Need advice on buying car out of town

I hope someone can give advice on this, I found a car I really like but it's 500 miles away and it would be hard to get up there to check it out before purchase so I was curious if anyone has any advice on this, They sent pics and it looks good and the price is reasonable,but I'm kinda leery of buying something sight unseen. I also don't know how the payment part would work. Thanks, Rob

 

Unless you have someone you trust to look at it for you, bite the bullet and drive the 500 miles. You won't regret it, 500 miles isn't that far. I've driven from South Dakota to Atlanta and turned around and drove back with an empty trailer. I was pissed, but that's part of the game (luckily I did find another Deuce roadster in Peoria that I bought on the way back).

 

see if anyone here is near it I'm sure one of us hambers would check it out and give you an honest opinion

 

Where is it and what is it?

 

i just bought a car off a fellow hamber and i based my decision on the pics and talking to the guy on the phone.it should be picked up in a couple a days by the transport company.i paid by usps money order.just make sure you get alot of info from the seller.there are alot of scammers out there.dont use western union or any kind of direct money transfer under any condition.good luck.

 

Do NOT buy it sight unseen unless you're willing to lose whatever money you spend on it. Go look yourself, or get a HAMBer who's near it go check it out for you, or pay a professional inspector. Cars always look better in pictures than in real life.

 

also if you know someone who is an NSRA member, they could look in the Fellow Pages for someone near the car who could check it out for you.

 

That's what i would do..and have done a couple time's for other HAMBer's. I checked out one for a fella in Germany even...
Without a doubt have someone check it out. Give them all the area's you want them to inspect, and it wouldn't hurt to have them bring a camera as well. Someone looking 'for you' is going to take pic's that are not bias, rather they would more than likely be looking for the bad area's to report back.
OR, as was mentioned as well...drive the 500 mile's and see it yourself. A wasted day's worth of travel is still cheaper than spending money on something that wasn't exactly what you expected because once you bought it, it's your's problem's and all.

Tony

 

I bought mine sight unseen and flew from DFW to Lexington to pick it up. Took a friend with me for company, I bought her ticket and she paid for the food and room.

The guy screwed me a bit on his estimation of 'surface rust'. A few other problems. But it made the two-day trip and never missed a beat. I got to see Mammoth Caves (awesome) and racked up some good memories with a cool friend.

The old piece of **** is truly mine now. I think we bonded on that trip. Or I ould have just been high from the exhaust fumes.

 

The car is located at grand lake OK, I think it's near commerce. I'll call em today and get the address. Any hambers in the neighborhood? Any help would be greatly appreciated, pm me if you can help. thanks, Rob

 

Go look at it, bring cash and a gun.

 

Sometimes the best money you can loose is on a plane ticket.
I have had several situations where the sellers were very honest people and were no intentionally misstating the facts. Sometimes the best thing you can come back with is your money.......

 

Good advice from everyone. I made 3 trips before finding the car I wanted. Pictures hide a mul***ude of sins and you never know if they are 'current' pictures. Plus being in person gives you a chance to negotiate price.

 

I drove 18 1/2 hours from Kenosha, WI to Salida, CO to pick up a "running, driver". When I got there it did neither. The guy fiddled with it for about 10 minutes, then his old lady got involved. I got back in the truck and headed back to Wisconsin. Cost me $700 to drive back and forth, but it saved me a ton in the long run. You really need to check it out in person. Bring a buddy with you for company on the drive and to have another set of eyes to look at the car.

 

Definitely try to have someone look at at least or better yet make the trip. Even honest peoples perception of no rust, surface rust, clean, and good condition, is often times very different than reality. Pictures are usually taken in the best light to show the vehicle at a advantage. Driver quality chrome is the one I find most people have very different views on for example. Save yourself a heartache.