Well I did not buy the van.
Everything seemed fine on the phone, and the random local mechanic I hired off internet reviews said the van was good, but when I met up with the sellers to do the deal and I looked under the rig, they started to act hinky.
They argued about this and that, and then started tag teaming on an interminable discussion about whether we should take one car or two to the AAA, during which they kept changing their position. What they were obviously angling for was an arrangement where one of them, preferably the guy, drove alone in the van with me, and my (male) friend who I had brought along as bodyguard and second opinion, was in another car. When I could not be pressured into that they called off the deal and drove away.
I assumed a the time that he wanted to get me alone to pressure me about the van, although of course it could have been something worse. Anyway, I think it was the clearest case of a dodged bullet I have ever run into.
I thought I had this great idea to buy a van in a major metro area instead of my podunk S&B town, because there would be more choices and I would find a good deal fast. But I am starting to feel like the country mouse here, being eyed by the city rats.
