I have been buying cars online since 1999, bought several cars/motorcycle sight unseen from authorized dealers (Testarossa) and private parties (993TT), and have been very lucky because the cars were in great condition (better than expected). I have also traveled far to buy cars because it was a better car/deal and also have been lucky since the cars were as expected or better than expected .
As you are all aware I have been trying to find a companion for my 993TT and thought I found the right car, a 1994 MB E500 (108k miles) for a great price. I spoke to the independent repair shop that has maintained the car for the past 4 years and they told me the car was in very good condition and that the previous owner took great care of the car (but he did use it as his dd). Since the car was in Marengo, IL (being sold by a local used car dealer) and I am located in NJ it would require me to fly into town to look/buy the car, a Rennlister did offer to look at the car for me this weekend, but I was going on vacation with my family next week so I figured I go check it out myself this past Saturday (was able to get one-way tickets for $59 from Jet Blue, so I even took a friend with me to help with the drive home).
Well I get there this Saturday, the sale-person picked us up from Ohare and drove us out to the dealership (60 min drive). When I get there I see that the car has more dings than I expected, which I was ok with since it was 16 year old car and it did have 108k miles. So I took the car for a long test drive, but after about 10 mins I knew I didn’t want to buy the car. So took I it back to the dealership and they tried everything to get me to buy it (lower price, etc.); but I just didn’t feel comfortable with the car. Some of the things that bothered me were the headliners (which they never mentioned to me), dash crack (didn’t mention this either) and other minor things. Now these were not significant issues and I guess for the price I should have expected that I would need to do some work. So I asked for my deposit back ($200) and they agreed to send me a check on Monday because they could not do it via credit card (not sure why).
Well after an hour or so of trying to convince me, they finally took us back to the airport and we took a flight home (cost me almost $400). When I got home, I was actually very happy with myself for not settling on the car. I know I wasted $500+ but feel that I would not have been happy if I purchased the car. I guess I should be happy since this is the first time this has happened to me (I know it won’t be the last) and it was a self great self learning experience.

1. Don’t buy a car without looking/touching/driving it, I was lucky before but it doesn’t always work out that way
2. Don’t buy a car just because of the price (good deal), at the end it could end up costing you more
3. Everyone has a different view/definition of a car’s condition
4. Lastly, even if you travel 800+ miles to look/buy a car, you can always walk away if you don’t like it

Sorry for venting, but had to get this out. Has this ever happened to anyone else?

 

You are to be complimented for walking away. It takes a great deal of fortitude. You start thinking of the inconvenience, the wasted time and $ and you figure "What the Hell". Once you've bought it, you've got taxes, license, insurance and, in all probability, added expense to fix the things that need doing. Pretty soon, you've got more $ in it than you'll ever see re-couped for a car, deep-down, you really didn't want.
I've bought plenty and walked away from plenty. Took a plane trip to Pittsburgh to see a 3-Series Bimmer once but, after seeing it from 20 ft. away, turned around and went home...(Huge dent the size of my fist in the hood)...supposedly, a clean, well-kept car but failed to tell me about the dent. Drove a couple of hundred miles to see a "beautiful" BMW 3.0 CS. The spare tire was floating on water! No thanks! Oh, yeah...always remember to look at a prospective car inside under fluorescent light. Check the paint for acid rain. I've passed on cars a couple of times because of it. Could go on and on but, as the saying goes, "Caveat Emptor".

 

my first online buy was a bmw e30 cab on ebay, after two sunday afternoon scotches, back in 2001.
the seller was some twobit indy dealer in richmond, va.
car had ~100k miles and an motorized conv top that didnt work when i got it,
even with the 20 pics of it in various stages of closing. bought it for 9k then and had to put another 4k into almost immediately.
i did get 500 bucks outta them for the mysterious top failure.
got most of my dough back from allstate, after i drove it to work at the WFC the very first time, 9/11/01.

the experience did not scare me off from long distance buying. i adjusted my strategy by
1- shopping while sober
2-getting ppi from independent sources.
3-paying for a quality transport

i have successfully bought another 5 (and sold a few of them too) high end german cars online,
including the 993 targa from a member on this very forum back in 03.
there are plenty of shop recommends in all areas of the country that could be found on these forums.

 

Well thought out discussion on buying remotely. And it just gave me the reality drink that I need every so often when I rely too much on trust and honesty.

I do believe that the "standard deviation" of excellent condition varies widely. Yet the deviation does become more acceptable when buying from a respected rennlister, has a rennfax and a PPI from a very reputable shop.

At the end, even with 50 photos, nothing replaces the confidence you get of touching (kicking the tires) yourself.

Mark

 

I had a similar experience a few years back. I found what appeared to be a nice 85 911 in ATL and flew down to look at the car. I had the owner meet me at a local Porsche repair shop. I figured I would look the car over and if it was as described I would do the PPI . The car looked ok to me , but as soon as the tech started looking it over he took me aside and told me the car had been hit and the repair work was not to a very high standard. I decided to walk away. Since I had planned on shipping the car up north I already had a return plane ticket so I was only out ~$200 for air fare and $100 for the 5 minute PPI. Best car decision I ever made.

BTW I love the M-B E500/500E-I am sure you will find the right one.

 

Sometimes the best deals you make are the ones you walk away from. I have gotten (only slightly) better at doing it the years.

 

I'm pretty amazed at how far a lot of you guys travel for cars. Guess I'm just spoiled in the Bay Area/California.

Kind of a similar story on the RS America from last year when my exasperation with a potential long distance buyer had me just pull the plug on the sale. I wasn't really even selling the car, but a guy popped up via a referral from here and I was just absolutely _______ amazed how perfect a car this guy expected for a $20K RSA with 140K on the clock. I am SO GLAD I insisted he put his *** on a plane to come look at it in person. No photos, PPI, Rennfax would have satisfied this guy if his first look at the car was as it was unloaded from a transporter.............

 

I had a similar challenge in 2002. Living in NJ, I found a "C2S" in Michigan. I sent a deposit and then received more pics. IIRC it was a wide body but had no "S" script on any gauge face or on the engine cover. Owner (supposedly a collector) wasn't sure if it was an "S" and the broker/dealer he had retained to help sell the car wasn't sure either.

I wasn't interested in guessing or dealing with people who didn't know what they were selling. I asked for my money back and got it. Broker did try to interest me in negotiating a lower price that might be appropriate for a regular C2. I declined, not wishing to make any other unexpected discoveries.

 

AGC, I commend you on walking. I agree with the others that it takes alot of guts to listen to that little voice after so much energy has been put into a transaction. I have purchased several vehicles sight unseen and have never been excited about the overall condition. I have also determined that condition is so subjective that unless you know the person and know what they consider to be "Good Cond" you are asking for dissappointment. I am very picky and if I am buying used, I want items that are in "near perfect condition. As I get older, I have come to the conclusion that if I find something that I think I must have I need to figure in the cost of travelling to the item and looking and touching it with my own two hands. If that does not make financial sense then I will pass and keep looking.

My 2 cents, Jake

 

I just cringe when I hear guys saying they don't have time to go look at the car in person. They don't even give themselves the opportunity to walk away. I've read about more than a few horror stories from these types of buyers.