Opinion - Buying vehicle from interstate

[Honny]

Hi guys,

I'm located in Perth and I'm interested in purchasing a car privately from interstates. I'm just wondering does anyone here have any experiences before, if so what is the process like? Should you fly over to see the car? How about checking the mechanical history and if it's there's any finance left on it? Also what about transferring the vehicle over?

For your interests, Im actually looking to purchase a Mk5 Golf R32 with extremely low km's which is impossible to find over here if so, at ridiculous prices.

Thanks.

[Stuart@BMRAutowerkes]

I bought my car interstate. Granted it was in Canberra and I'm in Sydney so only seperated by a 4hour train ride.

If you're looking to purchase from the eastern states then I reckon:
- ask as many questions as possible to the seller to cover off on things like service history, accident history, tyre wear, general condition etc
- then negotiate the best price with the seller. No point going further if they aren't going to give it to you for the price you want
- you can check if there is finance owing via: http://www.revs.com.au/ or http://www.revs.nsw.gov.au/
- vehicle inspections (which you'll most likely have to pay for, but negotiate and see what you can get) can be done at the dealer, an NRMA motorserve or somewhere like http://www.vehicleinspections.net.au/
- transport should be about $1k with insurance from coast to coast, can't remember which company gave that quote, but for starters try: http://www.auto-logistics.com.au/

[Honny]

Originally Posted by bmroxm5

I bought my car interstate. Granted it was in Canberra and I'm in Sydney so only seperated by a 4hour train ride.

If you're looking to purchase from the eastern states then I reckon:
- ask as many questions as possible to the seller to cover off on things like service history, accident history, tyre wear, general condition etc
- then negotiate the best price with the seller. No point going further if they aren't going to give it to you for the price you want
- you can check if there is finance owing via: http://www.revs.com.au/ or http://www.revs.nsw.gov.au/
- vehicle inspections (which you'll most likely have to pay for, but negotiate and see what you can get) can be done at the dealer, an NRMA motorserve or somewhere like http://www.vehicleinspections.net.au/
- transport should be about $1k with insurance from coast to coast, can't remember which company gave that quote, but for starters try:http://www.auto-logistics.com.au/

Thanks so much mate!

I'll give your guideline a try and see what I can do! How about going through interstate dealers? If there's one which costs afew grand more is it worth spending the extra to go that way? I presume it would be an safer and easier experience.

[Hawkeye 135i]

I'm sure that forum members would be willing to help out by having a look/drive on your behalf.

[MrBlonde]

I bought my car interstate. I flew SYD - MEL to take a look myself and bought it on the spot. I've done that before too.

[Honny]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye 135i

I'm sure that forum members would be willing to help out by having a look/drive on your behalf.

That would be nice too if you guys don't mind! Does anyone here have any experience with the Mk5 R32? Would be even better if You driven one before. However I don't mind flying to see it if it's a must, but let me make a few phone calls in the morning first.

Originally Posted by MrBlonde

I bought my car interstate. I flew SYD - MEL to take a look myself and bought it on the spot. I've done that before too.

Thought about going there to buy it and driving it back.... It would be one he'll of a journey tho from east to west. Probably more logical to just train the vehicle over here.

[MrBlonde]

Originally Posted by Honny

Thought about going there to buy it and driving it back.... It would be one he'll of a journey tho from east to west. Probably more logical to just train the vehicle over here.

I had mine delivered via carrier. CEVA logistics.

[banglemangle]

Originally Posted by Honny

That would be nice too if you guys don't mind! Does anyone here have any experience with the Mk5 R32? Would be even better if You driven one before. However I don't mind flying to see it if it's a must, but let me make a few phone calls in the morning first.



Thought about going there to buy it and driving it back.... It would be one he'll of a journey tho from east to west. Probably more logical to just train the vehicle over here.

I had a Mk5 GTi. To call it rubbish would be the understatement on the century and frankly insulting to all things rubbish. Badly built, underpowered, leaked, rattled, smokey. Handled quite well I must say.

Mine was built in Africa - diabolically poor quality. R32 built in Europe which is marginally better (my Jap cars, as boring as they are, a beautifully built).

VW Australia - wow! Arrogance and indifference personified! Avoid all things VAG!

[sbce90]

Originally Posted by banglemangle

Avoid all things VAG!

Avoid vag? lol.

[banglemangle]

Originally Posted by SBC

Avoid vag? lol.

In the UK (which is where I'm from), VAG = Volkswagen Audi Group.

In Oz, I suspect is slang for heaven :-)

[Honny]

Originally Posted by banglemangle

I had a Mk5 GTi. To call it rubbish would be the understatement on the century and frankly insulting to all things rubbish. Badly built, underpowered, leaked, rattled, smokey. Handled quite well I must say.

Mine was built in Africa - diabolically poor quality. R32 built in Europe which is marginally better (my Jap cars, as boring as they are, a beautifully built).

VW Australia - wow! Arrogance and indifference personified! Avoid all things VAG!

Wow it's probably the first time I heard negative comments on the mk5 golf. I've driven on one and I must say it felt reasonably good. Build quality isn't bad either but it was a new one I tried on.

I have slight knowledge on the R32, I know it's built better than the GTi and obviously a beast yet to be unleashed. Are you sure that it wasn't just bad luck on your golf? Or is it a common issue? I do know VW aus can be bunch of dickheads, well at least the dealer i went had awful service.

However thanks for the advice, I'll defiantly make sure it's in good shape before i throw my money on one.

[alik01]

Honny, there's another thread by Fat Joe or something, on this exact same thing. There was some really good info on there and some great insights. Might be worth taking peek.

[Honny]

Originally Posted by alik01

Honny, there's another thread by Fat Joe or something, on this exact same thing. There was some really good info on there and some great insights. Might be worth taking peek.

Cheers I'll go look for it.

[Stuart@BMRAutowerkes]

Are you looking at the blue R32 DSG with low k's for 36.5k on carsales right now? previously written off as hail damage?
Looks like good value, my girlfriend actually showed me the link cause she got tempted by it lol.

[amk2912]

Originally Posted by bmroxm5

previously written off as hail damage?

You might want to check whether it can be insured because after the mother-of-all-hailstorms in Perth last year I heard cars written off as hail damaged were having insurance issues purely because they had been written off.

[Honny]

It's just over $40,000 with roughly 19000km on the clock. Im not sure if it's the one you are referring to bmroxm5 but I doubt it.

Andre, I'll make sure to dig deep on the vehicles history before i buy it, I don't want a hailed car fixed or not.

[Lima]

Originally Posted by Honny

Wow it's probably the first time I heard negative comments on the mk5 golf. I've driven on one and I must say it felt reasonably good. Build quality isn't bad either but it was a new one I tried on.

I have slight knowledge on the R32, I know it's built better than the GTi and obviously a beast yet to be unleashed. Are you sure that it wasn't just bad luck on your golf? Or is it a common issue? I do know VW aus can be bunch of dickheads, well at least the dealer i went had awful service.

However thanks for the advice, I'll defiantly make sure it's in good shape before i throw my money on one.

FWIW I have had a Mk4 GTI (South Africa) and currently have a Mk5 GTI 3dr (Germany) and an Audi S3 (Germany); all VAG products obviously and all have had no dramas.

I know there has been a few minor issues/complaints with some Mk5s, but ours has been faultless and is actually at least as well built as the S3, if not better, even if its materials aren't quite a match for the Audi (although very bloody close).

I have a few rattles in my 1980 Mk1 GTI, though, if that counts, haha.

You'll be fine with the R32.

[Honny]

Thanks for everyone's comments, the guy isn't willing to commit selling the vehicle interstates. Which isn't exactly bad because I saw a EVOX for less money in Perth

[RaihaX]

Mmm didn't like the evox at all. Was looking at it before getting the 135. The turbo lag was painful