Sending the Title Back (sigh)

So, I’ve given up on getting any kind of answer out of NC DMV as to why they won’t accept the title for The Banana without a notarized signature, so it is on its way back to California.

The Banana Has Landed

I got a text from the driver that the SL55 would arrive around 7:30 pm.

Since I figured they would be in a semi-tractor trailer, I suggested we meet at the nearby Lowes Home Improvement center instead of my house. While there is room on the farm for a semi, it would be hard to turn around and this would just make it easier.

At the advice of the seller, I used T&J Auto Transport and I was very happy with their service.

You Can’t Fight the DMV

The Banana is supposed to arrive tonight, so I wanted to go get it registered and get a tag for it.

It was not to be.

The seller had sent me the title and usually it is a simple process to register the car, but when I got to the DMV they wouldn’t accept it as it wasn’t notarized.

There was a space for a notary to sign that was blank, so I reached out to the seller who pointed out that in Montana, where the car was registered, a notary is not required if the seller is a company (in this case, an LLC).

I Won!

Okay, I honestly didn’t expect to be bidding on this auction much less winning it. As I mentioned before I expected this car to go for north of $60K and that was more than I was willing to pay.

Yesterday I noticed that there was less than a day left in the auction, so I set an alarm on my watch for 2pm and promptly forgot about it. I was actually on a call with most of my coworkers when the alarm went off, so I had to bring the auction up, discreetly, on my phone. I was surprised to see it was still lower than the $30,500 I paid for [The Shark][2], so on a whim I put in a bid of $31,000.

$240,000 ?!?

I just got back from my trip to LA to see that the [yellow SL55][1] was now at $240,000.

What? I mean it is a very unique car, but that is crazy money.

Of course, soon after I saw the bid it was retracted, as the bidder added in an extra zero.

Heh.

Original-Owner 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG

Ever since I bought The Shark (a 2003 SL55) I’ve had a notification set up to let me know when any R230 Mercedes cars are put up for auction on BaT. I was in LA for a work assignment when I happened to look at my phone to see “Original-Owner 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG” as the subject in the e-mail.

This was a little newer than The Shark but still a year too early for that sweet spot of the post-facelift 2006-2007 SL55. Anyway, since I block remote images in my e-mails I hit “load images” to check it out, and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

Considerations for Buying a Sports Car

Okay. I’m older, and so it is time to get the sports car.

In all seriousness, I have been into cars since I was young and I’ve always wanted to buy a performance automobile. But I am also cheap, and so I like to get a good deal.

A friend of mine has turned me on to a website called Bring a Trailer (BaT). Apparently it started out as a blog about cool cars for sale on eBay, and it has grown into the leading online auction site for classic and collectable cars.