Buying a car on craigslist?

Hey, I've never bought a used car from a stranger before but I'm trying to buy an old Jeep Cherokee on Craigslist. I'd like to get a mechanic to look at it before I fork over the cash but I can't bring the mechanic to look at it and the car and the mechanic are pretty far apart so I'd have to take the car there and leave it for the day. Any ideas on the best way to do this that the seller will be okay with? The best I've been able to think of is have him keep the title, I take the car and…what? give him some of the money?Get him to rely on my smiling face that I won't steal or wreck his car? Not sure what's the best way to work this.

Also, this is making my brain hurt, if someone speaks legalese give a brutha a hand: http://www.mva.maryland.gov/vehicles...uy-vehicle.htm

A couple of the cars I'm thinking of are here in-state but a couple are in DC and VA. I've been trying to read that^^^ but my eyes glaze over instantly.

I am far, far from a lawyer, but I have done something similar to what you propose although the mechanic was local. Guessing there is not a local mechanic you could use, but if you can find one that would make things easier.

The seller needs to agree to your proposal. I would offer if he/she is hesitant a written letter of what will happen with the car with specific times and where it will be/what will be done. You can also offer personal information for a background check or escrow money IF you feel comfortable giving this to the seller.

Should work because the person wants to sell the car and what you are asking is common (aside from the distance) and reasonable.

guess it depends on age and $$$ your spending in my view. I am assuming not much. I have bought and sold a few cars on CL, nothing that makes or breaks bank. If I was selling an older car for not much $$ I would tell you to take it or leave it, not worth the hassle dealing with some guy wanting to take the car for a day. Either that or all $$ up front with maybe extra for the trouble (non refundable), I keep the title, but I would rather wait for a guy with cash and watch him drive away for good. The seller is not a dealer.... just wants that car gone and $$ in the wallet.

its on older cherokee.... drive it, slam on brakes, take hard corners and watch for leaks. something will make noise, leak and break eventually, fix it an move on.

edit: what year? I had a 89, 2 door with the straight 6 many years ago. I still kick myself for selling that thing, had 220k miles and still ran like a champ. Trans was starting to slip but I could have repaired. i'm going to go pour one out now....
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I've had owners take vehicles to service centers for pre-purchase inspections. You foot the bill and the dealership contacts you with results. Companies like Carchex will do an inspection on-site but I don't have any experience with them. And they won't have access to a lift which may or may not be important.

As long as you have a title and a notarized bill of sale you should be good to go no matter the sale price. If the sale price is in line with NADA you don't need the bill of sale.

Edit: A mobile mechanic may also be open to inspecting the vehicle with you.

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Originally Posted by hawkgt

guess it depends on age and $$$ your spending in my view. I am assuming not much. I have bought and sold a few cars on CL, nothing that makes or breaks bank. If I was selling an older car for not much $$ I would tell you to take it or leave it, not worth the hassle dealing with some guy wanting to take the car for a day. Either that or all $$ up front with maybe extra for the trouble (non refundable), I keep the title, but I would rather wait for a guy with cash and watch him drive away for good. The seller is not a dealer.... just wants that car gone and $$ in the wallet.

its on older cherokee.... drive it, slam on brakes, take hard corners and watch for leaks. something will make noise, leak and break eventually, fix it an move on.

edit: what year? I had a 89, 2 door with the straight 6 many years ago. I still kick myself for selling that thing, had 220k miles and still ran like a champ. Trans was starting to slip but I could have repaired. i'm going to go pour one out now....
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^^^this. If I were selling the car for less than $4-5k (and I'm going to assume that an old Cherokee is) then I'd probably tell you to take a hike. No way would I let some goon dick around with my truck for two days rather than just giving me cash. Crawl under the truck and inspect everything, drive it and make sure everything works correctly (including 4Hi and 4Low), buy it, and move on. Older vehicles are not hard to inspect.

I did sell one car for $5k that the buyer (a chick just out of high school that didn't know anything about cars) wanted to have her mechanic inspect. I kept the title, made a photocopy of her ID so that I could go to law enforcement if needed, made her give me a deposit, and have it done at a time that was convenient for me and at a mechanic nearby. It was out of my possession for maybe 2 hours. I wouldn't have agreed to an overnight thing.

Every time I've done this, I have simply said to seller "I like the car, but I can't buy it until my mechanic takes a look at it. He's in ____(town)____ and is very busy so he'll need it for a day. Is it okay if I take it to him, or would you like to drive it over there and pick it up?" If the seller won't work with you, find a different seller.

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Originally Posted by hawkgt

edit: what year? I had a 89, 2 door with the straight 6 many years ago.
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The best-sounding one is a '98 which only has 40K miles on it, which is low to the point of making me worry that there's something big wrong with it. Guy's asking $4K for that one. The only thing he's claiming is wrong with it is the gas gauge doesn't work and there's a rip in the driver's seat, plus it's missing some cheap trim I can buy for like $50.

I had a '94 before, kick myself for not keeping that one now.

In the same boat here Ice. My kid in Burlington looking for an inexpensive AWD, 5 speed. My friend from here owns a bunch of tire/auto stores (I get my business trucks serviced there) and they have a place in BTV so I suppose they could look at it, but they're strangers.

If any of you beaters in New England has a beater that fits the bill shoot me a PM. Or at a minimum a mechanic in B or SBTV. (could probably use an insurance agent rec too (/threadjackforpersonalpurposes)

The wife had a '94 Sport. Great vehicle. Sold it to a buddy of ours who was moving to SF in 2000 and I think he's still driving it.
Once you get it inspected the transfer of title is a piece of cake. Just fill out the non-lien section on the back of the title, you both sign it, and wallah! Take that title to the DMV and they'll issue you a new one in your name.

Pro-tip: don't try to be cute about the sale price on the title. As someone already mentioned they will check it and it needs to be within a reasonable margin of the blue-book worth of the vehicle.

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Originally Posted by iceman

The best-sounding one is a '98 which only has 40K miles on it, which is low to the point of making me worry that there's something big wrong with it..

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cousin's aunt, an old spinster, had a 73 dodge dart with a 318 in it that she drove to the supermarket and back for 13 years and gave it to him in 86 with 23k on it. We blew up the engine driving back from the dead show at rich stadium in 87 (or 86 who the hell can remember?) not sure if there's a point to this story, but the show was fun.

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Originally Posted by MMP

a 73 dodge dart.

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Thread drift much?

No chance there's a local jeep dealer near you, huh? Usually I avoid the dealer's service dept like the plague but in this case they would be a good resource for a pre-purchase inspection. Prolly only cost you an hour of shop time and taking it to a dealership, as opposed to an independent mechanic, might help to legitimate your request in the seller's eyes.

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Originally Posted by PNWbrit

Thread drift much?

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it started out as a post about a low mileage car, and got away from me

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Originally Posted by iceman

Hey, I've never bought a used car from a stranger before

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Wow, holy fuck. You try to come across as some old badass, but in reality you are some sheltered bitch. sad.

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Originally Posted by MMP

it started out as a post about a low mileage car, and got away from me

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At least the Aunt was old. Did she wear jeans?

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Originally Posted by DasBlunt

Wow, holy fuck. You try to come across as some old badass, but in reality you are some sheltered bitch. sad.

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Dude, have you forgotten what he did to that fawn?

http://cdn.panjo.com/8V5WXyGKNH1R.jpg

Find yourself a local Jeep guy who knows Cherokees inside and out, and bring him with.

Or you can fly me out for the visit, and I'll happily go over it with you. (Have owned 5 Jeeps, 3 of them XJ Cherokees, since 1995...) At the very least, feel free to PM for phone # and I can talk you through it when you're inspecting it.

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Originally Posted by Cruiser

Dude, have you forgotten what he did to that fawn?

http://cdn.panjo.com/8V5WXyGKNH1R.jpg

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I googled sheltered mass murder..this is the first image….

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Originally Posted by PNWbrit

At least the Aunt was old. Did she wear jeans?

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hasn't washed them since she died

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Originally Posted by DasBlunt

Wow, holy fuck. You try to come across as some old badass, but in reality you are some sheltered bitch. sad.

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It's sad I had friends that had cars to sell back when I was poor? huh. I guess "friends" might be an alien concept to you though. Sad.

As far as the car I'm just gonna drive it and see what's up. Fuckit it's chump change anyways. Wouldn't cover DasCunt's weed habit for a month.

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Originally Posted by MMP

cousin's aunt, an old spinster, had a 73 dodge dart with a 318 in it that she drove to the supermarket and back for 13 years and gave it to him in 86 with 23k on it. We blew up the engine driving back from the dead show at rich stadium in 87 (or 86 who the hell can remember?) not sure if there's a point to this story, but the show was fun.

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Hell ya! Didn't make that show, but a blown engine after a GD show at Rich Stadium show are something I have carnal knowledge of.

I had to steal my car back from a pitbull-infested impound lot in Hampton Roads one time after a show, that was exciting.

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Originally Posted by iceman

It's sad I had friends that had cars to sell back when I was poor? huh. I guess "friends" might be an alien concept to you though. Sad.

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Only car I bought off someone in private sale was an old POS mustang from a buddy for $200 and it lasted me 2 years. Best money ever spent.

/thread drift

http://www.inspectmyride.com/