Hey guys,
First time doing this...

I live in VA and am looking at buying a car from FL sight unseen. I've run the carfax and it was clean except for a minor accident in '01. I'll be the 4th owner of this '95 w/145K miles.

I'm getting a mechanical inspection sometime in the next few days and that will determine whether I make an offer on the car.

I'll be getting a transport company (any recommendations?) to bring it up to me since it is not much more than flying down and driving it back (plus I can't do that b/c the car is a surprise for my wife so I can't just disappear for 2-3 days).

Suggestions on how to pay? I'd like to charge it, but I figure that the dealer won't want to do that. What is the next best option?

Am I forgetting anything that I need to consider?

TIA

 

You sure you wanna get it? How far is the car, time or distance (miles) wise? Just looking out for you, there have been plenty of times when I've gone out somewhere 45+ mins to look at a car that checked out clean through the phone-interview and carfax, but when I went to look at it and drive it, I was disappointed one way or the other. Waste of time unless its a really, really hard car to find, or its a really good price

 

ill tell you straight up when we bought a car online (ebay)

photos dont show everything. unless its a killer deal, theres always some SMALL things (dents, problems, interior niggles) that will make you feel like shit.

we got the dealer to fix tint, some punctured leather and a bumper scrape before they delievered it to us because we wernt happy. even now, the right front door lock isnt moving electronically, the tint in our state is illegal and the front side light were out. ehh

but make sure. we're happy with the car still but know what youre gonna face

 

Accidents always concern me. Because how do you gauge minor. I would say my CL was in a minor accident. But the fact is that the whold back was wrecked.

What type of car is it?

 

buying sight unseen isn't worth it unless it's a CRAZY deal... and for the most part, if it's too good to be true, it usually is.

 

Thanks for the input...It is a '95 Miata.

The deal is pretty good...not great, but good. The problem is that it is very hard to find an automatic Miata and my wife cannot drive a stick. I know that she'll like the color combo (it is a surprise for her). The checkover that I'm getting is through the Ebay vendor who does vehicle checks and it seems that it is a pretty decent evaluation, especially for the body and how the car drives. This is not going to be a primary vehicle- it is just a "fun" car.

I'm not expecting to get a mint car b/c I'm not paying a mint price. I'm just trying to get some advice from those a-zine members who have made a car purchase from a distance. It is brand new for me and I'd like to know what to expect.

For example, I'm hoping that I'll be able to pay via credit card so I can at least get the points on the card.

If others have gotten a car shipped via a transport company and had a good/bad experience, I'd like to know that. Just things like that.

Thanks again!