Need advice folks
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 33
Likes: 17
From: SC
Need advice folks
Good morning, I found a great deal online for a 2003 C5 coupe. No accidents. 103k miles. Clean carfax and autocheck. Pics and videos they sent show the car in great condition. Dealership is a Mazda dealership, but they have been responsive and their ratings online through multiple sites are decent. They are also accredited with that BBB. Also, reviews that I saw had a response right back from the company owner or representative. I know it will be as is and I would have to fly and pick it up. I'm fine with this, but has anyone bought one without driving it initially?
Last edited by VV3060; Oct 26, 2023 at 08:52 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 2,941
Likes: 1,692
From: North Coast
No and I generally make it a point to drive and make the deal only after I have visually inspected the car and driven it.
I know many buy sight unseen and get away with it but I just can't do that as I have seen many others with regret.
Even if I have some money down to hold it I would rather lose that small amount and air fair before I eat a whole car with issues.
Even new cars I will inspect before I will buy.
With C5 Corvettes there are so many around that you generally don't need to travel far or wait long for a good price. It is not like some cars that are very rare.
Just my take. Also If I do need to inspect a car out of town there are options. You can contact clubs to check it out. You can get a appraiser to inspect it too.
I know many buy sight unseen and get away with it but I just can't do that as I have seen many others with regret.
Even if I have some money down to hold it I would rather lose that small amount and air fair before I eat a whole car with issues.
Even new cars I will inspect before I will buy.
With C5 Corvettes there are so many around that you generally don't need to travel far or wait long for a good price. It is not like some cars that are very rare.
Just my take. Also If I do need to inspect a car out of town there are options. You can contact clubs to check it out. You can get a appraiser to inspect it too.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 1,339
From: Havre de Grace Maryland
Let's recap. The 20 year old car has 103K on the meter, the car is out of State, and the car is selling at a non GM dealership. What could go wrong? I agree with hyperV6, look for a C5 closer so you can put eyes on it before turning over the cash.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,771
Likes: 940
From: Orlando Florida
What dealer where? If it’s in central Florida I’d be more than happy to do a quick once over. Things you want to know are what codes does it have, both current and historical. Do the seats rock back and forth? Headlights sound like a machine gun when going down? How black are brake and clutch fluid? And the quick once over would not have to include a drive, so you could still be the first of us to do so.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 12,414
Likes: 1,750
From: DFW TX
Worst case you go back to the airport & fly back home. Hell, maybe just buy a Roundtip ticket, they can be cheap and not use the return leg if you don't have to.
I flew to Seattle and drove a my current Vette 2,700 miles home to DFW with my son. We took a few days and had a blast. Previously, flew to Tuscon & picked up a Vette from a fellow forum member. Flown to Florida 2x to pick up Mazdas. Always a fun time. Some mis-adventures but nothing major. Great memories!
I flew to Seattle and drove a my current Vette 2,700 miles home to DFW with my son. We took a few days and had a blast. Previously, flew to Tuscon & picked up a Vette from a fellow forum member. Flown to Florida 2x to pick up Mazdas. Always a fun time. Some mis-adventures but nothing major. Great memories!
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2021
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If it's such a great deal why is it still for sale? What does everyone local who has seen it know that you don't?
There were over 35 thousand C5s produced in 2003. Unless you are looking for something very specific or are in a big hurry there is little reason to look outside your local area.
There were over 35 thousand C5s produced in 2003. Unless you are looking for something very specific or are in a big hurry there is little reason to look outside your local area.
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I definitely would not finalize a purchase of a used car without seeing/inspecting/driving it first. Maybe put a small deposit down if the dealership will agree to hold the car.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 756
Likes: 172
From: SC
Good morning, I found a great deal online for a 2003 C5 coupe. No accidents. 103k miles. Clean carfax and autocheck. Pics and videos they sent show the car in great condition. Dealership is a Mazda dealership, but they have been responsive and their ratings online through multiple sites are decent. They are also accredited with that BBB. Also, reviews that I saw had a response right back from the company owner or representative. I know it will be as is and I would have to fly and pick it up. I'm fine with this, but has anyone bought one without driving it initially?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 758
Likes: 366
Worst case you go back to the airport & fly back home. Hell, maybe just buy a Roundtip ticket, they can be cheap and not use the return leg if you don't have to.
I flew to Seattle and drove a my current Vette 2,700 miles home to DFW with my son. We took a few days and had a blast. Previously, flew to Tuscon & picked up a Vette from a fellow forum member. Flown to Florida 2x to pick up Mazdas. Always a fun time. Some mis-adventures but nothing major. Great memories!
I flew to Seattle and drove a my current Vette 2,700 miles home to DFW with my son. We took a few days and had a blast. Previously, flew to Tuscon & picked up a Vette from a fellow forum member. Flown to Florida 2x to pick up Mazdas. Always a fun time. Some mis-adventures but nothing major. Great memories!
Normally a branded dealer wouldn’t keep an older car they would just wholesale it. It’s probably in good shape for its age if they kept it for the lot. On the other hand it’s a gamble.
