HI TOM
I MUST FIRST SAY I ENJOYED YOUR NARRATIVE ON THE LATEST "B".
IN A NUTSHELL I WOULD SAY THAT THE CAR DEFINATELY HAS POSSIBILITIES...I
WOULD GIVE THE MAN YOUR MONEY BUT ONLY SOME OF IT!
THE PAINT WORK AND INTERIOR CAN DRAIN YOUR BUDGET QUICKLY---BUT FROM WHAT
YOU ARE SAYING IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU COULD DRIVE IT AS IS FOR A WHILE.
I WOULD START AT 2800 AND MAKE 3500 THE TOP LIMIT
LET ME KNOW WHAT HAPPENS
GOOD LUCK.
STEVE
>From: Tomsjetta@aol.com
>Reply-To: Tomsjetta@aol.com
>To: mgs@autox.team.net
>Subject: Should I buy this MGB? semi-long
>Date: Mon, 26 Jul 1999 22:53:59 EDT
>
>First: This is not the first MGB I've looked at-I walked away from that
>one.
>
>The car is a 1980 B, blue, brown interior. 75k miles. Repainted about two
>years ago. 200 miles on engine rebuild. Top is brand new. That's the
>overview, here's the full story:
>
>Body: Car has been owned by current owner for three years, and has been
>outside (I saw no garage). Amazingly, the body was in incredible shape. No
>dents. No dings. I had my magnet with me-it stuck everywhere I put it,
>sills,
>fenders, you name it. If this car has any bondo on it, it got by me. Doors
>were in perfect alignment, as was boot and bonnet. The paint job, though
>recent, is poor, I'd give it a D+/C-. There is overspray on the passenger
>door, and when you run your hand across the surface, it has a rough quality
>to it. Owner says the car just needs to be waxed-can this be true? I am
>skeptical. Car sits perfectly level, no sagging anywhere. Rostyles have
>been
>totally spray painted silver and are missing hubcaps; I don't care for it
>at
>all, if I had the $$ I'd buy some minilites. Rubber looked old, but there
>was
>tread. I found some surface rust towards the rear of the trunk. That was
>it.
>I got under the car and spotted none.
>
>Interior: Shot. Seats and door skins are incredibly faded. A 3" tear is
>where
>my left shoulder would be on the driver's seat. Cushions are not so hot-I
>rode in the passenger seat, and I was not terribly comfy. Dash cracked in
>about three places. No carpet behind seats. In fact, not much carpet
>anywhere. Just enough to keep the floors covered. Panel below dash on
>driver's side was sagging. Radio works, my God the clock even worked.
>
>Driving: I did not drive the car; my poor wife was left at the curb and the
>owner drove it. On starting, car blew no smoke at all. Ran smooth. Under
>acceleration, no hesitating. Car felt very peppy, moreso than I had
>expected.
>Looks like it shifted very smoothly. Tranny did not make a single sound,
>nor
>did brakes. Car appeared to handle well (this guy was really flinging it
>around). So, from a mechanical standpoint, I cannot find fault with the
>car.
>
>He is asking $4,000. A fellow list member tells me the CT MG market is
>inflated to the tune of about $1,000 more than what you might pay elsewhere
>in the country. I simply don't have the time to do that kind of traveling.
>List members, you are my sounding board, tell me what you think. Do I give
>the man my money, walk, or run away?
>
>I greatly anticipate your answers/advice.
>
>Tom
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