What is it with sellers.....
Discussion
I spotted this (a Mercedes S280 with LPG conversion)
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
I sent the seller a note last night stating that I could view today (Sunday) or tomorrow (Monday). Sent off a few queries:
"Hello
Would you be able to detail the service history i.e. date, mileage, garage and the type of service undertaken.
When was the LPG kit installed, what type is it, do you have the installation certificate and when was the installation last serviced?
What sort of equivalent MPG do you see from the vehicle using LPG?
Would you be free on Sunday/Monday for me to come and have a look? I would need to be able to verify the MPG so would do this by ensuring the LPG tank was full, finding a local motorway for a 50 mile drive or so at 70MPH, then re-filling with LPG and calculating the MPG that way.
My previous car was a Volvo V70 T5 (22MPG) and I am currently driving a 1990 Skoda with a 1.9 normally aspirated diesel engine. Very economical but no refinement.
I've owned about 4 Mercedes in the last and am now in the market for a genuine example that will help me keep my fuel costs relatively under control.
How come the badge shows S320?
I look forward to hearing from you."
Response today: "This sounds like a headache, stick with the skoda"
Was I being unreasonable by asking for some additional info?
If the service history had checked out, I'd have gone over tomorrow with enough cash on me for a deposit. Weird!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
I sent the seller a note last night stating that I could view today (Sunday) or tomorrow (Monday). Sent off a few queries:
"Hello
Would you be able to detail the service history i.e. date, mileage, garage and the type of service undertaken.
When was the LPG kit installed, what type is it, do you have the installation certificate and when was the installation last serviced?
What sort of equivalent MPG do you see from the vehicle using LPG?
Would you be free on Sunday/Monday for me to come and have a look? I would need to be able to verify the MPG so would do this by ensuring the LPG tank was full, finding a local motorway for a 50 mile drive or so at 70MPH, then re-filling with LPG and calculating the MPG that way.
My previous car was a Volvo V70 T5 (22MPG) and I am currently driving a 1990 Skoda with a 1.9 normally aspirated diesel engine. Very economical but no refinement.
I've owned about 4 Mercedes in the last and am now in the market for a genuine example that will help me keep my fuel costs relatively under control.
How come the badge shows S320?
I look forward to hearing from you."
Response today: "This sounds like a headache, stick with the skoda"
Was I being unreasonable by asking for some additional info?
If the service history had checked out, I'd have gone over tomorrow with enough cash on me for a deposit. Weird!
ipsg.glf said:
I spotted this (a Mercedes S280 with LPG conversion)
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
I sent the seller a note last night stating that I could view today (Sunday) or tomorrow (Monday). Sent off a few queries:
"Hello
Would you be able to detail the service history i.e. date, mileage, garage and the type of service undertaken.
When was the LPG kit installed, what type is it, do you have the installation certificate and when was the installation last serviced?
What sort of equivalent MPG do you see from the vehicle using LPG?
Would you be free on Sunday/Monday for me to come and have a look? I would need to be able to verify the MPG so would do this by ensuring the LPG tank was full, finding a local motorway for a 50 mile drive or so at 70MPH, then re-filling with LPG and calculating the MPG that way.
My previous car was a Volvo V70 T5 (22MPG) and I am currently driving a 1990 Skoda with a 1.9 normally aspirated diesel engine. Very economical but no refinement.
I've owned about 4 Mercedes in the last and am now in the market for a genuine example that will help me keep my fuel costs relatively under control.
How come the badge shows S320?
I look forward to hearing from you."
Response today: "This sounds like a headache, stick with the skoda"
Was I being unreasonable by asking for some additional info?
If the service history had checked out, I'd have gone over tomorrow with enough cash on me for a deposit. Weird!
If he/she can't be bothered to answer some straight forward questions for you, a potential buyer, they are not worth worrying about! http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
I sent the seller a note last night stating that I could view today (Sunday) or tomorrow (Monday). Sent off a few queries:
"Hello
Would you be able to detail the service history i.e. date, mileage, garage and the type of service undertaken.
When was the LPG kit installed, what type is it, do you have the installation certificate and when was the installation last serviced?
What sort of equivalent MPG do you see from the vehicle using LPG?
Would you be free on Sunday/Monday for me to come and have a look? I would need to be able to verify the MPG so would do this by ensuring the LPG tank was full, finding a local motorway for a 50 mile drive or so at 70MPH, then re-filling with LPG and calculating the MPG that way.
My previous car was a Volvo V70 T5 (22MPG) and I am currently driving a 1990 Skoda with a 1.9 normally aspirated diesel engine. Very economical but no refinement.
I've owned about 4 Mercedes in the last and am now in the market for a genuine example that will help me keep my fuel costs relatively under control.
How come the badge shows S320?
I look forward to hearing from you."
Response today: "This sounds like a headache, stick with the skoda"
Was I being unreasonable by asking for some additional info?
If the service history had checked out, I'd have gone over tomorrow with enough cash on me for a deposit. Weird!
Was I being unreasonable by asking for some additional info? Of course not. They will have trouble selling if that is there attitude!
50 mile test drive is pushing it a bit though!!!!
But surely the point of an LPG conversion is that it makes the fueling more affordable. Why would you not put this info in the advert so that potential buyers understand the benefits of the conversion. I'm always suspicious when a LPG car does not have specific details of the LPG conversion.
Its not the extra info the guy is worried about... its the bloody 50 mile test drive! 50 miles!
usually four or five miles should be enough to seal the deal. If you had a choice between someone who would accept a 5-10 mile test drive, or someone who is pedantic enough to want to test the MPG of a vehicle over 50 miles, I know which one I'd choose.
usually four or five miles should be enough to seal the deal. If you had a choice between someone who would accept a 5-10 mile test drive, or someone who is pedantic enough to want to test the MPG of a vehicle over 50 miles, I know which one I'd choose.
ipsg.glf said:
But surely the point of an LPG conversion is that it makes the fueling more affordable. Why would you not put this info in the advert so that potential buyers understand the benefits of the conversion. I'm always suspicious when a LPG car does not have specific details of the LPG conversion.
Thats fine but you are asking him to fill the tank up at his expense, do 50 miles then fill it up again!ipsg.glf said:
But surely the point of an LPG conversion is that it makes the fueling more affordable. Why would you not put this info in the advert so that potential buyers understand the benefits of the conversion. I'm always suspicious when a LPG car does not have specific details of the LPG conversion.
Fine with that. Might be a bit too much for a limited word advert, but would have no issues supplying that info in an email, along with the rest of the info you have asked for. A demand for a 50 mile test drive (best part of two hours, including fuelling)? Maybe, if you gave me a 100% cash deposit
OK, I guess the point I was trying to make was that in order to be able to accurately check the MPG you do need to do some miles. If that is poss with 20 miles then fine but no point me travelling to see it and then him trying to impose a 15 minute test drive on me when the whole purpose of the test drive is to see whether it is economical enough for me to buy.
ipsg.glf said:
But surely the point of an LPG conversion is that it makes the fueling more affordable. Why would you not put this info in the advert so that potential buyers understand the benefits of the conversion. I'm always suspicious when a LPG car does not have specific details of the LPG conversion.
Nothing wrong with your additional questions. Asking for a 50 mile test drive and mpg check is a little excessive. Do your homework first.............[Best Guess] The car will do slightly less mpg on gas as it will on unleaded. Therefore, assuming it'll do 28mpg average on unleaded, expect 25mpg on gas. Gas is 75p a litre, unleaded is 1.35, so about twice as much. If you bank on a theoretical equivalent gas mpg of 45 or thereabouts, then youll not be far wrong. [/Best Guess]
Chances are had you just turned up after a phone call and quick chat the guy wouldn't have had an issue with a decent test drive as you would look serious.
But 50 miles is excessive.
The tone of your email to be honest would just earn the delete button from me if I was selling a car, just like there are plenty of cars out there, if a cars priced realistically and isn't hugely undesirable there are plenty of normal buyers too.
But 50 miles is excessive.
The tone of your email to be honest would just earn the delete button from me if I was selling a car, just like there are plenty of cars out there, if a cars priced realistically and isn't hugely undesirable there are plenty of normal buyers too.
ipsg.glf said:
OK, I guess the point I was trying to make was that in order to be able to accurately check the MPG you do need to do some miles. If that is poss with 20 miles then fine but no point me travelling to see it and then him trying to impose a 15 minute test drive on me when the whole purpose of the test drive is to see whether it is economical enough for me to buy.
If you are that worried that a car is not economical for you to buy then you are looking at the wrong car! ipsg.glf said:
But surely the point of an LPG conversion is that it makes the fueling more affordable. Why would you not put this info in the advert so that potential buyers understand the benefits of the conversion. I'm always suspicious when a LPG car does not have specific details of the LPG conversion.
My understanding of LPG conversions is that it does the same or worse MPG than petrol, but LPG is cheaper. What is to measure?Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff