went from this area to not that far from you actually Ron. The only one holding me over a barrel in all reality is me or I wouldn't even start a thread like this. It would be more cut and dried.
I haven't seen the car in a dozen years at least so I have no idea what it is even like now but just by talking on the phone, I think it's had a tough go. If I buy it, it'll mean I wanted it BAD!

BigBlockSam · June 15, 2006, 11:21:45 PM

i blew up and totaled all the cars from my youth. so it would be tough to buy one back.

Ghoste · June 15, 2006, 11:28:20 PM

Well I certainly oiled the undercarriage of this car more than once.

BigBlockSam · June 15, 2006, 11:36:47 PM

QuoteWell I certainly oiled the undercarriage of this car more than once

KINKY

Ghoste · June 15, 2006, 11:44:06 PM

You're thinking interior.

Steve P. · June 15, 2006, 11:48:55 PM

Oiling down the undercarriage is part of all the great memories.... I know I windowed a few motors in my first 65'........ Put it on 2 wheels once. (RIGHT SIDE WHEELS).......... Had to change my shorts after that one..

bull · June 15, 2006, 11:57:08 PM

Give your best friend (who will pretend he doesn't know you) the cash buy it for you. After he brings the car back to you give him $100 and a case of beer. That way you aren't emotionally involved and you'll save thousands.

Bandit4142 · June 16, 2006, 12:07:44 AM

In a round-a-bout way, I was recently in the same situation, and I bought the Charger. I paid considerably more than it would be worth to virtually anyone else on the planet.... but it was worth it to me. My wife on the other hand..... that's a whole different story. But I have my Charger sitting in the garage, and I couldn't be happier.

Headrope · June 16, 2006, 12:13:48 AM

My first car was a '67 Dart GT. It was by no means a Charger, but was just as dear to me as your car seems to have been to you.
I had many firsts in that first car - including the option to buy it back. I wanted to until I pulled off the "love goggles" and looked at it from the standpoint of where I'm at now: the car was everything in my life before I met my wife; getting it back now would be like having an old girlfriend around.
It was hard to do, but I declined the offer to buy that Dart back. I miss those memories but am having a blast making new ones in a '66 Charger.

Duey · June 16, 2006, 12:14:13 AM

Ghoste, don't think %.

Look at the car to see what condition it's in and tell us what shape it's in. We'll tell you what we think fair market value is.

Then...think of you buying the car from a dealer for that fair market value.

Now...imagine going up to this guy having nothing to do with your car and picture yourself sliding him $X,000 because he's such a swell friend and nice guy.....

Personally, I think that sometimes what makes memories so important is that you can remember all the things you did with that car and nobody can take that away from you. Not having that exact car now doesn't take your memories of the car away from you.

Now...for some acting...even if you're dying inside to buy the car back the second you lay eyes on it...suck it up and act like hte most disappointed, disinterested guy in the world..."you can't believe this is your car"..."it does nothing for you"...look him in the eye and tell him, "You know, I thought I wanted the car so bad...but you know what...it's not there for me anymore...sorry to waste your time, bud." Walk away (you're still acting...don't stop until you're well out of sight). Don't answer the phone from him for at least a few days...have your wife tell him you're not interested. He will either come back down to a fair price or he'll remain a manipulative prick. Be the bigger person and don't be blackmailed by his exploitation of your sentimentality.

As with Ron, 2 more ¢...

Good luck,
Duey

89MOPAR · June 16, 2006, 01:05:50 AM

Yes, but if the car was worth $25 K and he gave me $37.5 K - then I could attempt to buy back 2 of my old cars ......

It's not mine,-- if it was, and I had already decided on a price I absolutely needed to get for it - but had decided to ask more, of course - and a previous owner with strong sentimental attachment was wanting it- well I'd probably go soft on the deal and just sell it for my minimum price threshold.

I'd consider paying 50% more if it was that special, and I really loved the color/ options combo. How much would it cost to change the body color / interior, and engine, etc. on a car of the same bodystyle ?? Probably 50 %

ANybody out there have one of my old cars they want to gouge me on ?

SeattleCharger · June 16, 2006, 03:09:51 AM

That reminds me of a ramcharger full convertible I practically gave away, called the guy a year or so later and left a message, saying I would buy it back for more, never heard from him, ouch.

dkn1997 · June 16, 2006, 05:57:40 PM

just take the spare keys you probably have and it can be back home for free....

Ghoste · June 16, 2006, 07:16:27 PM

If I could still find them, that might be an option. I certainly have enough documentation around to forge a claim on the car.
But I'm not like that.

Charger1973 · June 17, 2006, 07:14:49 PM

Quote from: Headrope on June 16, 2006, 12:13:48 AM
getting it back now would be like having an old girlfriend around.

Thats kind of how I see it too. I also had a Charger I sold that I do miss having around but even if I had it back it still wouldnt be the same as I remembered it.

nakita7 · June 17, 2006, 07:23:59 PM

There were over 90,000 69 Chargers built. Personally, I won't even pay 'market' price (sorry, good with my money). I would move on, it's not that 'rare' of a car.... $:-\$

Steve P. · June 17, 2006, 08:19:17 PM

Quote from: nakita7 on June 17, 2006, 07:23:59 PM
There were over 90,000 69 Chargers built. Personally, I won't even pay 'market' price (sorry, good with my money). I would move on, it's not that 'rare' of a car.... $:-\$

You are very much incorrect. This one is very 'RARE'. He used to own it. That makes this one a one of a kind...

Ghoste · June 17, 2006, 10:15:24 PM

You are correct Steve. Certain cars become more than the sum of their parts.

hemi68charger · June 17, 2006, 10:19:19 PM

Price???... Whatever you're comfortable with........... It's not like you're solely getting this to flip it.. Sounds like a keeper.............

Troy

Ghoste · June 17, 2006, 10:26:17 PM

Maybe. The good part about it being a day's drive away from me is that I have time to think and I'm being a little more rational about it than when I started the thread. A good friend of mine is lobbying hard for buying it and my wife of course, is a little colder to the plan. Somewhere in the middle is the right course of action and it's what I'll do.
At least I'm getting the opportunity so if I nix the idea, I can't cry about it anymore.

Steve P. · June 17, 2006, 11:18:14 PM

Well buddy how ever you end up at the end of the day, the sun will rise again in the morning and you never know what will be next to come down the road...

Good luck brother.........

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My personal dilemma