How to buy advertised SVX from distant used car dealers

rrhenderson · #1 10-22-2007, 11:04 AM

Hello anyone. What are the best tactics, in your experience, to buy an advertised SVX from one of those "nasty" used car dealers who is far away from where you live? Do you first negotiate price by email, or over the phone, with them? Or do you only offer a deposit to "hold" the car ,and personally view it first, before trying to negotiate an agreeable (as in greedy) selling price? Are they usually reluctant to return the deposit if the car is in unacceptable condition after seeing it in person? And, any other pointers?
Thank you.[/SIZE]

SilverSpear · #2 10-22-2007, 11:10 AM

Nice font... you are gonna get a warning now.... change it quick!!

It's Just Eric · #3 10-22-2007, 11:25 AM

It's best to check it out in person, or have a friend, relative, or best yet, a nearby member o this board check he car out for you before making ANY kind of payment. Of course, via email / phone call, its best to establish that A) You're legitimatly intrested in the car B) get any kind of history and info on the car thats available. A vin number is usually good to have, so you can run a carfax report at home. and C) establish some sort of relationship with the sales guy. Know to ask for him by name.
It isnt untill you have some ammunition that you can barter a price, hence why its best to see the car first. Just pick out things that are wrong with it (Exhaust leaks, sticky sunroof, things of that nature) and use them as leverage to gt the price lower (but only if needed...Otherwise you'll spoil a good deal)

AlcyoneDaze · #4 10-22-2007, 11:34 AM

I think your doing it all wrong. Fist of all, you shouldn't be looking at any car that is more than 200 miles away from you, no matter how desirable. If you are going to cold call dealers, ask lots of questions over the phone, with them looking at the car in front of them.

So narrow down your search, there are always 5-6 SVXi on ebay at any given time and at least two within 50 miles of where you live - these cars are NOT hard to find.

Okay, never put a downpayment to hold a car unless your going to buy it for sure, and just need some more time to get money together. A deposit is just that: if you back out, the dealer keeps it, because he has lost potential sales by holding the car for you, your money is a guarantee you're serious. Of course they'll be 'reluctant' to return it!

And you don't start negotiating until you've seen, driven, and had a mechanic inspect the car - up until then, you really have nothing to negotiate... A competent, honest, outside mechanic (not the dealership's guy) will tell you all the problems with the car, something you can use to negotiate a lower price.

RSVX · #5 10-22-2007, 11:41 AM

You send him an email in a huge bolded black font so that you know you have his attention...

AlcyoneDaze · #6 10-22-2007, 11:41 AM

Evil One · #7 10-22-2007, 12:13 PM

You have no way of knowing if he is telling the truth about the car without seeing it for yourself or having a knowledgeable person examine it for you.
The first SVX my fiancee and I looked at to buy is a good example.
I talked with the man on the phone a few times... adding up to well over an hour. We exchanged emails.
I drove over 660 miles round trip to look at it.
I showed up and it had a crack across the full width of the windshield, the antenna was broken off, and the transmission "which he had paperwork that is was a low mile rebuild" was shot.

The next car we looked at, and purchased, was a 600 mile round trip.
It was purchased from a board member here, SomethingElse.
We got pics, talked on the phone, sent emails/PMs, ect.
The car was better than he represented it.
As a result, we also bought a second SVX from him. This one also was pics, emails, phone calls.
It was also a better car than he represented it as.

My only real suggestion would be to either buy from a trusted member or have a trusted and knowledgeable member examine it for you.

Jim

dcarrb · #8 10-22-2007, 12:25 PM

I bought mine on-line and had 'em delivered, and advise against going this route. The first (300 miles away) had issues that would have become immediately apparent during a brief test drive and walk around (roaring wheel bearings, busted radiator), but to the dealership's credit, they promptly shipped me new parts at no charge when I complained. I doubt I'd be so fortunate again (nor will you be). The second was about what I expected for the price. Both have been relaible and strong, so in the long run, I got lucky.

I do understand the temptation, as the SVX truly is rare outside of the U.S. norteast and northwest, the Rockies, and Florida. In four years of ownership I've seen only one other on the road in these parts. Back when I was looking I had a Subaru salesman in Atlanta tell me he'd never seen an SVX.

dcb

rrhenderson · #9 10-22-2007, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSVX

You send him an email in a huge bolded black font so that you know you have his attention...

At least the words are uncapitalized.

Evil One · #10 10-22-2007, 01:26 PM

As to... "These things are not hard to find".
You have the internet... and on those 2 sites I pulled up 52 on 1 and 22 on the other.
Many were cross posted. So for arguments sake lets say there are 60 for sale.
The cars tend to be isolated geographically.
They are in areas where you tend to have a harsher winter and need AWD.
If you are in the southern band of the US you can find SERIOUS difficulty in finding one within your 200 mile range.
Then, you have to look at your price limit.
Lets say $5000 for a reasonable price. That cuts it down to 31 cars on 1 site and 14 on the other, again we have cross posting so lets say 40 cars.
40 cars you can afford for sale in the whole country.
I know the OP is in canada, but for the sake of dealing with your statement of not traveling more than 200 miles for a car... we will focus on Billy Bob in the southern US of A. Baton Rouge La to be exact.
Cars.com has NONE within 500 miles.
autotrader has 2 within 500 miles. 1 at 500 and 1 at 448.
Your logic is flawed.
If you like a car, desire a car... LUST a car... then distance is secondary to the car itself.
If you want an SVX... and live in certain areas... then you WILL travel more than 200 miles, or you dont get the car.

Jim

Speedklix · #11 10-22-2007, 05:05 PM

You will NOT get your deposit back and negotiating once you're there is pointless. You're there so are you going to spend MORE to go home WITHOUT the car than if you just bought it? is the attitude. Negotiate, then go, make sure you have a signed guarentee from the owner via mail before you go.

ensteele · #12 10-22-2007, 07:24 PM

I have bought some many miles away, so that I could get some very low mile SVXi that were in excellent condition. Some were from members and others were not. In most cases, I had someone else (a member here) look at it for me and go a second hand opinion from them. I have not had any problems by doing it that way. You need to set the price before you show money, and make sure the deal is established before you go as well. I would run if the dealer seems shady or starts to do some hard sale methods on you.

Cynic · #13 10-22-2007, 07:58 PM

Hey there, have you checked out the 2 for sale on craig's list Vancouver? One blue and one pearl??? I live in Victoria, and my son's always on the look out for me. I'd like the blue myself...actually, I want to be Earl and buy them both

http://vancouver.craigslist.org/car/456412199.html
http://vancouver.craigslist.org/car/450006784.html

Subie59 · #14 10-22-2007, 08:22 PM

They both look like they are worth considering especially the blue one. If I didn't live so far away (Near Toronto) I'd grab that laguna blue in a minute... After checking it out of course.

PaulDexler · #15 10-22-2007, 11:31 PM

I had similar problems when I was looking for mine last spring. First, I only found two within 300 miles of Los Angeles. I'm beginning to think that Subaru sold 10 SVXs in Southern California out of the 14,000 or so sold in the U.S. I found what seemed to be a nice one in Reno, and another in Albuquerque. The thought of rust scared me away from any northeastern cars. The one I finally found was 100 miles away, and I drove down with a friend to see and test it. The owner had receipts for work done, and we had agreed on a price if the car was acceptable to me. It was, but he had not registered it, so it took about a month before I could bring it home. I used the checklist in the How-To Documents section, got a CarFax report, and generally did due dilligence on it. And, I like it more and more each day. But believe me, buying a car that you can't get to in a few minutes drive is scary. It has issues, but none of them involve rust or severe usage. Not only are used SVXi scarce here, owners are equally scarce. You guys in the east can say "lets have a meet," and you get 47 replies in a couple of days. I posted the idea of having a meet at the Petersen Automotive Museum, and I got five replies from a range of 250 miles. Makes me sad.
Paul