Would you buy a car in tis manner?

[CaptainSensib1e]

I need to change my car fairly soon, and the car I'm interested is relatively rare (B7 S4 estate, later model ideally 2006/07). There are very few for sale near me, but quite a lot of dealers (far away) offer to deliver the car to you which would seem ideal. However you would essentially be buying the car blind. Even if they put a warranty on it they often aren't worth the paper they are written on. Neither would it cover corrosion or poorly repaired accident repair damage, for example. I guess if they bring the car down, you can always reject it if you aren't happy.

Has anyone bought a car in this manner? Would be interested to hear any experiences.

[BritishRacinGrin]

Personally I wouldn't. If the car is that rare and you want it that badly, go and see it in my opinion.

[marshalla]

Surely that would be covered by the Distance Selling Regulations, then, giving you at least 7 days (more if the contract allows it) from receipt in which to return the purchased goods without even having to give a reason ?

ETA : OFT seem(ed) to think that's the case : http://www.oft.gov.uk/news-and-updates/press/2005/...

[davel*]

Agreed, it's going to be an expensive purchase.

It's worth the trip up

[anonymous-user]

For a cheap and common car I might take the risk if it was urgent, but for something that could potentially go expensively wrong I'd want a proper look at it first.

[Monkeylegend]

Check your user name, there's your answer.

[BlackGT3]

There was a thread that has since been deleted where a PH Member bought a used Audi R8 unseen from a performance car dealer. He later found out the car had been involved in an accident and poorly repaired. The chap had to involve Lawyer and the rejection process involved a considerable amount of time and stress. In the end, he had to accept a refund that was a few K less that he had paid for the car.

[Herbs]

I've done it on a couple of cars but always got them fully inspected first by main dealer or AA as well as a friendly local PH'r.

[Driver101]

No chance without a proper inspection and test drive.

[mrmr96]

Go see it

[LiamM45]

Buying a rare and quite specialist car unseen sounds ridiculous to me, especially when spending a large amount of money.

[slippery]

I've done it many times. Usually works out fine, as long as you are prepared for everything not to be quite as perfect as you've been led to believe, but I have bought a couple of pups. Depends how valuable your time is and therefore how much of it you're prepared to invest in the process.

[northwest monkey]

LiamM45 said:

Buying a rare and quite specialist car unseen sounds ridiculous to me, especially when spending a large amount of money.

Definitely.

The MiL bought a 3-month old Fiesta unseen from a Ford dealer in the North East. She paid a deposit over the phone of £350 then the balance on delivery. I wouldn't do it on anything old or specialist though.

[Jasandjules]

How far away are we talking?

[TooMany2cvs]

BritishRacinGrin said:

Personally I wouldn't. If the car is that rare and you want it that badly, go and see it in my opinion.

Seconded.

Why am I reminded of a certain recent R8 thread?

[xRIEx]

TooMany2cvs said:

Why am I reminded of a certain recent R8 thread?

Because it was mentioned in the 7th post?

[slippery]

xRIEx said:

TooMany2cvs said:

Why am I reminded of a certain recent R8 thread?

Because it was mentioned in the 7th post?

I thought that too.

[anonymous-user]

Buying an eight year old performance car unseen? no chance!

[limpsfield]

I bought my car (evora) and traded my old car over the phone with a main dealer without seeing the new car. I would happily do it again but with maybe something a bit older and an independent garage I would want to see it first.

[Eighteeteewhy]

Get a RAC check first?

If its ok, go and see it.