is this guy nuts or wat?

[Honolulu]

Here's the scene: wife and I are driving to a BMW shop to renew my requried safety inspection (months out of date) so that I can renew my registration (similarly six months out of date). We are stopped at an intersection when the loon in the next lane leans out his minivan window and asks if I want to sell....?

He yells that ratty examples are 20K and pristine are 40k. He suggests, IIRC, $25k for my car. He yells his phone number as the light turns green and we all drive away. The wife is all for calling him as my AC is history, engine is smoky and the passenger side window doesn't fully close due to a bad regulator.

I've been subject to this sort of behavior before, starting 'way back in 1972 while driving my rusty '58 Bug (first year big window, if you're not a Bug type guy). I learned that all kinds of trolls will bark at you, but they all turn out to be a scam of one sort or another if you actually try get serious.

I've had this car for decades and been all through most of it's parts. A handful of other Bimmers have come and gone. I converted from AT to 4-speed then 5 speed, put in headers, CD player, sway bar, new radiator, water pumps and have generally been all over this car. It has been my surf car and has taken me all over the island including places I shouldn't have gone out. I've left skin all over all the sharp parts. Yielding to tempation (and assuming the offer is at all real) would leave me with little familiarity with the next car unless I found my fifteenth 2002.

This is not to say that my car's in real nice shape (it's not; the engine is smoky and (hello Stan) I finally got the console mostly back together). But $20K (if real) is a lot of temptation. There are very few CS in Hawaii any more. What sort of trouble would I get into then?

Anyone want to share similar stories of troll barking?

 

[Dave L]

Offers

I've had that a few times driving, never offering a specific amount though. I once had one of my cars on a film set (some SciFi channel mini movie) and a crew member came to me and offered to buy my car. He Ooood and Ahaaad over it then gave me his number. Never mentioned a price. I just took it as a nice complement and never followed up.

Dave L

 

[Arde]

Sell it and we will get you another one from the mainland.

It is not that nuts given it is a rare car.

Nuts was when my friend went to Egypt and got offers to buy his wife. Nuts he didn't accept them... We could have sent another one from the mainland.

 

[rb1971]

The first day I had my car back on the road I had a guy offer to trade his SLR. Like below, I just took it as the equivalent of saying "nice car". (Also, I already know a guy with an SLR.)

 

[CSteve]

I pulled up the a stop sign at a "T" where a restaurant had outdoor dining directly across from us. A guy stood up and applauded my coupe until we made the right turn. Nice.

 

[vince]

When we first bought this house almost eight years ago, I was up at the top of the driveway doing something. My new neighbor-Jim pulled up in an E39 to introduce himself and welcome us to the neighborhood. He looked at our house and excitedly said "is that a coupe?" I looked down our long driveway(maybe 75 feet) at the garage where my coupe sleeps and noticed the door was only half open. I was impressed.

Anyway, my neighbor Jim used to have one and loved it. He told me he was driving home from work one day when some guy in a Mercedes started honking at him and motioning for him to pull over, so he did. The guy walked up and told Jim that he loved his car and he wanted to buy it; Jim said it was he favorite car and didn't want to sell. The guy made him and offer he couldn't refuse and bought it on the spot. That guy was Gus Van Sant.

I'm not sure if I'm a big fan of his movies, but I like his taste in cars.

 

[gwittman]

On my way to work one morning about 5 years ago on the rare occasion that I drove my coupe, I heard this person next to me at a stop light yelling. I rolled down the window and he asked how much I wanted for it. I told him it was not for sale. He said everything is for sale for a price. I told him if I wanted to sell it I would have to get at least $15,000. He got this shocked look on his face and said, oh I thought an older BMW would go for no more than $5,000. The light turned green and I drove away.

I also find notes left on my windshield asking the price. My coupe does not have a for sale sign on it, why do they do that?

 

[Stevehose]

I've had that happen to me before but the light turns green before he shoots me the offer after a few "it's not for sale" replies.

On my way to work one morning about 5 years ago on the rare occasion that I drove my coupe, I heard this person next to me at a stop light yelling. I rolled down the window and he asked how much I wanted for it. I told him it was not for sale. He said everything is for sale for a price. I told him if I wanted to sell it I would have to get at least $15,000. He got this shocked look on his face and said, oh I thought an older BMW would go for no more than $5,000. The light turned green and I drove away.

I also find notes left on my windshield asking the price. My coupe does not have a for sale sign on it, why do they do that?

 

[G]

I get asked all the time ..Wanna sell ? My answer is usually .........Uhmm ....not sure, you can offer me $50k and I'll still be undecided.

By that time conversation is usually over....:}



A few years back I broke down on some back roads right at an intersection. A gentlemen on his Harley stops at the intersection then pulls over& starts admiring the car . Whats wrong with the car he says?

I believe its the differential ,I answer.

Then asks..... whats it worth?

I reply... Don't know, maybe $40K ? $50k ?

He says I'll give you $40k as is broken down and all !

I said thanks but not ready to let her go just yet.

He then gave me his business card and left. And I called and waited for a tow truck !

 

[dp]

Sell it and we will get you another one from the mainland.

It is not that nuts given it is a rare car.

Nuts was when my friend went to Egypt and got offers to buy his wife. Nuts he didn't accept them... We could have sent another one from the mainland.

where's the "like" button?