"driver quality".......this term gets my goat!

[shadango]

I am admitedly new to shopping for parts for vintage vehicles....having only started this project in March this year.....

But one thing I have found is how loosely people like to use the term "driver quality".

I am looking for mirrors roght now on ebay and one seller uses "driver quality" to describe them...meanwhile they are trashed with peeling or deepely pitted (as in huge gouges gone) chrome etc.

On another occasion I bought a piece from someone that they said it
was in a show car so it should be good enough for a driver". I get the part and it is waaaaay worse than I expected and worse than the one I already have. What looekd to be chrome in the picture (it was supposed to be a chrome piece) was (poorly) painte black right over pits and stuff......

I consider my car a "driver" and NOT a show car.....but I like to go to shows and crusies and show her off....

That said, I am careful about what I put on my car......I certainly dont want to put junk on my ride....

Please folks...when you say "driver quality" dont assume that just because I dont consider my car a show car (too many rough edges) I dont want to ADD more rough edges to it!

To me, "driver quality" would mean not perfect.....not "show quality"...but it should also mean "not trashed".

......anyone else have this beef or am I just being a cranky newbie?   

[torredcuda]

Always ask specific questions about the part such as any pitting,scratches,dents,rust etc. as "driver quality" can have a pretty broad meaning.Some people just won`t be honest no matter waht you ask though! 

[HP2]

Ditto. Driver quality, or show quality for that matter, is like saying a potential date is kinda cute.  By who's standards?

[matt63]

Yeah you need pics and a written description.  Words like "driver quality" do not physically describe the part.  It seems that this term is generally used to be vague about the parts actual condition as you already know.  I once bought a car sight unseen that was described as "not a rusty car".  Let's just say that there was a huge difference in mine and the seller's definition of not rusty. 

[moparniac]

Driver quality is a term used loosley to free the seller of items to be returned!
Driver quality also means opinion!

Just ask lots of questions...

[hebeegbz]

When i sell on ebay i always detail the problems if any . when i bid and a seller uses words like . it looks complete ,i dont know much about the item and that includes im selling for some one else . not to mention will fit others untested this was my dads i move on .also look at the feed back .i wont buy from a seller with a 98 or worse rating .

[MEK-Dangerfield]

If we are talking about E-Bay, my advice is to hound the seller. Have them E-Mail you more pictures, and ask them pointed questions. It can work both ways. I have bought things in great shape (in my opinion) for cheap because they didn't really have a great ad with great pictures.

[aarcuda33]

 The term that really gets me is " Nos Takeoff " I am admittingly not very smart but what used factory part regardless of condition is not  "Nos Takeoff" ?
  Remember when buying ask questions , get pictures , and everything is subject to opinion !  If you find a seller you can trust your ahead of the game .

[hebeegbz]

I thought nos take off was when you remove rare parts after the nats and replace bebore you sell at bj auctions .