Buy a car without test drive?

OK weird question but have any of you guys ever bought a car without test drive?

I have done this a few times in the past for cars to resell but never for something that I intend to drive for myself for a good long time. I have been everything from resplendently surprised, to horrified.

Looking at something pretty limited in production (1 of 367) and up there in price, but almost cheap enough that I could get out maybe 5K down what I paid if it was a total disaster.

It would take two or so days to get out fly there and drive one and back. Plus nobody in my sphere of friends and car buddies has one, and that's saying something.

I always test drive unless it doesn't run, which happens. Do they fly-and-drive.

Bought a truck at auction without a test drive. Someone is coming to my house today to potentially buy it. Truck served me well for 5 years and was challenged priced when I bought it. Bought my legacy with rod knock, so the test drive was putting in on the trailer......and...... The more I think about it, I've bought a lot of cars without a test drive. I really should be better about my due diligence. My thought is if it requires financing, it requires a thorough test drive.

sachilles wrote: My thought is if it requires financing, it requires a thorough test drive.

Cash buy but 85K. CLK63 Black in White, with exhaust and full carbon.

A few, but all very cheap. Most expensive car I've bought without a drive was $600... and from a trusted friend. Then second was $500.... from the same friend (after the first got totalled). Actually the 3rd I found through the same friend, it was serviced at the shop where he works (and now so do I)... etc, etc.

So... yeah....

As long as you're familiar with the type of car and have driven the same model enough to know that you'd like a good example I say go for it. That's how I bought my 750Li.

At the price point you mentioned I probably wouldn't. If you can't get to the car for whatever reason, at least have it PPI'd by a reputable shop.

pigeon wrote: As long as you're familiar with the type of car and have driven the same model enough to know that you'd like a good example I say go for it. That's how I bought my 750Li.

I cannot even find a clk63 around, base clk's are all over. I am worried about the suspension though, the last Black series that I got to drive was the SL and it was stiffer then anything I have owned short of a full track car. And I think this has a even shorter wheelbase.

I might be able to swing by on my next trip to NY but that is about three or so weeks off. I have been think of the black for just a little while, might be worth just waiting it out and seeing if I can find one a little closer in the right option's.

Going to go for a run and think it over.

If you're worried about the ride quality in that sort of car, I'd definitely test drive it first.

At that price point, airfare to do a test drive seems like money well spent. Since it seems like of case of deciding whether you like it or not, rather than if the vehicle functional.

I once bought a Mazda B2200 from the courier company I worked for without a test drive. I was very friendly with the company mechanic, who hooked me up with all the spare parts he had left for the pre-Ranger-based Mazda pickups. I knew his work, and knew exactly what I was getting. And for $200, I wasn't too worried.

I also bought my nicely modified Saturn SL2 without an official test drive, but I got it from my friend who bought the car new and made all the mods himself. I'd taken a few drives in it myself in the past, including some fun runs at autocrosses. I counted those as my test drives. In fact, I've bought a number of cars from people I know, and still taken a test drive first. Heck, I even test drove my FWD Civic wagon, which was FREE. I wanted to make sure it wasn't going to cost me several thousand in repairs. (It didn't - in the end, I turned a profit on it, and so did my friend I sold it to!)

I did. Once. Won't EVER make that mistake again. Thank god it was only a $500 mistake by the time I sold it.

Yeah, purchased my first two E30s, sight unseen. Just pics and local references.

First one was shipped, second one was a fly-and-drive.

A good friend bought and sold a CLK63 Black not long ago. He is much like you, at least on the car front. He buys and sells highlines with regularity. 997s, GT3s, Bentley, etc. If you're interested in talking with him, I could put you in touch with him.

Here is the car:

That is a nice looking car but the steering wheel is horrendous.

If you could just ask him how he found the ride. I can deal with 911 S stiff, not GT2/3. My spine just cannot take any more damage. I have two lower fused vertebrae.

My wife has veto'd the usual suspects and this seemed to be a mix of crazy but still drivable.

wearymicrobe wrote: If you could just ask him how he found the ride. I can deal with 911 S stiff, not GT2/3. My spine just cannot take any more damage. I have two lower fused vertebrae. My wife has veto'd the usual suspects and this seemed to be a mix of crazy but still drivable.

Happy to. Will let you know.

Actually, my experience is that it's NOT a case of "have you ever bought a car without a test drive?" but more along the lines of "did you realize after buying a car that your pre-purchase test drive wasn't rigorous enough?"

As others have already said, at this price point, a good PPI is more important than a test drive UNLESS you are not so sure you can live with the car in question...as in ride too stiff or engine/road noise excessive.

Well some digging through the Guardian Bleeeh, from one of my least favorite people JC.

Worse than this, though, was the ride. On a normal British road that has been dug up by slovenly apes and repaired by companies with both eyes fixed firmly on the bottom line, it was intolerable. I do mean that. Intolerable. So bad that I actually looked forward to it running out of fuel so I could get out and have a respite from the battering.

But the British get the stupid non adjustable sport seats. Looks like some travel or reconsideration is in order.

Half the cars I buy don't run when I buy them so yes. In that price range I'd want someone to test drive / look over it.

ArthurDent wrote: Half the cars I buy don't run when I buy them so yes. In that price range I'd want someone to test drive / look over it.

Yea. Most the cars I look at would need a push in order for me to test drive it.

I personally wouldn't, unless it was a parts car/didn't move under it's own power. If you're spending $85K on a Merc like that...I'm guessing you probably have the means to buy a one-way plane ticket to go see the car and drive it. That way, if you like it, you can drive it home!

Bought a couple as the second car and dirt cheap.

wearymicrobe wrote: If you could just ask him how he found the ride. I can deal with 911 S stiff, not GT2/3. My spine just cannot take any more damage. I have two lower fused vertebrae. My wife has veto'd the usual suspects and this seemed to be a mix of crazy but still drivable.

Here is his response:

"It is definitely more like a 997 Carrera S. Super fun car. He will enjoy it. "

wearymicrobe wrote: OK weird question but have any of you guys ever bought a car without test drive? I have done this a few times in the past for cars to resell but never for something that I intend to drive for myself for a good long time. I have been everything from resplendently surprised, to horrified. Looking at something pretty limited in production (1 of 367) and up there in price, but almost cheap enough that I could get out maybe 5K down what I paid if it was a total disaster. It would take two or so days to get out fly there and drive one and back. Plus nobody in my sphere of friends and car buddies has one, and that's saying something.

The closest i've come to that is my Miata. The test drive was driving from the airport to the seller's home.

I don't think i'll ever do anything like that again.