My story on getting hosed

[Fahrbomb]

So some of you may have seen my intro thread. I was new to beetles and desperately wanted a car to work on with my father and my son. My dad had one in his younger days and I always liked them. I thought it would be a great way for us to all spend time and create memories with the the intention of the car being passed onto my son.

I was admittedly clueless but set out with the best intentions(fast track to suckerville). Found one locally, seller told me it was a rust free car. Checked it out in person and car looked decent from the outside. Interior looked clean and I didn't think it odd that carpet was screwed down in the inside. I saw maybe one tiny spot in the bottom of a pan that I thought could be a problem. I didn't think to check the luggage tray because everything I read about was inspect heater channels!! They didn't look bad to me but again being a noob what the hell did I know. Car ran fine and I was excited for the adventure I might just embark begin this car and my family. I overpaid at a whopping 6k for what I thought was essentially a rust free driving car.

Well shit hit the fan shortly after I began to do some minor wrenching on the car. I uncovered a rusted rotten luggage tray, a completely rotten half pan and a major oil leak that had been covered up with some clear sealant to prevent it from dripping. To be honest I was heartbroken. I couldn't believe it happened to me, first time I've been scammed. But I know the deal buyer beware, chalk it up as a learning experience. Shortly thereafter my dad was no longer able to work on the car. he was the one with the mechanical knowledge so I was now very much alone with tackling this project. I began to ponder doing it all myself, cutting, welding etc. got books, bug me videos, even tried to find local metal fab classes, etc...I finally came to the conclusion I'm in over my head and just decided to cut my losses and sell.

Car has been for sale for a while. I keep my own scorecard in life and don't take advantage of people so I've been honest with every person who has shown interest. No takers and I get it, it's a tough sale regardless of how little I'd take for it. But I don't care, i am up front about it with the issues I know of and am fortunate enough to that the financial loss on the car is not going to have any real impact in me.

Well I happened to get contacted today by a potential buyer. Talk on the phone he says he wants it 100% and as I'm eager to dump this car he throws out a number and I say show up with cash and we will do it. Says he will be out of town and will have his wife give a deposit exit weekend pick up the car when he gets back. But it's weird, I know the phone number. I check some of the records I had from the prior owner. Sure enough the same fucker who ripped me off thought he was going to buy the car back for pennies and then do it again to someone else. I might have been foolish when I bought the car but this was one dumb ballsy dude to try this, especially considering I have his phone and address.

So beware all, while most of the VW community i have met are good folks, some really just aren't.

[Brown]

That really sucks! I'm always amazed when you hear a story like this where someone intentionally goes out of their way to over stuff up and screw you especially when they know you are going to figure it out! I bought a car where the computer module was damaged and the seller rewired the check engine light to not come on.

All you can hope is that karma catches up to these people in the long run!

What about parting the car out to recoup some extra money than just selling the car whole?

[Fahrbomb]

The way I see it karma already caught up with this guy. He looked like a junky and doesn't appear to have much going for him. eventually pulling stuff like this will get him in trouble with the wrong person.

As for the car I don't really have the patience to part out. I'd rather sell it as a whole to be done with this whole experience. All offers considered! id rather sell it for less and it go to someone with time and knowledge to enjoy it.

[Fahrbomb]

and by the way his name is Mike Baumann of westbury if any of you know of him...

[rob711]

So sorry to hear this story, karma will catch up but I gave u some advice on the samba. Maybe call him and tell him you changed your mind. You'll get ur vw
Rob

[Raj]

So beware all, while most of the VW community i have met are good folks, some really just aren't.

Could not have said it better.

Not sure if it is in my old age Im more aware of what drives people, or the VW scene is becoming too commercialized and a more generic population of ‘ enthusiasts’ are entering it, or if its just people in general and more people are scum bags…… but what you are saying is true.
Personally, Even on local level, I have heard some many recent horror stories of people/ person lying to their friends to make a few bucks, ‘buying’ cars off people and not paying for them, taking advantage of the goodness of their fellow VW owner for sole benefit of themselves, borrowing stuff and not returning it. It really amazes me.
I don’t think it’s really a ACVW thing, I view it a bad seed out a bunch. It happens to us all. You just need to be aware of ‘ that guy’ hopefully sooner rather than later, and limit your exposure the best you can.
But don’t let this experience deter you from the crowd. Aircooled guys are mostly still good people. This guy you are talking about, Im sure, is an isolated incident. Doubt he rolls in the VW community, otherwises someone here would know the car and or name.

[Fahrbomb]

Thanks all for the replies.

Raj you've been a good voice to me since I joined this board and I've always liked hearing your advice. I certainly won't be deterred from VW crowd and I think you are right that it is def not an ACVW thing and more of people in general can be scumbags. People will do anything for money. That's life.

I know most folks don't want a project like this but if any of you do, make me an offer. If I can't sell it before winter I'm going to consider other options. Selling is the easiest route but if it doesn't work I was thinking of seeing if I can find a shop that I could donate it to, they would do the work for free to fix it up and then the car could be auctioned with proceeds going to a charity. I think that might be the happy ending needed here.

[rob711]

Maybe call a boces or a high school auto shop class, they could fix it then auction it off for charity. Good luck, you seem like a genuine person. Hope u get a vw at some point

[Matts70]

Hi Brian, just curious the outcome of your 69. Saw it was off TS