Does anyone have advice or experience on buying a car from out of state? I'm looking at a wagon on Nasioc that I am interested in that's located in Milwaukee. If I do drive out there I want to be fairly sure I want to buy it, so what kind of questions should I be asking the owner? Thanks,
Just make sure you have a cashier's check written out to them for if everything goes ok, and only if everything goes ok. Be prepared to waste a trip to milwaukee if things don't add up and don't buy it if something doesn't check out. Check all fluids and listen closely while you drive it. Look for any signs of paintwork and ask a lot of questions. It looks clean though, I bought my car from Chicago and was prepared to just have a vacation there if it wasn't what he said it was. Good luck
Wow, looks pretty clean, Joel. Other then the turbo timer, no "off the wall" mods. Also good that the guy can type and communicate in full sentences (yeah, really). Nothing specific to the WRX I would really check, but do the normal stuff: some hard breaking and see if it pulls or pulses, check the oil, pay attention to how the transmission shifts, etc.
i bought my rs from a guy in madison.... i actually made 3 trips there in a week and a half.... Milwaukee isn't that far of a trip if it is or isn't a good deal, but like others said if doesn't match up with what was said of it or something with it you don't like, walk away... no point in spending that much money and not being happy
that car seems pretty safe, no major turbo upgrades, fuel system upgrades, etc. However, remember that the timing belt needs to be replaced at 105k
when i bought my rs almost a year ago from a guy in chicago, i had spent all week emailing him with questions and requesting for pictures. after asking him everything i needed to know, looking at the carfax report, and looking at all the pictures, we had talked about the price range for the car. he was willing to hold the car for me until the weekend of that week. so when i get there with my buddy, i started looking at the car closely and test drove it for a while. i then paid him with a cashier's check (a set amount) and cash on hand (to see if the seller would go lower, which he did and i saved myself $150 from our negotiated price).
The seller is a little nervous about taking an out-of-state cashier's check, and I'm a little nervous bringing that much cash with to meet him. Any advice, or should I just get there earlier to I can get to a bank before it closes?
money order, or on the spot bank xfer if he is down with that and you are a member of a bank like wells fargo that is likely to have branches where they are.
Get a cashiers check from a national bank such as Wells Fargo. He can go to any Wells Fargo to have it verified. Best of luck buddy! -Ryan
You can take a bus there =) Yeah, don't drive with cash. Very few branches work on Sunday, but there could be some (like in grocery stores) that are open. If you get cashier's check - get it on Thursday at the latest. There could be a business day lag between you buying a cashiers check from your bank and other bank being able to verify it/cash it. Had to learn it the hard way when I was ready to buy a car down in Chicago, when I got a cashiers check at noon on Friday and the same bank could not 'verify' or cash it the next day, so the seller understandably bailed and I had to leave on Sunday, empty-handed.
Like Zach says, the MO transfer is the best way (safest way) to go. And if all else fail have the seller log onto MNSubaru, I'm sure whoever know you personally can vouch for you........and beside we know where you live. :laugh: Btw, I pm'd you. GL John
Another thing, which is probably irrelevant though, seeing that this is one-owner car, but who knows. Make sure the car is paid off, so the seller has the title. If not - don't bother. From what I remember WI is kinda weird with selling the car that is owned by the bank to an out-of-state buyer.
The three times I have gone on long trips for cars I have always taken cash. I never have had any problems with it. The plus to cash is, if the deal falls thru, you have the ability to buy something else, instead of having a cashiers check and have driven 400+ miles. If your worried about having that much cash on you. Put it somewhere safe/hidden when only you know where it is and wont be easily found if the seller turns out to be a crook.
i knew once you drove the taxi you'd go sonic yellow....but never thought a wagon!! super rare!!! do it joel!
Just bring one clean $11,500 bill, Joel. Are you heading there this weekend or next? If it's the 16th/17th, I may be able to go.
I would suggest if you have a serious seller, get to know them better. If they are selling it for the right reasons and really do appreciate the car they are trying to sell more than often they will want to ensure its going to a good home. With that said, get some common goals that you both can agree on and sometimes you might get someone who migh warrenty the car for a small window if anything should fail at their expense. Second, go there with an open mind, that way you can see everything that's in front of you and hopefully won't be blind sided. Having another good set of eyes and negociator will help keep you focused. I usually won't push too hard, and will let the seller try and sell me the car first. Third, be willing and able to walk away from the deal if you should feel its not for you. This will protect you and sometime work in your favor if the seller see's that you're serious and they just need to work out a better deal. My seller let me pay half and the balance after having received the car and a few months of tinkering around. LOL Best of luck Joel! Don't look like a another Black Mamba but I'm sure you'll have plenty of fun. Looks like a sweet ride for some weekend fun!
how about a compression and leak down test? if you wanna be on the super safe side. it looks clean. seems a good deal to me. you can have a cashier's check and have him call your bank to verify it a couple of days before you go there. that what the seller did when I bought my car out of state.
