Buy a car from a vending machine?

Used cars are always a risk. The risk is less with digital engine technology IMO. If the decision is guided by the known issues for that model/year then the risk isn't too bad, especially with the return policy. This will work for some, not others. I'd give it a try if/when in the market for another vehicle. My preference, though, is to buy a certified car just off lease that comes with a generous warranty. My current car was off lease, 10K miles, 1 year old, came with 100K mile/6 year all inclusive warranty. Even covered a new battery.
 
JVM225 said:
Your boat and bike both look sweet.
Yup, as I indicated, leasing doesn’t always make financial sense. But I really don’t care. It well worth it to me.
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The end of the day, it's your money and you can do whatever you want with it. I heard a quote that puts it into perspective, "if I want to buy chainsaws and cut off my arms, I can, because it's my money and they're my arms"

You make a good point on maintenance and worry free transportation. If your budget supports it and that's what you like, do it. More importantly, I believe it's about being educated about options and getting a good value on your transaction.
 
Must feel.
Must touch.
Must see in person.
Used or new.
Have always had a bond with my vehicles (car, truck, boats, bikes) since I rebuilt my first engine and painted my first old truck.
They are more than transport.
My teenagers - completely opposite. Means from to A to B for those rare situations when text or Skype won’t do.
Sad. I am reading these postings while watching Jackson-Barrett auctions on TV.
I hope this part of America is not fading away.
 
I started reading this thread and at first agreed with not buying sight unseen. But, realized I had done just that several years ago. I was perusing Ebay to see what prices were on rangers. I wanted a specific 4x4, extended cab, 5 speed with a 4.0l. I noticed one that was way less than half of what others were going for with no bids. It did mention something about a possible transmission issue. I clicked bid instead of watch. I didn't even realized I had done it until I got the email confirmation. I watched that for over a week and nobody else ever bid. I won a truck at 40% of value and it was on the east coast of Massachusetts. I live in Indiana. I flew out, they picked me up at the airport, took me to the truck and I drove home. There was no issue with the transmission. It just had extremely low gear sets. I kept that truck for 14 years.
 
I bought 2 of my last 3 cars sight-unseen. Well technically, I ordered them. I could've backed away when they arrived.

17 year ago this week, I went to the auto show and saw a Nissan 350Z turning on a platform. Days later I went to a dealer and placed the order. She's sitting in my garage waiting for spring as I type...

The next car didn't even have a brochure printed yet. I guessed on the color and hoped I didn't hate it.

Both of those experiences would've been better if I had been able to exclude the "help" of a salesperson.
 
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RollerCoastr said:
I bought 2 of my last 3 cars sight-unseen. Well technically, I ordered them.
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I do the same. Always order them and you get exactly what you want.
 
BOB TYSON said:
Over the years we've bought (transportation-only) cars from Carmax. only turned one away when it came from an out of state Carmax and had considerable road rash. No hassle. They refunded my transport costs too. These cars were for our kids and one for my wife to have as an extra for snow days. I would consider buying a nice car there but not without hands on and a drive. We are looking presently for a nice (read expensive) car for my wife. So far just looking at dealers but when looking on line at Mercedes dealers they rarely have the cars posted. Its always: " oh, we just sold that one! Can we help find another for you?"
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You have "Snow Days" in Sarasota?
 
sbw1 said:
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I do the same. Always order them and you get exactly what you want.
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That makes three of us. I ordered a '16 F150 and got to unwrap it when she arrived. On my ordered '19 Ram drove by as she was pulling in on the carrier. Got to get in that one before she was unloaded.

The best way to buy...less than a 6 week wait for both and my names on the window sticker!

Looks neat as I drive by the Carvana vending machine....but not for me. I always negotiate below invoice before rebates. On the Ram I paid $250 above employee price, before rebates, even as pricing was just released.
 
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firecadet613 said:
That makes three of us. I ordered a '16 F150 and got to unwrap it when she arrived.
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It takes about 3 months to order a Porsche, but they have to agree to build you one first. That can take up to a year. Crazy way to sell a car.
 

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RollerCoastr said:
I bought 2 of my last 3 cars sight-unseen. Well technically, I ordered them. I could've backed away when they arrived.

17 year ago this week, I went to the auto show and saw a Nissan 350Z turning on a platform. Days later I went to a dealer and placed the order. She's sitting in my garage waiting for spring as I type...

The next car didn't even have a brochure printed yet. I guessed on the color and hoped I didn't hate it.

Both of those experiences would've been better if I had been able to exclude the "help" of a salesperson.
Click to expand...

The only car I’ve ordered in modern times was my Corvette. Even took the Buyers Tour option which let me watch it get assembled as it went down the line, be the first one to sit in it and start it.
Then you have to move to the passenger seat while a GM employee chauffeurs you to the test spots.
Still pretty cool though.
 
I realize this is an old topic, but I just wanted to say that buying a car online can be convenient. However, there are some potential drawbacks to consider as well. For one, you won't be able to test drive the car before purchasing, which could be a deal breaker for some. Additionally, there's always a risk of scams or misrepresentations when buying anything online, so you must do your due diligence and research the company thoroughly before purchasing. You should also pay attention to the average cost to ship a car to check some prices on the Internet and choose the best option. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference and what you're comfortable with.
 
We just bought a used Nissan to keep at our place in AZ. I had been using my 1998 Ford Exploder with 124K as our daily driver while we're down there but my wife was getting uncomfortable with the way it runs. She is often down there with a girlfriend and didn't want to be stranded alongside the road.

We were down there this past April so one morning I said "Let's go find a car for you". The first dealership we went to was a Nissan dealership. I had told her that since it was going to be primarily for her I would let her pick out whatever she wanted. The first car we stopped at was a "Kicks". She fell in love with it so we drove it. It looks just like this one in the picture.

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They didn't really want my 25-year-old Exploder but I simply said If you want to sell us this Kicks, you have to take our truck on trade. About 3 hours later they met my price, we signed the paperwork and we drove it home.

I must say that Peoria Nissan was great to deal with from start to finish.
 
MitchellGibson said:
I realize this is an old topic, but I just wanted to say that buying a car online can be convenient. However, there are some potential drawbacks to consider as well. For one, you won't be able to test drive the car before purchasing, which could be a deal breaker for some. Additionally, there's always a risk of scams or misrepresentations when buying anything online, so you must do your due diligence and research the company thoroughly before purchasing.
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With the Carvana method (vending machine or delivery), you have something like 10 days to return for any reason.

I'm currently looking at 1965-66 Mustangs on Bring-a-Trailer. My biggest concern us winning an auction for a car I've never seen personally, and likely can't until it gets delivered. No returns on an auction.
 
Caravana got in hot water in Illinois last year. Their operations were suspended for a time, if I remember correctly. They were taking forever to get titles out. People could not register their vehicles. Then were fined when the late title came in and they could finally register them.
 
I miss the old days when every individual component was an option and you spent 5 hours at dealer with a salesman designing exactly the car you wanted. None of this bundled package crap.
Want a outside mirror on left but not on right?
Want ‘those’ wheels not ‘these’ wheels?
Which engine? Choose among 6.
I want this color car, but this color seats, and that color carpeting!
My first new car was a 76 Cutlass, went with my dad, spent most of the day designing that car.
I miss that.
 
They built a Carvana vending machine about a 1/2 mile from my house. It's strange to see it totally empty at times.

I did some consulting at CarMax in the mid 2000s when they were building an online system for just this, buying a car online with delivery to your door. They wanted to be the first to market. I thought it was nuts, and would never take off. I am not sure what happened to that project but they eventually did it. I have mixed feelings about the whole idea. I like to see and touch a car before I buy it. That said Bring A Trailer may have changed that for me. I could see myself buying a car from there.

Remember when Ron Burgundy said "S PIN" is never gonna work?

 
Both my BIL and a very good friend are business owners, very wealthy and successful. Both tell their secretaries “i need a new car, go buy me one”. Literally and i aint kidding. They truly do not care what car, color, options, they have bigger fish to fry. Carvana might work for them except they buy new.
Now Carvana might work for a barmaid I knew who when she told me she got a new to her car and i asked what she get, her happy reply was “it’s blue!”. Serious.
Believe me when i tell yall, most people on this planet do not give a shit about the car they drive. Fact!
And not just cars. A couple us boaters sitting in bar yesterday there was a guy joined in, i swear to god he could not tell us what brand of boat he had. I swear!!!! It floats. I ain’t making this up!!!
Anyway yall have good weekend. My boat in slip, i just bought a set of stainless steel nipples for my 1848 Colt Baby Dragoon to prevent cap jams, so im happy as a pig in slop.
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