Actual Miles

"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01) 05/17/2015 at 17:45 • Filed to: None

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Another game - search the phrase “actual miles” or “actual mileage” on your local craigslist (all cars section). I’ve never understood why people report a real odometer reading as “actual miles.” When I sold my ‘87 300D, I had to use the phrase - it was on its third speedometer head, so the 36K shown was really 101K. But when the reading is accurate?

Anyway - this seems NP to me:

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

XJDano > Steve in Manhattan 05/17/2015 at 17:55

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http://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/4995557254…

Kind of the best the rest were in the 90’s. Although a bit of CP.

LongbowMkII > XJDano 05/17/2015 at 18:02

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Yeah, but it is cool. I wouldn’t laugh if someone paid asking price.

GhostZ > Steve in Manhattan 05/17/2015 at 18:10

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It’s a sort of unconscious nudge people get when they’re afraid people will doubt them, or to make their cars stand out because people are so cautious about scams on craigslist.

To most people, rolling back the odometer is still a concern because they don’t know how those devices work often.

Steve in Manhattan > XJDano 05/17/2015 at 18:19

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I have driven a 3 on the tree, and I have driven a car without synchros for 1st gear. It’s a chore.

Steve in Manhattan > GhostZ 05/17/2015 at 18:24

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Geeze, I wanted to roll the 300D’s odo forward so I could know how many miles were on the car without resorting to math. I still remember one of the numbers - 1631 - that’s how many miles the speedo head lasted before it died. WTF Mercedes?

ranwhenparked > Steve in Manhattan 05/17/2015 at 18:49

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I think it’s because of all the older cars that had only 5-digit odometers - when you see something that’s in presentable, but not at all trailer queen, condition showing really low miles, most people assume that there’s an invisible 1, 2, or a 3 in front of that number.

No point at all in using it in an ad for a car with a functioning 6-digit odometer that has never been replaced though. I think that’s either laziness or cluelessness - like the used car dealers that fill up an entire screen listing entirely unremarkable attributes that are also often mandatory equipment “AM FM Cassette” “Air Bag” “Seat Belts” “Rear Defrost” etc. etc.

Steve in Manhattan > ranwhenparked 05/17/2015 at 18:54

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Forgot about the 5 place odos ... they didn’t have high hopes in those days. But that SL has a six pot ... so please.

ranwhenparked > Steve in Manhattan 05/17/2015 at 19:02

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They did not. In the ‘40s and ‘50s, a car would be needing a major tuneup by 50,000 miles or so and possibly a rebuild as soon as 75-80,000; by 100,000, they were considered worn-out junk. I think several generations grew up with that mentality, even after it became out of date.

XJDano > LongbowMkII 05/17/2015 at 19:03

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I agree, CP for me personally. I haven't paid over $800 for the last 3 cars I bought. So to me it's a bit of a sticker shock if you will, but that'd be beautiful if fully restored.