Buying a Vehicle Remotely

[blg5035]

Hey Everyone,

I live in South Carolina and I'm looking at buying a 911 in Oregon. I'm debating between flying out there and driving it back and having it shipped.

If I have it shipped, I likely would just rely on the PPI to tell me the condition of the car. I am concerned, however with the transferring of money and avoiding getting ripped off.

Could anyone share some wisdom as to how they've dealt with buying a car remotely, more specifically the transfer of money and making sure the car is received by me?

Thanks!

[zedsn]

Does the person selling the car have any references? I could be wrong but I believe that a cashiers check from your bank might help just in case something goes wrong. I would ask them. I would have the car shipped and even if the car is in good shape something could happen on the way home as it is a used car after all. I would recommend a PPI. I have bought and sold several cars to and from out of state buyers and sellers and all went well.

[pc100porsche]

Wire a holding deposit, once you are sure you want the car, and get a receipt.
Fly out and drive it back.

[mkc1962]

PPI, then make a road trip out of it. As zedsn I too have done many long distance transactions Both Bikes and cars. I have never experienced a sitution that didnt work out as long as I did my homework, PPI's if possible, and LOTS of pictures and reciepts. Honest sellers never have problems with any of these. If they do, then move on and keep shopping.

[RedCoupe]

If you send or wire a deposit, also draft a simple agreement that both buyer and seller will sign spelling out what the deposit is for, what happens if the car isn't as represented, and under what conditions the deposit would be refunded. Then, you MUST look the car over in person before you complete the purchase. If you want an example of a remote purchase gone bad, search this forum for the thread entitled something like "Porsche approved car". The buyer was in Australia and bought a 3.2 Carrera from the UK that had a recent PPI by a British Porsche dealer. The car turned out to be a major rust bucket that took much time and money to make right.

[gliding_serpent]

I bought a car on the opposite coast. I had plenty of phone conversations with the seller.

I did a ppi (which i had some issues with... Just get a porsche specialty place to look at it. Set out you inspection expectations ahead of time). In hindsight i would try to get domeone else to lay eyes on it independant of the ppi if i could not see it myself prior to the final deal.

I did a bank to bank wire transfer that was delayed because my bank teller was an idiot.

Have a signed and written sales contract with terms you are both comfortable with.

I had my car transported to me. There was a good level of trust between the seller and I, but i am sure both of us are glad to have it over with. Overall it was a ton of work. But i am also on the east coast of canada and my car was in seattle.

[biosurfer1]

fly out and drive it back...post your route so Pelican's can let you know if they are close by if something goes wrong.

[Tom '74 911]

I've bought a few cars long distance. The ones I didn't go pick up myself, I either had a friend (or friend of a friend) inspect for me, or were for a small enough amount ($5K or less) that I didn't stress too much over it. (Not that $5K is an insignificant amount!).

I should say that the one I didn't inspect myself or have someone else inspect for me - I got shafted on! "Minimal rust" for example, means different things to different people apparently.

Pelican is a great resource! I bought a truck on eBay from a small LA area dealer a few years ago. I put up a post on Pelican asking if someone lived nearby and could swing by to verify that the dealer was legit & the truck actually existed etc... I had a few responses w/in an hour & someone was gracious enough to swing by and talk to the sales guy for me and take a few photos etc... Come to think of it, I think I still owe him a bottle of wine or something!!

A p-car should be easy to find someone local that's willing to do a little legwork for you. Also a PPI from a known good, honest shop is worth it & could save you a ton of headache...

Good Luck!

[id10t]

When I sold the M491 to Shaun, I got him on the cell and since we both have iDevices I could give him a tour of the car live. Worked well, don't think he's unhappy. We agreed the car was his at a great price for him, and I told him he had a few months to show up with trailer and cashier's check. No problems. But, I wasn't advertising, wasn't in a hurry to sell, and I actually offered to sell it to him after a string of bad luck on his part running all over to see cars that were far from what they were claimed to be.

But... it is a trust thing... Is there someone in the area either you trust directly or have a couple of degrees of trust separation on that can lay eyes on the car for you? Is it widely advertised, do you need to do a quick agreement of "sold at price X pending ppi w/ refundable deposit of $y" and fly out before someone else snatches it up? Or can you take your time on it? If you do fly out to lay eyes on it, is it really drivable all the way home?

[Nostril Cheese]

I can do a PPI or check the car out for you if its near Portland.

[Tobra]

Get a Pelican to check it out for you, as suggested above. As Brett suggested, you will have help available on the way back if you make a few arrangements.

[BeyGon]

I bought a car in Florida, a Pelican did a PPI and a Pelican helped me with the business end of buying it. I shipped it to Calif. It was cheaper to ship counting my flight and a few nights in hotels. Plus it was mid winter with snow and rain storms all the way back. Higher gas prices at the time.

[blg5035]

Thanks for the input everyone. I will be getting a PPI and have a local Pelican check the car out.

A Pelican I've been emailing with had a good suggestion that I thought I'd share. He said to have the owner post the car on eBay with the agreed price as a BuyItNow, buy it immediately and pay with PayPal. This way you get the buyer protection: eBay Motors - Purchase Protection - Overview This protects the seller too.

Nostril Cheese, I sent you a PM.

[porsche930dude]

intercity transport is running a special for rennlist members

[Nostril Cheese]

Originally Posted by blg5035

Thanks for the input everyone. I will be getting a PPI and have a local Pelican check the car out.

A Pelican I've been emailing with had a good suggestion that I thought I'd share. He said to have the owner post the car on eBay with the agreed price as a BuyItNow, buy it immediately and pay with PayPal. This way you get the buyer protection: eBay Motors - Purchase Protection - Overview This protects the seller too.

Nostril Cheese, I sent you a PM.

Send another PM, something got messed up with the visitor messages.

[dlearl]

Originally Posted by zedsn

I could be wrong but I believe that a cashiers check from your bank might help just in case something goes wrong.

Buying a car with a cashiers check might be ok but the seller would be a fool to accept it. NEVER, EVER, EVER sell ANYTHING OF VALUE for a cashiers check. All the buyer has to do is stop payment once he gets the paperwork, just like a personal check, and you're out.

The guy I bought my Beck from was in the process of tracking down/suing someone who gave him $5K cash and a $10K cashiers check for a '74 911. Two days after he deposited said check it was returned because the buyer had stopped payment on it.

IMHO, the only way to buy a car at a distance is with a wire transfer your bank to his. Costs $10-15, takes a couple of hours, and the transfer can ONLY be reversed by the receiver.

[dlearl]

Originally Posted by blg5035

Thanks for the input everyone. I will be getting a PPI and have a local Pelican check the car out.

A Pelican I've been emailing with had a good suggestion that I thought I'd share. He said to have the owner post the car on eBay with the agreed price as a BuyItNow, buy it immediately and pay with PayPal. This way you get the buyer protection: eBay Motors - Purchase Protection - Overview This protects the seller too.

Nostril Cheese, I sent you a PM.

That seems fraught with peril if you ask me. I've lost too many auctions to bots to trust that.

[zedsn]

You wait till the cashiers check clears. Hello.

[Bill Douglas]

I would fly out and check the car over personally. US airfares are cheap enough.

I bought my car in England and live in New Zealand. RUF GB did a big PPI on it then held the car. I payed the seller and once both parties said to RUF they were happy they released it to my shipping company.

[GWN7]

Bank wire transfer or take cash when picking the car up in person.