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I've seen that done here... Posted by PGAero [Email] (#1143) [Profile/Gallery] (more from PGAero) on Tue, 9 Oct 2012 22:26:19 In Reply to: How far is to far, steven, Tue, 9 Oct 2012 19:15:54 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
I've seen Saabers ask for others to look at cars for them. I'm sure it would work out pretty well, as long as you make your expectations clear.
I've looked at WAY too many cars that are advertised as "Perfect" that I would describe as "nice but needs attention in the following areas..." It's all about expectations. Make sure you're clear.
One example: Late 80s car on the east coast advertised as "no rust" but when i got pictures, they showed TONS of rusty body panels and a hole in the trunk. I asked why it was advertised as rust-free when I could clearly see the ground through the trunk floor. The seller's reply, "I mean no structural rust. Why do you west-coast people get so high-horsed about rust-free cars?"
That's just one obvious example. Ask for more pictures than fewer, and talk on the phone with people, including who you're going to have take a look for you. You can get a good feel in that process.
I've bought two Saabs from "afar." The first from a private party, and I was very pleased with how the car was represented. That one was shipped from MD to CA. The other from a (non-Saab) dealer. That car was nice, but not quite as nice as they made it sound. The deal was too good to pass up, but I would have walked away if they were asking anything near market value for the car and had some words with the sales manager because my direct questions weren't always answered honestly. (An '04 Aero without scratches on the front valence was hard to believe... but it turns out they *kinda* didn't answer my direct question about that accurately.) I flew to that one and drove it home 14 hours.
My first experience probably made me too comfortable with the long-distance purchase experience, and my second experience will make me very cautious in the future.
That being said, I think 3-4 hours is perfectly reasonable to get the right car. I'd drive a lot farther for an '04 or newer 9-5 Aero wagon with a stick shift!
All the best to those looking for the right car!
~Peter
'04 9-5 Aero SC
An openly OCD perfectionist.
posted by 67.161.172...
_______________________________________ Current: '03 9-5 Aero Wagon, 5spd, Polar/Black Past: '06 9-5 Combi, AT, Polar/Black '04 9-5 Aero Wagon, AT, Nocturne/Granite '03 9-5 Aero Wagon, AT, Steel/Charcoal '00 9-3 Viggen, 5D, Silver/Black '93 9000 Aero, 5MT, Cirrus/Black (Owned this one twice) '86 900 SPG, 5MT, Edwardian/Buffalo Grey
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