westopill

I'm pretty hard set on flying somewhere in the south to get a car that has little or no rust. I live in Minnesota so any car that I buy used up here is going to have moderate rust at the least. My plan is to buy a one way ticket to a southern state like Texas and drive back in my new LS430. I'm wondering if any of you here have experience with something like this and could offer me some advice? What I would think to do is get a Carfax report from them and ask for clear pictures of the car showing everything in detail. I'll also make sure that the title is clean, preferably a one owner car, and obviously no rust.

bradland

I've always found the search process especially frustrating as the cars that look great in photos always seem to disappoint. On the other hand the cars that don't necessarily jump out and grab you can also be a pleasant surprise. I would only consider flying one way if i knew someone at the destination like a friend or even another forum member. Someone who is impartial to the sale and can provide an honest assessment on the details that matter to you.

Peacebay

jdmhoes

Cars will always show better on photos than in person. Make sure you are atleast 80% sure you really want it. It would be disappointing to get there and its not in the condition you want. You should try local or neighboring state Craigslist. Atleast cars in warmer states do not really have corrosion, but warmer states do get faded headlamps. GoodLuck!

TriC

I have had private sale experience on both sides of long distance deals and must say that it can be unnerving. When you find a car in which you have serious interest focus on those things that would cause you to walk away. If you are satisfied that they are in order, you can have greater confidence in the process. It helps if you are not unrealistic about your expectations - these are, after all, now old cars. In the end though, you must be prepared for the expense and disappointment if it falls short in person.

Johnhav430

I've never done it but to me it makes sense the older the car is, or the more expensive. On a 2006 which the majority are 13 years old, why not erase 13 years of exposure to salt? I've seen the YouTubes where a Ford pickup's frame literally has holes as a result. My Nissan Maxima's lower radiator support collapsed (known issue, $1400 body shop job, $130 forum member repair!).

Of course if possible do the leg work in advance, maybe an actual dealership is better? Heck if you do Southwest Air, you can even cancel the flight and really no penalty except you have to use the credit in 1 year.

I never did it but my car was from Naples, FLA, and the indie in NJ said it doesn't look like an northeastern car when lifted...so that's a plus...good luck.

LS430inDE.

I think the experience would be interesting and fun to say the least. I would consider doing it.

One thing I would personally do before your DRIVE back home would be to take the LS to a quick oil change place. While I'd never willingly take my cars to one of those places, I've had VERY good experience with several different Valvoline Quick Oil change facilities with my company vehicle. At both (different) locations the employees were super courteous and never tried to upsell me any services.

Somehow/someway, you should definitely have an oil change done before your drive home (even if the oil shows golden on the dipstick). Obviously make sure all the other things that you can personally verify are spot on too, like ~32PSI tire pressure all around. Just my thought.

VWTim

Find a reputable mechanic in the area of purchase first and arrange for a pre-purchase inspection that you pay for. I do this for even local purchases as I don't have an access to a lift anymore.

sneakyimp

I just bought one 3 months ago this way. I got an inspection done by a 3rd party (AIM) then once it checked out I flew down with my girlfriend and drove it back the next day. There are a few things wrong with the car I am addressing but to get a rust free southern car with the UL package and under 100k miles I couldn't be too picky.

lextout

bradland

This thread inspired me to take a quick look at the 430's for sale in my area. I'm not in the market for one but it doesn't hurt to look...
I found this- https://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/c...795010302.html
Price is a bit high for an 02 but the interior colors are awesome!

StanVanDam

I flew to buy my LS430. Totally worth it, even considering that the 5 hour drive took 8 hours because there was a gigantic snowstorm that night. 10 years and 2 days ago that was.

OG Member

iTrader: (1)

I've had similar concerns in the past.

What has given me peace of mind is buying a round-trip ticket via a price comparison website. In many instances you can fly round-trip on several of the lower cost airlines for the same cost of a one-way ticket via one of the mainstream airlines.

In addition, I compile a list of common fail points of that particular make/model and ask for specific details and pictures.

LS430 examples:

• If the vehicle has navigation, ask for images of the surrounding area of the navigation unit for abnormal wear
• If the vehicle has higher miles, ask for images of the drive-side and center console leather, as these are high wear area

Looking forward to reading about your new car in the near future!

Johnhav430

The other thing is what do you do with the "givens."

Meaning, virtually every single car experiences a driver door actuator failure, yes it's DIY, yes it's $840 at the dealer. Almost every car has an issue with the electric mirror switch, yes it's a DIY. Some cars have an issue with rear sunshade. Some cars have excessive wear on the inside of b-pillar espcially driver side. Most cars have a sagging driver side seat cushion, regardless of mileage. Many cars will have negative camber on the rear wheels that is bordering on out of spec and it cannot be adjusted. Many cars are gonna have cheap rotors from brake jobs through the years, is that ok? Many cars are missing door caps or have peeling vinyl on the drip rails.

My question these days is what if your car has all of the above, which is basically normal, but the dealer or seller wants top dollar. Do you pay, have them knock something off, walk, discount, repair, etc. I think many accept them and DIY, but I think the price should come down....I was fortunate that a GMC dealer was willing to do the door actuator and front brakes/rotors/pads/sensor/caliper bolts with OE. They forgot the shims, though. lol

Daspyda

iTrader: (1)

Both good things.

I've done this three times, including a Los Angeles to Florida drive over nine days for a well-deserved vacation driving to sites I've wanted to see, including arriving at the Grand Canyon 20 mins before sunset(!).

I would add that you should thoroughly vet the seller. Get personal details such as what you'd see on a credit application. Then, use Google to do your research to verify, including Google-ing the phone numbers.

It's okay to send a token deposit - $500 - to hold the car. Use Paypal with your credit card in case you need to dispute it.

Of course, meet in a neutral place. I used a local bank or Credit Union; use your National bank if you are a customer. The staff can help you with title signatures, if you have questions.