A friend of a friend recently bought a 1970 beetle for $7000. Purple with fibreglass wide guards and older mag wheels. Looked attractive in a photo.
They did not get a mechanical report and within months they now are in a situation where the vehicle needs a motor, clutch, gearbox, motor accessories, and numerous other work to bring it up to a standard where it is considered very reliable and will last.
They have had quotes for $4500-$5000 as they cannot do a single nut or bolt themselves.
Now the prices for the work do not seem unreasonable to get what they have had quoted to get done, lets get that straight. They are not being ripped off there.
The person who sold them the car may not have known that a lot of mechanical items were on their last legs, and cannot be blame for ripping them off.
I am not a blamethower. What I am trying to impress and it is something I talk to people a lot about is there may have been a lack of understanding or communication somewhere along the way
They may not have understood the implications of buying a vehicle 35 years old.
They did not get a VW experienced mechanic to do a mechanical check including compression test on motor, hence no professional communication or consultation.
It may have cost them $60-$100 for each vehicle they got tested along the way while preparing to buy an older vehicle, but they would not be in the position they are now and would definitley have learnt a lot about VW's if they had a bad report or two before getting a good one.
I am only trying to help here, and I get very dissapointed when I see what looks like people blaming anyone or everyone but themselves. It only takes a bit more communication to protect yourself.
helbus Administrator Mad fabricator, paint and body
7,386 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·
