Long story short, I have a buyer through a friend for my 2008 rav4 for 7k that I agreed on in the case that I find a Fit to buy soon enough.

The problem is I'm going on vacation tomorrow, and I scheduled an appointment today to see a 2013 base in white (pretty much exactly what I want) for 6.5k at 167k miles. It was too late to get a PPI coordinated with the dealer, but I figured I'd go see it anyway. Everything felt and looked immaculate from the drive, the exterior, under the hood, no leaks, detailed carfax, etc. etc. However I'm not in a spot where I felt like I could risk committing without a PPI to cover my bases, as I know my rav4 is basically in tip top condition and only has 92k miles on it, and I'm in a tight spot financially right now so I need to be careful.

I really wasn't sure if I'd be able to walk away but I did, and I am trying to schedule a PPI for next Thursday when I'm back from my vacation. But 1.) the car could be sold by then, apparently there is another buyer who is interested but walked away and 2.) I don't have a lot of time to shop around while I have a guaranteed buyer for my rav4. If I don't buy another car in time, that guaranteed buyer will look elsewhere for a car.

It's rattling around in my head with how great the car felt and looked, even the interior was clean as hell for having 3 previous owners, and it came with some all-weather floor mats. I needed to vent here cause otherwise I can only hope that the car is still there next Thursday.. help me feel better about my restraint!!

 

Hope that the car is still there when you get back. But you're dealing with real life: You're talking a 12yo car that someone else (not you) took care of (or didn't). If your skills don't include a good knowledge of car mechanics (no shade there!) and you're not in a position to bet wrong and lose (by buying it without the inspection), then you have to let it sit until you can get a PPI done on it.

Unless you have a friend in the area who would be willing to take the car to the inspection while you're on vacation and relay the technician's findings to you so you can commit to it or walk?

 

Give a deposit and sign a paper that you'll buy the car if the inspection turns out OK. If not, you don't buy it and you get your deposit back.

 

^^What he said.

Give the seller some non-refundable geld to hold the car for you.

I love my '13.

 

I didn't ask if he would accept some sort of deposit, and now it's probably too late anyway :| but I've kinda already come to terms that it might be gone when I get back, even if I am checking the inventory page on the dealer's site every few hours.

Don't have any friends that I can bother to go for me either.

Fingers crossed for my return from vacation!!

 

Since when do you get a deposit back?

A deposit is to hold an item you intend to buy.

If you change your mind about buying that item you don't get your deposit back.

 

car is still there! hopefully just because rich silicon valley people are not the type to be buying a 170k miles honda fit and not because something is wrong with the car.

I called the dealership this morning as instructed by him to see when I could do the PPI. He said he doesn't have the time today (because he needs someone to be there while it happens), and to call again Tuesday or Thursday morning when his son might be available to come with me to get the PPI.

I don't understand why it has to be so last minute and we can't schedule a time a few days in advance, cause there's no guarantee the mechanics I want to check it out will be available when his son is there. At least from my interactions with him, this all smells more like disorganization rather than him trying to pull something on me.
I'm gonna try to see if my work schedule allows for me to go in again next week, and ask the dealer to just lock in a day so I can find a mechanic that will be available.

 

If you look at the majority of vehicles on American roads, it is apparent that very few drivers would ever consider a small car like a Honda Fit.

Add to that the vast majority of the driving public that still thinks that any vehicle more than a few years old or with more than 50K miles is ready to fall apart and you're probably not competing against as many buyers as you think.