JohnnieUtah

I'm looking for a C6 right now and it seems every time I find one its clear back East and 3000+ miles away. Are there any circumstances you would buy one sight unseen? For instance, how about a C6 that has 12K miles on her? You ask yourself, "What could be wrong with a vehicle with 12,000 miles on it?". Just wondering what everyone else's thoughts are on this issue.

ShagVette

A lot could be wrong with a vehicle with any miles on it.

Post here and/or the regional areas of the forum asking someone to check it out.
Get a local dealer/shop to do a pre-purchase inspection.
Get both a CarFax and AutoCheck on it.
Get a GM dealer to check the VIN in the GM VIS for history.

jchappies

I would never buy one sight unseen...not even from a dealership. People can be deceiving when they're trying to sell things just so they can get rid of it.

Bruze

I agree, although there are the occasional posters here who have bought one unseen. Way, way too risky for me.

Maybe Bobby (NSF) can chime in here -- if memory serves he bought a truck a couple of years ago unseen and it was a disaster. I hope I got that right.

cal45

Nope - I would have to see it and drive it first hand

Welker1

I would never buy a vehicle without personally seeing and checking it out, as well as taking it for a nice test drive.

hawkgfr

My very first Corvette, a 2007 was purchased sight unseen....but it was a new left over...


It all depends on details of car and under the right circumstance I would buy a used one too....

airmed2

I did, and got a cream puff. It was delivered to my driveway from 1200 miles away. With thorough, careful, diligent research, I'd do it again, too.

pagosawingnut

I did. Dealer sent me very detailed pics of the car and I was not disappointed.

phileaglesfan

I know a couple people have but I wouldn't unless it is from a dealer with a great reputation. There are just too many things that can be wrong that maybe even the dealer doesn't know about.

BLEKVET

Patsgarage

FWIW, there is a member here who just bought a sight unseen C3 that wound up having a cracked frame. Granted, a C6 is a much newer car, but NWIH would I spent that much money without inspecting the car myself.

hmmmm16417

I purchased my first vette (C5) basically sight unseen. I had pics and messaged the guy and gave deposit. rented a car and drove 9 hrs to give the guy the rest of the money and drove it home. granted, it was a forum member I purchased it from as well.

My 2nd vette i bought on ebay from a dealership in IL (I'm in PA). negotiated and sent payment and they shipped the car to my door as part of the deal. I was not disappointed with either.

The car I have now was only about 45-60 min away from me, a forum member and went to look at it before I bought it. I "liked it" in the photos, but when i saw it in person I was ecstatic about how clean and nice it was. I thought about it for about a week and then made the deal.

I have purchased several motorcycles sight unseen as well. you definitely have to be careful as there are a lot of people that will scam you or sell you junk. I've had some experiences where someone told me their vehicle was in "EXCELLENT / LIKE NEW" condition but when I arrived to look at it in person, it was not even close to what I consider like new or excellent.

I purchased my woman's car sight unseen and was only SLIGHTLY disappointed with a few small things that were not mentioned.....

it's up to you if you can live with taking that chance.......

blackvetterzo6

jrose7004

Nope, I have to see it. touch it and drive it before I would buy it.

torquetube

I wouldn't consider buying a C6 sight unseen since the time they were delivering new ones to the NCM in Bowling Green.

You're going to have to see the car eventually, so I'd wait to hand over the check until you've flown out to pick it up. If the seller can't be trusted to hold the car until you arrive, he's untrustworthy and it's a good thing you didn't give him your money. You'd be out the price of a plane ticket instead of the price of a car.

If you're asking would I buy a car and have it shipped sight unseen, the answer is absolutely not. Even if the seller is a stand-up guy, any damage that occurs in shipping is between you and the shipping company's very stingy insurance company. They're going to say it came that way and you're going to have a hard time proving it didn't.

It's a car. Drive it home or wait for one that's closer.

Not So Fast

Absofuckinglutely agree, and even then nothing is guaranteed. But at least see it in person or have it looked at by a qualified 3rd party. I didn't do either and it cost a pretty penny, well, a lot of pennies
NSF

cmonkey713

Never buy a car sight unseen unless it is new from a new car dealer.

Bruze

Thanks for confirming my (failing) memory, Bud. Attachment 48331950

Actually, my memory is fine -- it's just kinda short.

Bruze

PAT!

How the hell are ya?

Expanding on your post, figuring the odds: One could hear 19 stories of guys buying cars unseen and were very happy with what they got. So you take your chances (hey, you've got a 95% chance of being a winner) and you get screwed royally. The 19 good stories previously will be irrelevant.

It's the same thing with surgeons. "This is a very safe, routine surgery and complications are very low, maybe 5%." But if you happen to fall in that 5%, the statistics won't mean a damned thing to you -- and they won't help with whatever problems (temporary or permanent) you may have.