Just found an underpriced '91 740 with 115,000. Is it worth it?

[Don B.]

Hi Gang
I need your collective knowledge and opinions again.
I am trying to replace my wonderful (but totaled) '87 740 turbo.
I found a'91 non turbo w/auto trans in a lot near by.
For me the turbo is not necessary. The car looks good.
No bends from crashes that I can tell. It's the base model
with the hand crank roof and I am amazed at how good
the interior looks! Like a car only a few years old..


Anyway, I looked on Kelly Blue Book and it was valued
at about $5,000. Which did seem a bit high. The lot
only wants $3,995.

The A/C has dye around the filler valve and the SRS light stays on
on the dash. I know the A/C is a potential big budget
repair but I don't have a clue about SRS. And, I'm
trying to figure out if I can be happy with fewer
features than my old Turbo had... Hand cranking the roof...
Man, was I spoiled! If anyone has any experience with
this year/model. Or knows of problems with systems,
such as A/C, Transmission, SRS could you mention it?

Thanks for any help
Don B.

 

[Steve J.]

You didn't mention your geographic area, which matters. I can tell you
this, $3995 is an "asking* price and with the SRS light on I'd offer
them about $2500.
Now if that seems insane to you consider this…. I made my living for 5
years selling used cars, and even if we only paid $900 for some car,
we *always* marked it up $2000, it's standard operating procedure for
the most part.
They'll take the $2500, but they will make you work for it. They'll
say …
"Oh no we could never do that why we could wholesale it for $3250 and
try and make you feel like a fool. They will try every dirty
manipulative underhanded lying sorry trick they can.
Bottom line is not one of those guys gets paid a dime till you buy a
car.
Stick to your guns, look on ebay completed auctions, do you HOMEWORK,
and then go buy a good car, WORTH THE MONEY, and by the way the Kelly
Blue Book you reference is in the car business known as a "selling
tool".... oK? I know it's on the net it's still a seeling tool. You
can buy '90, '91, etc740s all day long for under 3k. It's a SELLING
TOOL


What gets me is people never wake up to the car dealer bullshit. I am
amazed when year after year they feature a suited idiot on the TV
swearing by God you can buy a car for "No money down and ONLY $199.00
per month..."
Right, thats why I got out of it, I prefer honest ways to make a
living.