Long distance purchase - Need help

[Kevin Chorniak]

Any suggestions/thoughts on making a long distance Cobra purchase? Shipping suggestions? How do you coordinate the title work?

Any comments would be appreciated and helpful.

Thanks,
kc

[casaleenie]

bought a car in Florida and just took the clear title and the car back to Ohio. Had to have the numbers checked at an auto dealer and then paid the tax on the purchase and was issued an Ohio title....
Are you picking up the car or having it shipped?

What states are involved????

[Excaliber]

I recently bought my ERA from Calif. Site unseen and bascically going with a "gut feeling" it was a good deal and the guy was "honest". NOT the first time I've done a deal like this, it IS fraught with "danger".

Totally honest and sincere BUYERS and SELLERS can "mis-communicate" and one of you ends up with a deal he doesn't feel "good about" when it's done.

To minimize the risk factors:

You really need someone knowledgable to look at the car. Don't have to "jack it up" and get carried away. Just VERIFY what you've been told on the phone and/or e-mail. Yup, it's "red" and it "looks" pretty good. Yup, does indeed APPEAR to have the motor you talked about. The "tires" are as described. Etc, etc. Focus on certain items that will be easy to "verify" by a third party. IS the car AS described? If not, WHAT is wrong with this picture? What else have you missed?

This is where your "gut" comes into play, don't be "paranoid" and don't be "greedy". Just be "realistic" and logical. It MIGHT just be a good deal after all.

Get a copy (e-mail or fax) of the title (BOTH SIDES). Perhaps have your "man on the scene" compare the copy you gave him to the original the owner MUST PROVIDE for review.

Now payment gets tricky, I have a way I handle that, that I would rather not discuss, sorry. Perhaps others can offer a good solution?

Shipping? See the banner Ad at the bottom of this page. Richs Classic Transport. He WILL deliver without a scratch, this guy KNOWS Cobras!

[arctic-snake]

If your serious about the car after seeing e-mailed pictures and talking with the seller, I would send a deposit that you both can live with. Make your arrangements for shipping with an insured carrier. Buy a plane ticket(or drive) and check out the car in person. A purchase of this size should be handled first hand in my opinion. If the car is as represented, you can accompany the owner to the appropriate authority and have the title transferred. Get the car loaded, take pictures with the carrier present, and fly back home and wait for your package to arrive. I shipped mine from Ohio to Alaska without a glitch. Very rewarding experience and I got to know the seller a little. I think you will find that the condition of the car is representative of the previous owner. In my case they (the owner and the car) were first class. Good luck and have fun with the purchase and the car.

[SCOBRAC]

www.priceline.com

[Excaliber]

Ha ha,,,, Rather than fly I relied on a local Gashole. Worked out well for me!

Thanks Allan!