How to buy a car from a distance?
07-26-2014, 10:21 AM
#21
Pro
I have bought a used car and a motorcycle on Ebay. Most people won't do it. I am a pretty particular about my cars so folks are shocked that I have bought them sight unseen on the web. As someone put it, it's a leap of faith. That's the best way to describe it.
There have been some good suggestions like using an inspection service or a person that is local from a site like this. I think I would opt to have it inspected by a professional especially on a bigger purchase. I did not have the motorcycle or car inspected but I did talk to the sellers via email and phone to understand what I was buying. I am a pretty detailed person so you can general get a feel for how folks view and treat there vehicles by asking good questions plus a ton of pictures. In both cases, the car and motorcycle were exactly as described including all visible defects.
Good luck...
There have been some good suggestions like using an inspection service or a person that is local from a site like this. I think I would opt to have it inspected by a professional especially on a bigger purchase. I did not have the motorcycle or car inspected but I did talk to the sellers via email and phone to understand what I was buying. I am a pretty detailed person so you can general get a feel for how folks view and treat there vehicles by asking good questions plus a ton of pictures. In both cases, the car and motorcycle were exactly as described including all visible defects.
Good luck...
Last edited by zguy; 07-26-2014 at 12:33 PM.
07-26-2014, 11:26 AM
#22
Drifting
I will never buy one without actually seeing it. I have been told a number of things and shown pictures, but sometimes they are not as they appear.
I go with someone (usually my wife) on a road trip to look at it and if good I purchase it and we both drive home.
I looked at some that were described to be what I wanted and pictures looked good, but they were misleading. I drove 750 miles, 500 miles a couple times, 200 miles a couple times, and did not buy. I have also driven 1000 miles and 750 miles and had a fun drive home in my "new" Corvette.
I have had bad experiences with shops making an evaluation for me. The ones I used were not very detailed in looking and missed a lot of things. One even missed a transmission that would not go into OD. Most other things were less severe and were more cosmetic. Unless you have a known to be good shop/person to do the inspection, I would be concerned about trusting that.
Good luck.
I go with someone (usually my wife) on a road trip to look at it and if good I purchase it and we both drive home.
I looked at some that were described to be what I wanted and pictures looked good, but they were misleading. I drove 750 miles, 500 miles a couple times, 200 miles a couple times, and did not buy. I have also driven 1000 miles and 750 miles and had a fun drive home in my "new" Corvette.
I have had bad experiences with shops making an evaluation for me. The ones I used were not very detailed in looking and missed a lot of things. One even missed a transmission that would not go into OD. Most other things were less severe and were more cosmetic. Unless you have a known to be good shop/person to do the inspection, I would be concerned about trusting that.
Good luck.
To find one a distance away, to find out all about you can, and then ascertain if it is worthy of a trip to 'see for your self', is what I and several others talked about.
Don
07-26-2014, 11:40 AM
#23
Team Owner
Member Since: May 2005
Location: Madison - just west of Huntsville AL
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I just bought my 2004 without seeing it.
Yes, that is a risk, but I got a comfortable feeling from the seller, a solid report from the independent inspection, and quite frankly, an 18k mile car isn't a big risk.
I don't normally recommend buying a car sight unseen, but it can be done successfully.
My 2004 turned out to be even nicer than the seller described.
Yes, that is a risk, but I got a comfortable feeling from the seller, a solid report from the independent inspection, and quite frankly, an 18k mile car isn't a big risk.
I don't normally recommend buying a car sight unseen, but it can be done successfully.
My 2004 turned out to be even nicer than the seller described.
07-26-2014, 12:29 PM
#25
Team Owner
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Faith in the seller, based on your own feelings about the seller.
We also had paperwork in place (Bill of Sale agreement) that listed the car by VIN.
I sent a certified check, with the car listed by VIN on the check.
If you are not comfortable dealing with the seller, then don't buy the car.
We also had paperwork in place (Bill of Sale agreement) that listed the car by VIN.
I sent a certified check, with the car listed by VIN on the check.
If you are not comfortable dealing with the seller, then don't buy the car.
07-27-2014, 09:55 AM
#26
Le Mans Master
Last edited by QCVette; 07-27-2014 at 09:59 AM.
07-27-2014, 09:24 PM
#27
Racer
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St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15-'16
Hope this is a good place for this question. I am looking for a fairly specific C5. Torch red, tan top and interior, low mileage, 6 speed preferred but not a deal breaker. Problem is, there aren't any around here. I've found several at Car Gurus, Cars.com, Corvettes for sale etc., but they are always hundreds or thousands of mile away. Right now my perfect one is in Pennsylvania. I'm in Oregon. I'm OK driving up to 500 miles to check out a good one, but the one I want is 3000 miles away.
So how do you buy a car you really want that is 3000 miles away? I know about the list of people who will go check it out for you. But has anyone got any tips on buying a car sight unseen? Having it shipped to you? Getting financing on a car 3000 miles away? Do I bide my time and wait for the right car to show up in BFE where I live? If you jump on a plane and go there you'll way overpay for a plane ticket leaving tomorrow. Then what? One way ticket, round trip. I have no idea how much it would cost to buy a car sight unseen, and have it shipped cross country. And it's difficult to just drop what you're doing and say, honey I'm flying across country tomorrow to maybe buy my dream vette. See ya in a week.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
So how do you buy a car you really want that is 3000 miles away? I know about the list of people who will go check it out for you. But has anyone got any tips on buying a car sight unseen? Having it shipped to you? Getting financing on a car 3000 miles away? Do I bide my time and wait for the right car to show up in BFE where I live? If you jump on a plane and go there you'll way overpay for a plane ticket leaving tomorrow. Then what? One way ticket, round trip. I have no idea how much it would cost to buy a car sight unseen, and have it shipped cross country. And it's difficult to just drop what you're doing and say, honey I'm flying across country tomorrow to maybe buy my dream vette. See ya in a week.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
