TheSamba.com :: View topic - Sending a down payment from the classifieds

Wed Mar 10, 2010 9:20 pm

His ad says "In process of title but bill of sale may be easier". If you are going to make this your driver, I wouldnt send any money for this bus unless it has a clear title in the hands of seller. Just my opinion...or at least another reason to go see it in person first.

Wed Mar 10, 2010 9:52 pm

I really think driving 5 hours just to go see it is out of the question for me right now...hopefully someone local can peep it for me, so I can at least know that it exists and know if it's as solid as he describes.

Wed Mar 10, 2010 10:44 pm

I maybe full of sh!t, I have been wrong before but I seem to recall my bank telling me the date on a personal check means as much as the check number.. Nothing... Generally it is a gentleman's agreement only.

Wed Mar 10, 2010 11:06 pm

Yup. Looks like I'm going on blind faith here, unless I can get someone I know (friend/family) to front me the cash and pay THEM back instead. Hope lady luck's on my side on this one... :?

Wed Mar 10, 2010 11:39 pm

Emeritusx wrote: I maybe full of sh!t, I have been wrong before but I seem to recall my bank telling me the date on a personal check means as much as the check number.. Nothing... Generally it is a gentleman's agreement only.
I agree. Post dated checks are an outdated salesman scam "... just give us a post dated check and we'll hold it while you think about it".

Right. My bank doesn't even look at the date.

Thu Mar 11, 2010 3:19 am

I think I would just pass on this one, not because of mistrust but because he lists the Bus as "solid for the area". I take that to mean a little less rust than normal for the area but more than you want to deal with. But, if you do buy it check with your State first and see if they will accept a Bill of Sale. Better yet, run the Bus's VIN and see what you come up with.

Thu Mar 11, 2010 10:57 am

I'm not too worried about the "nice for the area" remark...because out here you either have rusty, or less rusty.

Surface rust like this is of little concern to me; I'm just looking to get something that doesn't have the extensive rot mine does. I think it's the best I can do right now. Definitely a step up from what I have...which is a Bus that's about to rust in half. He said it was in Oklahoma before it was in NY. No telling what that means, or how long it was there. I asked him more than once how solid it is underneath and he said that's the first thing he checked out when he got it. It says solid frame in the listing.

The story is that he originally had a '71, needed some sort of part for it, found this '79 in his friend's field of parts Buses, decided it was too complete to pull parts off of and bought the whole thing to sell. He's since sold his '71 for a Vanagon, which must be the one in the background of the pics.

Work and transportation limitations prevent me from going very far to pick something up. That's why I was really hoping someone from the area could glance over it for me. I've requested more pics. I will post updates as they come. I'll ask for the VIN too.