Buying at a distance

[Guest Strange]

Hello all,

I was wondering if anyone was willing to share their experiences and advice on buying a car at a distance. Hemmings has a few good points about it. I must say the few attempts I've made the seller has refused to fax a copy of the title (even though Hemming's says this should be a requirement). I've used inspection companies both Carchex and Automobile Inspections LLC. Once I had the car turn out to be in completely different condition than what was said in the ad, which I'm sure many of us have experienced and the other time I ran into a seller that refused to sign the sales agreement because of the following clause:

"Seller has no knowledge of any hidden defects in and to the Vehicle, and believes to the best of Seller?s knowledge that the Vehicle being sold is in good operating condition, except for the air conditioning unit, temp gauge, and horn. Seller is selling the vehicle as is."

Which tended to make me believe that there was something the seller wasn't telling me. Any good success stories out there?

Cheers,

Strange

[Mike Cullen]

I sent a local appraiser to check out my 36 Zephyr before I bought it. It was the best $250 I could have spent. No surprizes and an excellent deal. I had previously sent an appraiser to look at a Junior Packard of similar vintage. It cost me $200 to find out that the pictures the seller sent were over 5 years old and the car he represented as a #3 and almost a #2 was a very weak #3 and worth less than 1/2 his asking price due to hidden serious problems and the typical owner's propensity to over value their cars.

Do a google search on Auto Appraisers, it's the only way to go.

[mrpushbutton]

Biggermike is right--I have traveled many miles to see a car (in person) that looked very good on the owner-supplied photographs, only to find a number of ugly suprises. I went with a friend to look at a 1949 Cadillac series 62 Sedanette (fastback). We drove to Madison, WI to see this car. The welting that seperated the fenders from the body was gone, the body guy bondoed over the gap where it had been, the paint was nothing like the picture, It didn't run very good. Altogether a near waisted trip. We drank (heavily) the rest of the weekend to make up for the dissapointment.

[Guest Strange]

I agree totally about the inspections (Though they were more expensive I prefered Automobile Inspections LLC over the Carchex, but they both provided some good information). I was wondering. Looking at that contract clause I quoted, what are people's general opinion. Does it seem so onerous? I took it from a standard sales contract and I am curious since the last seller said he talked to all of his classic car collector friends and they all told them that they would never sign such a thing. Now, I'm not a lawyer, which is why I went to a legal website to get that contract and it seemed reasonable to me.

Cheers,

Strange

[Matt Harwood]

I bought my '41 Century sight unseen from Colorado (I'm in Cleveland). The transaction was a success for a number of reasons, not the least of which was the seller's great attitude and helpfulness. I got a good "vibe" from him and I was right.

But I wouldn't have bought the car based on conversations with the seller alone. What I did was solicit some other old car guys here and on the Cadillac-LaSalle club boards and see if any of them were local to the car. Even if they weren't '41 Buick experts, they probably know enough basics to give the car a good once-over. A fellow responded who lived about 3 miles from the car. He spent some considerable time inspecting the car and talking to the owner and gave me a glowing report. I pulled the trigger and was very pleased.

I tend to think that "car guys" are a better choice than some appraisers or inspectors. Most of the big companies who do these pre-purchase inspections use insurance company adjusters who probably know less about the car than your sister does. And they don't really care one way or the other. I think a car guy will do his best because of car guy karma--wouldn't you go out of your way for another hobbyist and do the best you could? Of course you would.

Sorry so verbose. Ask if there's anyone here who is local and see what happens. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

PS: Two words--digital camera

[Wowabunga]

Howdy,

I work for one of those inspection companies... because I live in Polecat Hollar I don't get many assignments but when I do they are always entertaining. Some are right on que with condidtion stated, and my last one said all that was needed on the low mileage Vette was some buffing. Well add a new front valance cracked in 3 spots on the bottom, enough stone chips and craters that would make the man in the moon blush, and a few cracks in the paint the seller didn't notice.

My advice is call the seller, if he's had the car for the past 10 years it's a good chance he knows what he has, and an inspection probably isn't needed. In my past two inspections both cars had recently been bought by "vintage auto dealers" and were being quickly "flipped" as they say to make a quick profit. Last car the title was still in the previous owners name.

On a good note the Vette I inspected didn't sell, and they guy in Norway or where ever he was was saved a lot of money and disappointment. I'll mention that I usually spend 2 hours on site and take a zillion photos.