Thats not necessarily true.

I buy and sell cars, when people get ridiculous with me, I refuse to do business with them.

If the truck is as you described, that was a great deal at $4 K, sometimes we shoot ourselves in the foot trying to get too much. Well, you live and learn, you will find out yourself if it was a good deal or not when you see what else is outthere.

ANd regarding his not really wanting to sell it anyways, if he accepted your offer and you said ok, thats a CONTRACT, he wouldnt have had any choice but to honor it or be sued by you. And you would win it in small claims court.

A verbal contract is as good as a written one, if its believable and can be proven, but this excludes real estate.
Unfortunately, since you counter offered, the contract was never finalized.