|
"Seats
worn or dirty" is a frequent comment on the RV8 auction reports
from Japan - what does this mean?
For
some time it has been a puzzle why many low mileage RV8s had "seats
worn and dirty" or "interior dirty" on their Japanese
auction report. So we contacted a V8 enthusiast with a close knowledge
of the auctions in Japan for some explanation.
Just
how dirty could an RV8's leather upholstery get in 8,000km?
As an observer (V8 Webmaster), I must say I have been puzzled why
such low mileage RV8s (for example Woodcote Green 2179, a 1995 car
with only 8,036 km which appeared in a recent auction report) have
had auction reports indicating "worn and dirty seats".
If that car had been driven at an average speed of 60km/hr, that
would mean the driver would have only been in the car for 134 hours
or 17 eight hour days ! How dirty can you get leather upholstery
in such a few hours? I began thinking that if I were buying a reimported
RV8, I would want an motor engineer familiar with RV8s to examine
the car very carefully to judge whether that mileage is anywhere
near correct. I would also want the Japanese maintenance records
checked carefully too.
Light
coloured leather with a supple and naturally crinkly finish
Well our member in Tokyo who sends regular reports of the local
RV8 auctions, subsequently responded that "a particular
auction in Tokyo (USS) often makes that comment about RV8s passing
through. I think that compared with most of the other cars that
pass through the auctions here, the light colour and supple quality
of the leather tends to show the dirt more and is naturally crinkly.
I am confident that these cars are genuine mileage vehicles. It
is the opinion of the auction appraiser who decides and they often
describe the seats as worn or dirty".
So what was the explanation?
Our local V8 enthusiast felt that as most of the RV8s he sees are
low mileage cars and have upholstery and interiors which are generally
in good condition, he was also puzzled by these notes on the auction
reports. So he decided to get to the bottom of this and contacted
the auction houses and asked them why they write those comments
on the auction
|
reports when in
fact upon inspection the seats seem in a condition which is most acceptable
for the mileage? The answer was very Japanese!
"There was a case not so long ago when a dealer was buying
an RV8 at an auction for a Japanese customer who on taking delivery
rejected the car because he thought the seats were not in good condition.
That particular RV8 had recorded 50,000km. The dealer then made a
claim against the auction house for not stating the condition of the
seats on the auction sheet. Ever since then every auction report from
that auction house records every RV8 as "seats worn or dirty"!"
It's now a catchall item on the auction report!
"Engine noisy" too - can you believe it!
He has also noted that other auctions put "engine noisy"
on the RV8 auction reports just to cover themselves! It seems they
don't see and hear many V8 engines in Japan and are worried customers
might find engine sounds too throaty and claim!
Other useful notes
What
to pay for an RV8
RV8
price trends
RV8
import trends
RAWS
impact on Australian RV8 imports
Reassurance
with RV8 reimports
RV8
auction system in Japan
RV8
auction news from Tokyo
"Dirty
seats" on RV8 auction reports
Understanding
RV8 auction reports
RV8s
for Sale - private & trade adverts
Copyright
reserved by the V8 Register of the MG Car Club, PO Box 251,
Abingdon-on-Thames, Oxfordshire OX14 1FF
|
