BAT lists a car with altered VIN

[pmax]

Originally Posted by MrBonus

I'd buy a Porsche on BaT as long as I was able to see the car in person and it was priced within my spending threshold.

I bought my G-Body in 2012, when the market started to gather traction but wasn't the insane hotness it was in 2017. It took my nearly 6 months to buy my car, and that was after contacting numerous sellers and seeing 4 - 5 cars. It was hard, scheduling time to see the car, especially with other interested buyers, or just finding super flaky sellers who would ignore your inquiries altogether, or finding cars that were misrepresented (usually corrosion or undisclosed but very visible paint/body repair from accident damage).

I know Porsche made a lot of 911s and 356s but finding nice ones can still be a chore and I wouldn't dismiss BaT if I found the right car at the right price.

But yeah, it isn't just click button, buy perfect car. I'm not sure it's that anywhere.

Similarly, we drove 3 hours to meet the seller, a private owner, for my 87 but treated as a fun excursion, it wasn't a chore. Great seller, great car. That was in 2014 (!).

Agreed ... seeing a car in person is still the best thing to do to avoid surprises. I presume most of the private sellers on BAT are one timers so a buyer still has to do the legwork to vet them, close the deal in addition to competing with every other buyer on BAT, and you waste all that effort if you do not win the auction, unlike before when you make the deal in person with a handshake, and you are legally bound for the fee if you do. So, the same work assuming you win the auction, angst, worry and an additional fee for the smart buyers like us (read ... more time than money ), no thanks. The old ways were better.

[misterwaterfall]

Originally Posted by Ralph3.

I don’t think you could get it past the Washington State Patrol inspection for out of state vehicles.

For the record, they don’t care as long it’s not salvage

[High Hope]

IMO BaT is unique. As a seller, Poof, I paid my $99 and the buyer sent a transporter to pick it up. Where else can you see a daily roll-out of new used cars, and get the satisfaction of seeing what the real world value is?

[techweenie]

Originally Posted by pmax

Similarly, we drove 3 hours to meet the seller, a private owner, for my 87 but treated as a fun excursion, it wasn't a chore. Great seller, great car. That was in 2014 (!).

Agreed ... seeing a car in person is still the best thing to do to avoid surprises. I presume most of the private sellers on BAT are one timers so a buyer still has to do the legwork to vet them, close the deal in addition to competing with every other buyer on BAT, and you waste all that effort if you do not win the auction, unlike before when you make the deal in person with a handshake, and you are legally bound for the fee if you do. So, the same work assuming you win the auction, angst, worry and an additional fee for the smart buyers like us (read ... more time than money ), no thanks. The old ways were better.

I inspected an auction car recently to see how closely the description matched the reality. As I left, I shook the seller's hand. But immediately counted my fingers after.

[JMS935]

Originally Posted by techweenie

I inspected an auction car recently to see how closely the description matched the reality. As I left, I shook the seller's hand. But immediately counted my fingers after.

Ha! Were they all there?

Yeah...I don’t think I’d ever buy a car on BaT, even with someone else’s money. I’ve amassed my collection by buying cars as uncontested as possible, which is exactly the opposite on BaT. You rarely get good deals bidding against a clock and several other buyers raising the price. If it’s just me and the seller and an asking price that I can negotiate lower - that’s how I prefer it.

[pmax]

Originally Posted by techweenie

I inspected an auction car recently to see how closely the description matched the reality. As I left, I shook the seller's hand. But immediately counted my fingers after.

Won't be much of a job if there isn't some sort of professional hazard

But, really, everyone we encountered during the hunt back then were nice and normal, even that one dude who demanded I go with him to the bank and withdraw cash right there and then to close the deal.

Has the car buying business gone pro these days ?