How many have been disappointed in the buyer after you sold your car

[RallyeMike]

The only time I have ever been disappointed was when I traded in a custom truck in the 80's. I put together an entire package on all the modifications, engine, trans, etc., The dealer threw it away and then when they resold the truck and the new owner couldn't figure out what he had, they gave the guy my phone number and told him to call me if he needed anything. Pricks!

It was the mini-truck custom craze era (78 Chevy Luv, Buick V6, TH350, Ford 8", Volvo radiator..... etc.)

[Chryco Psycho]

I was talked or conned out of my first 70 Chall R/T , didn't want to sell or need the money , a guy just started pestering me to sell , he took it cleaned it up & flipped it , never forgot the feeling watching it drive away , I was choked , I didn't care about the $$ I just wanted my car back even if he paid me 3x what I had paid for it .

[billschroeder5842]

I had a 1975 Road Runner that I brought back to life after having been sitting for 10 years. Super fun car and lots of comments--a rolling car show.

I sold it to the parents of a 16 year kid for his first car.

Two weeks after the sale, I saw the car for sale on Craig's List with a blown motor listed---asking more than he paid for it.

[Arigmaster]

I was forced to sell mine and didn't get what I really wanted for it under the circumstances. The buyer was a very nice guy and we discussed the potential of a buy back in the future. The buyer fell under hard times as well and it ended up at auction where he also got less than he really wanted.

The car ended up back on e-bay through a exotic/collector car dealer out of state. It was sold to an unknown buyer and then *POOF* gone for good. It may seem strange to have such an attachment to a "thing" but four and a half years of work and only one summer to enjoy it wasn't a fair trade off. In addition I had made a promise with where this car would end up and couldn't follow through.

Due to present health reasons, I do not think I could build another one which makes it harder to take the fact it is gone without an opportunity to someday buy it back. For some people, (like me) the sweat equity and labor of love has no price especially when you are building it from the heart and not the ego.

[Kern Dog]

I've built a few Dusters and Dart Sports with intentions of selling and have yet to feel bad about it. The Charger? H A !!! No way I'd sell this car. I've put too much of myself into it. For me the difference lies with what feelings that I have for the car while I owned it.
I had a 73 Duster years ago. I was making a home movie and it was was my "hero" car. I had SOOoooo much fun in that car! I went through tires like crazy, peeling out, skidding through turns, 180s, street drifting, (Away from any traffic) Off road through shallow streams, down hills, through tall grass....It was my version of the Duke boys General Lee.... I sold that car after I finished the movie. It helped pay for an engagement ring.
IF I found out today, 10 years later, that this car was up for sale, I'd JUMP at the chance to buy it back! 73 was the best selling year of the Plymouth line and they made a buttload of Dusters that year. I could find any other 73 Duster almost any day of the week, but i miss THAT car and what fun i had with it.

[Fred]

Often though the car is no longer what it was when you sold it. By that I mean it hasn't been looked after or it's been altered etc. And if that's the case, I don't think I'd really want it back.

[Kern Dog]

Thats true. Another angle is that you can never really go back. Things change and the car would feel different now. The thing people may be looking for is the WAY they felt when they owned a specific car. Years pass, life happens and even if you could get the old car back in the exact same condition, it still could never be the same feeling.

[Fred]

Exactly...................the past needs to remain in the past! 

[jaak]

After I sell a car, it belongs to someone else, they can do what they want with it. As long as I got my stack-o-cash...they can paint it orange and jump a creek for all I care.  

Jason

[Dino]

Because I kow that some buyers can easily break the hearts of sellers by parting out a car, or chopping it up or whatever, I try to be a better buyer!

The guy I bought my 69 from had taken very good care of it.  It still has its original worn interior and it's getting a few bubbles here and there but for a non restored car that's not too bad.  It got a new paintjob and rechromed the bumpers soon after he bought it in '93.  The guy made sure it was also mechanically sound and he took care of that car as if it was his child.  Save a few interior light bulbs everything works on this car.  When he sold it to me (had another kid on the way) he never said anything about what I should do with it or push his opinions on me.  He knew that once it was sold it was no longer any of his business. 

In return I send him updates from time to time, telling him what I did with the car such as changing the rear end gear, getting better shocks, little things like adding a console armrest and redoing the instrument cluster.  He loves the fact that his baby is getting all these upgrades and is being used as a cruiser.  I know it makes him feel better about his decision, I know from his wife that it was a very though decision for him to sell his baby.
I just want him to feel good and sleep at night.  I also know there will be a time where he doesn't want to hear from me and the car so he can let go, but at least he can let go with peace of mind.

[rt green]

that is a good solution.

[jb666]

About 10 years ago I sold a MINT '70 Formula Firebird. All original, gorgeous car...

The idiot that bought it decided he'd make a convertible out of it.. with a sawzall... He hacked the roof off, and threw a cover over it. It still sits, 4' deep in mud, in his yard today...

Like others have said, I got my asking price.. But it sucked seeing it that way.

[Fred]

About 10 years ago I sold a MINT '70 Formula Firebird. All original, gorgeous car...

The idiot that bought it decided he'd make a convertible out of it.. with a sawzall... He hacked the roof off, and threw a cover over it. It still sits, 4' deep in mud, in his yard today...

Like others have said, I got my asking price.. But it sucked seeing it that way.

The mind boggles! Unbelievable! But then, you can't educate an idiot!

[Kern Dog]

Dino, YOU are a nice man. What a cool thing for you to do. I wish that I had contact info of the guy that sold me my 70. I'd LOVE to send him a progress report.

[Cooter]

This is the age old question....

Is it worth the money you sold it for to see your old car cut up, crashed, rotting away, etc.?



These are the things that go through the mind when some jackwad comes up with the cash.

[Dino]

Dino, YOU are a nice man. What a cool thing for you to do. I wish that I had contact info of the guy that sold me my 70. I'd LOVE to send him a progress report.

Hey thanks Red, much appreciated!   

I do believe that you should treat people the same way you want them to treat you.  If I was the seller and he was the buyer I'd hope he would do the same for me.