Nice 78 goes to 13K - three days left

[Sailor Bob]

Enrique - My cars carpet was identical - the nap of the carpet is different in later models, perhaps a reflection of the period or the japanese interpretation of it. The pile in mine is about an inch and it reminded me of the colours of buffalo hyde when purchased. When the console or seats are removed the original colour is appearant adjacent the faded portion.

Stephen - sorry for being prickly, misunderstood your point.

[BRE-240Z]

Can't pick apart the car, so pick apart the story? If he had dyed the carpet people here would say he is trying to hide something......

I'm not interested in 'picking this car apart', whatever that means. Or in denigratring the seller, or in spending my valuable time analyzing his story....although even the most trusting among us would have to admit that his feedback does not inspire confidence.

On the contrary, I'm very happy to see a Z bringing top dollar. That's good for those of us who have Z's sitting in our garages.

However, eBay would be a more useful site for those of us who are actually collectors and enthusiasts if the items available for sale were represented in a more straightforward manner. Everything on eBay is ultra rare; never before seen; kept in a dark, heated time capsule until RIGHT NOW, where it's being revealed to you in return for the entire contents of your wallet....even when something as obvious as faded carpet would seem to indicate the contrary.

[EScanlon]

Rick:

Thanks for the info, was not aware of that.

Brian;

I agree with your comment regarding "Rare!!!" and "Never Used" hype.

Sadly, the sales ability of the average e-Bayer is equivalent to the State Fair Games Shill..."Walk Right Up...Every one's a winner...3 throws for a quarter...Guaranteed to win!!". I don't think that will ever change. It will eventually diminish, somewhat, but only amongst those tenured sellers that know it's unnecessary and superflous. Unfortunately, "the squeaky wheel gets the grease", so it will continue for a long time.

But as far as the "denigrating" of the auction, seller or car, it's the implication of doubt or downright scorn of some characteristic of the car or seller behind the words used that generates that label. This is a printed text medium, and as such, the specific use of some words can engender a lot of interpretations, some of which can be negative.

FWIW

E

[Stickerman]

I'm not interested in 'picking this car apart', whatever that means. Or in denigratring the seller, or in spending my valuable time analyzing his story....although even the most trusting among us would have to admit that his feedback does not inspire confidence.... ....even when something as obvious as faded carpet would seem to indicate the contrary.

There was a thread a few days ago about how every car that comes up for sale gets picked apart by the "experts". Now a 27K mile car come along and YOU question his story right off the bat. Does that make sense?

You question his feedback, I see a guy that has sold a number of cars, with positive feedback. He has negatives in the past as many long time ebayers do. You question the faded carpet, while I expect a car that was driven and is 30 years old to have faded carpet.

Like it or not, like it was discussed before, all cars that come up for sale on this forum get destroyed. Here is a very nice car and you are casting doubt on the seller. To me that is wrong.

[Montezuma]

I don't know about the rest of you but I love seeing cars for sale picked apart, because when I am ready to sell I will make sure to not make the same mistakes as what are pointed out. If I could post a S30 on ebay and not one here finds an error with it I know I got a great car for sale. For me it is constructive critisism, where have gone in this country when an opinion is if it is not positive is unwelcomed?

[7277]

back in 1994 i had a 77 with 18,000miles and IT WAS in a garage 99% of it's life. it also had the beginnings of carpet fade (. i like all of the 1st gen Z's... early ones for the raw z feel and the 75-78's for the comfort and refinement ) $0.02

[EScanlon]

I don't know about the rest of you but I love seeing cars for sale picked apart, because when I am ready to sell I will make sure to not make the same mistakes as what are pointed out. If I could post a S30 on ebay and not one here finds an error with it I know I got a great car for sale. For me it is constructive critisism, where have gone in this country when an opinion is if it is not positive is unwelcomed?

Nit picking the car is one thing, presuming nefarious intent by the seller's is what is at issue.

Constructive criticism IS acceptable, condemnation and censure based on conjecture and unfounded assumptions is wrong.

While opinion is always allowed anywhere, when it runs counter to the general consensus of the group or society you participate in expect to have it brought under scrutiny and challenged.

In some countries they simply lock you up and throw away the key, in others they stone you, and yet in others you're allowed to speak...as long as the rest don't drown you out in loud opposition.

FWIW

E

[Zak's Z]

I enjoy the 'constructive criticism'. I miss most of the little details that others point out. I actually learn alot from going back and re-looking at the ad armed with those little details.

[BRE-240Z]

You question the faded carpet, while I expect a car that was driven and is 30 years old to have faded carpet.

Like it or not, like it was discussed before, all cars that come up for sale on this forum get destroyed. Here is a very nice car and you are casting doubt on the seller. To me that is wrong.

Do you know this car? You are pretty hot to imply that it's exactly as described. Because if you don't know the car, I'm having a hard time figuring out exactly what your argument is about.

The only thing I was pointing out was that the carpet didn't seem to match the description that is being trotted out there by the seller. End of story. If that's a common flaw in these cars and the carpet can fade even if it's stored in a heated garage, then I stand corrected. If not, then it's seen prolonged exposure to the sun, and that's a possible red flag (and something that I would want to have pointed out to me by a friend, if I were considering buying this car).

If you want to believe the hype around these cars that turn up on eBay, you can be my guest. That's your prerogative, and you're entitled to think as you'd like. As for me, I'm not saying anything about the seller other than -- if this is your average eBay car -- things might not be quite as advertised.

[EScanlon]

...snip.,, Because if you don't know the car, I'm having a hard time figuring out exactly what your argument is about. .

Brian, do YOU know the car?

Well enough to make the following statement?

The seller should have dyed that carpet. That way, it would fit his 'hibernated in a heated garage' story a bit closer.

If you DO know the car, or the seller, then you ARE entitled to make that remark.

If not, then you are doing more than:

...snip...The only thing I was pointing out was that the carpet didn't seem to match the description that is being trotted out there by the seller. End of story.

... ...snip...As for me, I'm not saying anything about the seller other than -- if this is your average eBay car -- things might not be quite as advertised.

Actually you are trying to imply his story is unbelievable and doubtful, and that is based not on actual knowledge of the vehicle nor the seller but on what you have perceived as "standard" practice on e-Bay.

You've automatically assigned the intent to deceive to what he is doing by NOT dyeing the carpet, or by stating that the car was garage kept. You've never heard of windows in a garage? How about a southern exposure to the garage door and they don't close the door all the time...or how about panoramic panels in the garage doors. I can think of several other reasons why this would happen....NATURALLY... without the seller having a dishonest intent in his statement. Yet you've stated that his description of the carpet didn't match his "story".

Another way of describing this is called prejudice.

This is the crux of the discussion.

You could have made the same statement without the allegation of deceit:

"In my experience, that carpet is too faded for it to have been strictly garage kept. It must have been exposed to quite a bit of sunlight to be that faded."

2¢

E

[BRE-240Z]

You could have made the same statement without the allegation of deceit:

"In my experience, that carpet is too faded for it to have been strictly garage kept. It must have been exposed to quite a bit of sunlight to be that faded."

Which is essentially what I said.

You mentioned this being a black and white medium. That cuts both ways, depending on what YOU are looking for.

[Z Speed]

I believe this is a fine example of of a "78" 280z. I use to own one the exact year, color, and options (full). I really miss that car. I would love to own this car....