price check on 1976 2002 automatic -- help

[flipper]

Price: $100

Location: the greater north east

Description:

yes, yes, i know, you need pictures.  and i will try to get some.  but in the meantime ... it's a '76 automatic, 70k miles on it.  and let's assume it's in stellar condition.  i saw it and it's sparkling.  new rebuilt engine.  no rust.  always kept inside.  the owner also owns and runs a pretty high end european auto repair place, so although it looks like he's put a crapton of money into the car, it's not like he paid retail.  how i came across the vehicle, i just saw him driving it around and asked if it was for sale.  he said he hadn't been thinking of selling it but that money talks ...

   i assume by that he means a/ he's not going to name a price and b/ he's going to want a lot (as who wouldn't?).

   i don't need the car.  it's not my dream year.  but even so and nonetheless.

  i gather that autos are worth less than manuals, and i'd rather drive a manual, but i have a disease that's weakened my legs to the point that i can no longer drive a stick.  they've been that way since i last owned a 2002, about 10 years ago.  i loved the car, but i could no longer drive it.  and then this thing comes along .....

  anyway, what'd you imagine the top-end range for a 2002 like this one might be.  and if i decide to go drive it, i will take pix and post them then.

   thanks!!!!

 

  and no i wouldn't be buying to flip it.  flipper is my screen name 'cause of the old tv show, that's all.

Edited April 4, 2018 by flipper

[flipper]

well, i did find this, but i obviously need more ...

 

 

[mbausa2001]

$7k.  Outside of California 

 

[Mark92131]

70K original documented miles, or 170K miles?  From the one picture is looks like a nice stock example of a 76 automatic.  It's not perfect, (missing the knee trim on the passenger front fender, but it is re-sale red and very presentable.  In CA, the smog issue would hurt the price, but I think mbausa2001 at $7K is low for this car.  The automatic transmission is less desirable, but if you need one for your wife or medical reasons, finding a nice one that hasn't been converted to a 5 speed is getting harder and harder.  I would put this car in the $10K to $15K range depending on documented mileage and what my PPI turned up.  When negotiating with someone that isn't actively selling the car, I wouldn't give them a price, I would ask them what they would take to let it go.  If it is not in your price range, or they throw out a huge number, then it probably isn't for sale, yet.  If it is close to your budget, then counter the offer, they can only say no.

 

Good luck,

 

Mark92131

[flipper]

Mark:  thanks for the price advice and the negotiating advice.  according to the owner, it's 70K original miles.  i guess what i'll go do is have a look at it, take some pictures, post them here, see what ya'll say, then email him and ask him what you said, what'll it take for you to let it go.  if it's close, okay.  if we agree on a price, i'll then take it somewhere other than his repair shop for an independent PPI.

   but ... what do i do if he's adamant about me naming a price first?

   he seems like a very nice guy, so we'll see.

[flipper]

   or maybe i should ask him now what it's going to take and if he names an astronomical number, then i can back away and not go through the minor hassle of driving to his place, taking pix and all that.

 

  so: before seeing or after?  i just wish he'd named a price in the first place.

[Conserv]

Echoing Mark, assume the mileage is either 170,000 or “not known” unless the seller is the original owner or the seller has a stack of receipts going back to 1976.  My receipts for my ‘76 since 1976 fill four volumes....

 

My ‘76 has 105,000 miles on it.

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

Edited April 7, 2018 by Conserv

[Mark92131]

On 4/4/2018 at 12:52 PM, flipper said:

but ... what do i do if he's adamant about me naming a price first?

 

If he wants you to name your price, I would only do that after taking a pretty hard look at the car, (rust inspection, missing parts, etc.) so you have some leverage points.  Then I would give him the low range of your budget.  If he balks, then I would ask him what he is thinking he wants to let the car go.  If that number is still in your budget, then negotiate using the car's warts as leverage.  If his number is outside your budget, then he wants more than you are willing to pay and the hunt for your "perfect" car continues.

 

As Conserv mentioned, without appropriate documentation, that car has 70K miles or 170K miles or 270K miles.  During that negotiation, I would be asking if he has any documentation to prove the 70K original miles.

 

Good luck,

 

 

Mark92131

[flipper]

On 4/4/2018 at 10:30 AM, flipper said:

 

   well, here's a gadzillion pictures.  the current owner bought it from the original owner in 2012. says, yup, 68,000 miles is the number.  no documentation, however.  seats are from a mini cooper; very comfy.  he still has the originals.  motor rebuilt less than 500 miles ago.  he can't see any overspray and thinks the paint is original.  i saw no bubbling anywhere.  nor any rust.  tool kit is present and looks to be original.  i freaking forgot to take the spare out and look for rust there.  i saw no rust around the jack areas.  i poked around and everything seems solid.

   headliner is intact.  dash has zero cracks.

   no a/c, which may be a deal breaker for me, due to my leg problems.

   passenger window does not roll down.  clock doesn't work.

   shifted smoothly.  for noise reasons, i wish it had more than 3 forward gears.

   what can you guys see?  neither the owner nor i are exactly knowledgeable about 2002s.  he had a chance to buy it.  it'd been sitting in a garage for a long long time.  he went through and changed everything that needed changing and had the motor rebuilt while he was at it.

   what do you think a good-deal price on it would be?

   p.s. his girlfriend hates the car 'cause it's so loud.

   p.s. the owner seems like a genuinely nice and honest guy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[flipper]

2 hours ago, flipper said:

n/m

 

Edited April 7, 2018 by flipper

[mbausa2001]

On 4/4/2018 at 8:30 AM, mbausa2001 said:

$7k.  Outside of California 

 

I just raided my low ball price to $9,999.  outside of California.  

[flipper]

ha!  yup.  far outside of ca.  here's a few more shots.  even though i didn't take the spare out, in the close up shots you can sorta tell it looks clean.

[flipper]

also, as to the miles, judging from the looks of the stickers, i'd say 68k miles might be right.  i mean, the stickers look pristine to me, for what that's worth.

 

uhm.  could the paint, in fact, be original?  sheesh. how insane would that be, especially in as intact as it seems to me.  could not find a single bubble or funky looking area.  then again, the original owner could have had it done at some point.  if the price is right, i'll be able to talk to him and see what's what.

Edited April 6, 2018 by flipper

[M3M3]

10k might be a low ball price.

[flipper]

  well, okay, thanks, but ... what flaws do you see? anything that i could use to negotiate with?

   and if 10k might be low -- what might be ok and what might be high?

 

  update: haggerty's offers this for the 2002:

  excellent: 18,800

  good: 10,700

   fair: 7,400

autotrans: - 25%

 

if excellent is concourse, then my potential 2002 is between g and ex, or 14,750.  now, take away 25% for auto trans, and you get $11,062.  not that i think he'll let it go for that, but does that sound about right for this particular car?

Edited April 7, 2018 by flipper