YACT: buying on ebay

[Barnaby W. Füi]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI...tem&category=6256&item=4548501416&rd=1

It's about 4 hours from me, and I am REALLY tempted to buy it, but I'm hesitant because I can't really go check it out, much less have a mechanic look at it or something (the town is 4 hours from me and 1-2 hours from any significant city).

Anyone bought a vehicle on ebay? Any advice here?

 

[olds]

If I couldn't touch it, I wouldn't buy it. Unless I could get it for 1/2 of it's value. Then I might take the chance.

 

[saltedeggman]

have you ran a carfax on it?

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

Nope.

 

[QuitBanningMe]

I bought my wife's car on ebay. Ran a carfax and had an inspection service in houston check it out. Ended up with a great car at an extremely good price.

Of course the car I bought was low mileage with most of the warranty left.

Edit: Also bought my latest Z from CA sight unseen except for a few pics.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
If I couldn't touch it, I wouldn't buy it. Unless I could get it for 1/2 of it's value. Then I might take the chance.

Ditto, except in some rare circumstances.

 

[murphy55d]

So, no carfax, no test drive, no check by mechanic, being sold by an intarweb user. Sounds great!

Seriously, don't. Either go check it out or don't bothrr.

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
If I couldn't touch it, I wouldn't buy it. Unless I could get it for 1/2 of it's value. Then I might take the chance.

Ditto, except in some rare circumstances.

Well what would the rare circumstances be?

To me it seems very honest and legit. The guy's feedback is just a bunch of movie/book purchases, but it's been over like 6 years. He's been very careful to point out flaws, and he lives in small town iowa, where everyone knows each other. Not that this precludes dishonesty, but it just seems pretty unlikely to me. In the case that he's overtly lying, ebay has that buyer protection crap.

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

Originally posted by: murphy55d
So, no carfax, no test drive, no check by mechanic, being sold by an intarweb user. Sounds great!

Seriously, don't. Either go check it out or don't bothrr.

No point in spending money on carfax until I decide I should go through with it.

 

[Colt45]

ask for some pics of the interior and engine

no leaks, no rust, no ripped seats, then go for it.

 

[saltedeggman]

Originally posted by: BingBongWongFooey

Originally posted by: murphy55d
So, no carfax, no test drive, no check by mechanic, being sold by an intarweb user. Sounds great!

Seriously, don't. Either go check it out or don't bothrr.

No point in spending money on carfax until I decide I should go through with it.

then decide now

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

There are lots of pics of everything if you check out the link in the auction.

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/ovalwindow/album?.dir=/5d3f

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

Originally posted by: saltedeggman

Originally posted by: BingBongWongFooey

Originally posted by: murphy55d
So, no carfax, no test drive, no check by mechanic, being sold by an intarweb user. Sounds great!

Seriously, don't. Either go check it out or don't bothrr.

No point in spending money on carfax until I decide I should go through with it.

then decide now

That's why I made this thread!

 

[saltedeggman]

Originally posted by: BingBongWongFooey

Originally posted by: saltedeggman

Originally posted by: BingBongWongFooey

Originally posted by: murphy55d
So, no carfax, no test drive, no check by mechanic, being sold by an intarweb user. Sounds great!

Seriously, don't. Either go check it out or don't bothrr.

No point in spending money on carfax until I decide I should go through with it.

then decide now

That's why I made this thread!

correct, so far what do you think

frankly, what is stopping you from driving down there and check it out?

 

[Heisenberg]

Not a chance I'd buy a car off Ebay.

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

Originally posted by: saltedeggman

Originally posted by: BingBongWongFooey

Originally posted by: saltedeggman

Originally posted by: BingBongWongFooey

Originally posted by: murphy55d
So, no carfax, no test drive, no check by mechanic, being sold by an intarweb user. Sounds great!

Seriously, don't. Either go check it out or don't bothrr.

No point in spending money on carfax until I decide I should go through with it.

then decide now

That's why I made this thread!

correct, so far what do you think

frankly, what is stopping you from driving down there and check it out?

8 hour round trip drive, and my truck isn't much of a long trip machine. And I don't want to wait too long, lest someone beat me to it. :Q

 

[QuitBanningMe]

After reading the ad I don't think I would have a problem dropping 2k on that car sight unseen. Of course I would run a carfax and call him to ask a few more questions.

Just buy it and if it isn't as described including documentation of timing belt/ water pump don't give him the money.

 

[RobCur]

Originally posted by: murphy55d
So, no carfax, no test drive, no check by mechanic, being sold by an intarweb user. Sounds great!

Seriously, don't. Either go check it out or don't bothrr.

That is true, the seller is depending on dumb buyers to make an easy profit
some of them are not so honest about what they sell to you.
most used car have problems that why it is sold to you so the problems becomes yours instead, cool ain't it? not only do they get to use that money toward a better car, they solved their cursed problems at the same time. WOW.

 

[Spencer278]

buying a car on ebay is non-binding. Ie even if you win there is nothing wrong with back out of the sale

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

Originally posted by: Spencer278
buying a car on ebay is non-binding. Ie even if you win there is nothing wrong with back out of the sale

Kinda hard to back out when you've already paid. I wouldn't get a chance to see it in real life until after payment.

(Actually, I could probably get there next weekend and pay him in person -- although he'd still have my deposit)

 

[QuitBanningMe]

Originally posted by: BingBongWongFooey

Originally posted by: Spencer278
buying a car on ebay is non-binding. Ie even if you win there is nothing wrong with back out of the sale

Kinda hard to back out when you've already paid. I wouldn't get a chance to see it in real life until after payment.

Why?
When would you be able to pick the car up?

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

(see edit)

 

[Biggerhammer]

Originally posted by: Spencer278
buying a car on ebay is non-binding. Ie even if you win there is nothing wrong with back out of the sale

Where did you get this idea? Your bid is a contract. if you can point out (prove) that the other side of the contract is invalid then you can probably back out with no penalty, but if you come in and bid then change your mind, you own a car and he owns your money.