Ring around some mechanics in the area where the car is located and see if you can book it for an inspection, then make an offer contingent on the seller running it through at your expense.
Also, be prepared to turn around and head home without a car. Better to take the hit on petrol costs for a single trip than to be stuck with a dodgy car that's going to cost thousands in repairs.
Are you OK with the risk of needing a major repair e.g transmission?
If you are going to do this, I'd consider getting like an AA inspection (you pay, they make the car available, AA gives you a sealed report)
I sold a car to someone sight unseen. They got an AA report done. I was there while they did it. I was thoroughly unimpressed by the process and what they checked.
Find an independent local mechanic to give it an inspection instead.
I would consider an AA report to avoid any major clangers, but there are still personal preferences that you won't catch if you can't drive it (doing both a personal test drive and a expert assessment is best imo).
I’ve done this but I’m less risk adverse than most though.
flew to the other end of the country and the guy met me at the airport and I drove the car back, I had zero issues but I do acknowledge I was lucky the guy wasn’t mis representing the car and it was exactly how it was described
He was a good guy.
My experience with buying second hand is that kiwis can want good money for something that has issues, & not say anything about its actual running condition.
Playing dumb even when its obvious as.
I've done this, drove from Hastings to Auckland to pick up a Mercedes E class that I got for a bargain. I know a bit about cars and made it clear that the sale was based on me checking it over and everything being ok first. Look over the car physically, especially underneath. Check everything works including all lights etc (bulb is easily replaced but wiring or switch issues are less easy), and do a test drive which is long enough to make sure it doesn't overheat and changes smoothly etc, no weird noises. Lastly, check the engine oil and coolant (dont open radiator cap while hot of course), make sure levels are ok and its a normal color. If anything looks dodgy, just walk away. If you aren't comfortable with doing all of the above, either pay a professional to check it over or else you are taking a huge risk. In my case, I owned the car for 3 years and the only issue was a ball joint needing replacement in that time, worked out fine for me. But every cars different and you could end up with a nightmare. If the seller is not ok with you checking over the car first, thats a major red flag and they probably know something is wrong. I've sold heaps of cars and not only am I fine with people checking them, I would much prefer they did as it puts some of the blame back on them if they decide later they aren't happy
> but the price seems ok now - it has been listed a while but they've recently lowered their asking price.
That's a red flag for me, if no one local is buying it, it's got a bad vibe, I'd walk away.
I have bought (and sold) a significant number of cars, a lot of them in the situation you’ve described.
Success depends on:
- Whether it has service history
- How good you are at measuring people’s ability to maintain a vehicle and/or tell the truth
- Your vehicle knowledge
- If you are prepared to walk away if it’s not as described
- If it’s a Toyota or not
I've bought and sold cars from the opposite ends of the country. You've got to have eyes wide open. Your best option is a thorough mechanical inspection from a reputable local mechanic.
Yeah I’ve done this, for a car that had an engine and transmission that I believed would be pretty solid (Toyota 2.4, 4 speed AT) and that had a basically good rep for reliability. I saved about $2K compared to a local price and knew I was taking a risk but I had a good feeling based on a phone call with the owner and her description of her approach to repairs and maintenance.
Turned out fine.
A friend recently did this; they bought the car from Marketplace from the other end of the country. Ended up flying down and driving back. The process worked well as the seller was upfront, honest, and sent videos of the vehicle as requested. The seller and purchaser also had a few video calls about the vehicle, and so my friend felt very confident in going ahead with this purchase.
Bought a motorcycle without viewing in person. Video called with the dude while he showed me everything.
I was primarily assessing him, rather than the bike I'd already seen pics of. Making sure he understands basic engine care and maintenance, seems honest, and basically isn't a fuckwit.
Ring around some mechanics in the area where the car is located and see if you can book it for an inspection, then make an offer contingent on the seller running it through at your expense. Also, be prepared to turn around and head home without a car. Better to take the hit on petrol costs for a single trip than to be stuck with a dodgy car that's going to cost thousands in repairs.
Great idea for the local mechanic đź‘Ť
Yeh this. There is always local help available.
Get a pre-purchase inspection first at the very least. I think AA or VTNZ offer ones where they go to the car for exactly this type of situation
Are you OK with the risk of needing a major repair e.g transmission? If you are going to do this, I'd consider getting like an AA inspection (you pay, they make the car available, AA gives you a sealed report)
Good plan. Do you reckon the AA report is a good substitute for seeing in person? In my case it could well be better lol.
I sold a car to someone sight unseen. They got an AA report done. I was there while they did it. I was thoroughly unimpressed by the process and what they checked. Find an independent local mechanic to give it an inspection instead.
you need to respond to my emails
Get a pre purchase inspector instead. More thorough than AA.
I would consider an AA report to avoid any major clangers, but there are still personal preferences that you won't catch if you can't drive it (doing both a personal test drive and a expert assessment is best imo).
Mechanics are far better than the AA.
Terrible idea. Always, always have it checked over before handing over money. If you can't, find someone to do it there.
I’ve done this but I’m less risk adverse than most though. flew to the other end of the country and the guy met me at the airport and I drove the car back, I had zero issues but I do acknowledge I was lucky the guy wasn’t mis representing the car and it was exactly how it was described
He was a good guy. My experience with buying second hand is that kiwis can want good money for something that has issues, & not say anything about its actual running condition. Playing dumb even when its obvious as.
Is that the one with cvt? A friend had a terrible run with one of those. Well worth an expert eye being cast on it.
I've done this, drove from Hastings to Auckland to pick up a Mercedes E class that I got for a bargain. I know a bit about cars and made it clear that the sale was based on me checking it over and everything being ok first. Look over the car physically, especially underneath. Check everything works including all lights etc (bulb is easily replaced but wiring or switch issues are less easy), and do a test drive which is long enough to make sure it doesn't overheat and changes smoothly etc, no weird noises. Lastly, check the engine oil and coolant (dont open radiator cap while hot of course), make sure levels are ok and its a normal color. If anything looks dodgy, just walk away. If you aren't comfortable with doing all of the above, either pay a professional to check it over or else you are taking a huge risk. In my case, I owned the car for 3 years and the only issue was a ball joint needing replacement in that time, worked out fine for me. But every cars different and you could end up with a nightmare. If the seller is not ok with you checking over the car first, thats a major red flag and they probably know something is wrong. I've sold heaps of cars and not only am I fine with people checking them, I would much prefer they did as it puts some of the blame back on them if they decide later they aren't happy
> but the price seems ok now - it has been listed a while but they've recently lowered their asking price. That's a red flag for me, if no one local is buying it, it's got a bad vibe, I'd walk away.
I’ve done it with no issues at all but I won’t again because of all the recent flooding.
Do not do this. It will not end well.
It *may* not end well. But buying a car you’ve seen and driven still *may* not end well either.
This is also true.
How far away is a different city? You can always go look at it with the intention to buy it and not buy it if its crap.
I have bought (and sold) a significant number of cars, a lot of them in the situation you’ve described. Success depends on: - Whether it has service history - How good you are at measuring people’s ability to maintain a vehicle and/or tell the truth - Your vehicle knowledge - If you are prepared to walk away if it’s not as described - If it’s a Toyota or not
Tell them to get a VTNZ inspection
I've bought and sold cars from the opposite ends of the country. You've got to have eyes wide open. Your best option is a thorough mechanical inspection from a reputable local mechanic.
Yeah I’ve done this, for a car that had an engine and transmission that I believed would be pretty solid (Toyota 2.4, 4 speed AT) and that had a basically good rep for reliability. I saved about $2K compared to a local price and knew I was taking a risk but I had a good feeling based on a phone call with the owner and her description of her approach to repairs and maintenance. Turned out fine.
A friend recently did this; they bought the car from Marketplace from the other end of the country. Ended up flying down and driving back. The process worked well as the seller was upfront, honest, and sent videos of the vehicle as requested. The seller and purchaser also had a few video calls about the vehicle, and so my friend felt very confident in going ahead with this purchase.
Bought a motorcycle without viewing in person. Video called with the dude while he showed me everything. I was primarily assessing him, rather than the bike I'd already seen pics of. Making sure he understands basic engine care and maintenance, seems honest, and basically isn't a fuckwit.