long distance buying tips?

**i_eat_staples** · 08-12-2008 12:20 AM

Hey all, was wondering if anyone who had purchased a car across the country had any advice as far as the whole purchasing process was concerned

Aside from painter's tape

I dont mind taking the time for a long distance trip, and factoring in the cost of gas+lodging+food+added mileage to the vehicle it can still be worth it depending on the deal

anything you can do besides having someone local check the car out for you? or is that about it?

**cellg8** · 08-12-2008 08:54 AM

I got my car from a reputable Cali dealer (I'm in Seattle). I went with the dealer who's trust worthy and recommended by members here.

It's easier if your car is new or under CPO warranty if it's used. I would probably not get something that does not have warranty at all regardless of local or long distance. It might be costly if something goes wrong.

Sorry for not being much help here...

**Wanted** · 08-12-2008 09:21 AM

I've purchased our last 4 cars long distance and it's really been a great experience each time with the best one when I picked up my Audi 1100 miles away.

Mine was sitting on a little diamond lot and I asked them to take the car to the dealer for a 100+ point inspection since I wasn't around to kick the tires. It ended up adding about $175 to the deal (I paid via cc so they would review the information directly with me instead of getting it second hand from the salesperson of all people - blech), but for the peace of mind and being able to talk directly to an uninterested party I would have paid double. They gave the car an overall rating for me and detailed the few very minor issues on the car such as a couple nicks in the front bumper from rocks, peeling window buttons, condition of the tires, etc. They kind of acted as a proxy for me if-you-will.

I then felt confident negotiating a price (i negotiated further once I got there too), purchasing an airline ticket and feeling confident driving it back home. it was a great trip - closed the deal on Wednesday, booked the flight for the next day, went to the airport after work and was on the ground by dinner time. Booked a motel that night once I got off the plane and got a "take it off my hands" rate, swam in the pool and then walked to kick ass steak house and ate a phenominal steak dinner with a couple great micro beers near my hotel. Dealership picked me up the next morning - went on a 40 minute test drive and I was on the road by 10AM and had a great uneventful drive back. Great way to break in my new (used) vehicle.

I've also asked forum friends to do a walk around on 2 different vehicles as well - one guy went as far as test driving it and doing the crawl-all-over-the ground -looking-at-everything while in a suit on his lunch break. That was a jeep cherokee I bought as a gift for my wife and it's been a great ride too.

Best of luck on your car adventure!

**nealRlett** · 08-12-2008 11:03 AM

I live in CA and my S4 came from Kentucky. Just go with a trusted dealer. You will know. I was tempted to fly out and drive it back but it just was not cost-effective. Ended up paying 800$ to get it shipped. Just be careful who you hire to ship the car. Mine was a nightmare! Turned out the co. I hired to ship the car hired a third party to do it. Car was fine but when he took it off the truck he scraped the front bumper and it took months to claim. He was an ass about it!! Good Luck!!

**cellg8** · 08-12-2008 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by nealRlett

Ended up paying 800$ to get it shipped. Just be careful who you hire to ship the car. Mine was a nightmare! Turned out the co. I hired to ship the car hired a third party to do it.

That's what 'my shipper' did, too.. they had a company in Seattle ship it. It slipped out of truck driver's mouth 'we only charged you $500 for it and it's worth it'!!! 'i think I paid $800'... 'oh, must be the middle man..next time call us directly'!!!

**Tennessee** · 08-12-2008 11:11 AM

tip - Dont have your car transported near New Years.. My mom bought her 545 from Cali and it had a bullet hole in the hood by the time it got to Scottsdale.

**Storm33** · 08-12-2008 03:07 PM

I had a very similar experience to "Wanted". I live in Michigan and was looking at two nearly identical S4's online: one in Nashville and one in Birmingham, AL. I started out just talking to the dealers (neither was an Audi dealer) and only took a couple of phone calls to decide I'd rather work with the dealer in Alabama - the Nashville dealer seemed shady. I then had the dealer in B'ham take it to Audi for inspection, which it passed. Reached a deal, flew to Birmingham, had a night on the town, they picked me up the first thing next morning and I was on the road back to Michigan by 10 a.m. The ten-hour drive home was a blast...especially the little "autobahn session" I had through the hills of Kentucky!

Long distance buying can be a great experience if you do your "homework" first: get the car checked out by a loca Audi dealership, get your insurance coverage squared away and have a two-party cashier's check in hand when you get there.

Good luck!

**SoCalS4Avant** · 08-12-2008 03:31 PM

I've bought two cars from out of the area - one was only in Northern CA, so I flew up had the car inspected at the dealership and then paid the owner, and drove it home. Worked out well.

The second, and most recent car was the S4. It came from back east and was shipped out here. Bought it directly from an Audi dealer. Only problem I had was dealing with the shipper on my end...they didn't have "proof" of my payment in their computer. Once that was worked out, I was a happy guy.

Best of luck.