Buying used - what to look for?

I am in the market to purchase a used speedster replica. Just
something good looking, and dependable. Don't need all the
"bells and Whistles" just a looker.
Can anyone give me some ideas on what to look for in buying used?
I have communicated, via email, with a couple sellers, and they
claim to have the "best" and cleanest car available. My question is -
then why are you selling it?
I just don't want to get burned, and have to dump alot of money
into something I just bought. Any comments would be appreciated.
Mike

MIKE ARE U IN SIMI VALLEY?
ALSO LOOK AT THE POST ABOVE THIS ONE ENTITLED "ARE YOU READY FOR A REPLICA"

"El Diablo" will be on the market in a very short period of time.
My plan is for a new wider body Vintage.. I will be asking in the 13K range for a truly well maintained and trouble free outlaw...

Mike,

I spent a year dumping allot of money into a NEW turnkey I had built. Should be good to go for whomever buys the car. less miles sometimes means more issues. We call it "well sorted". Oh, and my speedster IS the best, if you ask me. Cant think of the last time my opinion really mattered though. Good luck in your search. Let me know if you'd like to go for a drive.

Welcome to the Madness

paul

Mike, welcome to the madness.. and as far as why folks sell, well then why would someone like us even buy a ride that you can barely get into.. and it rides like a kidney bouncing machine on rails.. Basically because they are a freaking BLAST to own and were ALL attention WHORES! every freaking light I get to someones giving me a thumb's up... Well I hope it's their thumb! These tubs are special and you have to be someone VERY special to drive one, and this group fits that bill! SO if you're trying to justify why someone would be selling a new, low mile ride... well lets just say they like going to the bathroom on a reg., basis! Vinces tub for 13K is a steal, and if you're local, then you gotta come out and see some of the tubs at a local run sometime soon... good luck with your quest!

Speedster "D" Not selling yet!

Yes, I am in Simi Valley, California. I'm going, with a friend that has owned a couple VW's, to the San Diego area tomorrow, to look at a Vintage Speedster, Red/Tan with 7000 miles on it. It has a 1915cc
motor, oil cooler -- --- all the bells and whistles. The pictures look clean, and the car is about 2 years old. My only downfall, from talking to the owner, he has A/C installed. Has that big
compressor on the motor. He's asking $17,900 for this car. Is this a good price? Do you think I could get it for -- - - say $16,500?
Any comments - both positive and negative, are welcome ! Thanks

Don't you think you ought to at least look at it before reduce your offer by $1400? Sounds like you are wasting the sellers time to me. $18,000 for 2 year old VS sounds more than reasonable. Most new installations of AC don't use the huge old power robbing compressors - they use the small more efficient rotary compressors.

And A/C systems can be easily removed - as I did after reality set in and I realized I was never going to put the top up anyhow!

$18k is a decent price......

My technique is to look, look, look.

No way should one buy on just on the bottom line asking price without taking a look. I have seen asking price of 20k for a car and final sale for much less. Personality and circumstances have a lot to do with a deal. Many times the asking price is more than fair. Vince has a reasonable price, that maybe an exception, you must go look at every one you hear about. I'd like 18k for my car, but I'd sell for 16 if I liked the person and they bought me a nice lunch.

Tuesday theory:

I got a really good buy once because weekend lookers nit-picked about cosmetics, asked insulting questions, low-balled on the price, etc. I liked the car, the owner and I got along, I told him how nice his car was, care, love, sorry you are selling and such. Called back Tuesday, car hadn't sold, had insulting offers, was pissed off. Told me what the offer was. "Shucks" said I. "I'd have bought it for that" Sold! It was a fair deal. Did the same thing with my speedster, no one responded at the car show. I bought Super Silver Haze on Tuesday.

If you are brutal, look for divorce, death, or duress. The 3D theory of purchasing.

Good luck

Friday 13th UPDATE -
Thanks all for responding to my questions. You've all opened my eyes up ! I test drove a Speedster today that was a "10" It was a vintage speedster with all the bells and whistles. I drove 3 hours to see it, one way, and almost bought it, except - - - -
I had two issues that might be only minor.
1. The car leans to the right. You can visually see it, standing behind the car, or as it goes down the street, that the car is leaning to the right side over an inch. We measured it on a flat concrete surface. With only 7000 miles on the car, everything, including the underside/pan - - was very clean and taken care of.
Owner didn't know anything about it, but when my friend took it down the street, it looked like there was 300 on the right side. Any ideas?
2. Haven't driven alot of speedsters, but it felt like I was sitting on a concrete park bench. Rode very hard. The rear shocks were the originals, only 7000 miles on them. They were white shocks, probably KB or K&B? I didn't think it could be the rear shocks, but was concerned if that can be fixed.
Car is $17.900 and I offered $17,000. I told the owner he had a beautiful/clean/good running speedster - - but was concerned about these issues, because I don't know if this is a suspension problem.
Never gave any negative vibes back to him, and I really liked his car. He countered offered at $17,450. I said, I'd have to ask around, and get back to him regarding my two concerns. Any ideas?
Thanks again
Simi Mike

MIKE
CALL JOHN AT JPS
HE HAS A 3 YEARS OLD GRAY SPEEDSTER WITH LESS THAN 2K MILES
HAS A 914 ENGINE BUT HE WILL SWAP OUT IF SOMEONE WANTS A SMALLER ENGINE
THE CAR IS LOADED AND PRISTINE.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Speedster-CMC-replica_W0QQitemZ170406807018QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item27ad0985ea