RJM62
Touchdown! Greaser!
- Joined
- Jun 15, 2007
- Messages
- 13,157
- Location
- Upstate New York
- Display Name
Display name:
Geek on the Hill
I'm in the market for a winter rat. For you Southerners, that's an older car one drives in the winter to spare the newer car the trauma.
If possible, I'd also like my winter rat to be a First-Generation Kia Sportage, simply because I've always liked that quirky little car. I also know a lot about them mechanically because I kept one on the road for four years doing most of my own maintenance, even after I no longer needed it. I only sold it because someone I knew was down on their luck and hard up for a car. The old Sportages were also great in the snow. So it would be a combination winter rat and hobby car.
I've bought and sold many cars on Craigslist over the years, mainly Kias and Saturns (my other favorite hobby cars). I've actually lost count of how many cars I've bought and sold on Craigslist. But never before have I encountered so many clueless and/or rude Craigslist sellers.
I drove about 212 miles yesterday to look at a car that I wound up not being able to buy because the owner had disconnected the battery, which prevented me from testing for codes. I don't think he was trying to scam anyone. I think he honestly didn't know how the OBD2 system worked. But it still prevented me from pulling codes.
Another seller in Allentown refused to answer some very basic questions about the car and send me a couple of additional pictures I'd requested. It was "too much work," he said in response to my email.
A third seller somewhere in Connecticut hasn't answered my phone call. His car's been listed for 29 days. You'd think he'd be eager to sell it.
A fourth seller simply told me he's not going to answer any questions about the car. "It's just a car," he said. "What's there to talk about?" He also sounded stoned.
A fifth didn't know whether their car was the RWD or 4WD model. I asked them how many shift levers there were, and they said four. (There could only be one or two, for RWD and 4WD respectively.) I asked what was on the tailgate door and they said the license plate and the spare tire.
A sixth swore that their 2002 Sportage was FWD. (There were no FWD Sportages in the First Generation.)
I'm pretty much through looking for an old Sportage. Apparently either the car or Craigslist attracts idiots. Unless the guy from Connecticut eventually calls back before I buy something else, I give up.
Rich
If possible, I'd also like my winter rat to be a First-Generation Kia Sportage, simply because I've always liked that quirky little car. I also know a lot about them mechanically because I kept one on the road for four years doing most of my own maintenance, even after I no longer needed it. I only sold it because someone I knew was down on their luck and hard up for a car. The old Sportages were also great in the snow. So it would be a combination winter rat and hobby car.
I've bought and sold many cars on Craigslist over the years, mainly Kias and Saturns (my other favorite hobby cars). I've actually lost count of how many cars I've bought and sold on Craigslist. But never before have I encountered so many clueless and/or rude Craigslist sellers.
I drove about 212 miles yesterday to look at a car that I wound up not being able to buy because the owner had disconnected the battery, which prevented me from testing for codes. I don't think he was trying to scam anyone. I think he honestly didn't know how the OBD2 system worked. But it still prevented me from pulling codes.
Another seller in Allentown refused to answer some very basic questions about the car and send me a couple of additional pictures I'd requested. It was "too much work," he said in response to my email.
A third seller somewhere in Connecticut hasn't answered my phone call. His car's been listed for 29 days. You'd think he'd be eager to sell it.
A fourth seller simply told me he's not going to answer any questions about the car. "It's just a car," he said. "What's there to talk about?" He also sounded stoned.
A fifth didn't know whether their car was the RWD or 4WD model. I asked them how many shift levers there were, and they said four. (There could only be one or two, for RWD and 4WD respectively.) I asked what was on the tailgate door and they said the license plate and the spare tire.
A sixth swore that their 2002 Sportage was FWD. (There were no FWD Sportages in the First Generation.)
I'm pretty much through looking for an old Sportage. Apparently either the car or Craigslist attracts idiots. Unless the guy from Connecticut eventually calls back before I buy something else, I give up.
Rich
