Drove 8 hours for Nothing (very long post)
03-04-2012, 09:37 PM
#41
you drove 8 hours for a car priced way to high. trust me when i tell you, you will regret not having nav. it is much easier to add an aspec kit later on for a couple hundred bucks than a 1800-2000 nav.
and you "low balled" him what...600 bucks? Thats not a lowball.
you live in cali, I'm sure there is a thousand 100k+ mile tl's there. keep searching for the right one
and you "low balled" him what...600 bucks? Thats not a lowball.
you live in cali, I'm sure there is a thousand 100k+ mile tl's there. keep searching for the right one
03-04-2012, 10:06 PM
#42
you drove 8 hours for a car priced way to high. trust me when i tell you, you will regret not having nav. it is much easier to add an aspec kit later on for a couple hundred bucks than a 1800-2000 nav.
and you "low balled" him what...600 bucks? Thats not a lowball.
you live in cali, I'm sure there is a thousand 100k+ mile tl's there. keep searching for the right one
and you "low balled" him what...600 bucks? Thats not a lowball.
you live in cali, I'm sure there is a thousand 100k+ mile tl's there. keep searching for the right one
03-04-2012, 10:30 PM
#45
yea he posted it as 11k but when i talked to him he said he decided to sell it for 11.5k because his car is worth wayyy more.
03-04-2012, 10:32 PM
#46
lol! Wow, I met that guy at the hat meet last year..
could this be it possibly?
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-problems-fixes-114/flashing-d-guage-after-draining-refilling-atf-804263/
could this be it possibly?
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-problems-fixes-114/flashing-d-guage-after-draining-refilling-atf-804263/
03-04-2012, 10:53 PM
#47
lol! Wow, I met that guy at the hat meet last year..
could this be it possibly?
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=804263
could this be it possibly?
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=804263
03-04-2012, 10:59 PM
#48
Race Director
iTrader: (8)
Lesson learned:
Search up the seller's created threads on Acurazine and find out problems haha
If a buyer wanted to know about my car, they'd know by searching my threads that:
1. It's an awesome car.
2. It has its problems, etc.
Search up the seller's created threads on Acurazine and find out problems haha
If a buyer wanted to know about my car, they'd know by searching my threads that:
1. It's an awesome car.
2. It has its problems, etc.
03-04-2012, 11:06 PM
#49
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
smog test.. 
03-05-2012, 12:21 AM
#51
03-05-2012, 03:49 AM
#52
Moderator
iTrader: (7)
dude you could have just have had a friend around LA look at it for you first....or even if you dont have friends in LA, have someone on the forum help you out. I would have done it since I live in LA, I'd be sure to notice any problems right away since I have a TL so I know exactly how it should drive and sound. when i was looking for a car in san diego I had a friend look at it for me first, and thats less than 2 hrs away....you drove 4 hrs.
03-05-2012, 05:24 AM
#54
Intermediate
it all started way back in Dec the first time he asked to buy my car for 9K, so I simply ignored him. 2 months later, Feb 2012, he asked me again, came back with a better offer. So i naturally would like to do business with him.
However, ever since he started contacting, the cycle, "Is there anything wrong with the car?", "Has this/that been fixed", "according to the post you had on Acurazine, have you addressed those issues?", "Can you lower the price?", had begun.
It was in the middle of Feb when he asked all these questions and I understood his concerns since he's a younger person, so I didn't really care, and also tried to be as corporative as possible.
I have never failed to answer his questions, nor gave him any ambiguous answers. Just before he came over on Sat, he told me he could only do 10k, and asked me if i want to hold onto that 500 and risk for a longer waiting time for another buyer to show up, or lose that 500 then he would come take the car. I didn't like the price so I just said no. After that "cycle", he offered me 10400, and I told him that he could pick either "registration" or "smog". Naturally, any buyer would have picked the Smog, and I knew it. I also told him that the car could use a new battery, and I'll through in a new battery if he could raise the price back up to 10500. But he answered: "No I want the new battery, and I won't raise the price. That was the deal."
Then I went to DMV to pay for the new tag, found out that I have to do the smog so i figured i might as well just do the smog myself and freed myself from the demonic "cycle".
To be honest, this pending sale had been very tiring since it had lasted like half a month, so I didn't even wanna bother to fight for the damn price anymore.
So I changed the battery the night before he came over, and I did in fact tell him that the car would SURELY pass the smog since I have never done ANY modification to the car at all.
The next day when he arrived, I met his bro and he's a very nice person. We had some talks and he understood me pretty well. After a few test drives, his bro liked the car, and also told me there's nothing wrong with the car mechanically after he plugged his own CPU to my car after failing the smog. So we took it to a smog shop where my mechanic recommended, and all the people from the smog shops told me the same thing:
"You just need to drive it more. After you disconnected the battery terminal, it would take some time for the car to relearn the driving cycle. There's nothing wrong mechanically with the car. It just needs to be driven more. A good 40-60 miles trip could do the job, depending on the car."
Then after some discussion within his family, his bro told me that it'd be a bad news for me. They didn't wanna deal with the trouble. Who would want to?
The I told his bro that if the car passed smog within the day, I'll call him back.
After I took off, he began texting me in a very rude manner, suggesting that I screwed him over and embarrassed him after he forced his parents to drive for long hours "intentionally". I told him to clam down and I had no idea that a never-modified 2004 tl would not be able to pass the smog. He just told me things like "I wish you didn't lie to us" which I completely understand why he would say that, so I decided to make a quick run, hoping that the smog would pass after it.
Then I drove the car to the freeway, for about 55 miles, went back to the smog shop, and it passed like a champ with no problems. So I called him again, then he raised another question.
"How would I know if you had paid the guy under the table to pass you?"
I then told him that his brother would be able to check it out from his cpu if he doesn't believe me.
He then just told me that he would buy the car if he can take it out and smog again at a shop they assign. After hearing that I knew the sale is cold because I don't think I can deal with this guy anymore, so I just told him i can't do it because I did not want to pay twice for it.
Then he told me, Quote "Too bad then." "We're not coming back lol."
Sometimes you do not have to be difficult. I learned a lot and I hope you did too, for your best interest. If you are skeptical, you should have brought a mechanic along.
However, ever since he started contacting, the cycle, "Is there anything wrong with the car?", "Has this/that been fixed", "according to the post you had on Acurazine, have you addressed those issues?", "Can you lower the price?", had begun.
It was in the middle of Feb when he asked all these questions and I understood his concerns since he's a younger person, so I didn't really care, and also tried to be as corporative as possible.
I have never failed to answer his questions, nor gave him any ambiguous answers. Just before he came over on Sat, he told me he could only do 10k, and asked me if i want to hold onto that 500 and risk for a longer waiting time for another buyer to show up, or lose that 500 then he would come take the car. I didn't like the price so I just said no. After that "cycle", he offered me 10400, and I told him that he could pick either "registration" or "smog". Naturally, any buyer would have picked the Smog, and I knew it. I also told him that the car could use a new battery, and I'll through in a new battery if he could raise the price back up to 10500. But he answered: "No I want the new battery, and I won't raise the price. That was the deal."
Then I went to DMV to pay for the new tag, found out that I have to do the smog so i figured i might as well just do the smog myself and freed myself from the demonic "cycle".
To be honest, this pending sale had been very tiring since it had lasted like half a month, so I didn't even wanna bother to fight for the damn price anymore.
So I changed the battery the night before he came over, and I did in fact tell him that the car would SURELY pass the smog since I have never done ANY modification to the car at all.
The next day when he arrived, I met his bro and he's a very nice person. We had some talks and he understood me pretty well. After a few test drives, his bro liked the car, and also told me there's nothing wrong with the car mechanically after he plugged his own CPU to my car after failing the smog. So we took it to a smog shop where my mechanic recommended, and all the people from the smog shops told me the same thing:
"You just need to drive it more. After you disconnected the battery terminal, it would take some time for the car to relearn the driving cycle. There's nothing wrong mechanically with the car. It just needs to be driven more. A good 40-60 miles trip could do the job, depending on the car."
Then after some discussion within his family, his bro told me that it'd be a bad news for me. They didn't wanna deal with the trouble. Who would want to?
The I told his bro that if the car passed smog within the day, I'll call him back.
After I took off, he began texting me in a very rude manner, suggesting that I screwed him over and embarrassed him after he forced his parents to drive for long hours "intentionally". I told him to clam down and I had no idea that a never-modified 2004 tl would not be able to pass the smog. He just told me things like "I wish you didn't lie to us" which I completely understand why he would say that, so I decided to make a quick run, hoping that the smog would pass after it.
Then I drove the car to the freeway, for about 55 miles, went back to the smog shop, and it passed like a champ with no problems. So I called him again, then he raised another question.
"How would I know if you had paid the guy under the table to pass you?"
I then told him that his brother would be able to check it out from his cpu if he doesn't believe me.
He then just told me that he would buy the car if he can take it out and smog again at a shop they assign. After hearing that I knew the sale is cold because I don't think I can deal with this guy anymore, so I just told him i can't do it because I did not want to pay twice for it.
Then he told me, Quote "Too bad then." "We're not coming back lol."
Sometimes you do not have to be difficult. I learned a lot and I hope you did too, for your best interest. If you are skeptical, you should have brought a mechanic along.
03-05-2012, 05:24 AM
#55
Intermediate
PS: Sorry I really don't know much about cars that's why I have been a searcher more than a poster. I have gained tons of knowledge from this forum filled with generous people. And if this incident has caused any damaged to this community I am truly sorry about it.
03-05-2012, 05:59 AM
#56
Always like to hear the other side as there is always 2 side to a story and this clears the air. No damage done and I assumed from the OP's post that there may have been a problem with him as the entire ordeal sounded ridiculous with his demands and lack of knowledge, and you were more understanding and patient than I would have been. With the replacement of the battery, naturally time will need to pass before a smog can be done, and on the Land Rover it took 4 days of driving before it was accepted.
Looks like his loss and thanks for the explanation.
Looks like his loss and thanks for the explanation.
03-05-2012, 07:38 AM
#57
My oldest is turning 14 this year. When he wants a car in a couple of years, I can care less what he wants unless he's big and bad and can support himself.
On that note, get yourself something sensible and save some cash. You will have a much better chance of getting chicks when you have cash in your pockets. That is why you want an used TL over a Civic right?
On that note, get yourself something sensible and save some cash. You will have a much better chance of getting chicks when you have cash in your pockets. That is why you want an used TL over a Civic right?
For some reason alot of parents want to spoil their kids and must not realize that spoiled kids will always turn out bad.
03-05-2012, 09:17 AM
#59
When we got to the second shop. The guy working there says the car is ready for a smog check. As soon as ny bro in law pulls out his own obd2.. Ivan goes back and talks to the owner of the shop... Comes back saying that the car needs to be driven about 40 miles. I ask him directly if he want to drive the car for that long to make it pass. He stated no quickly back to me.
Also ivan, tell me why u had a side conversation with my brother in law who has the obd2 and not me who is buying the car.
And when we left you called my phone twice! then I texted you saying how did u get it fixed within 15 minutes! When you needed to drive it for at least 40 miles according to tour mechanics.
I ask if the car was snog ready, then we would want to pick our own shop. The deal was still on alright. But your response was "next week I can do it"
Like im gonna drive back to l.a. next week lol
Also ivan, tell me why u had a side conversation with my brother in law who has the obd2 and not me who is buying the car.
And when we left you called my phone twice! then I texted you saying how did u get it fixed within 15 minutes! When you needed to drive it for at least 40 miles according to tour mechanics.
I ask if the car was snog ready, then we would want to pick our own shop. The deal was still on alright. But your response was "next week I can do it"
Like im gonna drive back to l.a. next week lol
03-05-2012, 09:19 AM
#60
Also tell me why the registration expired.
When I ask u over the phone about that. You said you forgot to renew it...
When we got to l.a., you said another guy was buying the car so u didnt bother renewing it.
When I ask u over the phone about that. You said you forgot to renew it...
When we got to l.a., you said another guy was buying the car so u didnt bother renewing it.
03-05-2012, 10:30 AM
#64
the overexplainer
just for future reference, if registration is expired in CA, you have no choice but to smog first. You cant register an un-smogged car. Next time dont give the buyer a choice it just provides more confusion. Also just be honest and say you didnt want to renew a car you were getting rid of. Heck, sometimes you need to smog just to change the title. http://dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffvr32.htm
technically the onus is on the seller to have it smogged already.
OP, it's common for the selling party to not smog or renew registration on their car if they know they will be putting it up for sale. They might just stop driving it altogether.
It's also not wrong to be a skeptic, but be realistic. Not everyone's out to get you. The after texts you sent the seller were unnecessary.
technically the onus is on the seller to have it smogged already.
OP, it's common for the selling party to not smog or renew registration on their car if they know they will be putting it up for sale. They might just stop driving it altogether.
It's also not wrong to be a skeptic, but be realistic. Not everyone's out to get you. The after texts you sent the seller were unnecessary.
Last edited by ez12a; 03-05-2012 at 10:39 AM.
03-05-2012, 12:28 PM
#67
Oh and one more thing ivan. we stopped at mcdonalds after we left the shop. You said you took the car for a drive but yet we saw your car parked on the side of your mechanics shop and you smoking a cigarette.
03-05-2012, 02:29 PM
#68
Intermediate
I'm not even gonna argue since this is getting pointless. The reason i was only talking to your bro was because he is a gentleman, who know manner, and extremely polite. And I am not going to trash about you since you're going to be around this forum for a while and I hope you'd learn from whatever happened because I did. embrace your advantage when you're still young. be more adaptive.
03-05-2012, 02:30 PM
#69
Three Wheelin'
dude you could have just have had a friend around LA look at it for you first....or even if you dont have friends in LA, have someone on the forum help you out. I would have done it since I live in LA, I'd be sure to notice any problems right away since I have a TL so I know exactly how it should drive and sound. when i was looking for a car in san diego I had a friend look at it for me first, and thats less than 2 hrs away....you drove 4 hrs.
03-05-2012, 02:41 PM
#70
Intermediate
At the end, my car didn't pass the smog like i said it would and therefore he didn't feel like buying it. It was something that I could have make sure before promising anyone anything. Sorry you had to drive a long way and only to found a disappointment. Like all the others said, you will find an ideal one if you just keep looking. I hope you'll an ideal deal for yourself, and a good one for myself in the future.
The following users liked this post:
david_vang (03-05-2012)
03-06-2012, 05:49 AM
#71
Moderator
iTrader: (7)
interesting story...at first i only heard OP's side, but after hearing ivan's side, it makes sense why it failed smog. It is true it does need to be driven for awhile after disconnecting the battery, it's like that with a lot of cars nowadays.
03-06-2012, 06:51 AM
#72
Suzuka Master
^^^I had the same problem with my AV6 in the past the CEL keep throwing code for EGR flow (infamous V6 Honda EGR problem). After I reset the code using OBDII scanner I have to drive around town so the car ECU ready to check everything. If you disconnect or reset with OBDII the ECU monitor will be reset and when you check for readiness code it will say "not ready" or "N/A".
03-06-2012, 08:50 AM
#73
He doesnt want to waste money renewing the registration. Why would he put a new battery in it just the day before I come buy it. I never askwd about the battery ever.
Even if the battery was the issue, I asked him directly to drive the car for a while more. Ans he speccifically stated thats not what he wants to do.
Even if the battery was the issue, I asked him directly to drive the car for a while more. Ans he speccifically stated thats not what he wants to do.
03-06-2012, 09:04 AM
#74
Both go your separate ways, it's obvious you aren't buying the car anymore and there's no point to go through a back and forth on here. He said he was willing to, you said he wasn't...it's pointless. Just keep looking.
03-06-2012, 09:13 AM
#75
Suzuka Master
^^^agree threat come to an end.
03-06-2012, 09:17 AM
#76
Suck it up dude. It sounds to me like its nobody's fault really.
Sometimes this kind of stuff happens. I went to pick up a 97 corolla 2 hours away from me one time. I got there and it was a 98 (completely different body style) wtf bro?
I went yesterday to pickup a camry. I called and the only question i asked was if it was 4cyl or v6. She said v6 and I told her I was on my way, that i was driving 40 miles WITH MY TRUCK AND TRAILER and not to invite anyone else to see it (didn't want to get there and have 5 people trying to buy it). I got there and it was a 4 cyl, ragged out all inside and out, shady ass body work, AND another guy showed up and bought it in front of me (not that I wanted it anyway after i saw it) but still.
Thats how buying a used car works. You'll have issues and disagreements sometimes. Sometimes sellers are dishonest or incompetent, sometimes buyers are. I've bought over 200 cars last year in 2011 and I've got plenty of worse stories. If you don't like it, try a dealer...although I have stories from dealers too.
Live and Learn.
Sometimes this kind of stuff happens. I went to pick up a 97 corolla 2 hours away from me one time. I got there and it was a 98 (completely different body style) wtf bro?
I went yesterday to pickup a camry. I called and the only question i asked was if it was 4cyl or v6. She said v6 and I told her I was on my way, that i was driving 40 miles WITH MY TRUCK AND TRAILER and not to invite anyone else to see it (didn't want to get there and have 5 people trying to buy it). I got there and it was a 4 cyl, ragged out all inside and out, shady ass body work, AND another guy showed up and bought it in front of me (not that I wanted it anyway after i saw it) but still.
Thats how buying a used car works. You'll have issues and disagreements sometimes. Sometimes sellers are dishonest or incompetent, sometimes buyers are. I've bought over 200 cars last year in 2011 and I've got plenty of worse stories. If you don't like it, try a dealer...although I have stories from dealers too.
Live and Learn.
03-06-2012, 09:18 AM
#77
Suzuka Master
He doesnt want to waste money renewing the registration. Why would he put a new battery in it just the day before I come buy it. I never askwd about the battery ever.
Even if the battery was the issue, I asked him directly to drive the car for a while more. Ans he speccifically stated thats not what he wants to do.
Even if the battery was the issue, I asked him directly to drive the car for a while more. Ans he speccifically stated thats not what he wants to do.
. My brother living in Houston and his tag was expire three months ago, there is nothing wrong with the vehicle (emission/state inspection wise) still drove the vehicle. He still driving it. beside I think if you don't like his car then just moving on to the next and keep looking vice versa for him. GL with your hunt for a your preferable TL .
03-06-2012, 02:50 PM
#78
Race Director
iTrader: (8)
03-06-2012, 02:54 PM
#79
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
:gheylaugh:
