Why I did (and you should) buy a car over 100k a few states over.

"Ike" (untitledcarshow)
06/19/2015 at 17:31 • Filed to: How not to buy a car

So about a year ago my wife was a few months pregnant, and I had a Volvo C30 R-design as my daily driver. Not an ideal baby hauling car, so after seeing the small over lap crash results on my wife’s fiesta(yes I’m a crazy person, but we drive a lot of back country roads and the risk of a small overlap crash is kinda high). Anywho, I decided I needed to buy a car to haul around the family.

So after the conversation about what my wife and I are willing to drive;

Me: “No suv’s.”

Wife: “no minivans.”

Me “So a station wagon it is.” (Secretly what I wanted any way).So I searched for a Volvo V70R, as a concession to the wife I searched for an automatic transmission car. I discovered 3 for the price I wanted to pay, one was in Ohio; one in Illinois and the other in Wisconsin. (I live in Maryland)

So I called and bargained over phone and email with the 3 dealerships, then set off on a weekend adventure!

I arrived at the dealership in Ohio, the dealer seemed shocked to see me.

“Oh I wasn’t expecting you today.” He said.

“Well I emailed you and said I’d be here” I reply

“Well the car is sitting in the shop at the moment...”

“Alright, I’ve been to a shop before lets go have a look see!”

Not to bore you too much; we went and looked at the car as it was getting fresh paint on the passenger side, the car had been in fender bender that had not been reported to carfax. So I checked the frame over and under looked at the car made sure the frame was still straight and the car had no real damage.

After going over everything, I returned to the dealership office. He sits at the desk and the first words out of his mouth are “So my manager says we can’t do that price we agreed on in email”

“Ok that sucks, see Ya!” I reply as I get up and head to the door.

“Oh hey you drove all the way from Maryland to look at the car don’t you want it?”

“Yeah but at the price we agreed on and there’s another one in Chicago I’m gonna go look at now, then there is another one in Kenosha Wisconsin if that On my way doesn’t work out so I gotta hit the road”

“Uhhhh... Just just give me a second” as he runs off to pretend to talk to his manager. “ turns out we can do that price; but the car won’t be ready until tomorrow to drive.”

“Alright that’s fine, tell you what, pay for my hotel at the place down the street and I’ll buy the car.”

“... Well ok... That seems fair,”

So we sit down start talking paper work and price. We get to a point where they want me to sign and pay for the car.

“Ok I will pay for the car and sign all the paper work, BUT I want in writing that what ever I find wrong with the car on way home, you’ll pay for.”

“We can’t do that there’s no warranty on the car.”

“Alright cool I’m going to Chicago!”

“Uhh... I’ll be right back. Just wait please”

So they come back with the owner, and after vainly trying to get me to sign something saying I won’t sue, they agree to my terms.

So I leave the next day on my 300 mile test drive home. I arrive and we have to replace a window because they had put a heat lamp on the car to try and dry out the paint from the dent fix, and a projection beam head light bulb. Normally the bulb would be the expensive but the widow was made the same way you make a windshield so it had to be done in a volvo dealership, and it ended up being 600 dollars for the window, the bulb was closer to a hundred. So I was quite happy with my CYA paper where they paid for everything for me.

Since all the repairs done and I have been driving the car now for around 32k miles and I have had no issues with it. The car has been a great family hauler.

The tl;dr of the story is when you walk out of all local dealer, they may assume you’ll be coming back. If you walk out a few states over, they know they lost the sale.

Ike is co-host of the Untitled Car Show ( !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ) he has owned 2 Dodge Challengers; a Volvo C30, a V70XC, a V70R, and a 740; and a Saturn Ion . He is a new father and loves driving and autocrossing. He can jerry rig with the best of them, and he wrote his bio in third person. He also has 2 dogs, 2 cats and is a crazy person some say!

DISCUSSION (30)

CB > Ike
06/19/2015 at 17:36

Those are impressive negotiation skills you’ve got there.

Also, I’d love a V70R of this generation, because spaceball shifter.

Ike > CB
06/19/2015 at 17:38

Yeah. I wish I had it, but wife didn't want it in the family car, I think that was the right call sadly

HammerheadFistpunch > Ike
06/19/2015 at 17:39

I bought my cruiser with 239k miles sight unseen from 900 miles away. I lucked out mostly, but it was scary as crap.

Amoore100 > Ike
06/19/2015 at 17:45

Lovely! I love a good V70R and it’s great to see one doing its intended purpose (that is, family hauling...quickly...)

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Ike
06/19/2015 at 17:48

Nice get!

LongbowMkII > HammerheadFistpunch
06/19/2015 at 17:49

Brave.

Ike > Amoore100
06/19/2015 at 17:59

Yeah my wife never overtakes any one on the back country roads we live in, unless she's in the v70R then she loves to do it

FlimFlamMan > Ike
06/19/2015 at 18:01

Risky move (as far as taking a chance on traveling that far... and possibly even further, to potentially come home without a wagon), but it worked out, mainly due to your excellent bargaining approach. And you got a killer wagon at that. **Tips hat**

Ike > FlimFlamMan
06/19/2015 at 18:03

Yeah, but if I didn't get I; I got an fun road trip, and I do love those

FlimFlamMan > Ike
06/19/2015 at 18:05

Oh man I love road trips too. I’ll avoid flying if at all possible. Getting out on the open road and hauling across the state, or even the country, is a HUGE way for me to disconnect from the daily grind.

boxrocket > Ike
06/19/2015 at 18:05

Nice story! Hooray for Volvos (I miss my 1990 760 Turbo wagon).

Your autobiographical blurb is a tad confusing with the slashes between the Volvo models. Consider perhaps “...2 Dodge Challengers; a Volvo C30, a V70XC, a V70R, and a 740; and a Saturn Ion.” Looking forward to more!

SlickMcRick > Ike
06/19/2015 at 18:13

This is crazy. I to live in good ol’ MD and was thinking about going on a roadtrip for my next car. As a matter of fact I was just looking at V70 Rs three minutes ago to see what their prices were looking like. Seems they have come down to an acceptable budget. Kind of stuck between that and the HHR. I love wagons and want to be different.

Ike > boxrocket
06/19/2015 at 18:13

Yeah I like the 760s they are great and reliable.

And I will edit the bio I thank that's good advice

Steve in Manhattan > Ike
06/19/2015 at 18:14

What city in MD?

Ike > SlickMcRick
06/19/2015 at 18:18

I dislike the HHR’s looks, personally. Go volvo

Ike > Steve in Manhattan
06/19/2015 at 18:19

Just south of edgewater

Ike > HammerheadFistpunch
06/19/2015 at 18:24

Did you get it delivered or go pick it up

Steve in Manhattan > Ike
06/19/2015 at 18:25

Used to sail the Chesapeake all the time. Love that area.

HammerheadFistpunch > Ike
06/19/2015 at 18:26

Delivered, and that was by FAR the worst part of the experience.

Ike > Steve in Manhattan
06/19/2015 at 18:27

Yeah my wife is from here, she loves the water, my father in law has a bunch of sail boats.

I'm from outside chicago, I like land that ocean/bay stuff freaks me out. Crabs are good though

Ike > HammerheadFistpunch
06/19/2015 at 18:36

I bet, crazy delivery guy and he gives no shits I assume

Steve in Manhattan > Ike
06/19/2015 at 18:41

I was just thinking about crabs. Are you near that place Cantler’s? If it’s still there ... we used to sail in there for crabs and beer.

Dunnik > Ike
06/19/2015 at 18:42

Kinja'd!!!

Ike > Steve in Manhattan
06/19/2015 at 18:44

No, not near there (there in Arnold north east of Annapolis) I’ve been there they have become a bit touristy; best place local is called Skippers pier, and you can sail up to it as well.

Amoore100 > Ike
06/19/2015 at 18:45

Hah! It’s great to hear that your wife enjoys the new family Swedewagon as well!

Steve in Manhattan > Ike
06/19/2015 at 18:46

All I remember is that the beer was cold and the crabs were fresh. And the mussels were good.

Ike > Steve in Manhattan
06/19/2015 at 18:53

Yeah, I don't do crabs often, but when I do. I like em at those places

sellphones2493 > Ike
06/20/2015 at 10:26

Welcome to the club!

Where in Maryland are you?

Ike > sellphones2493
06/20/2015 at 11:10

South of edgewater

Dusty Ventures > HammerheadFistpunch
06/21/2015 at 05:50

I bought both my desert truck and my Outback the same way