Buying a car sight unseen

[Torinoman]

Anyone here ever do this before? I found an e34 wagon I NEED, but it's out of state. It's the only silver on black wagon I've seen for sale plus it's already manual trans swapped, thus the reason I'm considering buying and shipping it here.

Any recommendations on how to work this out? My first call will be to Perez shipping of course.

I found a website called escrow.com that could work for the financial side, but it has mixed reviews. Are there similar or better alternatives?

[Forever_frost]

I do this all of the time. I bought a 01 Dakota quad cab, sight unseen for $500 after talking them down from 2k. After it was delivered I discovered half the cylinders were burnt up but... no biggie, I can get another engine.

Do you know anyone in the state? Any of your friends who want to go on a road trip for you?

[Torinoman]

How did you arrange payment?

I don't know anyone in the area unfortunately

[BLAKE]

I sold my 05 mustang a few months back to a guy in New Jersey. He sent a mobile mechanic inspector to check it out. Cost him a couple hundred bones I think but it gave him peace of mind.

[yellowstang]

I bought my 68 Torino that way. Drove about 6 hours to pick it up tho, so I paid when I got there.

[LANTIRN]

As much questionable things and outright lies I have seen from sellers on craigslist, I don't think I would ever buy a car sight unseen from anywhere. I understand this is probably not listed on craigslist, but the amount of dishonest people out there is amazing. Hope it works out and you get what you are wanting, but my answer is I wouldn't do it.

[Forever_frost]

How did you arrange payment?

I don't know anyone in the area unfortunately

I sent someone with cash. Do paypal? That way there's a receipt that shows what you paid?

[NoClassic]

Just buy a plane ticket

[1carcrazyguy]

Yep....bought a 70 Duster in about 2005ish. The only thing you could see from the road was the top half of the roof. After some searching I found out who owned the land and the lady said the car belonged to her deceased uncle. She was in charge of the estate and lived about an hour away. She said she would meet me only if I was buying the car and taking away right then. She was not interested in making the trip just to show the car. She said the price and there was no way I was passing up the chance to buy at the price she said...$150. Had no idea if the car was a /6, 318 or 340. All we could tell from when we saw the car, it was a Sublime green car. Yep...I will take a chance for $150. I had to be back in Fort Worth so my dad went to get the car on the day the lady could meet up. Dad got there and the car was missing the entire right front suspension and brake assembly. The lady tried to refund part of the purchase price....but I declined. The grille was worth more than I paid. Anyway, spent several years gathering parts and pieces. Car was full rotisserie restored with a fuel injected 408, 4 wheel disc brakes and vintage air. Sold the car on eBay in 2015...for less than half what I had in it! The same day the auction ended....my mom, very unexpectedly passed away.

[Forever_frost]

Just buy a plane ticket

This. Catch a Lyft to DFW, fly up there, get him to pick you up in the car, drive it around and decide if you want it and drive it back.

[Torinoman]

It's in New York, that's a 24 hr drive back. Don't really have that kind of time available right now. I'm taking vacation soon, so I could cut a few days from that but I'd rather not. Also the car is a 15 yo project. It might not make it

[cool cat]

Sold the car on eBay in 2015...for less than half what I had in it!

Congrats?

[EW]

Solid barg?

[The King]

Sold the car on eBay in 2015...for less than half what I had in it!

Congrats?

I thought I was the only one that did that...invest in numerous replacement parts and then sell low, lol.

Never bought a car sight unseen, but sold two that way years ago on eBay...a '67 Galaxie and a '67 F100. Someone in New York state bought the F100 and sent a car hauler with cash to pick it up. I received a letter from the New York State Police a month or so later that "my" vehicle had been found broken down and abandoned on the New York State Thruway, and did I want to come pick it up from impound. Never heard any more about it. Someone in Ohio bought the Galaxie and I hope gave it a good home. Again they sent a car hauler with cash. The only thing I heard later about that car came from the Ohio DMV or their equivalent sending a letter wanting to know what the buyer paid for the car so they could charge him tax. Never responded and never heard any more about that one either.

[Gasser64]

Roll of the dice. I'd ask for more pictures, in the areas that you would question.