Buying Car Remotely

[Ferrino]

I've never purchased a car sight-unseen before and it's looking increasingly likely with the car I've identified as the successor for my abandoned air-cooled 911 project. I'm probably going to have it shipped, so I won't be there in person at all. What's the safest way to transfer the funds in such a scenario? This would be for a dealer and yes, there will be a PPI. Thanks!

[Sooner or later]

How much you paying for the vehicle.? How far away is it?

[Ferrino]

Originally Posted by Sooner or later

How much you paying for the vehicle.? How far away is it?

1,000 miles. In the 20s.

[Sooner or later]

Originally Posted by Ferrino

1,000 miles. In the 20s.

I hate buying used sight unseen. If it was any closer or cost more Ii would go see it. Borderline at that cost distance.

I will let others with recent purchases give you advice. Mine long ago purchase wouldn't help much. In fact I don't remember how Ii did it.

[KFC911]

No way I'm buying a 911 sight unseen....I've done a couple of look-sees for Pelicans before....one was a misrepresented turd for a Canadian. I found mine 500 miles away....round-trip tickets are cheap...it was as advertised....drove her home...

I'm a picky SOB....heard too many horror stories....YMMV

Funds transfer....I took a cashiers check from my small credit union back then...no mas.

Do a wire transfer from a major bank that's on both ends....or a cashiers check....Well Fargo, Bank of America, etc. I hate them bastids (worked for both ), but they can be useful....good luck!

[Tobra]

You can probably get someone here to go take a look at it for you. Disinterested third party laying eyes on it will be able to tell you a lot. We have Pelicans all over the place.

[Ferrino]

Thanks. It's not a 911 and I'm having a PPI with a recommended shop.

[Oracle]

I bought my 964 unseen. The secret is to find the most reputable Porsche garage in the area and have the PPI done there.. Talk to the manager and explain. Most likely he'll understand your anxiety and will be very thorough.
Make sure the owner is not there while the PPI is taking place so you can talk to the manager on the phone openly.

Good luck!

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Tobra

You can probably get someone here to go take a look at it for you. Disinterested third party laying eyes on it will be able to tell you a lot. We have Pelicans all over the place.

Absolutely!!!

[JackDidley]

Originally Posted by KC911

No way I'm buying a 911 sight unseen...!

This.
Too many people can not be trusted. I hate to say that.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Ferrino

Thanks. It's not a 911 and I'm having a PPI with a recommended shop.

Plenty of horror stories...one just in the past year...

Honestly, do yourself a favor and ask for Pelican help...before the PPI even. Who's the shop? Some I'd trust better than myself...but beware...

[GWN7]

1000 miles, $20K-$30K? Fly there Friday night. South West has cheap seats. Get a hotel room, see the car in the am. If it meets your approval pay the man in cash. Get insurance and start driving. Your home Sunday night (8 hrs driving a day). If the car does not meet your approval fly home that day. If you don't like the car your out the cost of the ticket and the hotel room.

Bank transfers only protect you if your selling. They do nothing to protect you from the car being a POS.

As mentioned ask someone here to do a PPI first for you here. If you like what they say buy them dinner Friday night when you fly in to pick up the car.

Good luck

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by GWN7

1000 miles, $20K-$30K? Fly there Friday night. South West has cheap seats. Get a hotel room, see the car in the am. If it meets your approval pay the man in cash. Get insurance and start driving. Your home Sunday night (8 hrs driving a day). If the car does not meet your approval fly home that day. If you don't like the car your out the cost of the ticket and the hotel room.

Bank transfers only protect you if your selling. They do nothing to protect you from the car being a POS.

As mentioned ask someone here to do a PPI first for you here. If you like what they say buy them dinner Friday night when you fly in to pick up the car.

Good luck

Can't disagree with a single word.

Many of us, myself included, have eyeballed cars for others as well as had others eyeball for us.

FWIW, flying out and driving back is probably only a bit over break even vs having it shipped.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by GWN7

1000 miles, $20K-$30K? Fly there Friday night. South West has cheap seats. Get a hotel room, see the car in the am. If it meets your approval pay the man in cash. Get insurance and start driving. Your home Sunday night (8 hrs driving a day). If the car does not meet your approval fly home that day. If you don't like the car your out the cost of the ticket and the hotel room.

Bank transfers only protect you if your selling. They do nothing to protect you from the car being a POS.

As mentioned ask someone here to do a PPI first for you here. If you like what they say buy them dinner Friday night when you fly in to pick up the car.

Good luck

^^^^ Spot on...but instead of cash, I'd carry a major banks' cashiers check that's open on Sat. in the sellers location...complete the deal in the bank for the seller's protection, so there is no doubt the check is legit...it MUST be the same bank on both ends....damn crooks

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by KC911

^^^^ Spot on...but instead of cash, I'd carry a major banks' cashiers check that's open on Sat. in the sellers location...complete the deal in the bank for the seller's protection, so there is no doubt the check is legit...it MUST be the same bank on both ends....damn crooks

Could even do a wire directly from a bank branch.

Hell I wire 10k from my phone these days.

[pavulon]

Step 1: Get a pelicanite to take a peek if possible. Have done this very thing and have offered to do the same.

Step 2: Go from there but be ready to crawl in an airplane on short notice.

Step 3: Sleep well at night.

[Jims5543]

Purchased my 911 sight unseen best purchase ever car was exactly as described and the shop that did the PPI wanted me to back out so they could buy it.

I purchased my E30 sight unseen, I did know the owner (Rammstein) and it was better than described. No PPI

Purchased a 1978 Mini Pickup sight unseen, the fact that the engine was bad was shielded and not disclosed and when called out the seller played stupid. Yet posts on a Mini BB all the time and is a self proclaimed expert on the cars. He sucks and I hope karma catches up with him.

Purchased an E21 by accident on BAT and it has been a delight to own.

Purchased an RX7 off a forum guru and it was a disaster (see a theme here?) I took the rare rims off it and sold it at a slight loss with full disclosure. I do not rip people off.

My son bought a S52 Swapped E30 sight unseen and it was a great deal.

My win column outweighs my loss column, I have a rule, over 10K for a car then a PPI must be done, if under I will spin the dice.

[jwasbury]

I had a PPOTPPI performed by our own Bob Kontak recently. (thanks Bob) Bought the car sight unseen. Happy with it.

I recommend the PPOTPPI as your first move.

[yellowperil]

I live in PEI and bought my 993 in Toronto, found it on autotrader and had my daughter who lives in T.O. go look at it. I told her to look closely at it you know what I like in a car and more than anything have a good look at the dude seller. If he gives you any bad vibs or the "willies" let me know and I'll stay home.

Nest day she said she drove the car it's perfect and the dude is real nice, you'll like both. Flew up and drove it home.( 1,500 miles) Brought license and insurance with me with a bank draft for purchase price (-deposit of a grand.)

Drove it home, wife and I, and had a great "road trip" which we'll not soon forget.

So you should have someone you trust check it out!

[PorscheGAL]

I would definitely have someone go look at it for you.

Do not choose a PPI shop that is connected to the dealer.

Here's an idea: even if you are planning to pay cash. Use a company like J J Best to get a loan and pay it right off. J J Best sends an inspector out to look at it. We looked at a GT40 and chose to walk away after the seller wouldn't crank it for the inspector. The inspector will not do a PPI. They only look to see if the car is accurately described. We bought the 930 sight unseen this way.

Hagerty's did an article this month on this exact thing. Their advice:

Go See It
Hire a Stand In
Photos and More Photos
Research VIN, car's past, etc.-if it's a collectible car the previous owner will have been on a forum

Good luck!