Re: Neglectful Owner

["therealdmcvegas" <DMCVegas@xxxx>]

Nothing. A new owner is the only thing that will get this car running both 
properly, and constantly. People like that will always be stubborn, and you 
can't motivate them to change their ways. Tony Robbins could show up in a 
Snap-On truck, and they would still make lame excuses on why they CAN'T 
work on the car! When I took my D in for a new clutch, I was surprised to see 
another sitting in the bay next to mine. It looked familiar, and upon closer 
inspection, I discovered that it was a car that I had once looked over, but 
decided to pass by due to owner neglect. (spilled soda on the doors, and swirl 
marks on the stainless from the car wash). When I first saw the car 2 years 
prior, it had just come out of the shop freshly tuned. After I left, he hadn't 
started the car again until recently. As you can guess, the entire fuel system 
was contaminated. Needless to say, it was back in the shop getting an entire 
new system. The catch was, this was the 2nd time that week it had been in. It 
seems that the owner decided to save a buck, and drained the old gas out 
himself. Nothing wrong with that. But to truly pinch pennies, he poured the old 
gas back in once he drove the car home so not to waste it! Luckily it had 
gummed up the pump before it spread back thru the system. But the mechanic 
still had to drop and clean the tank again. The mechanic was too generous 
IMO. He replaced the pump free because it was under warranty from the local 
BOSCH supplier. But did refuse to do anything else if the guy caused it 
himself. The car was repaired so he could sell it, and driving by his house a 
couple of times, it's gone. That has perhaps been the happiest I've ever felt 
about someone parting with their car.

The moral here? A bad owner is going to be a bad owner no matter what. No 
matter what the marquee or car, they will always do damage to both. The best 
thing is for them to part with the vehicle. Like my car. God love the guy who 
used to own it, 'cause I sure don't! Soild carpet, cross-over parts everywhere, 
ghetto repairs like my busted clutch M/C, and the zipties on my steering rack 
boots! Many repairs on my car have been to correct past human error. 

If you want to save the car, try getting some details, and see if you can put 
some word out to sell it. And if you want it yourself, talk to his wife. If she wants 
the car gone, and knows there's a buyer waiting, perhaps she can get farther 
in convincing the guy to sell by talking in his ear for you. He breaks down, you 
have cash, she calls you, the car is yours. Kinda sneaky I know, but you do 
what works.

-Robert
vin 6585 "X"