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Posted by: Jeff Bowlsby Jun 3 2003, 09:04 PM

Got to thinking today Brad...always a dangerous thing for me...

Since you know these 914s so well, why not get some kind of credential that the insurance companies would recognize and start appraising the values of 914s?

A written appraisal would be valuable to an owner...and you would get to charge people for the looking you do at their car anyways. You would get to know every single 914 around, and could even do it for owners who live remote from the Bay Area, track each car from sale to sale and supplement your current 'income'. Its recession proof.

Not exactly 7 figures, but you dont get your hands dirty. Get the system down and there would be some good moola in it.

What yall think...for those of you who know Brad, is he the perfect guy for this or what?

Posted by: Brad Roberts Jun 3 2003, 09:08 PM

I like it... but it would suck up a lot of time.

Oh.. Mikes wife Cheryl is becoming a insurance agent.. maybe I can train her to look at 914's.

B

Posted by: krk Jun 3 2003, 09:51 PM

No problem -- get your admin to schedule 'em up to your place. Give them a half an hour max (quicker if you can of course). Deny travelling (unless they're willing to take an assessment from a staffer (send Andy. lol) and see what pops up. It's not like there's a billion 914's in the Bay area.

Oh, and charge a LOT. Perhaps even make it 914/6 specific -- and add an LE option (where you bring in outside specialists) who also can charge a LOT. (of course, when it comes to fuel pumps on /6's, I expect a call -- lol)

I've seen you look over car's a couple of times now. (for those who haven't been on the inspection end of a Brad inspection, you need to be there at least once in your 914 lifetime -- jezzus) There has to be a way of making use of what you know, and what you can draw on in the evaluation. I'm guessing that it's only on the upper end tho.

Certainly building a program for Cheryl might be interesting. You could have a formula for her to follow, and if everything passes, life is fine. If it fails, in this era of digital pics, she shoots some pics and you look at them and bug Andy.

kim.

Posted by: GWN7 Jun 3 2003, 11:18 PM

I can see Brad doing that....."Hi, I'm from the XYZ Insurance Company" handing over business card...."where do I plug in the sawsall?"

Posted by: Brad Roberts Jun 3 2003, 11:23 PM

I meant to tell you Kim..

It wasnt the fuel pump.

The fuel lines where 32 years old (dry rotted) I replaced them.. it works fine now.

B

Posted by: Brad Roberts Jun 3 2003, 11:29 PM

OK.. My real response to this post:

I would love to look at 914's day in and day out.

The problem:

People dont want to hear what I have to say about the cars (if its negative)

Most 914's owners have it set in their mind that they own a rust free car that runs and drives perfect (although they have nothing to base this on except their buddies 914 down the street)

I cant diagnose engine issues by just listening to them...

I can diganose tranny problems in two seconds flat...

Because of recent events.. I'm really losing faith in 914 owners who represent their cars one way and the car turns out to be another way (all because the current owner didnt know what he was looking for when he bought it)

I know we cant cover everything wrong with a car.. but you sure as hell shouldnt try and hide it.

B

Posted by: Bleyseng Jun 4 2003, 08:33 AM

I would be a good second gig for you Brad, to appraise 914's. All you have to do it take a couple of pics for the report and then write an opinion.

My Dad (he's 80) has been appraising antiques and furniture for 20 odd years. He loves all the divorces that go on. Courts call him in to do it and pays pretty well too. He also does it for insurance purposes.
Tranny question then: What causes it to whine like a 1953 GMC truck when you take off in first gear?

Geoff

Posted by: Lawrence914-6 Jun 4 2003, 08:36 AM

I'm not sure I'd want Brad appraising my 914...

Seriously, no daily driver would EVER come out in the positive column. Like a concours, you start deducting for worn this or wear on that. A patina of chips on the front hood could mean a complete repaint. How much to deduct for some surface rust on the battery tray?

A 5,000 dollar daily driver's value would EVAPORATE quickly.

No thanks - I'll go with PCA valuation and agreed value.

-Rusty

Posted by: Zeke Jun 4 2003, 08:53 AM

To be good as a appraiser, one has to be indifferent about what he is apprasing allowing total objectivity. You gotta be able to look at a boat and say it floats, it runs and it's all here. I think Brad knows too much. Slightly OT: The best antique dealer doesn't have antiques innis home; the best drug dealer doesn't use.

Posted by: Bleyseng Jun 4 2003, 09:41 AM

quote"Slightly OT: The best antique dealer doesn't have antiques innis home; the best drug dealer doesn't use."
That's my dad, doesn't any antiques in his house and sold his shop to retire last year after a serious illness made him to slow down.

If a car is a $5000 car an appraisal will verify that. An appraisal is just that, one man's (expert) opinion of the market value of the article in question so other parties can agree on its worth. Sure, Brad would list most of the defects of the car but if the car didn't have any defects it would be a $15k 914 not a $5k one. We all agreed that a beautiful car with long/console rust issues isn't worth much due to the cost of the repairs to make it safe to drive. A appraisal justs put the value on paper to prove to others (an insurance company) at a point in time in a given local.

My dad also gets to testify in court which he has fun doing on these divorce cases.

I think Brad would make a good appraiser, he knows the cars in and out, the market value in different locals, and is honest and objective. What more could you ask for?

Geoff
Thank god he didn't look at my car when he was here!