Mint (ahem) 360 in the classifieds

[ian_uk1975]

This sort of thing really does make my blood boil...

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/f...

Would someone care to explain what the word 'mint' and this car have in common? Just look at the driver's side window frame! Given that pics are notoriously flattering to a car's true condition, I can only imagine what the rest of the car looks like up close!

Some sellers just don't seem to know what 'mint' means. When challenged, the classic line 'well, it's mint for a 10 year old car, mate' often follows... err, so it's not actually mint then! These sellers are also liable to describe a leather interior as 'full leathers'. Run away, very quickly, if you ever see verbage like that!

Sorry, just venting.

[johnnyreggae]

Isn't there a clue in the price ?

[GregorFuk]

A little bit of paint and £1000 spent on a quality detail and you may well have a bargain on your hands.

[kds keltec]

I could turn that around with my eyes shut and make it extremely mint with little effort so seems a very good price on the face of it.

I've dealt with cars similar to that that are younger in worse condition on a regular basis, hence why it may be called mint by the seller due to it being a 12-13 year old slightly fragile vehicle.

Edit: actually I nearly forgot about this thread of 2 360's

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.p...

The first car in the thread is far from mint its a 2002 car worked on by myself back in 2007 so exactly half the age of the described mint car for sale.

All fixed with simple rattle can paint,touch up paint and careful machine correction, OH and of course wheels were refurbed too. All at a low cost as suggested above by GregorFuk.

The second car was decribed as mint by ferrari specialist and sold for top money (some 57k last year)

Kelly

Edited by kds keltec on Wednesday 15th January 10:15

[Bebs]

27,000 miles and bolster wear like that

[voicey]

I didn't even bother to look at the pictures - it's a year 2000 car with 6 stamps in the book. Tells me all I need to know!

[Mario149]

voicey said:

I didn't even bother to look at the pictures - it's a year 2000 car with 6 stamps in the book it's a flappy paddle. Tells me all I need to know!

EFA

On a serious note, I wouldn't be put off buying something like that. Assuming a few cosmetic bits, and that a detailed inspection and compression test etc came back fine, it could be a bargain. Keep it a few years, build up a good history etc. Stamps in the book are just that, they don't really mean anything. And at least it will likely have had 6 oil changes, say one every 4.5k miles on average, so not completely dire. I'd be more worried about all the classic 'consumables' like manifolds, ball joints etc which an inspection would highlight

[ian_uk1975]

Just to be clear, I'm not interested in the car... was just venting about sellers misusing the word 'mint' when the cars clearly aren't.

[voicey]

Mario149 said:

voicey said:

I didn't even bother to look at the pictures - it's a year 2000 car with 6 stamps in the book it's a flappy paddle. Tells me all I need to know!

EFA

On a serious note, I wouldn't be put off buying something like that. Assuming a few cosmetic bits, and that a detailed inspection and compression test etc came back fine, it could be a bargain. Keep it a few years, build up a good history etc. Stamps in the book are just that, they don't really mean anything. And at least it will likely have had 6 oil changes, say one every 4.5k miles on average, so not completely dire. I'd be more worried about all the classic 'consumables' like manifolds, ball joints etc which an inspection would highlight

You'd be prepared to buy a car that should have been serviced 13 or 14 times when in reality it has only been done less than half? It's not the mileage between oil changes but the time - there's a very good reason that Ferrari specify fresh oil annually.

[Mario149]

voicey said:

You'd be prepared to buy a car that should have been serviced 13 or 14 times when in reality it has only been done less than half? It's not the mileage between oil changes but the time - there's a very good reason that Ferrari specify fresh oil annually.

For the right price, yes....I know that oil goes off over time, but if it's had modern stuff put in it every 2 years, it's not the end of the world. Porsche have had 2 year service intervals on their cars for 10 years or so now so it can't be that detrimental. Even if the oil was going off a bit between each service, it's not as if it's done mega mileage on dodgy oil.

It's def not for everyone, but I wouldn't immediately write off a car like that, if there are no gremlins, it could be a good opportunity to buy cheap/sell cheap

[Paul O]

ian_uk1975 said:

Some sellers just don't seem to know what 'mint' means.

Asda and Morrisons do...