At distance Van Buying

[maryann1976]

Hello,
I'm looking at this sprinter van for sale but it's across the country. This looks like a great fit for me but I need a mechanic to look at it. He offered to have it inspected at the Mercedes dealer by him for a report for at-distance buyers.

My question-- has anyone done this. Is this a cautionary tale? Anything I should consider?

Thanks!
Mary Ann

 

[ArtW]

I personally would not do this, but apparently there are some folks who have
There were some years the Sprinter was a grat platform, apparently, from what I've been told, and then later it ...wasn't

 

[DannyB1954]

Google Sprinter problems.

 

[LMTLMT]

Although many deals can be found across the country, the risk is all on your (buyer) side. I personally would NOT buy any vehicle without seeing it first no matter how great the deal presented on advertisement. If I was in your situation and liked that vehicle so much, I would try to find a friend or relative that lives near there and ask if they can look at the vehicle for me. If not, I just pass and wait and keep scanning for the next deal in my area.

 

[dr_nelson]

LMTLMT's suggestion is best.

Or... I have used an independent company that checks out cars for potential buyers. Cost me around $140 (in NY) if I remember correctly.
The guy did check over 100 points and came back with a detailed report, and I ended up not buying the car, and the other time I used it, I had a good basis for price negotiation. Unfortunately, a couple of days later the car got flooded (after I bought it).

Either way, always make sure before hiring the inspector, that the seller agrees to have the vehicle checked. If she/he doesn't agree, walk away.


Example: Pre Purchase Car Inspection

 

[maryann1976]

Although many deals can be found across the country, the risk is all on your (buyer) side.  I personally would NOT buy any vehicle without seeing it first no matter how great the deal presented on advertisement.  If I was in your situation and liked that vehicle so much, I would try to find a friend or relative that lives near there and ask if they can look at the vehicle for me.  If not, I just pass and wait and keep scanning for the next deal in my area.

Good point. I might have a friend in the area that can check it out. That with the inspection report. But I understand that this is a risk...

 

[maryann1976]

I personally would not do this, but apparently there are some folks who have
There were some years the Sprinter was a grat platform, apparently, from what I've been told, and then later it ...wasn't

It's a 2006. I think I'm reading about problems w/ the post 2008 ones.

 

[highdesertranger]

yeah the inspector could be cousin bubba. know what I mean Vern. highdesertranger

 

[GotSmart]

Hello,
I'm looking at this sprinter van for sale but it's across the country. This looks like a great fit for me but I need a mechanic to look at it. He offered to have it inspected at the Mercedes dealer by him for a report for at-distance buyers.

My question-- has anyone done this. Is this a cautionary tale? Anything I should consider?

Thanks!
Mary Ann

Factor in the fuel to get it where you are.  This is asuming it is from a known dealer and not a internet scam.  

Then there are the problems and cost of repairs. ($500 to replace the EGR every 70K miles) 

http://www.sprinter-rv.com/buying-a-used-sprinter-top-ten-problems-to-look-out-for/


And this nightmare.

http://www.topix.com/forum/autos/dodge-sprinter/TCB6RJ7ITH42P02G9

[font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]http://www.topix.com/forum/autos/dodge-sprinter/TCB6RJ7ITH42P02G9/post1[/font]

[font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][size=x-small]#1http://www.topix.com/forum/autos/dodge-sprinter/TCB6RJ7ITH42P02G9/post1 Jan 15, 2009
I have a 2005 sprinter 2500. My problems sarted early with a transmission fluid leak. Then one of five turbo resonators went, a mass air sensor caused me to get towed in again, the doors won't close right, all the cargo lights fell off and kept blowing fuses , the temp. hot and cold dial just spins all around (stuck on hot all the time) 3 lumbar seat hand pump replaced, can't turn dash fan location (stuck on air to feet), THE WHOLE TURBO BLEW, THE MOTOR FRIED (DUE TO INJECTORS LEAKING INTO ENGINE OIL), AND AS I'M WRITING THIS ITS IN THE SHOP WON'T START (POWER MODULE ORDERED) AND IM SURE IM MISSING SOME OTHER ITEMS!!!!!!!!!! Am I alone?[/font][/size]

Find a transit bus.  You will be happier IMHO.

 

[John61CT]

 

[mayble]

I wouldn't balk at buying long distance from a reputable dealer.  The deal should be contingent on your final inspection - even if the mechanic gives it a great report, you will still have the option to walk away.
You'll still be out the expense of the mechanic's inspection, possibly a  deposit and your travel to get there, but if the test drive is a bust you don't have to complete the purchase.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

This post is neither advocating for , nor against, at distance buying.  Purely for information purposes, I note that Ebay offers a Purchase Protection Plan that covers SOME, but not all, of the potential problems of long distance purchases.  I suggest it's worth a read just to see what some of the problems are.  Frankly, some of them are ones that never would have occurred to me, like law enforcement determining the vehicle was stolen after you paid for it and took delivery and tried to register it.

http://pages.ebay.com/motors/buy/purchase-protection/index.html


If you are a collector of rare vehicles, long distance purchasing may be a fact of life.  How many 56 Corvettes are being sold locally, after all?  But for the kind of vehicles we're looking for, I personally can't see it.