Page 44 - KCRPCA May 2017

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May / June 2017
at how many “Outstanding” cars there are. Since the car wasn’t local, it would require a PPI. It is vitally important that someone look at the car before you make an offer and a few hundred dollars is well worth the peace of mind it buys. I dropped this car from my list not because it was six hours away, but because I thought the seller was a jerk.
When you meet for the test drive, be pleasant but try to let the seller do most of the talking. Test all of the switches. Check the heating and air conditioning. Move the seats. Look at the tires and brake pads. Look for rust under the carpeting. Stomp on the gas to check for hesitation and slam on the brakes to make sure the rotors aren’t warped. What is the car’s overall condition and appearance? I may be famous for not detailing my car every quarter, but if someone is asking top dollar for their car, it needs to be in top condition. For every shortfall you see, estimate the cost to have someone x it and use that to justify your price when you make an offer. Even if you’re an expert mechanic or enjoy detailing a car, your time has value; make it count. You don’t have to make a decision then and there as to whether you want the car or how much to offer, but you should part on good terms with a promise to let the owner know how you’re proceeding in a reasonable amount of time.
The one thing you need to convince yourself of is that if one car falls through there will be another. I think this is dif cult to accept if you only
buy a car once every 10 years or so, like me, but it’s true. The more time you spend researching before you actually make a phone call, the more apparent that becomes.
Well, at this point, you’re probably asking yourself how this journey ended. I found a nice ’97 Boxster on Craig’s List about 5 miles from my condo. It was fairly priced, with the only hiccup being that there were aftermarket wheels on it that the owner felt bumped the price. He responded quickly by text and we had a couple of pleasant discussions on the phone before the drive. I found a couple of things that still needed to be addressed on the drive, so while my initial plan was to offer $500 less than his asking price, I increased that to $900. When he only asked for $300 of that back, I took him up on the offer. I wrote him a check and drove the car home that night.
A couple of random things I learned are: when there are vehicle inspection requirements, like there are in Virginia, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to buy a car from another state; if an area requires emission inspections, it probably makes sense to buy a vehicle from that jurisdiction; and, buying a car that has a lien on it is not impossible, but it de nitely takes a while to consummate the deal.
In summary, know the market, know the car, and know yourself. Buying from a stranger can be a daunting task, but it’s not insurmountable.
- Jim