Buy without seeing

[boony]

I'm looking to buy a 996 turbo - I've found one that I really like the look of through the porsche.co.uk approved used car scheme. After a good chat with the salesman today I'm sure it's the one for me. The problem is, the price we've agreed a price but the salesman wants to seal the deal quickly and I'm not able to get to view the car until next saturday due to work commitments.

Question is, would you comit to buying a car before seeing it? I'm sure the porsche assured-used scheme should protect me from buying a lemon? Or am I just being too eager?

[giw12]

No.
Maybe.
Yes.

[hoges11]

being too eager, go see it, if the salesman can't wait so be it. Personally wouldnt agree a price without seeing the car either. If you want to secure it negotiate a small refundable deposit.

[hoges11]

being too eager, go see it, if the salesman can't wait so be it. Personally wouldnt agree a price without seeing the car either. If you want to secure it negotiate a small refundable deposit.

[C2'S'man]

Dont rush the purchase of a life time, if he cant wait, move on....there are lots more cars out there; it hard its know, be strong .....

[roshambo]

I bought my turbo without seeing it, had bought 2 cars from the dealer before (a specialist, not an OPC) and trusted them.

Car was exactly how they described it and the first time I saw it in the metal, was when they delivered it.

R.

[rimmer]

never yet anyone rush you into something your not sure about after all its your money and your about to make him a little better off than he all already was

[rich 36]

C2'S'man said:

Dont rush the purchase of a life time, if he cant wait, move on....there are lots more cars out there; it hard its know, be strong .....

Absolutely,

take a step back and consider your wallet more carefully

lots of owners have endured poor decisions made in haste.

There are lots of these about,
its not as though its a rarity not to be missed
investment.

[sundiver]

Why add to any existing risk, however small? The 996TT is a comparitively high volume car - they come up all the time. See it when you can and if its gone (unlikely) there'll be another along soon enough... You're in a better position to talk about price in person too FWIW; the salesman will take you more seriously if you're with him rather than on the 'phone.

[Erik997]

I thought most OPCs operated a holding deposit system - i.e you put 2k on a credit card and they take the car off the market for max 5 days until you get a chance to drive. Done on the basis that you will buy the car but you can still back out and get money back.

Sounds like you've been talking to a salesguy whose trying to make up his monthly numbers..

[wazza]

Ask the dealer to fax a contract stating refundable deposit based on satisfactory PPI, personal inspection and test drive.

Always pay deposit with a credit card. The contract is your insurance. If the car is as good as the dealer says, these terms should be more than acceptable.

Never agree a price over the phone but state you are a serious buyer. Why else would you offer to pay a deposit?

I have always purchased cars this way and never had a probem.

[supermono]

They do a 1000 refundable deposit scheme. I did just this with the GT2 I ultimately bought. They just don't want to take it off sale if you're only kicking tyres.

Do them 1k on a cc, then arrange to see it at your convenience. They don't expect you to buy something unseen, and the finer parts of negotiation can take place when you're in the showroom. If it turns out to not be for you, so be it. 1000 back, time to find another...

SM

[gixxer1000]

I bought my 996TT Cab without seeing it first from OPC Cambridge. That said, it was only on the basis that my deposit would be fully refunded if I decided I didn't like the car for whatever reason - i.e. 100% money back guarantee.

There should be no reason they couldn't offer you the same.

Is this car in their stock, or are they buying it from elsewhere for you? Not that that should matter of course, but they may claim that it does.

Gixxer

[cityneil]

Erik997 said:

I thought most OPCs operated a holding deposit system - i.e you put 2k on a credit card and they take the car off the market for max 5 days until you get a chance to drive. Done on the basis that you will buy the car but you can still back out and get money back.

Sounds like you've been talking to a salesguy whose trying to make up his monthly numbers..

Yes, that's what I did, put your 2k down, they hold car, if you don't like it no problem.

[POORCARDEALER]

used to sell 70 % of Aston Ferrari unseen, just do a deal "subject to the car as description/inspection"......pay the deposit on a credit card I think £1K is enough persoanlly

[slippydiff]

If he's that desperate to sell it, perhaps he could remove his posterior from his chair and bring it over to you to inspect it ? After all if it's as described and you buy it, you will be paying his commission.............

[housemaster]

slippydiff said:

If he's that desperate to sell it, perhaps he could remove his posterior from his chair and bring it over to you to inspect it ? After all if it's as described and you buy it, you will be paying his commission.............

Agree 100%!

This is what I did. I found the car I was interested in, made a call to my local OPC and discussed my situation and what I was looking for. As it was a GT3 I needed to see if I could get it into my property as we live in the sticks, and have to enter it via a couple of cattle grids. I explained this to the salesman and requested he brought it to my house, some 20 miles away. He did, and within 24 hours I was driving the GT3 away from my OPC. Salesman was happy, my M3 was part ex'd and I had a nice shiny GT3.

If you are a serious buyer and know the type of car is for you, you should not forget who the customer is and not be affraid of making such a request. I would not do this unless I had serious intent having said that, as that would be out of order in my opinion, but if its nothing more than a validation that the car is as described and a test drive to see its all fine, then why not.

[thegoose]

I can't see a problem with this. You are protected so many more ways buying a car you haven't seen than one you have. There's the Distance Selling Regulations and Consumer Credit Act (providing you use a credit card, not debit card). Agree a price/deal first. If you are unhappy with the car when you see it you can either 1) back out or 2) re-negotiate the price. If they are reluctant with 2), then threaten 1) and they may change their mind!

I have sold loads of cars unseen. It works well if someone has to fly in for example - they don't want to cancel their flight if I sell it before they arrive and I'm reluctant to take it off sale if they haven't left a deposit and I have other pepole wanting to come see it. I have only once had to agree to a reduction in price on an Audi RS2 because the buyer thought one of the radiators was corroded such that it might require replacement within the next 6 months/year or so. He wanted £100 off - fair enough, I agreed no problem.

Be confident about your rights and it should be a smooth & hassle free process, with you being really pleased with the car and getting a refund if you're not.

[boony]

Thanks to all for the help and advice. I took the plunge, paid the £1000 for him to keep it for me until I can get to see it on Saturday. I don't have a credit card so offered to pay on mydebit card - the dealer kindly said that he won't 'swipe it' until Saturday anyway - so I guess he just wanted to be sure I wasn't wasting his time.

So all being well, I'll be driving home in my dream car of 20 yrs on Saturday.

It had better be better than the Evo 8 I'm Part-Exing for it otherwise I'm going to cry!

Thanks again.

[ukwill]

POORCARDEALER said:

used to sell 70 % of Aston Ferrari unseen, just do a deal "subject to the car as description/inspection"......pay the deposit on a credit card I think £1K is enough persoanlly

thats what I did.