Honda Car Forum

I'm thinking of buying a car from an out-of-state private seller.
But, I'm not sure what's the best way to go about it.
Any suggestions? If things work out, I'm thinking of
having an auto transporter ship the car over.
And, I'll probably fly over to inspect the car before
starting the paper work. Is there anyway to prevent from
wasting money or from being scammed?

Not everyone is totally honest......some issues that may be considered minor
by the sellor may not be fully disclosed. Some descriptions may be vague or
misleading. Like what does 50% of treadlife remaining on tires really mean?
I would never close a sale unless I was able to personally inspect the car
and see a clear title etc.
It should be good enough of a deal to warrant the cost of travel. Otherwise
I would pass on it.

Peter

"Lynn" <lynn@no_thanks.com> wrote in message
news:ccEEd.517$8Z1.107@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com. ..
>
> I'm thinking of buying a car from an out-of-state private seller.
> But, I'm not sure what's the best way to go about it.
> Any suggestions? If things work out, I'm thinking of
> having an auto transporter ship the car over.
> And, I'll probably fly over to inspect the car before
> starting the paper work. Is there anyway to prevent from
> wasting money or from being scammed?
>
>
>

Good points.

Is a carfax report sufficient to show a clean title?



"Peter W Peternouschek" <p2ntrprs@cox.net> wrote in message news:fZJEd.79610$QR1.35186@fed1read04...
> Not everyone is totally honest......some issues that may be considered minor
> by the sellor may not be fully disclosed. Some descriptions may be vague or
> misleading. Like what does 50% of treadlife remaining on tires really mean?
> I would never close a sale unless I was able to personally inspect the car
> and see a clear title etc.
> It should be good enough of a deal to warrant the cost of travel. Otherwise
> I would pass on it.
>
> Peter
>
>
> "Lynn" <lynn@no_thanks.com> wrote in message
> news:ccEEd.517$8Z1.107@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com. ..
> >
> > I'm thinking of buying a car from an out-of-state private seller.
> > But, I'm not sure what's the best way to go about it.
> > Any suggestions? If things work out, I'm thinking of
> > having an auto transporter ship the car over.
> > And, I'll probably fly over to inspect the car before
> > starting the paper work. Is there anyway to prevent from
> > wasting money or from being scammed?
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>

Carfax helps in verifying mileage and possibly how many owners the vbehicle
has had and what states it may have been registered in. I would not trust it
for accident/damage history info since not everything is reported to CarFax.

Peter

"Lynn" <lynn@no_thanks.com> wrote in message
news:xVKEd.9347$wZ2.1910@newssvr13.news.prodigy.co m...
>
> Good points.
>
> Is a carfax report sufficient to show a clean title?
>
>
>
> "Peter W Peternouschek" <p2ntrprs@cox.net> wrote in message
news:fZJEd.79610$QR1.35186@fed1read04...
> > Not everyone is totally honest......some issues that may be considered
minor
> > by the sellor may not be fully disclosed. Some descriptions may be vague
or
> > misleading. Like what does 50% of treadlife remaining on tires really
mean?
> > I would never close a sale unless I was able to personally inspect the
car
> > and see a clear title etc.
> > It should be good enough of a deal to warrant the cost of travel.
Otherwise
> > I would pass on it.
> >
> > Peter
> >
> >
> > "Lynn" <lynn@no_thanks.com> wrote in message
> > news:ccEEd.517$8Z1.107@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com. ..
> > >
> > > I'm thinking of buying a car from an out-of-state private seller.
> > > But, I'm not sure what's the best way to go about it.
> > > Any suggestions? If things work out, I'm thinking of
> > > having an auto transporter ship the car over.
> > > And, I'll probably fly over to inspect the car before
> > > starting the paper work. Is there anyway to prevent from
> > > wasting money or from being scammed?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>

In that case, it might be better to
have a pre-purchase evaluation done as well.
Probably better to do it before I make the trip.



"Peter W Peternouschek" <p2ntrprs@cox.net> wrote in message news:KDLEd.79652$QR1.59605@fed1read04...
> Carfax helps in verifying mileage and possibly how many owners the vbehicle
> has had and what states it may have been registered in. I would not trust it
> for accident/damage history info since not everything is reported to CarFax.
>
> Peter
>
>
> "Lynn" <lynn@no_thanks.com> wrote in message
> news:xVKEd.9347$wZ2.1910@newssvr13.news.prodigy.co m...
> >
> > Good points.
> >
> > Is a carfax report sufficient to show a clean title?
> >
> >
> >
> > "Peter W Peternouschek" <p2ntrprs@cox.net> wrote in message
> news:fZJEd.79610$QR1.35186@fed1read04...
> > > Not everyone is totally honest......some issues that may be considered
> minor
> > > by the sellor may not be fully disclosed. Some descriptions may be vague
> or
> > > misleading. Like what does 50% of treadlife remaining on tires really
> mean?
> > > I would never close a sale unless I was able to personally inspect the
> car
> > > and see a clear title etc.
> > > It should be good enough of a deal to warrant the cost of travel.
> Otherwise
> > > I would pass on it.
> > >
> > > Peter
> > >
> > >
> > > "Lynn" <lynn@no_thanks.com> wrote in message
> > > news:ccEEd.517$8Z1.107@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com. ..
> > > >
> > > > I'm thinking of buying a car from an out-of-state private seller.
> > > > But, I'm not sure what's the best way to go about it.
> > > > Any suggestions? If things work out, I'm thinking of
> > > > having an auto transporter ship the car over.
> > > > And, I'll probably fly over to inspect the car before
> > > > starting the paper work. Is there anyway to prevent from
> > > > wasting money or from being scammed?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
>
>

Just a suggestion - order an independent appraisal before anything else.
There are many nationwide services and several will go out to the car so it
does not inconvenience the current owner.
Here is one example just for illustration -
http://c2c-auto.com/Prepurchase%20flyer.htm

I'm in Tulsa and found my 83 300SD in Dallas and it sounded like the car I
wanted. I asked the seller very specific questions and listened intently
for the any weaseling in the response. I heard very little so asked if she
would give me the name and number of the mechanic, which she did. He
confirmed everything she said. I called back told her I would buy it
provided that everything was verified by my personal inspection. I asked her
if she objected to a mechanic lookin at it and she didn't hesitate in
agreeing. I took a cashiers check and asked if she would pick me up at the
airport and have clear title. The airport inspection convinced me to drive
it around town and the only thing I found that wasn't revealed was that the
power antenna didn't work. I testeted everything I could, checked the 0 to
60 time and decided I didn't need a mechanic so I bought the car and have
been happy. I always am very specific in asking what doesn't work, what if
any deferred maintenance, any leaks, dings or tears. If after personally
inspecting it I find anything misleading I dig further and if theres' too
much I decide if I should negotiate on price or walk. Hope that helps.

--

73
Hank WD5JFR
"Lynn" <lynn@no_thanks.com> wrote in message
news:ccEEd.517$8Z1.107@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com. ..
>
> I'm thinking of buying a car from an out-of-state private seller.
> But, I'm not sure what's the best way to go about it.
> Any suggestions? If things work out, I'm thinking of
> having an auto transporter ship the car over.
> And, I'll probably fly over to inspect the car before
> starting the paper work. Is there anyway to prevent from
> wasting money or from being scammed?
>
>
>

That's a really good suggestion. Thanks!

I've never tried an independent appraisal before.
Is this better than a pre-purchase evaluation?



"Sandy" <sbeech6@nospam.cox.net> wrote in message news:q6UEd.25794$CH5.2131@fed1read01...
> Just a suggestion - order an independent appraisal before anything else.
> There are many nationwide services and several will go out to the car so it
> does not inconvenience the current owner.
> Here is one example just for illustration -
> http://c2c-auto.com/Prepurchase%20flyer.htm
>

Sounds like a good way to go about it.
In addition, I'll probably rely on someone more adept at
mechanical inspections than I am.



"Henry Kolesnik" <kolesnik@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:1iVEd.15879$iC4.12279@newssvr30.news.prodigy. com...
> I'm in Tulsa and found my 83 300SD in Dallas and it sounded like the car I
> wanted. I asked the seller very specific questions and listened intently
> for the any weaseling in the response. I heard very little so asked if she
> would give me the name and number of the mechanic, which she did. He
> confirmed everything she said. I called back told her I would buy it
> provided that everything was verified by my personal inspection. I asked her
> if she objected to a mechanic lookin at it and she didn't hesitate in
> agreeing. I took a cashiers check and asked if she would pick me up at the
> airport and have clear title. The airport inspection convinced me to drive
> it around town and the only thing I found that wasn't revealed was that the
> power antenna didn't work. I testeted everything I could, checked the 0 to
> 60 time and decided I didn't need a mechanic so I bought the car and have
> been happy. I always am very specific in asking what doesn't work, what if
> any deferred maintenance, any leaks, dings or tears. If after personally
> inspecting it I find anything misleading I dig further and if theres' too
> much I decide if I should negotiate on price or walk. Hope that helps.
>
> --
>
> 73
> Hank WD5JFR
> "Lynn" <lynn@no_thanks.com> wrote in message
> news:ccEEd.517$8Z1.107@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com. ..
> >
> > I'm thinking of buying a car from an out-of-state private seller.
> > But, I'm not sure what's the best way to go about it.
> > Any suggestions? If things work out, I'm thinking of
> > having an auto transporter ship the car over.
> > And, I'll probably fly over to inspect the car before
> > starting the paper work. Is there anyway to prevent from
> > wasting money or from being scammed?
> >
> >
> >
>
>

One more thing to worry about/check is whether the car was water-
damaged,ie; a "flood car". Due to the recent floods in several areas of the
US,there are vehicles being sold (illegally)that were totalled for flood
damage. A very close inspection is required to detect these vehicles.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net