long distance q purchases

[Steve Jensen]

> What would you say is the limit as far as reasonable distances you
> have driven or would drive to buy a special car that you found for
> sale, say, on the internet?

As one who drove 1000 miles roundtrip to get his first Q, and 1600 miles to
get his second one, I felt the need to answer this.  Both were found on the
internet, and yes, my wife thinks I'm nuts to go that far for a car.

It starts like this: you will hear this voice that will sound strangely like
John Belushi whispering "road trip".

This voice will get progressively louder, until John Belushi can no longer
be ignored.

You will make multiple phone calls and numerous emails to ask question after
question.  My sedan was the perfect car for me at the time: right color
(pearl), right mileage (less than 100K), one owner (yay) and full service
records.  And the price was in my range.  Since I could not find the
equivalent car in the southeastern U.S., I had to listen to John Belushi and
take that road trip.  And lucky for me the car was just as the owner
described it and was just right for me.

In fact, both the cars I bought were just as their owners portrayed them and
thus just right for me.

Drawbacks: after driving 9 hours (alone) your brain will be fogged and you
will forget to test certain things, and you won't be as apt to haggle on
price.  I forgot to test the bomb (I meant to) - yes it was original and
very dead - and could have reduced the asking price by $300 on my sedan
telling him it needed replacement if I hadn't been so road weary.  Plus you
have to make sure your rose colored glasses are locked securely in the glove
box when you arrive so you don't get long distance car lust .

If you do go, and I encourage you to do so, check _everything_ first: run
the VIN on Carfax, ask a local area fellow lister to check it out for you
for an unbiased opinion, ask about accidents, maintenance, mechanics name,
etc., etc.  Keep asking until you are satisfied.

Then go.  Take someone with you to share driving privileges and play
sounding board for you, or fly and have them meet you at the airport.  If
you don't like the car then turn around and go home.

But like the old Nike ad says, 'you won't know if you don't go'.

Good luck.  And I hope it's the Audi of your dreams.

-Steve Jensen
87 5kcstq
87 5kcstqw