Buying a car sight unseen, anybody done it ??

[Cobra 2997]

Just curious as to anybodys experiences if you've ever bought a car without actually inspecting or driving it in person ?? Whether it be from Ebay/SVTP/Corral/etc....

I never have, but am considering a Terminator that is quite a distance from me and would like some opinions.

Thanks

 

[Blown10thCobra]

I did, but with my little beater VW that I drive as a gas saver. Didn't care as much about the condition. Is the Cobra with a individual or a dealer? I'd find out the build date and VIN and do as much research as you could. Find out if the car has any records, if it's been modded who did the tuning, if it's an early '03 has it had the heads replaced, etc. I wouldn't say it's a BAD idea, just a much bigger risk.

 

[fastlane65]

Yes. Bought my '68 convertible off ebay. Talked to the seller several times but didn't have time to go to Florida and look at the car. Seller told me several times that it only had "slight" rust in the "usual" spots. Only took me a couple of days to find out it was a friggin rust bucket.

 

[NC85]

No, and I'm certain I never would. Closest I've come is buying a plane ticket and purchasing a vehicle off a pic here in the classifieds.

I did drive it and inspect it over though. Worth the price of the plane ticket if you're really interested.

 

[bambinov8]

I did ... It was a well known dealer on eBay and known to had the cleanest cars . Car was on Chicago so we trailed the car down to Florida without seeing it hoping the condition of the car was excellent just like the pics we saw online and words of dealer . Car was immaculate as described when we saw it . Dealers are usually a better option when it comes to your situation:beer:

 

[earico]

I'm currently doing this exact thing but it's only a Datsun 210 and I have plenty of pics and a scan of the title.

Personally I wouldn't do it on a car over $5,000. I would fly out to look at it or find a member you trust here on the forum to go look at it for you.

Now if the car had an extensive build thread on this site like this car then I would buy it sight unseen: http://www.svtperformance.com/forum...162-2004-redfire-cobra-fully-built-clean.html

 

[FromGTtoSVT]

I wouldn't , terminators are 10 years old now. too much can go wrong

 

[AntiHeightPunk]

I did, all you have to do is be smart about it. This fourm is huge, if you really like a car offer a guy on here 100$ bucks for gas and food ( and his time) to go look at the car and take it for a drive.

 

[CobraBob]

Not on the buyer side, but I DID sell two cars sight unseen. My old 1994 Camaro (modded heavily by Callaway Cars) and my 2003 Cobra. In both cases, the buyers were thrilled when they took possession.

 

[canadianbullitt]

I did. Seller sent me a 7 minute long video of it running and showing every detail of the car. Clear car fax, lots of pics. Also he had tons of positive feedback on this forum.
Just don't rush it.

 

[Ironhand]

I did it with my 03 DSG Cobra. Bought it from a guy in Texas while I was deployed.

I told him my situation, made an offer 1K above his reserve, we made the deal and 3 of my family members went and picked it up from Texas while I was still overseas.

He was a nice guy and he told my mom(she went to pick it up) that I did everything I said I was going to do and took care of business.


Although I bought my car with no motor or transmission. Zero rust with a great interior.

 

[IA Shelby]

I am doing it right now. I am comfortable with all of the research that I have done. Worst case I get down there and it was not as advertised I use up a frequent flier ticket.

I looked for 3 months and found 3 cars that I felt met my quality expectation of being truly mint with tasteful mods.

Talked to the tuner (racers edge). The buyer demanded a premium price. Sat on it for a while to get the money he wanted. Tells me that he was not desperate to unload. Car was purchased with cash and current owner has the title in hand.

I view this as a calculated risk. I believe the payoff is worth it.

Owner has full documentation including original spark plugs.

 

[Cobra 2997]

Thanks for all the responses.....some good info

 

[lowflyn]

I completed all loan paperwork and had check in hand before picking up my 03. Closest I've gotten to that. Alot of phone time and internet time is the only thing that made me comfortable enough to do that. 6 hour drive and it was close to how it was described...

Purchased from individual from this site btw.

Not sure I'd do it even that way again. Plane tickets are cheaper than a bum car.

 

[Comp281]

I bought my second cobra from a member on here. It was 1575 miles away and I couldn't afford to buy the car and pay for the trip to see it as well as shipping or trailing it home. So he sent me lots of pics and I wrote up a bill of sale that protected me if the car wasn't as it was described. The guy was honest and the car was straight. No surprises. And I had looked over the vehicle history on the carfax and spoken to the seller multiple times. You just have to take your time and get to the point where you think it is a safe decision. I was still nervous when I wired the money but when the car rolled out of the delivery truck, I had a big smile and was relieved to find that it was as described.

 

[mrose75]

I've bought my last 5 cars sight unseen. A few off of eBay from reputable dealers. One from another dealer through autotrader or cars.com. My Cobra, brand new from the dealer while I was in Iraq (but that's easy, brand new car from the dealer). My last one I bought was an impulse buy. I guess I had gotten too comfortable buying cars sight unseen and had committed myself when I shouldn't have. Not a bad car, just wasn't worth the price I paid. I would buy a car sight unseen again, I just will make sure not to let my emotions get involved and control my impulses. Like everyone else said though, research the car and the seller, plenty of communication with the seller. And trust your gut, if something tells you to pass....pass.

 

[c6zhombre]

I think it's a bad idea for the most part. You need to see it and thats always the way I've been on every car I've ever bought over the past 20 years......however, I did buy my '04 coupe that way, lol. paid for, sight unseen, flew 1-way 500 miles and drove it home. but I made a calculated "risk" since there's just a slight amount of documentation available on 04sleeper :-D

 

[stangposse]

Technically yes....from a color standpoint since the car was brand new. I never saw any 93 LX's in electric red metallic before mine was delivered. It was late 93 and the only 5spd hatchbacks still available in my state at that time were 2 white, 2 black and 1 electric red metallic. Not wanting a white or a black, I hastily ordered the red. When it showed up it was the nicest 5.0 I'd ever seen. No regrets.

I wouldn't do it with a used car unless it was from highly reputable seller or a car I'm VERY familiar with.

 

[05satinGT]

I did, but with my little beater VW that I drive as a gas saver. Didn't care as much about the condition. Is the Cobra with a individual or a dealer? I'd find out the build date and VIN and do as much research as you could. Find out if the car has any records, if it's been modded who did the tuning, if it's an early '03 has it had the heads replaced, etc. I wouldn't say it's a BAD idea, just a much bigger risk.

Was it a tdi golf from CT by any chance lol

 

[wvmystichrome]

Thats how I bought my Mystichrome. 2,400 miles away on a dealer's showroom. Wired the money and received the car 30 days later. That was over 7 1/2 years ago.