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| Typical conversation between Rod and me on our trip. |
I drove good friend Rod down to Auckland today in a repeat performance of the road trip we made a couple of years ago. See:
Once again Rod was buying a second hand car and wanted both a lift and a second opinion on the selected possible purchases.
The second Mitsubishi he bought 2 years ago turned out to be a waste of time and money. He paid $5,500 for it, spent $1,000 on new tyres for it and sold it a couple of months ago for $3000 making it a $3,500 loss. He's nuts!
This time he selected three Toyota Corollas from the Trade Me offerings and scheduled in some test drives.
1. 190,000 kms for a 2011 model. Price $5400 o.n.o. It was a smart looking car with no dings or scratches. The high mileage was due to the fact that it was an ex rental car a fact that Rod didn't like. I told him that rental cars are regularly serviced but he remained unconvinced. He looked under the bonnet and quickly shut it. He was horrified and on questioning him I found out that the engine was dirty. Dirty? Yes, dirty! Apparently Rod believes that a dirty engine is a bad sign. He turned this car down. He's nuts!
2. 160,000 kms for a 2006 model. Price $5,500 o.n.o. Again it was a smart looking car but smelled old and of having had a lot of use. I didn't like it. Rod did like it and was interested in buying it, because, he said, the young woman selling it was nice. He's nuts.
3. 90,000 kms for a 2006 model. Price $6,5000 o.n.o. This is the car that yesterday, sight unseen I told him was the likely best prospect given the low mileage (for its age). The car was in great condition and had been well looked after. NZ first registration and two owners. I said that Rod should buy it and not to ruin the sale by offering too low an offer like he ruined the sale of the first Mitsubishi two years ago. He said that he would offer $6,000 and not budge. He did so and quickly moved to $6,250 when they wouldn't accept his first low offer. He's nuts but I'm glad that he bought this car as it's sound, has lowish mileage and has been well looked after.
Cars 2 and 3 passed the under bonnet test and all three passed the tyre kicking test. Yes, the tyre kicking test
Rod believes in the old urban myth that you have to kick the tyres of a car when checking it out.
I told you he's nuts.
1 comment:
Next time you should take Robert with you. He has insider knowledge.
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