Bencher

I'm planning to purchase a Corvette, private party, from a member here. This will be my first time purchasing a vehicle from out-of-state and without seeing the vehicle first. What things do I need to make the sale safe for me, besides looking at the Carfax report? Is there some sort of contract I should produce too make sure that I don't get a vehicle that has been in a collision, and not reported on Carfax. The sale will be bank to bank financing.

Thanks for any input.
,Pete

Rooster OG

You're not planning on seeing the car at all? Are you just going to have it trucked to you?

I wouldn't be comfortable with that at all. A $100 transaction, yes. A car? Not for me.

Good luck!

oldC5

Most members are great guys , but we do have some ****.

Stan0324

Ask if a local member can go and check it out for you.

Bencher

The seller is planning to drive down the vehicle to me and then fly back. What about a contract that states if any signs of previous damage that the sale will be void?

robert miller

Pete, get on a plane and go SEE this car, Are get a person in here are someplace close to the seller to go look at the car for you even if you have to pay the guy to do so..

I bought a 65 vette from a guy in here he told me part of the stuff if you looked at the car you could see. But other things he didn't tell me he was a lawyer also. So stupid me took his word & it cost me a new motor in the car after he told me he would stand behind it.
I paid to have it shipped to me 63 miles short trip never laid rubber in it one time wife was with me. Engine went out on it, he had it redone some time before I got it. Who ever bored the block didn't clean all the small metal out of it.

THEN I GOT BACK UP WITH HIM TOLD ME NO COULDNT DO NOTHING ARE PAY FOR ANYTHING.


I just got my 2014 3lt z51 from a guy in FA me and the wife got on a plane went down car was just what the guy told me we drove the car back.

One more thing don't trust carfax at all.

rmorin1249

You can also pay a competent garage or dealer to perform a PPI. Well worth the cost.

green2000

You can't even be sure buying a new car from a dealer. I had negotiated a price on a 2010 Corvette and found out that it had $4000 damage when someone backed it into something at the dealer. This was pointed out before I finalized. The sales manager wasn't aware of the damage. Another time, I bought a 2001 Camaro and found out when I sold it that at least the trunk lid was repainted. Neither of these things showed up in Carfax reports.

Do your homework and work out whatever contract you are comfortable with. If you have doubts, there are other cars out there but you won't be sure about them either.

fsvoboda

There are services that do this at minimal cost. I've seen several advertised on Ebay in the past.

Woodson

Not a chance.

KratosBear

Where is the car located? I agree, take a plane ride or at a minimum, have a member look at for you.

Bencher

Thanks for the responses. The car is located in Yorktown, IN. Problem is how will I find someone in that area, and how will I know I will get a accurate report.

What if I put a deposit down, then sign the rest of the bank paperwork after the car arrives here and I inspect it.

TKay

This what I would do.

Steve_R

Carfax is next to useless. Either go look at it yourself or find someone to do it for you.

This is an anonymous internet chat board. People here are no more or less trustworthy simply because they're a member.

Indy-hp

I would not buy a used car without seeing and driving it first.

When I sold my C5 on the forum, I traded lots of pictures and emails with the buyer, who flew to me with a check but reserved the right to back out if he didn't like the car. He drove it home and left me the check.

Fly to Indiana and inspect the car in person, and take it for a test drive. If you want to buy it, drive it home, or fly home and let him drive it to Houston for you, or have it shipped home.

Indy-hp

That's a great thing to do if you are wondering whether a personal visit is worth the time and expense, but not as a substitute for a pre-purchase personal inspection of the vehicle.

KratosBear

Rooster OG

If you're going to do that, use an escrow service to hold the deposit. There are lots of them online that are easy to use. Then stipulate that you want to inspect it and have your mechanic inspect it if he's going to drive it to you. That would be the only way I would feel comfortable. To me, that would be much better than relying on a third party, or having to fly up there.

It's up to you and your comfort level though.

bluman

Have a look here and see if anyone is near that can take a look at the vehicle.


https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...solidated.html

SteveMcGuire

Gee whiz man. Spend $400 and fly to see this car. I did exactly that when I was buying a puppy. Wasn't about to let someone else pick it out for me