Need some car buying advice

[ideal.dreams]

I've been looking around for a good deal on a loaded '08 Cadillac CTS and the ones with relatively low miles are all upwards of $20,000. Tonight I found a private seller trying to sell his '08 CTS, loaded with 64,000 miles on it, for $13,000. Is this too good to be true? The pictures he had posted with the car were taken in two different places so it's got me wondering if if they're even of his car. I've requested more pictures which he will send me tomorrow.

I'm in Ohio, he's located in Florida...should I even bother with this? At that price I'll pay to have the car shipped to me but I'd like to hear if this sounds like it's too good to be true or not first.

 

[wordoflife]

I wouldn't go for it. Would rather just buy something local that I could verify myself. Interestingly enough, I saw an article/video about nonlocal car buying scams a few days back. So that kind of scared me from doing anything nonlocal.

As far as if it is too good to be true.... I would check what the price of the car you are looking for goes for in your market, and possibly the local market of the seller. But the fact that you found this all the way in Florida, I'm leaning on the too good to be true side.

But anyways, that's just a really big hassle even if it is legitimate.
You may want to consider something with more miles if you need it within a certain price range. Miles are important to consider, but the total condition of the car is equally, if not more important. I wouldn't mind buying something with a higher mileage if it was in good condition and had all service records and so on.

 

[Tomorrow]

I'm in Ohio, he's located in Florida

That alone is enough for me to walk away.

 

[stonyc]

Never buy unless you and a licensed mechanic can inspect the car... in person.

It may turn out to be just fine and as good as advertised... but unless you can see the car in person, test drive it, and then have someone qualified give it a good once-over... how can you justify risking your hard-earned money?

 

[ideal.dreams]

Yeah turns out it was in fact too good to be true. The car was in a serious accident, the front end was totaled. He bought it from an insurance company and has been having repairs made to it since. Would have been nice for him to state that on the ad before wasting people's time but oh well.

 

[AustinIllini]

Yeah turns out it was in fact too good to be true. The car was in a serious accident, the front end was totaled. He bought it from an insurance company and has been having repairs made to it since. Would have been nice for him to state that on the ad before wasting people's time but oh well.

Emphasizes the need for "Show me the carfax!"

 

[ideal.dreams]

Emphasizes the need for "Show me the carfax!"

Yeah had he said the car was clean I would have requested a Carfax. Given that he said it was in an accident it wasn't necessary because I'm no longer interested in it