Hi guys.. I am in the process of dealing and am going to make a car purchase. This is my second time purchasing a car. My first car was bought from a small family operated car dealer in town. It went smoothly as I only gave them the credit card and recieved a reciept. Sort of like a purchase at a store! Then a week later I recieved all the paperwork signed and processed. That was the end of that.

Now, I found a prime example in California and have contacted the seller via email and even successfuly bargained the price down. He would accept my offer if it was paid in CASH. Any time I hear someone wanting cash payment, a little christmas light in my head lights up letting me know why. I'm sure others know what I am saying.

The car is currently registered in California by the owner, however the car will be registered in Ohio after purchasing it. There is no smog checks here in Ohio, atleast in my county... so I figure I don't need to worry about that part. The seller brought up the topic of smogging, if he should have it smogged. I told him its not necessary since we don't require smogging in my state.

Regarding payment, how would I send "cash" 3 time zones away? Perhaps I should wire money to a friend who will pay him cash on my behalf? At what amount do you need to declare for taxes... there, i said the T word! Also, is this illegal on MY behalf? or is this all on the seller? I am just wanting to do a simple car purchase... I've never went this route before! so any help i s much appreciated.

See if you can get someone from the forum to have a look at the car first and maybe recommend a PPI.

As for the dough, send a money order.

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Regards

Warren

Currently 1965 220Sb, 2002 FORD Crown Vic Police Interceptor

Had 1965 220SEb, 1967 230S, 280SE 4.5, 300SE (W126), 420SEL

ENTER > = (HP RPN)

Not part of the in-crowd since 1952.

I've already had the car looked at by a friend. Said it was "awesome".

I will ask the seller if he'll accept a money order.

If you're going to California to pick the car up take the amount along in travellers checks. Give him the money when he gives you a signed and clear title.

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1983 300-D turbo
1985 300-D turbo
1959 Harley Panhead chopper
1929 Ford coupe restored
I hang out with Boneheaddoctor at Schuman Automotive OBK#5
All liberals are mattoids but not all mattoids are liberal.

Go to your local post office, and send him a money order. If he knows anything, he'll know that's as good as cash.

Oh, and BTW, I NEVER sell a car any other way. Cash talks, everything else walks. I've had enough money-type fraud prob's in my life.

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past MB rides:
'68 220D
'68 220D(another one)
'67 230
'84 SD
Current rides:
'06 Lexus RX330
'93 Ford F-250
'96 Corvette
'99 Polaris 700 RMK sled
2011 Polaris Assault
'86 Yamaha TT350(good 'ol thumper)

So if I send him $ via USPS money order... this will please him? I am guessing he wants to get around paying the tax.. but will it work?

I am in Europe till summer.. dad lives in Ohio. I will not be travelling to CA to look at the car, but had a trustful friend go take a look. Also, the car will be shipped from CA to OH. I wouldn't like putting on 3000 unnecessary miles on the car especially in the winter. The car will be driven seldomly during the summer and nice special occaisions. My pampered baby that got totalled on the other hand... well, I will see if I can make it drivable again.

Hi, Snibble -

Where abouts in Polska are you - I haven't been following your story. Trapsed all around Poland a few years ago - had a blast.

As for your pending car purchase, I am surprised that he would not agree to a wire transfer. That would be fairly easy to do, and you wouldn't have to worry about $$ changing hands.

A money order would also be just fine - it's like cash, so he shouldn't squabble about that, either.

If you have access to a fax machine, your local bank in Columbus should be able to assist you. Tell them you want a cashier's check issued to this guy, and they'll deduct the funds from your account and send the check on your behalf. That is - if you have a good bank that cares about the customer ... those are getting hard to find these days.

I'm wondering if something like Western Union also wouldn't be a possibility? Perhaps using one of those "access checks" that comes with your credit card. You can pay for the car via check, which is certainly as good as cash because it's drawn on your credit line, and then you pay the bill off when it comes.

Lots of options, I guess - just depends on how flexible the guy is and what kind of resources you have available.

Best of luck, Snibble, and please travel safely.

Take care,
Michael.

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+AMDG+
2005 W203
Running as fast as I can to stay behind!!

As for the tax, its not the dealer that pays the tax, it's you. Most tiiles have a place where the sales price is written. If not then you have a bill of sale that does. You take this to your state DMV and pay the sales tax in your state at the time of title transfer. I've bought 5 cars out of state (4 on E-bay) piece of cake.

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1959 Gravely LI, 1963 Gravely L8, 1973 Gravely C12
1982 380SL
1978 450 SEL 6.9 euro restoration at 63% and climbing
1987 300 D
2005 CDI European Delivery
2006 CDI Handed down to daughter
2007 GL CDI. Wifes

Thanks for the responces..

Michael.. I am in Poznan. Center and west towards Germany. 2 hours east from Berlin, and 2 hours west of Warsaw.

Tkamiya.. the individual who checked it out for me has an AMG and RENNtech tuned SEC, he might be a member on this forum but I don't think he posts much here or anything at all. He knows a lot on these cars.. and has a beautiful example himself. If he says its nice, he means it.

The seller should be calling my folks' residence today and hopefully them two can figure out the best way to send over payment.


As for shipping... I've done a search and found that Dependable Auto Shippers to be a good shipping company with a very fair price. Door-to-Door is around $700.

I have pictures.. but they're quite large. Size is about 350kb on avg.

Well, the taxes are up to you. You can have him state on the bill of sale that it is chasis only and the engine is not running and hope like hell that he goes along with it if the state calls. Then you take the bill of sale to your DMV and try tell them that this shell is worth $2000 if you want.

As to your friend, no offense but I'd rather have him take it to a dealership for a PPI.

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

I agree, you need a pro to do it right, not a car enthusiast. I am a knowledgeable car enthusiast but I am not qualified for that kind of work. The car needs to be on a hoist for a thorough check You did not mention what kind of car and I presume it is a high performance one? If it is, most of them have seen a lot abusese by the various owners. A Carfax on the car is a MUST also so that you will know the history of the car. Good luck.

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Flash Gordon

2003 E500 BlackOpal/Charcoal

2004 Infiniti G35X

Its a 1990 560SEL with 63k carfax proven miles.. bone stock. Come with records and documents. Car is owned by a "retirement-aged" couple. So I doubt it was abused.

Read the following thread on www.corvetteforum.com before you settle on Dependable - there are differing opinions about those guys:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=1007793

I'm guessing that price is for open transporter, which may be appropriate given the value of the car, but the weather across the country can be nasty at this time of year. You seem to be a bit of a perfectionist in what you're looking for - you might want to see what the upcharge would be to go to enclosed. I'm having a car shipped from D.C. to Utah right now, and I waited an extra few weeks to get it done in an enclosed transporter. It's worth it for a nice car during the winter (plus the dealer's paying).

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81 300SD
08 MDX Tech
93 525i

05 F650GS

I will second that one! I HIGHLY reccomend having the car shipped in an enclosed trailer. I had a car shipped from Florida 2 years ago, and when it arrived it was FILTHY!!! It also suffered from fluid stains that had dripped onto the car from cars riding on the top level of the trailer. If I ship a car again, it will be enclosed, or not shippped at all. Its worth the extra dough to upgade to an enclosed trailer, esp. since your car is cherry! Congrats on that find of yours! You searched for the best, and youre getting an amazing car. Dont cut corners!

Happy Motoring!!

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Nate

1995 E420
1992 BMW 525i
1984 300D Turbo sold
1993 Volvo 244 sold
1995 Volvo 944T R.I.P!


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