Would you fly to buy a car?
 

My wife doesnt want to drive me 4 hrs to go look at a car, and she said if she did then I would get dropped off and be forced to buy a car in order to get home. Shes probably still mad that I made her drive 3 hrs to a dealer last october and I didnt pull the trigger and last week drove 2hrs and didnt buy one again.

So im considering flying into La Guardia in NY at a price of 230.00 one way, with hopes of buying a TL-s. I live in "BFE"

Is this a dumb idea? As long as the car looks new since it has only 28k i will be willing to buy, but wont know till I see in person.

Also should I ask the dealer to pick me up at the airport or should I catch a cab? Its a 25min drive via mapquest to get to the dealer.

Im thinking that If I get them to pick me up then they will be prone to not negotiate the price further because im "stuck" in a different state and wouldnt want to leave empty handed and fly back costing more $$

Any suggestions?

Where is BFE?

Try to get a local reputable shop to inspect the car. Some independent shops do that. If the inspection is satisfactory, then work with dealer and have it shipped back. :shrug:

I flew to get my car. That was 5 years ago and I'm still driving it to this day. Buy a round trip ticket instead. It's cheaper. And yes, negotiate with the dealer to go pick you up from the airport because cab ride will be hella expensive. Also, if you're just flying to look, then you're just wasting your time, theirs, and money.

Im pretty picking when it comes to scuff marks in the interior. If you want then I guess Im anal about it. Thats what stopped me from buying the first TL. The 2nd TL passed my standards but it wasnt 2-tone interior.

:werd:

In that case, check it out in person. :shrug:

Im flying with intentions of buying, but until I see the car in person with my own eyes can I cant say I will. I dont see how anyone would buy a used car without seeing it in person first.

A round trip ticket is double the price....

A dealer probably isn't going to pick you up at the airport. It's a used Acura, not a new Rolls-Royce.

You can ask, but don't be suprised if they tell you to find your own way to the dealership.

see if the dealer has a connection to a closer dealership to transfer it.

i think dealers would be willing to pick you up isnt this the reason why they have courtesy cars but it does depend on the dealer

Buy it at your own risk. everything comes with a risk but if you really want it then go for it. Otherwise, just wait till you find one locally.

Worth a try.

Im still trying to figure out where BFE is :confused:

I flew quite a ways away on a one way ticket because I did so much research, asked for more pics and info, and felt great about the deal. The dealer will always pick you up....if they see that you are willing to fly in. Really? that is such a small thing for them to do, and I have seen dealers do sooo much more to make a deal happen. If they are not willing, then I would not go at all. That is a sign that somethings wrong. Worse comes to worse, just get a Southwest ticket one way. If you are confident, then do it......you will know.

BFE=BumFuck Egypt :snicker:

That will never happen. I live in BFE! 2.5 hrs is the closest acura dealer to me.

"Bum Fu**, Egypt" - a colloquial Placeholder name denoting a place that is remote and out of the way.

If all else fails I will buy the one 2hrs from me even though its not my prefered interior color, everything else on the car checked out ok.

Both cars are the same price but one has 20% tint w/CPO, 5k miles less and the 2-tone interior.

CPO has at least been looked over and under and approved by acura with extended warranty included- worth the price it adds to the car

round trip is not double cost of a 1 way ticket,

dealers have a shop kid who can drive the courtesy shuttle to the airport-
its 20 minutes or more dropping anyone off!
call and speak with the `used car sales manager`- make arrangement with them for it to happen,,
they make enough profit on every car to merit 10 dollars of pay and gas to get you.
You are never stuck as long as you have a cell phone that works- call a cab and leave!
Managers are known to throw themselves in front of the door- Whats wrong, why cant we make this deal?? how about if I give you what you want?

This is why you go to the manager to start- no salemen bsing for 5 hours

Well that is really helpful guys :tomato:. Well anyway I am taking the biggest risk in my life. Im located in South Florida and I will trade my AT TL 2005 NBP Aspec to MT TL 2006 NBP Aspec located in Atlanta. I love everything about the TL and by my biggest regret is getting a AT version.

I did extensive resarch and talked with the dealer a lot of time. Asked to take more picture from the interior as well as the exterior. I was anoying with him in every process and he was very patient with me.

And right now I am in the process to hire a reputable shop to inspect the car. I would like to make it work and if this work out, I am not flying. I am making a mini road trip to Atlanta to pick her up.

All this effort for a MT? this is silly right?:whyme:

go fly and go buy the car worth it

^^^ oops i fogot, yes go fly and go buy the car!

I almost flew to Chicago from Kansas City to buy a Base TL before I bought my Type S. If it's a classy dealership, they'll pick you up.

In BFE it is....

Just did expedia for a week from now , Cheapest is 161.00 + tax one way, Round trip is 361.00 tax included

Thanks for the advise from everyone!

I decided to call the sales manager on monday and get a set negotiated price faxed over and see of they will pick me up if I fly out.

Keep us posted. :)

Btw, what do you drive now? STi?

Do it! :)

[QUOTE=Boostedsti;11783631]Thanks for the advise from everyone!

I decided to call the sales manager on monday and get a set negotiated price faxed over and see of they will pick me up if I fly out.[/QUOT



Did you try finding out how much it would cost to rent a car from enterprise or some other car rental place.(either one-way or both)

Nope!

You shouldn't pass up a car you like on scuff marks on the interior (thus the term used, not new), they can be cleaned up pretty easy. You should have an interesting check-in at the airport with a one way ticket (seeing how the government believes only terrorist do that).

Mentally if you buy a one way ticket, you are going to be predisposed to buy a car. If the dealer knows you are willing to fly there, he has leverage on you. Also be prepared to take a cab back if you don't buy (Dealer will say have a nice day finding your way back). Buying a return ticket last minute is going to cost you big time. The only time you can get a good deal is when you are willing to walk away from it (the dealer knows this).

Personally I would just get a cab and a refundable round trip ticket. Get a refund for the home trip leg if you don't use it. Now you don't put yourself in a questionable position...:thumbsup:

Or just sweet talk your wife into driving you.

As repayment, take her out for a nice night out.

I flew one way to L.A. to buy mine. Had a buddy pick me up and took me to check out the car. Bought it on the spot and drove it home but was prepared to fly home the next day if it didn't work out. I waited six months for the right one and decided it was worth it to fly and am really glad I did.

My daily driver was a STI, Got tired of the addiction. You get used to the quickness and then mod, car gets faster then you get used to it again, so u mod some more ect ect. Next thing you know your pushing over 20psi and drive a car that gets 10-12mpg as a daily driver and isnt as reliable as the day u got it. The car was fast as F@#$$ but I got sick of spending money on gas and the ride was harsh. Atleast I got a Top of class trophy for running Auto-x last year before I sold it :)

I basically sold the STI to buy a TL-S, I want something quick and comfortable.

heres some photos from last rally event I went to and the car:
http://s86.photobucket.com/home/iban...uploads?page=1

heres a pic of me about to pass Travis pastrana.
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k8...ngpastrana.jpg

Very nice. One heavily modded STi. Sleeper! :ninja:

Agreed. It's fast, but the ride is very stiff... :keke:

where is the car located? Would you like for me to check it out for you?
I live half way between LGA and JFK

which dealer in nyc?

If you wanna do that then it would be sweet! Its at Ralleye Acura in NY.

ok, im heading in that direction anyway so ill stop by.

i'll update this evening.

ohh yeah, and when i picked up my S4 some years ago. I took Greyhound bus to some hill billy town in vermont to pick it up.
lucky for me that was the first time i purchased a used car....fortunately it was from a school teacher. ( near canadian border )

depending who's selling it would determine if its worth the trip.

UPDATE:

So I called the sales manager and gave him a offer of 24k (The internet sale price was 25k)",and said "Im firm on it". He emailed me in writting agreed. Guess my plane ticket is now justified :)

I gave them a refundable deposit over the phone so the car is held pending my visit. They told me the title wont arrive till next week sometime since they just bought it from "acura finance", whatever that means.... So i wont be flying out to make this a done deal for another 10 days. I guess that gives them time to make it look new :)

fyi... a cab ride from the airport to damn near anyway is $35 in a yellow cab :)


title: it is likely they got the car via a trade in and require hondafinance to release the lien...

Cool, thanks!.... Since the car has a deposit if they are stubborn, just tell them "Josh in Pa" asked me to look at the car. I know the car is inside the service bay getting "Certified" atm...