I've done it several times with great success. I bought my wife's wagon that way. I wrote a note and left it on the window stating I was looking for a car for my wife- it's what I always say because if I buy a car and it does not meet her criteria I can't buy it- lol. I think it looks better to the buyer also. The sellers were a Doctor and his wife with two grown kids (+ grandkids). The grown kids were fighting over it so they decided to sell it for $3000. One owner with 125K and a huge stack of repair bills from dealers. I did not negociate as I felt they would be insulted and not sell it. It's still the wife's car now with 180K 7 years later.