How did you buy your car?

[bob1179]

I was just having and think (it's a slow day today) and have realised that I have bought my last three cars and two bikes unseen and over the telephone.

One car was from a friend of a friend and I was amazingly lucky that it was actually a minter, I had no idea on condition and bought it over the phone as it sounded good.
The last two cars have been from reputable dealers and after lengthy conversations and pictures being emailed to me (in fact I still haven't actually seen my SL as I'm still away at work, I've only owned it a month...).

As for the bikes, one was from Ebay and was miles away and the other one was brand new.

Has anybody else followed the 'gamblers' method of car buying?

[HowMuchLonger]

Bought the last 3 unseen. It does not really count though as they were all brand new. I very much doubt I would buy a used car unseen.

[halo34]

Test drive then purchase however v70 before this I paid a deposit unseen but on the caveat that an inspection by the in law was pending (car was 400 miles away).

I buy local now because that came back and bit me in the bum, arguing with a dealer 400 miles away doesnt work.

[freakynessless]

Bought the last four off ebay, three of which were without proir viewing. They all happend to be the right car and at the right price. All been good cars which, had I seen them in a garage I would have bought them without a shadow of a doubt.
I've also nearly been stung once using ebay so would advise exercising caution!

[volvoforlife]

Bought my last 6 cars without seeing them. Only 1 was dissapointment, nothing untoward but just not a good car with rattles and all sorts.

[Petrolhead_Rich]

good look around before (while cold), looking for leaks etc..

Good hard test drive

Good look around afterwards (looking for leaks etc)

Running through the paperwork with a fine toothcomb

Knocking AT LEAST 15% off the price

Offer them 5-10% less than that while wafting cash in front of them saying "I only have this much..."

Agree Trade only sale, no warranty.

Pull £200 out of the back pocket to tax it AFTER they have signed it over to you...

Never sell me your car, I'm a bd at bartering....

[kambites]

The Elise came from E-bay. The Punto from someone at work.

[angusc43]

Did a fair bit of research on first C43, found one on Autotrader, went to dealer, had a short test drive and handed over the deposit there and then.

Saw the second C43 in small ads in Mercedes club magazine, called vendor, had a short test drive and handed over the deposit there and then.

Did some research on the E500, saw a good one appear on Autotrader, persuaded the Ascot dealer to bring it to London (as I was in the middle of moving house), had a short test drive and paid deposit there and then.

So basically it's how I buy houses; do the research, find a good one and pounce.

[LukeBird]

Browsed the classifieds for a while looking for a decent MX-5 (I had after a lot of deliberation worked out I wanted a Mk2.5) and found one at a dealer about 40 miles away, test drove it and loved it. Went back with a friend of mine to have a good check over it and left the deposit after that. Picked it up on the 23rd December!

[Huntsman]

Bought them all privately, with cash, viewing is essential for the kind of cars I buy!

[thinfourth2]

Last 2 cars someone came along and said do you want this.

So much simpler then the hassle of going car shopping.


Before that i went out to buy a sensible car and came home will a silly one

I'm crap at car shopping

[ewenm]

Caterham - went to trader, looked over car, bought it. No test drive.
Mustang - went to trader, looked over car, bought it. No test drive.
Volvo - went to dealer, test drove a different one, ordered one with bigger engine, only car we've ever bought new.

I don't recommend this approach.

[N88]

I've never personally test drove a car I've bought, due to being 21 and uninsured. Always had a very good look over them though, and dragged my Dad along to take them for a spin on my behalf!

I find the main thing when buying a car is judging the character of the seller.

ETA: If buying privately of course!

Edited by N88 on Thursday 21st October 20:36

[nottyash]

Bought my B4 on a Japanese auction website.....still waiting ship to arrive
Bought the Almera on ebay....Unseen, but no problems.
Bought the Prelude through Pistonheads classified. It was priced at £2000 but offered £1600 before I even made the journey as was told the alloys needed a referb. Bought car, but it needed front discs.

[Thankyou4calling]

1. See car on Autotrader
2. Only look at those with 9 photos.
3. Ring up and pay deposit with Debit Card after agreeing trade in price.
4. Drive current car up there.
5. Quick walk round car, usually in the dark.
6. Pay balance making sure current car is running on fumes.
7. Drive home with HiFi on loud.

Shocking really but it works with decent dealers for me.

[otherman]

Saw it on ebay auction with 3 days to go sitting at 3,300. Dealer cost would have been around 5500. I phoned him and said how much will you take, he said not less than 4000. I shot straight round, had a drive, all good, offered him 4k cash and bob was my uncle.

[Urban Sports]

I saw mine on the BMW website, went and saw it, drove it , bought it!!

Very simple.

Although I'm looking for an Elise at the moment and it's proving to be much trickier!!

[EK993]

993 Turbo - bought over the phone unseen.

911 3.2 Carrera - bought over the phone unseen.

Elise SC - bought over the phone unseen.

BMW in USA - bought over the phone unseen.

All turned out to be perfect examples. Think I have been very, very lucky, am bound to be caught out if I carry on doing it this way though.

[Urban Sports]

EK993 said:

993 Turbo - bought over the phone unseen.

911 3.2 Carrera - bought over the phone unseen.

Elise SC - bought over the phone unseen.

BMW in USA - bought over the phone unseen.

All turned out to be perfect examples. Think I have been very, very lucky, am bound to be caught out if I carry on doing it this way though.

You are lucky!

I saw what seemed to be my perfect Elise on PH classifieds recently, I emailed the buyer and got a detailed description of the car as well as some hi res pics.

I never buy a car unseen but thought I had qualified this one pretty well, it was described as mint and looked it on the pics.

As I always do I went to see it first, the front clam looked like it had been painted with a B&Q value roller!!

I always view before.

[EK993]

Urban Sports said:

You are lucky!

I saw what seemed to be my perfect Elise on PH classifieds recently, I emailed the buyer and got a detailed description of the car as well as some hi res pics.

I never buy a car unseen but thought I had qualified this one pretty well, it was described as mint and looked it on the pics.

As I always do I went to see it first, the front clam looked like it had been painted with a B&Q value roller!!

I always view before.

To be fair 2 of those were no brainers - the Elise was a couple of months old and bought from a Lotus main dealer - the BMW was an approved used car bought again from a BMW main dealer so if anything was wrong they would have been on the hook.

The 911's were a bit more of a risky proposition - especially the 993 Turbo - that could have ended very badly for me indeed