Yes, in fact, and just recently. Overall,

I'm happy with my purchase, but I'm forced

to admit that there is a lot of possibility

for dishonesty. Once you've purchased a car

and paid to have it shipped to you, there's

little chance you'll get your money back

from the seller if you aren't happy. Even

if you do, you'll be responsible for the

shipping costs, which can easily be a couple

of grand in some cases.



One suggestion I could make would be to hire

somebody to look at the car for you - a garage or body shop, for example, is usually happy to do an inspection of a car for a nominal fee. If it costs you a hundred bucks, it's money well-spent. You could have the mechanic or body tech even look at the car on-site, with the seller's permission.



If what your guy tells you jibes with what

the seller's telling you, so much the better.

If not, well, it's still possible the seller

was honestly unaware of a 'hidden' problem.

For instance, big Ford cars of the sixties

have problems with their frames here in the

salt belt. Some folks never look under their

cars and unless somebody tells them or the

thing breaks in half, they are blissfully

unaware.



If the seller was honestly unaware of the

problem, AND you are still interested in

the car, it might be possible to secure a

lower price, in which case you can look at

the money you spent for the inspection as

an investment that netted a decent return.



In my case, I didn't feel the need for a

third party inspection because the seller

was quite frank and forthcoming about the

vehicle I was looking at, even in the initial descr1ptions. I asked some very specific questions and I received very honest, though not necessarily pretty, answers. For instance, he told me the car ran, though he admitted he'd only driven it around the block. When it arrived, it turned out the engine was worn out, but to be perfectly honest, I was sort of expecting that anyway. He also sent along several close-up pictures so I could see the car's condition, even though the pictures plainly showed the interior was pretty rough.



To sum it up, don't forget your common sense,

and don't be afraid to get a third party

involved. Be ready to ask very specific

questions and look for detailed answers.

If he's willing to show photos of the car,

it's a good sign, though I wouldn't base

my decision entirely on that.



<table><tr><td><font face="arial">