On-Line Car Purchase

[A-37]

I'm considering buying a Cadillac wagon from a Cadillac dealer 300 miles away. Open transport quote is $195 (awaiting the closed transport quote).

Not sure how the dealer wants to get paid (COD? EFT?). I'll find out tomorrow.

Any pitfalls to avoid when buying a car this way? The dealership has good reviews.

 

[Salty RI]

I always thought you only got a one way ride in a Cadillac wagon.[emoji3]

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[Ματθιας]

Yeah, if this is an "as is" sale, without an in person inspection and test drive, how will you know what, if any, issues there are? If there are any issues, and modern Caddies are full of issue prone systems, and you find them AFTER you've taken delivery what then?

Maybe it's just me, but there's no why I'd buy a vehicle sight unseen. Especially a used one.

 

[hsguy]

Couple of things. Is there a dealer near you to service it if it needs warranty work? I assume it is a fairly pricey vehicle so I would want it delivered at no charge.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Yes, I think of the people who buy used guns off the internet, then....
I used Craigslist for my last two cars, set up a meeting with the seller, decided they were on the level, the car was worth it.

 

[ladder13]

Yes, yes I have, and am doing it again. I bought a car from MacMulkin Chevrolet in Nashua NH because he had the best price anywhere in the country, by a lot.

I have another on order with the same dealer.

A car warranty is good with any car dealer, of the same brand of course, in the USA.

Thousands of people do this every year, I see no problem.

 

[DeathGrip]

I bought my '04 GMC from CarMax a few years back, maybe 2010. It was in N.Florida at the time and I wanted to see it before making the deal. It cost me to have it shipped to S.Florida but if I bought it that would be reduced from the price.

I liked what I saw and gambled on the shipping for the view and drive. The truck was as described and I bought it, Still driving it today and can't complain. Actually I really like my truck and haven't had to spent too much on it over the years.

That's a nice looking Caddy.

 

[storyman]

I've purchased 2 vehicles on line. Both were used. I negotiated delivery as part of the purchase price, as in, I'll pay your price with delivery included. Worked for me.

 

[LVSteve]

The Mercedes SUV I have now came from New Mexico. Cost me about $400 to get it here to see it. However, when you do the math of traveling there, meals, hotel, etc. then it's nearer $150 on balance.

 

[DeathGrip]

It's all about the math.

 

[Justin T]

300 miles isn't that far away here where I live. I'd be road-trippin with a friend to go pick up my new ride!

 

[pawngal]

Ask all the right questions, ask the dealership for a Carfax report, do some online research about that particular year and model.

I've bought 4 vehicles online, eBay & Craigslist. Only had one transported but I did see and drive it before purchasing.
Others picked up in person. 2 paid in cash

Have you driven a similar vehicle? If not, how do you know you will like it?

 

[A-37]

Ask all the right questions, ask the dealership for a Carfax report, do some online research about that particular year and model.

I've bought 4 vehicles online, eBay & Craigslist. Only had one transported but I did see and drive it before purchasing.
Others picked up in person. 2 paid in cash

Have you driven a similar vehicle? If not, how do you know you will like it?

The car has only 33K miles and the Carfax shows the usual dealer maintenance (oil changes, etc.). However, there's a gap between 20K miles and 30K miles which I asked the dealer about. No rely yet.

I drove the same year AWD CTS sedan with the same 3.6L engine.. Handles well. Found a neat trick on the Cadillac CTS forum; pull a fuse to disable front wheel drive if you don't need it during nice weather (no snow or rain).

 

[ladder13]

Don't rely on Carfax like it's the Bible. I recently sold my vette to Carvana. A week before I paid for a report, and it showed services performed in the Houston area.

I have never been there, with my car or without. The services shown were within a month of a identical service I had done in NY.
The difference was the mileage went from 7,000 miles to over 20,O00 miles. Clearly erroneous.

I filed a report with Carfax but in the meantime called the service dept of the dealer in Houston. They had no record of my car getting serviced there, which I knew.
I'm guessing the wrong VIN got entered.

Two weeks after Carvana took the car away I got a response from Carfax. Sorry, the info is incorrect, we made the changes.

Good thing Carvana saw what I did and paid me for the correct and much lower mileage.

 

[16thVACav]

I bought a car from MacMulkin Chevrolet in Nashua NH because he had the best price anywhere in the country, by a lot. I have another on order with the same dealer.

MacMulkin? That has to be a C8! Tell us about it.

 

[pawngal]

The car has only 33K miles and the Carfax shows the usual dealer maintenance (oil changes, etc.). However, there's a gap between 20K miles and 30K miles which I asked the dealer about. No rely yet.

I drove the same year AWD CTS sedan with the same 3.6L engine.. Handles well. Found a neat trick on the Cadillac CTS forum; pull a fuse to disable front wheel drive if you don't need it during nice weather (no snow or rain).

Disable front wheel drive?? Why?
What warranty is the dealer offering?

 

[mstem]

I just can't imagine anyone buying a car on line & never seeing it in person.

 

[LCC]

We used the Costco auto purchase program for our last car, got three bids from the dealers within 90 miles. Took the lowest to the nearest, asked them to match it, went home with a new car.

 

[Salty RI]

I just can't imagine anyone buying a car on line & never seeing it in person.

I'm with you, I have to kick those tires.

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[ladder13]

MacMulkin? That has to be a C8! Tell us about it.

Silver Flare, Adrenalin red, 2LT , hard top convertible.