Advice Wanted: buying a new car out of state

Hey everyone, long time no see. 

I'm looking at buying a new plug-in Pacifica and was quoted a really good price via a certain "True Auto" website. Problem is, the dealership is ~5 hours away in a different state, and the local dealers who have Hybrid Pacificas on the lot aren't willing to even meet halfway on this dealer's discount. The whole "I can't go any lower or I'll lose money" schtick.

Have folks here bought a new car long distance and have any tips? I've bought many used cars long distance and it's gone relatively well, not sure about a brand new car though - if there are any pitfalls to watch out for. Also this car qualifies for the $7500 EV credit but I doubt buying it elsewhere would affect that.

The way I see it I have two choices: 1) pay the dealership ~$1000 to ship it and do all paperwork remotely, or 2) road trip with my brother. 

Living in Chicago I bought a truck in Indianapolis.   

Dealer sent me price details and I agreed and bought a one way ticket.  Upon this proof the dealer overnighted FEDEX all paperwork and I sent it back with a check.

Flew out on Saturday and drove back.  

The only suck fee I missed was a $199 window etching fee.   

Call who has it, see if they will email you the papers so you can look over them first. Now road trip. 5 hours isn't too bad. Drive a little, save a lot! Make sure they give you a full tank of gas.

Bought my new Elise in Greenwich, CT. Flew in, drove it 4500 mile home. No issues. Dealer paid CA sales tax. I had to get it smogged. 

Bought new Integra GS-R new in Wisconsin. Drove it back to CA. Dealer didn't pay sales tax, I had to. 

Bought new 95 MR2 Turbo new in Alabama. Drove it to Boston, no issues. 

Each time I had paperwork fed ex/ (before email on some deals), to me. Looked over. Wired deposit. Paid balance in person.

Two of our local track member friends, went up to Wisconsin to get 2 new Civic Typer R at MSRP. Emailed paperwork before. Credit card deposit on phone. Flew there, drove home. 

Good luck. 

mr2s2000elise said:

Bought my new Elise in Greenwich, CT. Flew in, drove it 4500 mile home. No issues.

Would that have been Secor Automotive, by any chance? That's where I bought my new Volvo last summer and they were also Lotus dealers.  Had a bunch of Evoras and Elises around.

I bought my V60 out of CT.  We live in Delaware.  It was zero issue.  We did all the negotiating via phone and email, knew all the terms up front, I put a deposit on my credit card, etc.  My credit union sent them a commitment letter for our financing, everything arranged ahead of time.  Negative persperation.

One Friday we took a 5-hour train ride up to CT.  Salesperson met us at the station, went to the dealership, did a physical inspection of the car, and signed the papers.  Spent a couple days driving it home and visiting on the way.

In 2006 I bought my E46 CPO from a BMW dealer in north Jersey, about 2 hours drive away.  Same deal; never saw the car in person until I inspected it before accepting.  I wouldn't hesitate to buy out of state unless I got a really really bad vibe from the dealership.

I've purchased 5 different vehicles out of state, all negotiations done on the phone before hand. Finances and as much paperwork as could be done before hand. Each time I asked them to take more pics, put the car on a lift and take pics so I could look for non-obvious crash damage and bad leaks. 

Twice, I was drove to a car to another state to trade-in on something else.
Once I flew to another state and they picked me up at the airport, went back to the lot, filed paperwork and I headed out. 
Once I had a car shipped from Florida.
Once I had a buddy pick up the car, drive it back to his shop to do some work. Then I flew to New Jersey and drove the car back.

Each time went great. This won't be an issue in your case, but if it was, the only advice I would have is to be prepared to walk away if they try to mess with the deal once you're physically there. Even if you have spent time and money and it's a PITA.

Duke said:

mr2s2000elise said:

Bought my new Elise in Greenwich, CT. Flew in, drove it 4500 mile home. No issues.

Would that have been Secor Automotive, by any chance? That's where I bought my new Volvo last summer and they were also Lotus dealers.  Had a bunch of Evoras and Elises around.

I bought my V60 out of CT.  We live in Delaware.  It was zero issue.  We did all the negotiating via phone and email, knew all the terms up front, I put a deposit on my credit card, etc.  My credit union sent them a commitment letter for our financing, everything arranged ahead of time.  Negative persperation.

One Friday we took a 5-hour train ride up to CT.  Salesperson met us at the station, went to the dealership, did a physical inspection of the car, and signed the papers.  Spent a couple days driving it home and visiting on the way.

In 2006 I bought my E46 CPO from a BMW dealer in north Jersey, about 2 hours drive away.  Same deal; never saw the car in person until I inspected it before accepting.  I wouldn't hesitate to buy out of state unless I got a really really bad vibe from the dealership.

 

No. Lotus of Greenwich, Huntingride motorpsports. Owner is "colorful" and sells cars on BAT all the time. He created the HRM special Lotus cars (No I didn't get one of those gaudy things).  He isn't as colorful as previous owner of Lotus of NewEngland/Aston Martin dealer (lots of lawsuits and salacious online stories)

We also bought a used car in Delaware. One way rental from Boston. Darcars Volvo was that dealership. Also no issues :)

In reply to Erich :

When I bought my truck I went on line to find it then called around until I found a dealership willing to ship it ( and absorb the costs) 

It came out of Chicago  and I bought it at my nearest dealer. They sold it cheaper than the dealer in Chicago would and I actually didn't commit until I check it out upon arrival.