Selling a used car - What does ATOT think about this?

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dmw16

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 2000
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I am selling my 2008 VW GTI. I posted it on eBay as well as VWVortex (a VW enthusiast forum).

The car has been up for a little over a week and last night I got a message from a guy who said he was interested. I emailed him and he tells me he's interested in the car, but he's about 600 miles away from me.

I (not really thinking) offer to pick him up at the airport so he can drive the car back. He accepts the offer and seems all set to go. He also seems to be happy with my asking price. I have the car listed about $1000 below KBB/Edmunds/NADA, but still.

So now that I'm thinking about it more I'm wondering if I should be concerned for my safety.

What does ATOT think?

EDIT:
I think rather than pick the guy up at the airport I am going to just meeting him somewhere public and do the deal rather than go back to my house.
 
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jlee

jlee

Lifer
Sep 12, 2001
48,518
223
106
You think the guy is going to fly 600 miles just to mug you when you pick him up from the airport? :confused:

The last time I bought a car from a private party, I drove down and spent the night on the couch in the guy's house before leaving the next day. :p
 
Elganja

Elganja

Platinum Member
May 21, 2007
2,143
24
81
when i bought my z06 I flew to tampa on a 6:30am flight. Seller's brother picked me up at the airport, went to the seller's house, left at 11am and drove 13 1/2 hours home

i know plenty of people who have done similar things... it's not out of the ordinary.
 
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chin311

Diamond Member
Feb 27, 2003
4,306
3
81
It happens a lot in the car world. If he spends all his time / money arranging and flying to get the car, i doubt he's going to show up to rob you or low ball you. If he tries to cheap out when he sees the car then drop him back off to the airport lol
 
BabaBooey

BabaBooey

Lifer
Jan 21, 2001
10,476
0
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33lyvzq.jpg
 
waggy

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
lol

IF he kills you can i have the car? oh wait he would probably take it damn.
 
olds

olds

Elite Member
Mar 3, 2000
50,102
772
126
OP
If it's a guy, he's definitely gay. No true man would drive a VW.
 
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Blieb

Diamond Member
Apr 17, 2000
3,475
0
76
I flew out of state and got picked up by the seller for a car purchase.
He picked me up in a different car - because he didn't want to drive the car I was buying.
It went flawlessly. I did a lot of research on the seller before going there - to make sure everything was legit (for me, as the buyer).

Don't be completely stupid though. Tell someone the guy's name and all that and make sure you check in to let them know you're ok. Only take cash or cashier's check. Make sure it clears before the guy who lives out of state drives away with the vehicle.

But really for him to purchase a plane ticket requires $$$ and a valid ID. Also unless he checks a bag he shouldn't have any weapons when he gets off THE PLANE!!!
 
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amicold

Platinum Member
Feb 7, 2005
2,656
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Paranoid as hell no psychopath gives enough of a shit to set up something this elaborately stupid, that's why they are always killing hookers
 
Texashiker

Texashiker

Lifer
Dec 18, 2010
18,811
198
106
dmw16 said:
So now that I'm thinking about it more I'm wondering if I should be concerned for my safety.
Click to expand...

The guy that bought the car, whats his name, Jeffrey Dahmer? He is probably worried about his safety as well.

If your worried about your safety, bring a friend, and make sure you leave information as to your location.
 
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dmw16

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 2000
7,608
0
0
Thanks guys (aside from the VW/ghey comments :) ). I think I'm being a little overly paranoid and I'm not sure why as that's not usually how I am.

I'll just make sure people know what the drill is and all that. I'm a little surprised he didn't try to beat me up on price at all, but I think I am feeling less nuts/paranoid now.

Thanks.
 
ViviTheMage

ViviTheMage

Lifer
Dec 12, 2002
36,189
87
91
madgenius.com
I bought a car off vwvortex ... flew 1400 miles so a random guy on the internet could pick me up at JFK airport, and drive me 1.5 hours north into the woods to pick up a 01 1.8T wolfsburg jetta ... in hindsight, probably not a good idea to do that... shit, I even had 5200 cash in my pocket too, LOL....I think I was 19...so pretty dumb and young.

I actually slept over at his house, haha.

all in all, it went really smooth, drove it home and couldn't have been happier with it.

glad I upgraded to a mans car a few years later though ... Audi A4 2.0T 6 speed.
 
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JTsyo

JTsyo

Lifer
Nov 18, 2007
11,982
1,100
126
heh reminds of the last Chicago Code episode. Cop puts his car up for sale. Someone calls in and offers to buy it, half cash/ half blow. Cop sets up a sting. Buyer shows up and tries to take the car at gun point.
 
K

Ksyder

Golden Member
Feb 14, 2006
1,829
1
81
It would be worth it to travel in order to find the exact car you want, and it only makes sense to fly if it is that far, It only adds a couple hundred bucks to the car, and buyer doesn't have to have someone else come with him to drive another car back.

I wouldn't be too worried, other than the details of the transaction itself.
 
airdata

airdata

Diamond Member
Jul 11, 2010
4,987
0
0
What if you waste your time picking the guy up and he doesn't want the car or something else goes wrong?

Vivi : nice to hear that you weren't robbed, raped and killed in the woods. The forum would miss you.
 
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Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
21,503
9
0
Guess he rally wants your Yellow VW. Offer to take him to a couple of your Fav bars and let him sleep on your "couch"
 
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thereds

Diamond Member
Apr 4, 2000
7,886
0
0
ViviTheMage said:
I bought a car off vwvortex ... flew 1400 miles so a random guy on the internet could pick me up at JFK airport, and drive me 1.5 hours north into the woods to pick up a 01 1.8T wolfsburg jetta ... in hindsight, probably not a good idea to do that... shit, I even had 5200 cash in my pocket too, LOL....I think I was 19...so pretty dumb and young.

I actually slept over at his house, haha.

all in all, it went really smooth, drove it home and couldn't have been happier with it.

glad I upgraded to a mans car a few years later though ... Audi A4 2.0T 6 speed.
Click to expand...

Man car not found.
 
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dmw16

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 2000
7,608
0
0
airdata said:
What if you waste your time picking the guy up and he doesn't want the car or something else goes wrong?

Vivi : nice to hear that you weren't robbed, raped and killed in the woods. The forum would miss you.
Click to expand...

He's flying to me so he's wasting my time perhaps but he's the one who paid to fly up to the car.

I will suggest he bring part of the payment as a bank check the rest as a personal check in case he sees things with the car he doesn't like. I'd rather get a deal done than not. I don't need a 2nd car.

Sounds like people have done crazy stuff for cars. I'd do most of those same things for the right car though.
 
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