Ever bought a car without seeing it in person

D

Dav the wheel nut

Veteran
 Somerset
I was wondering if anyone had any experiences good or bad of buying a car blind?
I'm currently looking at a 4x4 some distance from me and although it is 10 years old it looks immaculate in the pics the dealer has sent me, is a one owner vehicle, 32,000 on the clock, full service history and has a new MOT with no advisories. I'm considering just going for it but have heard stories good and bad.
It's from a small independent dealer. What do you reckon?
 
I bought a 4x4 unseen years ago (A Discovery), just happened to be the worst car I ever bought but not due to the unseen bit but just because it was a sh*te car.
 
For the 200 odd miles it is I think I would make the time to go and see it.

Can you get any cheap plane tickets from Bristol to Manchester?
 
I did it with my current Z & previously did it after the seller insisted if i wasn't 100% happy after 7 days she would take it back & refund me the money
Being 320 miles away :? It was a 911 964 & the seller had owned it for 6 years so i took the gamble & it paid off but i had at least 4/5 lengthy phone conversations & also spoke to the garage that had serviced the car
Your's being a one owner car hedges the bet in your favour providing the price is agreeable to you :wink:
 
Bristol to Manchester 3 hours at rush hour, 2 and a bit if not. How much cheaper better is it than a decent example nearby? or is it extra special in some way?
 
buy from distance = distance selling regulations = protection, no?
does a car qualify or is it excluded?
Stevo
 
Not quite the same, but I did a recky for a fellow scirocco club member on a car that was local to me. On my say so he bought it.

My uncle bought an A6 blind but it was from Audi up north and he had the ability to return it if it wasnt as expected..
 
RubyBlueZ4MC said:
I actually thought this thread was about buying a pull down blind, like for windows in your home but for the car :rofl:
Click to expand...
I thought the same when I saw the title :rofl:

Personally I bought my 335i from Sytners in Leicester without seeing it in person first. They provided a video walk around, started it up and focused on the things I wanted clarity on such as any potential wastegate rattles on overrun. I was pleased and they delivered to me a few days later.

The Z4MC I bought from Blacklines was sort of blind too. Forum car and up in Stratford. Was so excited I didn't even take it for a test drive; just handed over the money and took the keys!
 
Yup! I bought my Z'd over the phone. Saw some pictures on tinternet, had a video walk round but never test drove it or anything. And pictures and videos are not the same as viewing it in all its glory. Likewise I did the deal to part ex my E88 which was immaculate over the phone, no pictures etc and I got a really good price and they weren't disappointed when they viewed it.

I did go to see a P38 Range Rover, pictures showed it as immaculate for a 10 years old car but when I turned up the pictures were clearly from when the seller had obtained it.

I would like to think that doing a deal over the phone and email that people would be very honest but not everyone is that honest.

I also bought a E46 330 from Halliwell Jones on a Thursday night after seeing it advertised on BMW AUC, had no picture just the description, phoned them, did the deal and got a train to Chester the following night and picked it up on the Saturday morning.
 
End of the day its a gamble, either everything will be fine or could turn out a nightmare and pain in the neck, especially as the seller could wash their hands if you are far away. There's no substitute to seeing the car in person, driving it etc, pictures/videos are just that, boils down to how fussed you are with conditiuon etc.

Not quite the same but I bought a new car without seeing one or test driving it which was a MK3 Toyota Mr2, I pre-ordered under the illusion it would be a corker of a car as I'd owned a MK1 and loved it. I traded an Audi A3 1.8T against it and as soon as I took delivery of the Toyota I knew instantly I had made a big mistake and lost a couple of Ks swapping back to the Audi :( Will never do that again.

Tim.
 
Before I handed over any money other than a small deposit I would want to see and test drive it. Once they have your money you are in a weak position.
The distance is not that great considering the amount of money you are risking.
 
Are you married?

Did you meet your wife for the first time on the day you got married?

Whatever your answers, repeat for car buying!
 
RickRob said:
Are you married?

Did you meet your wife for the first time on the day you got married?

Whatever your answers, repeat for car buying!
Click to expand...

What? Does the marriage certificate now come with warranty and money back no quibble 30 day return :?
 
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