Selling a car

I have a 2006 Hyundai that I bought used about 6 months ago. It's a decent car, but it is manual transmission and it is just not working out. I like driving it but no one else does, so it is just sitting in my driveway. We decided to sell it outright and look for an automatic transmission car. The husband wants a Honda Pilot. We currently own a 2007 Honda Odyssey, old 1990 Ford truck, and the Tucson.

This couple contacted me, looked at the car, offered $900 less from my asking, which I accepted because it was an okay price with Kelly Blue Book. They required an inspection before they bought it. I am okay with that - as long as they pay for it. They said okay but wanted to choose the mechanic. I was all right with that also but checked to see if this was a legitimate mechanic (and it was).

Mechanic checks the car over thoroughly for 1-1/2 hours. He compliments me on the condition of the car but says it needs a tune up and timing belt. Cost is $798. I had just changed the timing belt in my Honda Odyssey for less than that, and my niece had a complete timing belt, water pump, etc on her CRV for $600 done the week before. Well, okay, whatever, I am not authorizing any work; it's just an inspection.

Then I get an email saying the couple will not buy the car unless I decrease the cost by another $800 to pay for the cost of the mechanic's assessment. At that point, I refused and said that the condition was AS IS and I had already decreased my asking price by $900. I could not decrease the cost anymore. I emailed that I would have no bad feelings towards them if they refuse to buy the car.

Well, a flurry of nasty emails from this couple! Saying I cheated them, lied about the condition of the car, and got a free inspection and now want me to pay for the inspection. I told them to forget it and not contact me anymore; I am not stupid; and THEY were scamming ME. I deleted the craigslist posting and I am just going to keep the damn car. But, I am getting the car looked at by a mechanic we know who is honest and owns his own shop. Over the phone, he said as long as there are no other problems a timing belt and other drive belts runs about $300 to $400 for parts and labor. (This guy did a rebuilt transmission for us a couple years ago, and he came so highly recommended that we had to wait for an opening in his shop.) Then I called the Hyundai dealer, who I do not like, but they quoted the exact same list of repairs as $700 if the work is needed. 

I've sold cars before but have never had this happen to me before. It's very upsetting!!! Any other horror stories from others? I would be interested to know. I do not think I will ever go through craigslist again.