So I'm looking in the Des Moines Register Car ads this morning (and every morning) and I see: Pontiac Bonneville '95 SSEi good condition $2250. I call and talk to the guy: he'* selling it for his sister: 110,000 mi, gold color, moonroof, HUD, never wrecked, no rust, good title, needs tire. Body, interior, mechanically excellent. I"ll be there in 40 minutes. OK he says. I fly south; arrive at the address. No car in the driveway or out front. Looks like no one is home. I knock on the door, a 12-yr old kid answers. I say: " I'm Bill, I called about the Bonneville..." The kid won't make eye contact, kinda looks at his shoes and says..................."it'* sold," and closes the door.

Ah, well. So it goes.

Sorry to hear that, Bill. I'm a fellow Ames resident myself (student, Glanghus is here at ISU also), so keep posting anything that'* of local interest! I wouldn't mind an SSEi myself

they couldnt notify you at all that it was sold

Sounds kinda F'D up to me..........

Dunno,maybe the guy didn't "think" you were really interested and sold it after you got off the phone with him?!?!?!

Nah, the guy knew I was coming and he knew what time. I asked him when I could come and we agreed on 11:30. He said he'd be there to show me the car. He did not have a way to contact me. I have no doubt that at that low price, someone else who lived nearer called after me, went to see it and bought it.

Now the seller might have said to that guy: "I've got a guy coming from Ames at 11:30, if he doesn't buy it, it'* yours," but he obviously didn't.

I should have asked the guy specifically if he would wait to sell it until I had a chance to buy, but I didn't. My mistake. What can I say? It'* just one that got away.

Ouch. I knew if I did that yesterday and all the trouble I went through going down to decatur to pic up my car and they didnt have the nerve to call me, I'd be pissed. I am thankful it all went well. I am really sorry to hear your situation. Look at it this way, you still have one and its running.

Bill, have you thought about calling the guy again? You received this info from a 12 year old kid, and he might have been mistaken or lying for some odd reason. It won't do you any harm to give the guy a ring and get it straight from the horse'* mouth. What'* the worst that could happen?

Yipes! I never even thought about it. I very seriously doubt he still has the car, but it will only cost me a few pennies and a few minutes to call the guy. I'll try tomorrow.

Yeah, it is sold. I called the guy today, he said, sorry, some guy called right after I did and came over with cash so he sold it to him. He said he was sure I would have done the same thing. I said OK, bye.

I would not have done the same thing. It'* situations like this, especially where money is involved, that reveals character and integrity, or lack of same.

Still, no big deal. I just wasn't fast enough or smart enough. I'll try to do better next time.