[mts]

sierramoto,

Since you went there I feel the need to explain my side of our discussions involving my Boxster S since I've been on this forum for years. Almost immediately after I listed the car, I had 3 pretty quick calls on it. All potential buyers expressed interest. Sierramoto was the 3rd caller, but seemed to express the most interest of the three callers and over a day or two period we swapped some additional pictures and I gave him contact info for my local Porsche mechanic who was familiar with the car (I later found out he called the mechanic who said very nice things about the car and me). On one of our calls I expressly told sierramoto that I was surprised that I had as much interest as I did as quickly as I did, and that there were other interested parties but that none had made a formal offer. We also discussed some of the concerns he had about how he might get the vehicle if he decided to purchase it since he was on the other side of the country. All was very cordial and sierramoto seemed very good to deal with.

Late Tues night I received another call from the 1st caller and the 2nd caller. Both expressed more interest in the car and asked for more details. At this point still no formal offer on the car from anyone. Early last Wed Sierramoto sent me an email indicating he was very interested in the car and was likely going to make an offer. First he wanted to make arrangements to get a friend to come by and see the car. At that point which was about 2pm eastern on Wed, I emailed him back that other buyers were interested and that although I had no issue (in fact encouraged a PPI or having a friend come by) that I had concerns the car may not last if he needed to take a while to decide. I even expressed to sierromoto that I would love to end up dealing with him on the purchase as he seemed like he would be easier to work with than one of the other potential buyers.

I did not hear from sierramoto for the rest of Wed either by email or phone. On Wed night the 1st caller called back and wanted the car and made me a more than acceptable offer. I mentioned to him I had been in discussions with another buyer. The gentleman asked me if I had gotten any offers from that buyer, to which I could only respond no, that sierramoto had only indicated he probably would make and offer. At that point the 1st caller indicated he would have full payment verification to me on Thursday and would fly in to pick up the car on Friday and would make the transaction simple for me (he lived a lot closer to me than sierramoto). I accepted his offer to buy the car.

I got his payment verification on Thursday afternoon (still no call or email from sierramoto at this point). Once payment was verified I emailed sierramoto with the news and appologies but I could not turn down money in hand to wait for him to decide. I even went so far as to recommend another car like mine he might be able to buy (I know another 550 owner that was planning to sell his car this fall whose car is very, very similar to mine in modifications, etc). I did follow through with that and my understanding is that seller has already contacted sierramoto.

The transaction closed last Friday and the 1st caller did everything he said he would....I picked him up at the airport, we went through the car, he decided it was as advertised, gave me the cash and drove home on Friday. Once the deal closed I removed my Autotrader ad and posted the car sold here and on Rennlist (the 2 other places I had advertised).

After I emailed sierramoto that the car was sold, he has since called me a few times and left messages for me to call him to "discuss matters". Honestly, I don't see the point. A formal offer was accepted and the car is gone. There is nothing I can do at this point and nothing I would have done at the point the money was verified on Thursday and the 1st caller had gotten a plane ticket.

I honestly do feel bad sierramoto didn't get the car. However, I've put off potential buyers on other cars before because I was in "negotiations"with someone else only to lose the negotiating party and then lose the other potential buyers as well because they found something else in the meantime. In this instance sierramoto never made any kind of formal offer, or monetary offer of any kind for that matter. He was simply in the unfortunate situation of wanting a car that a more aggressive buyer also wanted.

I feel blessed that I had this much interest in the car so quickly and simply could not turn down "cash in hand" to wait for an offer from sierramoto which may or may not have worked out.

Ultimately the 1st caller was a older gentleman (and a war vet no less) who told me this would likely be the last Porsche he purchased in his lifetime. I didn't know any of this until he arrived to pick up the car. He was pleased with the car and I was pleased he got it. I feel comfortable it will be very well taken care of.

Sorry for the novel, but I do not plan to PM or call sierramoto.

sierramoto, good luck with your search for another car. I hope it works out well for you.

Mike