I'm taking the train up to Suwon (near Seoul) this Friday to look at a 2009 Genesis Coupe. It's got 70k miles (113,000km), a 2.0T engine and six speed stick. It's a base model so no Brembos or LSD. A sunroof is the only add on I was able to see in the pictures. The condition, from the pictures at least, is immaculate.
The lady is asking 5 grand, which will be about 6.5k by the time I pay tax, title and buy a year's insurance (you have to do this in Korea before they'll transfer titles). I'm bringing a toolbox and plan to have my racecar-fabricator friends on video call while I'm looking it over.
Here's where I'd like a little guidance. If I buy this, it will be by far the nicest thing I've ever owned. It will also be the first time in my life I've bought a car I don't need for pragmatic reasons. The temptation to get excited and emotional is something I'm already feeling. How, grm, would you recommend keeping the brain at least partially engaged while I'm looking this thing over and before I sign anything permanent?
I try and think of the biggest POS I have owned when I look at it and then buy the car anyways.
Really just try to be analytical about it. Thorough inspection with a mirror and a magnet to see if all of the nooks are hiding anything. Ask for records and review them. Give it some when you take it for a test drive. Know a price in your head and do not be scared to walk away for any reason. Do not worry about the seller feeling hurt or put out showing you the car.
That said I have purchased cars sight unseen, no test drive, bought on impulse no matter the condition, etc. And I have driven all of them home, some with no issues, some with good tales.
DaewooOfDeath said:
A sunroof is the only add on I was able to see in the pictures.
Is the sunroof a real, factory option sunroof? If it is then okay but I'd rather have without. If it is the aftermarket style of sunroof where they cut the roof sheet metal and drop it in, I would pass on the car for sure. On the aftermarket versions, if the glass gets broken you can never find replacement glass.
Samples of aftermarket sunroof:
John Welsh said:
DaewooOfDeath said:
A sunroof is the only add on I was able to see in the pictures.
Is the sunroof a real, factory option sunroof? If it is then okay but I'd rather have without. If it is the aftermarket style of sunroof where they cut the roof sheet metal and drop it in, I would pass on the car for sure. On the aftermarket versions, if the glass gets broken you can never find replacement glass.
Samples of aftermarket sunroof:
I'll check, but I'm 99% sure it's a factory option. The buttons to operate the thing were identical to the buttons in my Forte's sunroof.
And I'm with you, I'd rather it didn't have the sunroof but if it's factory I'll live with it. Until I find a slickroof in a junkyard to cut apart, at least ;).
And yes, I converted the prices to US dollars. It's 5,500,000 Korean won she's asking. Koreans don't like used stuff and so the depreciation is pretty nuts on cars over here. Automatic versions of this car, in really good condition, are going for like 4 grand US.
John Welsh said:
DaewooOfDeath said:
A sunroof is the only add on I was able to see in the pictures.
Is the sunroof a real, factory option sunroof? If it is then okay but I'd rather have without. If it is the aftermarket style of sunroof where they cut the roof sheet metal and drop it in, I would pass on the car for sure. On the aftermarket versions, if the glass gets broken you can never find replacement glass.
Samples of aftermarket sunroof:
Are aftermarket sunroofs still a thing? Were they when this Genesis was new?
In reply to M2Pilot :
I would say that aftermarket sunroofs are not a thing still in the US, but the PO is shopping in Korea so I wanted to be sure they were not a thing in Korea either.
Sunroofs are super popular here and there are aftermarket versions so I appreciate the heads up.
How about this for a WTF moment???
Just a picture I found. Looks sort of photoshopped. I hope it is.
You do realize that there are people here, me included, that will just fly and drive a car sight unseen right?
I mean hell, I had one that didn't start at first and the shift cable came out and I still bought it and went on a 2k mile trip home.
We are not the people to de enable you
Can you bring a friend as a devil's advocate? I have made poor purchases because I liked the cars but missed many details.
John Welsh said:
How about this for a WTF moment???
Just a picture I found. Looks sort of photoshopped. I hope it is.
I bought a Jeep CJ-7 that had one in it's hardtop...hilarious.
I'll go into a potential vehicle purchase heavily leaning on logic but the longer I look at a car, the emotional side comes out and tells logic to STFU.
Try to be objective and keep in mind that you can always walk away. You don't lose anything by not buying it.
I'm terrible at listening to my own advice lol
Here's some advice I recently gave a friend who's looking for a high value classic.
Treat it like you're purchasing this car on behalf of a friend...or client. Remove emotion from the equation. If you truly can evaluate the car as if you were an agent for a client...you can make a good decision.
preach (fs) said:
John Welsh said:
How about this for a WTF moment???
Just a picture I found. Looks sort of photoshopped. I hope it is.
I bought a Jeep CJ-7 that had one in it's hardtop...hilarious.
That does rule. All of it.
DaewooOfDeath said:
And yes, I converted the prices to US dollars. It's 5,500,000 Korean won she's asking. Koreans don't like used stuff and so the depreciation is pretty nuts on cars over here. Automatic versions of this car, in really good condition, are going for like 4 grand US.
How's winter there? I may have found where I'm moving.
I like this bit of advice. Might be useful for other types of purchases, too.
ClemSparks said:
Treat it like you're purchasing this car on behalf of a friend...or client. Remove emotion from the equation. If you truly can evaluate the car as if you were an agent for a client...you can make a good decision.
mdshaw
Reader
1/27/21 10:06 a.m.
What's to decide? Just talk her down, wave the Won & tell her you need to get on the road before dark. It will be an adventure you will remember.
Have bought many cars just by pics & then talked them down a bit when arriving for valid reasons. My son & I have done some fly & drives, it's fun. The Vitara we flew to Portland to get in November was a big adventure. The PO wrecked it in the front on our way there. We got it a lot cheaper & was just a cracked bumper. Then we hit a snow storm over the Blues in the middle of the night with bad tires. Thank God it had 4wd but still managed to slide off the road. A big 4x4 pulled us out.
Antihero (Forum Supporter) said:
You do realize that there are people here, me included, that will just fly and drive a car sight unseen right?
I mean hell, I had one that didn't start at first and the shift cable came out and I still bought it and went on a 2k mile trip home.
We are not the people to de enable you
Considering how many of you guys intentionally own Ladas, Maserati BiTurbos, Yugos and V12TT German cars, I perhaps brought my question to the wrong place. Or, exactly the right place. Can't decide!
$5000 for that? Why are you even asking us. That would get a crappy late 90's 325i in the USA.
buy it and turn up the boost! 70k miles I'd bet $1000 it doesn't need a single thing
