Would you buy a car on Ebay? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

BJ300SDL · #1 04-01-2004, 08:01 PM

Only if you could drive it first.

Only with 100% positive feedback.

Only if You could talk to the seller.

Would never buy a car on ebay.

GermanStar · #2 04-01-2004, 08:11 PM

Wouldn't even consider it......

BigMikeT57 · #3 04-01-2004, 08:20 PM

I bought both of my MB's on Ebay. The 420SEL was in Pittsburgh and I bought it without even a PPI. I got pretty much what I expected. Only slightly disapointed.
The 300D, I bought locally, but havn't had the chance to go over it yet. But again, I doubt if I'll be disapointed, I bought it for $775 after being donated to a charity, so my expectations aren't very high.

BigMikeT57 · #4 04-01-2004, 08:25 PM

I almost forgot. I bought the '87 Volvo wagon the same day as the 300D, from the same charity for $350. After buffing it up a little, I'm expecting to sell it for 100% profit. Good solid car. Bid on it as a joke, thinking it "had to" close for more than my bid.
Boy was I suprised!!

#5 04-01-2004, 08:28 PM

I bought my 86 300 SDL from E-Bay out of Florida. The car dealer put up about 20 pictures of this car. It was a car well taken care of. Although, one of about 17 years makes a difference at the time i bought it. I spoke with the dealer about 4 time. I asked questions about the motor, transmission, a/c and heater. I'm very satisfied with my car. Just make sure your thorough. It'd be a big plus if you could see the car frist.

mplafleur · #6 04-01-2004, 09:00 PM

I've bought two off eBay. My ML320 and the 300SDL. I did my due diligence on both. Always run a Carfax, etc.

Almost bought another, and there were a couple others I wanted, but the timing wasn't right.

Kestas · #7 04-01-2004, 09:02 PM

My friend and I each bought two cars off eBay.... all with positive results. They were all newish cars. I imagine cars with few miles rarely have issues, unless they were totally neglected.

Mine were from small dealers in Florida that had a pedigree of good deals. I don't see how a dealer can stay in business if he has negative feedback from trying to screw people. This eBay feedback system pretty much forces them to disclose the car's true condition.

BoostnBenz · #8 04-01-2004, 10:13 PM

I bought both of my MBs through eBay, found my Talon on autotrader, and check semi-daily to find a new vehicle on eBay.

Since it is relavent here, my dad bought a Honda VTX 1800 on eBay, and my brother just bought a Ford Taurus on eBay (fairly local though).

#9 04-01-2004, 10:16 PM

I've bought a coupla cars via the internet (one from eBay), all sight unseen. Couldn't be happier.

I spent a lot of time talking to the owners over the phone, composing emails, looking at exhaustive amounts of photos and getting some sort of guarantee that if I didn't like the car, I could: A) Get my airfair refunded, B) Get my deposit back C) Walk away altogether. It really depended on the situation, but in all cases I had at least one of those as insurance.

DieselAddict · #10 04-02-2004, 02:00 AM

I think Ebay is probably the best source for buying cars. It's always better to see a car in person, but if the seller has very good feedback, you ask the right questions and you like the way he/she communicates with you, then it's often worth the risk to buy a car even if you can't inspect it beforehand. I bought my 83 240D and 87 300D from 2 out-of-state Ebay dealers. Of course both cars needed some work, but overall the experience was good and there were no nasty surprises.

Ken300D · #11 04-02-2004, 07:34 AM

Please do not bid against me on any vehicle on EBay. It's too dangerous, you don't know what you might get.

Ken300D

Mark DiSilvestro · #12 04-02-2004, 08:25 AM

I've been very tempted by a number of Ebay vehicles but, due to schedule conflict or too long distance, I haven't been able to travel, to at least have a look in person.
So far, I've been able to restrain myself.

Happy Motoring, Mark

TX76513 · #13 04-02-2004, 08:55 AM

Didn't have the right button for me on the poll. I have bought on ebay without talking, seeing, driving. The price and the car was a great deal.......lucky?

Hatterasguy · #14 04-02-2004, 10:00 AM

I bought my SDL on ebay, but I looked at it and drove it first. I wouldn't buy an older car without driving it first to much of a risk not to. But I wouldn't mind buying something newer without seeing it first, say 2000+ model year.

TX76513 · #15 04-02-2004, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hatterasguy
I bought my SDL on ebay, but I looked at it and drove it first. I wouldn't buy an older car without driving it first to much of a risk not to. But I wouldn't mind buying something newer without seeing it first, say 2000+ model year.

I guess price would determine that - the e-bay 300D was cheap and I knew it could be parted out to recover $$'s - but I would feel differently on a newer higher $$ car.

View Poll Results: Would you buy a car on Ebay?
Only if you could drive the car.	22	51.16%
Only if the seller has 100% feedback.	12	27.91%
Only if you can call them.	9	20.93%
Would never buy a car on Ebay.	5	11.63%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 43. You may not vote on this poll