[beamer-dreamer]

so i've bought plenty of cars, but never sight unseen or ordered...

do you go into the dealership before the car arrives, to finalize payment and Registry/DMV issues ahead of time.. so that when the car shows up.. you just take delivery and drive home?

or

Do you wait for the car to hit the dealership.. you go.. double check everything etc... then finish the paperwork and registry/dmv and come back a couple days later to pick up


i feel like i know what i should do.. but when the car actually gets here.. i'm going to want it as soon as possible

[Ghost.G42]

Originally Posted by beamer-dreamer

so i've bought plenty of cars, but never sight unseen or ordered...

do you go into the dealership before the car arrives, to finalize payment and Registry/DMV issues ahead of time.. so that when the car shows up.. you just take delivery and drive home?

or

Do you wait for the car to hit the dealership.. you go.. double check everything etc... then finish the paperwork and registry/dmv and come back a couple days later to pick up


i feel like i know what i should do.. but when the car actually gets here.. i'm going to want it as soon as possible

I have the same questions myself, no clue my dealer said I'll be leaving with it the day I get the call that it's there. No specifics tho.

[beamer-dreamer]

i feel like with all the potential changes and risk of damage/scratches etc.. i'd rather see it before giving them the rest of the money.. whereas if there's something wrong and i've already paid them.. how they go about fixing it might be different

[Vudumonkey25]

They called me and told me the car was received. They would have to do there inspection and coding.

Then I went there looked the car over and did the paper work.

[BigKutta]

Tell them to notify you when it gets off the truck. Then tell them to put "SOLD" sign on the car and park it some place and lock it.

I usually will go in, check the car throughly, drive it around the block, and then sit down for the paperwork. Dealer usually has the car prepped for delivery by then. Paperwork shouldn't take time (even with the hard sell by the finance guy), and you'll be out of there.

I highly suggest a careful walk around of the car. A couple of years ago I took the train to pick up an Audi in NJ that was ordered for me. During the walkthrough and before the paperwork, I noticed paint chips on the boot ledge (tough to notice). Had I not noticed there and driven 120 miles back home, that would have been on me. They paid for the fix because I caught it.

[ZacMatic]

Remember that ordering a car is not the same as purchasing a car. Once it arrives and the dealer preps it for you, it's ready for you to test drive, inspect, and buy, just the same as a regular in-stock car.

You're under no obligation to purchase it. If you made a deposit, it's refundable. The car goes into dealer's inventory, and they'll sell it to someone else.

To answer your question, you treat this the same as a car that was in-stock at a dealership that you're interested in buying.

[beamer-dreamer]

I've signed a P&S and given a more than 2k non refundable deposit.. so i think i only get my money back if there's something wrong

[BigKutta]

Originally Posted by beamer-dreamer

I've signed a P&S and given a more than 2k non refundable deposit.. so i think i only get my money back if there's something wrong

In most states, the deposit is refundable before the sale. I dont know what a P&S is

[MattM240eye]

Originally Posted by beamer-dreamer

I've signed a P&S and given a more than 2k non refundable deposit.. so i think i only get my money back if there's something wrong

same here. still in QC, hopefully it will start moving again soon

[beamer-dreamer]

when we all get our M240i finally.. we should have an event where we all meet up at a track somewhere..

[beamer-dreamer]

Originally Posted by BigKutta

In most states, the deposit is refundable before the sale. I dont know what a P&S is

P&S is a Purchase and Sales agreement, and part of the small print is about the deposit not being refundable, unless criteria are met

[drpie]

I've never signed any deal and given a deposit which isn't refundable and I've never given anything more than a $500 deposit and most times none because my CA always says the car will be taken by someone else if I didn't want it or they will swap it.

[beamer-dreamer]

maybe it's just dealers here in New England.. they never turn down the opportunity to make a dime on something.. they'd rather keep my deposit.. and sell the car to someone else...

i sold cars here locally years ago.. and the things i saw.. pretty much drove me out of the business

[BigKutta]

Originally Posted by beamer-dreamer

P&S is a Purchase and Sales agreement, and part of the small print is about the deposit not being refundable, unless criteria are met

ok. Is it a final sales agreement, or just some fancy deposit and order agreement? Either way, make sure they park and lock the car as soon as it arrives. No test drives or sit ins. That baby is yours!

[drumhorn]

Originally Posted by beamer-dreamer

P&S is a Purchase and Sales agreement, and part of the small print is about the deposit not being refundable, unless criteria are met

Honestly, that doesn't sound legal to me. It sounds like some BS dealer tactic like asking you to sign a blank piece of paper that you'll agree to purchase their best offer. Totally unenforceable but intimidating to someone who doesn't know what they're doing.

[beamer-dreamer]

Originally Posted by drumhorn

Honestly, that doesn't sound legal to me. It sounds like some BS dealer tactic like asking you to sign a blank piece of paper that you'll agree to purchase their best offer. Totally unenforceable but intimidating to someone who doesn't know what they're doing.

as i mentioned... i sold cars in this state for a few years in my youth, my brother is a manager of a dealership in my state, I have purchased at least a dozen new cars in my life... could i have found a dealer willing to order a car for me without committing to purchase? maybe. But a detailed Purchase and Sales agreement that lists my options production number and other car specific details is a normal process here. For example.. if the car shows up without one of my specified options.. i can cancel, and get my money back.

in general a good dealership would work with the customer and find a way to return the deposit.. but a bad dealer will fight to keep it. In my experience, these things seldom go to small claims to test legality, either the customer or dealer gives in.

edit:
a benefit to me is the dealer is committing to sell me the car at the negotiated price.. so even if demand spiked, they couldn't change the agreement they have with me, a purchase and sales agreement should protect both parties

[BigKutta]

So OP, back to the original subject. What did you decide to do? Option 1 or 2?

[beamer-dreamer]

Originally Posted by BigKutta

So OP, back to the original subject. What did you decide to do? Option 1 or 2?

I'm going to go the 'safer' route... check out the car when it arrives.. give them a check for the balance, and come back a few days later to pick it up.

i don't want to risk having them "title" the car before i see it

[BigKutta]

Originally Posted by beamer-dreamer

I'm going to go the 'safer' route... check out the car when it arrives.. give them a check for the balance, and come back a few days later to pick it up.

i don't want to risk having them "title" the car before i see it

Wait, why? Why cant you do it all on the same day. Go see it, drive it, do the paperwork and pay and drive it home? It shouldn't take them more than a half day (and only if they get an outside detailer to clean the car) to prep the car for delivery

[beamer-dreamer]

Originally Posted by BigKutta

Wait, why? Why cant you do it all on the same day. Go see it, drive it, do the paperwork and pay and drive it home? It shouldn't take them more than a half day (and only if they get an outside detailer to clean the car) to prep the car for delivery

the general practice is for the dealership to run the car registration paper work, and get the plates .. if i hadn't crossed state lines, some in state dealers might have been able to give me a plate a do the process on-line. I also can't transfer plates, as i'm not getting rid of a car..

[jpcoop]

Originally Posted by beamer-dreamer

the general practice is for the dealership to run the car registration paper work, and get the plates .. if i hadn't crossed state lines, some in state dealers might have been able to give me a plate a do the process on-line. I also can't transfer plates, as i'm not getting rid of a car..

The process I've experienced (in more than one state) involves receiving some kind of paper temporary tags while they sort out the paperwork with the DMV. I'm not saying you're wrong about this, but if you're not I don't want to live wherever that is.

[beamer-dreamer]

most large dealerships in MA can just give our new real plates on the spot, so it's not usually a big deal... so this is kinda my own fault for not getting the car in my state