65wave

What's a good rule of thumb for selling a classic car. What are the do's and don't s on filtering potential buyers?** Test drives, ect. As always. Thanks Mechanics not included!

captain cook

One good filter is the questions the potential buyer asks...Informed buyers ask good questions.
No test drives if the car is really nice.....test rides.....sure

SonnyAK

Looks to me like it may completely depend upon the attire of the kicker...

R66

Had a 69 Camaro SS 396 / 375 hp for sale back in 75, beautiful car. Nice couple in their 30s shows up really interested in the car. After a while, they wanted to test drive it. Young and dumb, I agreed to let them go on the test drive.
I could hear the engine scream and tires squall through every gear over two miles away. I then got a lot older.
They brought it back and in "no way want to buy the POS". They had had their FREE JOY RIDE.
I got lucky, the engine and drive train survived. Vowed never again.
Test rides, OK.
Test drives, only with $10K cash deposit and I am in the passenger's seat with a loaded weapon.

dahogan

Yep

DansYellow66

I'm kind of the same opinion - test rides, OK - test drives, No. Now a days you can't even be sure who shows up knows how to drive a stick shift car.

boomerangj

WOW! What did you say(or do) to them when they returned?

ILBMF

One thing to remember is there are some people who have the cash and want the car, but have absolutely zero knowledge and seem to be the exact opposite type of person that you would consider a potential serious buyer. Point is, don't judge a book by it's cover so to speak. There is no way in hell I would let them drive the car if it's a classic Corvette...period. Take them for a ride.

Railroadman

The guy on the left wearing a dress is definitely weird, but his girlfriend ain't bad!

Bowtyeguy

I stopped letting people test drive unless it was the last thing before the purchase.

To many guys just want to drive an old Vette.

When they have no idea how to put it in reverse I just shake my head.

When they say I have to ask my wife I know its over.

desertpilgrim

Include the price in the ad.

00fxd

I knew a crusty old guy that bought and sold many vehicles. Late model pickups, Mustangs anything, no junk. Old race car bum, been around. His deal was, look at it all you like, if you like the car and it's everything you want, you pay in full up front. We'll go for a ride, if anything isn't exactly as advertised we'll talk. Worked for him. Probably wouldn't work for me.

dahogan

I did't ask to drive the '66 before I bought her. The seller sort of sealed the deal after the inspection with one screaming hell of a ride.

Frankie the Fink

I take prospective buyers for a "performance ride" if they want and have put down a deposit. Then when the deal is sealed they get to drive it with me on board and if all isn't as it should be we'll work it out (never happened though).

When the man who bought my '67 Chevelle SS-396 drove to Florida from Texas to pick it up with his wife and another couple. I took the two guys out for a ride and when they got out, the buyer's wife slipped up to me and said, "...I knew it was all over by the smile on his face!"

426 Hemi

I started putting "please, no test pilots" in for sale ads. Seems to have helped.

dmaxx3500

no tire kickers,no test drives,and cash only

and no negotiating thru emails or phone,before you've come out and looked at it

boxster99t

FWIW, I bought my 67 seven years ago sight unseen--had it inspected by a guy (who runs a local Corvette shop) I knew up in Boston, who had inspected another one that I did fly up to see in person, and didn't buy. He drove it though. So I never saw, much less drove mine, until I owned it.

That said, if you've got a nice classic Corvette and the buyer is serious, it will all work out--I'd probably let a prospective purchaser drive it but I'm riding shotgun. If the person cannot competently drive a clutch, you'll know in about two seconds, and you tell him to pull over and stop. I doubt very much that with me in the passenger seat anyone would drive the car harder than I do, either.

Also depends on how badly you want to sell your car--you don't have to let anyone drive it, if you don't want to. But, before I part with my hard earned money, someone other than the current owner's going to drive it. We all know you can conceal issues simply by how one drives or doesn't drive the car.

OldKarz

I only take people for a drive. If they want to continue forward with the sale, we do the deal, and at that time I will let them drive the car with me along, if they are not happy and we both can not agree on a solution I let them go. Never had this happen. A very simple process.

ohiovet

When selling a old Corvette (C1, C2) I will take a perspective buyer for a ride. When I get a deposit I let them drive it with me in the car. My cars are typically well maintained and mechanically very good.
When buying a old corvette I usually do a good inspection (frame & birdcage rust,leaks, electrical function, repaired body damage, etc) and see if it starts but don't drive it. If it has sat more then a few months I don't feel they are really safe to drive. If it does not start I factor that into the price.
Obviously I am just looking for a good potential driver but it it runs it is a plus. Many cars that I have looked at run like crap unless it is advertised as a good driver.

vettebuyer6369

Ive been buying Corvettes since the late 70s. Ive never bought a car without taking it for a test drive, unless it was undrivable.

I would expect any potential buyer to feel the same way.