Purchasing a car, non-face-to-face transaction.

[drinksomewhiskey]

Hello everyone,

 

I'm looking to purchase a car from the east coast. I have talked to the individual by phone. He seems very knowledgeable about the car, explained everything in details, provided pictures for everything and seems to be very reasonable. I probably will not be able to see the car to complete the sale in person.

 

I want to know what you guys might recommend as the best way to handle a non-face-to-face transaction. What should I look for from your experience? Also, I read here that escrow.com is a good method of completing the transaction. Should that be the best way to send the money? What are your thoughts?

 

Thank you in advance!

 

Regards,

DSW

 

 

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[bmdubl02]

Pre purchase inspection (PPI) is the first line of defense, also perhaps contact someone via this site local to that area to verify that the car (seems) is as what's advertised for the $$ your paying....A rhetorical question: are you spending 3K or 30K? The answer would be key to maybe taking a plane ride to make sure you're getting what you (think) you're paying for....My .02

[Simeon]

I would say always see the car yourself because at some point you have to 'own' the business of buying the car. Paying someone for a PPI is also good as aside from being Pros they have no motive other than look for faults and will act as a sensible voice if you get overtaken by auto lust (hey, it happens- we have all been there). 

 

Before you PPI though, get the seller to FaceTime or Skype you from a phone or similar. I have done this in the past and it lets you get a good feel for the car.  You can listen to it start and watch for things like the oil light to go out. Smoke from exhaust?  This will let you know whether you are wasting $500 on a PPI for something obviously bad. 

[echappe]

Where on the east coast is it and how long has it been there? As a general rule of thumb the best cars are in California and Arizona. If the car spent has spent its life in a snow/salt environment, there is no telling what lurks beneath a shiny new paint job.

Caveat Emptor!

[mataku527]

I just purchased a vehicle from out of state and understand the predicament, especially on a limited budget.  I was fortunate to have family member check out the car and handle the transaction but even with that, there were things I wish I would have known.  I second a PPI at a reputable shop.  This will easily eliminate dishonest sellers as they wouldn't even take the car to get it inspected.  

[TobyB]

Quote

I'm looking to purchase a car from the east coast.

 

Having spent some winters on that side of the country, all I can say is

 

DON'T!

 

unless you buy carefully.

 

Salt and rust being what they are...

 

t

 

[Healey3000]

I bought mine "remotely".  At that time, I did not know about this forum but I did have someone local to the car on the e9 forum.  He also happened to have an '02 and owned a few before the current one and was therefore very knowledgeable.

 

He was kind enough to give the car a thorough checkout for rust, which was really the only thing I was concerned about (West Coast car).  Fortunately, the car was in good shape with respect to everything else as well.  Having spoken to the owner on the phone a few times and understanding the car's history gave me enough of the warm & fuzzies that I went ahead and bought it.  Perhaps I got lucky but the car was as I imagined it would be.

 

For every happy ending like this, there are perhaps an equal or greater number of "what was I thinking??" transactions.

[NickVyse]

why not get the pics up on here, someone might know the car and a hundred people picking the car apart is better than none. And as someone already said, if the purchase price is more than 2 or 3 grand then why not jump on a plane and take a look?

[Fatherof3]

11 hours ago, drinksomewhiskey said:

 

Hello everyone,

 

I'm looking to purchase a car from the east coast.

 

[Mike Self]

Very cool picture in the above post...note the split window sunroof Beetle--but what's that in front of it?  Looks like a mid-50s M-B.  Looks small when compared to the VW but I think the VW is on the near side of the street and the other car is on the opposite side.  Isn't a Renault Dauphine either, and doesn't look like a 50s Opel.  Anyone know for sure?  Tanus?  

 

mike

[02Les]

1 hour ago, mike said:

Very cool picture in the above post...note the split window sunroof Beetle--but what's that in front of it?  Looks like a mid-50s M-B.  Looks small when compared to the VW but I think the VW is on the near side of the street and the other car is on the opposite side.  Isn't a Renault Dauphine either, and doesn't look like a 50s Opel.  Anyone know for sure?  Tanus?  

 

mike

If the pic was taken in the UK I would guess at an early '50s Ford Consul, but, as the people look European (German?), I think you are right with a Taurus 12M.

[drinksomewhiskey]

I spoke to the seller, and he preferred to keep it private. It is a California roundie car, now kept in a garage in Ohio. He purchased it from California and has been restoring it since. The only rust is on the front valence which he provided pictures. He agreed to allow a specialist come and check out the car.


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[Conserv]

3 hours ago, mike said:

...Looks like a mid-50s M-B.  Looks small when compared to the VW but I think the VW is on the near side of the street and the other car is on the opposite side....

 

 

Yes, 1954-59 MB 180 or 190.  "Ponton" is the common nickname for this "pontoony" body!  I had a 1958 220S sedan and a 1959 220SE sedan.  Very cool cars.  Mine had rust!

 

Best regards,

 

Steve

 

[TobyB]

Quote

It is a California roundie car

Ok, that sounds a lot better.  And willingness to inspect is good, too.

 

t

 

[Dudeland]

        In the for what it is worth category, i just purchased a 02 from California , that was in Pittsburg for a short time getting restored..  The body was spotless and accident free, new paint. I did fly down to Cali to take a look I also picked up a body filler detector to pick out and rear quarter damage etcc.... 

 

       The second thing you need to concern yourself with is the rubber.  My son will be in the car with me, picking him up from daycare etc... I insisted on new brake hoses, rear wheel cylinders etc... The rubber gets super cooked in a California car,  and it isn't as easy to replace as your standard VW. There are a lot of little bits that are very expensive, hard to find and more involved than you think to replace. It will be about $600+ (American dollars)  to do the window seals and door seals, that isn't even with Oem parts.   I will have easily 3-5k in rubber replacement including brake hoses, gas lines, window seals and other little bits.

 

     There were a couple of surprises once I got it home, washers spacing out the front wheels so they don't rub, steering wheel horn contact wedged in with a piece of cardboard, a mystery cam instead of the Schrick that supposed to be in it.  For me it is a forever car, or at least 10+year car, so I will get my value out of it before I hand it off.  

 

    It will be a bigger project than you think, make sure all the hard to find parts are there and in good shape. I did have the parts and I really didn't have a budget, more an idea of a really nice safe and modernized daily driver, but still i am surprised how things have added up. 

 

I would follow TobyB's advice, just don't.  He knows what he is talking about and has helped me out many times in my couple months of ownership. Suck it up, get a plane ticket and go see it. (I mean that in the nicest way) 

 

D