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the devil inZide (the longest z story worth reading)


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The bill of sale was one of the very few things I still had! I talked to the person at the border and tried to import it then, despite that I was on a bus.

 

I'm familiar with the importation process, I had planned to only have the car live in Canada for about 2 weeks. Thankfully importing cars over 15 years old isn't too complicated.

 

I'm gonna give aa a call right now. thanks for the tip!

 

Just wanted to give you a heads up on that, since I didn't want to see you get to add anymore aggrevation to the story that could be easily avoided. ;)

 

I can get you the name of the person at AA I dealt with if you like.

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That'd be awesome, will he remember who you are so I can say "my buddy so and so sent me"?

 

I'm not sure it'll work to go with AA since I am on such a short short time limit. Might have to rent a uhaul and a trailer... or maybe just roll the vehicle into the uhaul if it'll fit hehe.

 

It's extra complicated in that I've lost the cash I had been planning to spend on this.

 

You guys are being mondo helpful.

 

Uhaul will apparently run me about $280... that might be my last option

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Wow that's probably the worst story I've ever heard. Your car gets totaled, you get robbed, and everything that could possibly be delayed was. This WOULD make a great short film. Usually when I'm crossing the border (I used to live in Canada (Ottawa)), the people were really friendly.

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Dude, wow. You know, next time, search the members on Hybridz for someone that lives in the area!! I live very close to there, have extra beds, a shop, and all the parts/tools you'd need! Always willing to help out a fellow Z chap!

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I was going to say, misery loves company.. and there is your company!!!!

 

Zbratt, I will ask on his behalf, could you help him with the repair of the car? It sounds like he just needs a place to do it so he can get the car up to his house.

 

I am unclear exactly why the BMW is a complete loss at this point; any chance of recovering that car? THAT is what would tick me off the most about this whole affair, the judgment with the accident..

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Your story brought up some of my negative memories when I had gone to pick up a car 6 hours away. My truck's transfer case got busted (driveshaft bolts were loose) with the U-haul trailer still attached, no rental places around to get back etc etc. Now I realize what I went through is _nothing_ in comparison to yours. I made a strong decision then to not go too far from home in pursuit of cars/toys and not to deal with Paypal (good luck getting your money back after 60 days). Ohh, and ask for high-rez pictures of the car, and not to fall for the seller's 'my camera is not working'.

 

2 years later I broke my own pledge and ventured 7 hours north looking for a 240Z. The seller advertised the car so well on the phone, that I trusted his opinion that I was ready to drive it back. I got the rental one way. What I found was a rusted P.O.S. with a E30 head. I am married, my wife helped me walk away from that deal after a 30-min phone conversation. I still got away pretty cheap (a few hundred $$) and a lost day. Btw, the seller couldn't provide good pictures for me either like in the previous experience.

 

If I were you, I would have tried to find someone from the forum to check the car out for you. I wish I did it myself, but like an idiot I was afraid someone was going to snatch that 'great' deal from me, especially when the seller mentioned as a matter of fact, that 'a few more guys were coming to check the car out ...'

 

Good luck getting your possessions back. If you find anything in the Bakersfield, CA area, let me know :-)

 

With best regards!

Den

'76 280Z - work in progress (sun roof needs to be welded shut, interior work, a few patches of rust, new paint job, brakes etc.)

'98 Camaro Z28 - daily driver

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For those in the area, I got it towed to Community Auto, where a guy named Dan will be doing the inspection/fixup.

 

The problems I know of are a clunky ujoint (not the big one). Brakes go soft after 2-3 second (pump up, and then lose pressure).

 

If he hasn't got the parts in today, maybe I'll try and take someone up on the work offer.

 

 

I definitely would have checked HybridZ first. Started a topic in ALL CAPITALS and everything! But my laptop ran out of juice on the first night. It's amazing how alone you are when you lose the internet, and cell.

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That'd be too easy of course, I need to figure out a way to overnight him the key. And of course fedex/ups each want from $80-$180

 

Anyone want my 240? You can just go steal it and I'll send you the key by regular mail -_-'

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man, I wish i was over on the west coast right now. I would totally help you out (vancouver isn't too far away, and neither is seattle).

 

But i'm at School in Spokane, WA till the end of this month :(

 

 

Excellent read though, although that really SUCKS!. Seriously sounds like something that would happen to me. (i've got a couple good stories haha) but nothing that bad (yet).

 

Good luck to you!

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Unfortunately, I'm touring the beautiful country of Iraq right now, otherwise I would already have asked where and when I could pick you up. Sorry!! :(

But once I'm back, if anyone needs any type of assistance in western Washington, don't hesitate to give me a shout! My email is listed ,and checked throughout the day.

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I picked my '72 up off ebay which provides some measure of security. Thought about driving it from AZ to Ontario Canada, but deceided that's too far for a car a didn't know.

 

I used a transporter to move the car to a family member just south of Detroit, and then took a train to pick it up. Taking it across the border myself saved about $800. Had my paperwork at customs 72 hours in advance (no more... no less... LOL) and it was smooth sailing home in a great car.

 

The only glitch was having to put wipers on the car under the Ambassedor Bridge in Detroit when it started raining. The PO said he didn't need them in AZ since the car wasn't a DD.

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Man, I really feel for ya. Getting my 280, was as easy as seeing the ad on craigslist, calling, going about 1 mile from my house, checking it out, then coming back the next day after offering $400 bucks, and picking it up. Tho my brakes were the same as yours. (Master cylinder needs replaced/rebuild) so the 1 mile tow home was a little sketchy, but made it w/ no damage.

 

Maybe we can help ya out.. What color interior is your 240z? I'll have a few leftover parts since I'm changing my int from white to black. I've found a lot of parts on Ebay, in fact there's one seller up in Canada that has a ton of stuff cheap. I also know a couple guys here that are parting out 2 - 240z's right now, cheap too... I can't really help in the $ dept, but if you give a paypal address, I can send you a few $ to help w/ your Z next week.

 

I hope you won't let your bad experiences w/ our authorities and all make you think the US is a bad place. There's a lot of really great people here, and especially in the Car Club communities... I'm sure you'll see that.

 

Good luck, and keep us apprised of what happens next. it's a hell of a story... literally ;)

 

Phar

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Shesh, if you are ever near Washington DC, let me know, free parts/repairs for you. Wow, I guess US border idiots are there because they can not get a more rewarding job. Sorry to hear your story man, good luck.

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Got a biiiig update coming.

 

as well as a few ideas.

 

So for a quick "keep your radio tuned to this station" here's what's going to need doing

 

1 ujoint

1 radiator

1 all of the brakes

1 set of fuel lines

1 ignition cylinder

 

800 in labour, and I've got to track down the parts because they're so difficult to find.

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search my name in the S30 forum for a thread I started recently about rear brake wheel cylinders, ppl provided me with lots of links to rear cylinders at the most reasonable prices that exist.. about 70 apiece.

 

good luck!

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Got a biiiig update coming.

 

as well as a few ideas.

 

So for a quick "keep your radio tuned to this station" here's what's going to need doing

 

1 ujoint

1 radiator

1 all of the brakes

1 set of fuel lines

1 ignition cylinder

 

800 in labour, and I've got to track down the parts because they're so difficult to find.

 

If you need to get anything for an old Z car in western WA your best bet is Z Specialties in snohomish. (360)668-2979 or (206)363-3577 Oliver is the specialist/owner and he really knows his stuff. Good luck man, I hope to hear a happy ending to this nightmare.

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