Hi, I just looked at the ad. Yes, it is a little high. This is just like the one in Scottsdale, AZ at a Toyota dealership last October with about 54,500 miles. The Internet price on that one was $38,900 but on the lot it was $31,999. So, $31,999 at a dealership and this private sale is $34,700, reduced from $36,900. The dealer one had been professionally detailed also so it was very, very clean. It just was not the right time - I should have accepted the risk that our house was going to sell in the next 2 weeks and bought the Jag. The would ofs, could ofs, should ofs life.... The one in Stafford, VA will require shipping at probably $1,500, or at a minimum a flight of about $500 plus the travel expenses back to Albuquerque so those costs for me are an add-on to an already higher price. But, I will still contact this seller. Thanks for the tip.

Anyone in the area of this XKR and if so, would you be willing to go look at in-person for me if it got to that point?

 

You’re welcome.
If you wait a bit, I’m sure you’ll find a car the meets most of what you want.
It is worth a lot to find a car that is well maintained with backing documentation and dealers rarely have that information. A private seller may have better records. if you can’t afford a good one, you really can’t afford a bad one.
A PPI is a really good idea before buying any car.
And, of course you need to consider the total cost of the purchase. I ended up with a really nice 4.2l car that had been well maintained and garaged. But, it is black, which is the last color I wanted, and yet still very happy with the purchase.

 

UPDATE: Hi, the search continues.

1) We looked very closely at the Polaris White 2012 XKR that Sean W found on Facebook. We actually agreed upon the price and had a PPI completed. The car drove fine and was in really good shape for being 11 years old. However, the right rear tire had a deep cut in the sidewall which would require a new tire(s). There were a few other minor things in the PPI but nothing major. The seller said he would replace the tire but given that all 4 tires had a wide range of manufacture dates, we decided to not purchase the car. This new tire would just add to the date range. The seller was everything you could want: honest, forthcoming, very nice, responsive - just a great guy. However, although the tires had great tread and probably less than 10,000 miles, they will be 4-5 years old this summer so we believe all 4 tires should be replaced, not just one. The additional $1,400 for tires (Contis, tirerack.com) added to the $3,500 shipping cost ($3,500 enclosed VA to NM) pushed us over our budget.

2) We also have looked more closely at the Polaris White 2011 XKR for $28,000 for sale in Iowa. We have called twice, asking questions and stating we are seriously considering the car. We left our contact info with the salesman during the second call and at this point we are waiting to see if the dealer will call us back. We do not like the black wheels and researched replacing them with the polished wheels but it appears that will not be an easy or inexpensive task.

So, our search continues. Thanks to all who have helped with their input. It is very appreciated.

 

I know you have your budget constraints, but if I found a car that ticked all the boxes, I don’t think I’d pass just because it needed new tires.

 

I agree. I think you're in Princess and the Pea territory. Not buying a used car like this due to tires seems nuts to me. Buy the FB one and be done with it.

 

Oh, and: $3500 to ship from VA to New Mexico? And you're retired (so you have a few days)? DRIVE IT.
$500 in gas (and that's generous). Four-day drive. Three nice hotels at $150/each (ask me how I know about cross-country drives), your out of pocket is $1,000. I don't count food because you're eating anyway. And forget the miles added-- you're going to be the last owner of this car, so who cares?

 

deleted. Sorry, it's a beautiful 2012 on FB in the villages. Not white but a nice looking ride. tried posting several times but the link won't work outside FB for some reason

 

I've hung around realtors for years and my daughter became a realtor. MANY people won't buy a specific house because they don't like the paint in a single room. Like, for $20 and an hour and it can be whatever color you want.

 

Hmmm… guess I sort of fell into that category many years ago when I passed on considering a nice house, after seeing the nice large deck was covered with dog poop.

 

pk4144 and kj07xk: We all have different budget constraints. There are many times buyers & sellers cannot agree on price over a few hundred dollars, let alone $1,500. In fact, the seller stated he turned down offers because they were $1,000 less than what he wanted. Additionally, it is not "just" tires - it was the total financial cost to acquire this vehicle, and the $1,500 pushed us over the top. We had UShip quotes for open transport ranging from $1,237 - $2,600. We had the two enclosed quotes of $3,250 and $3,600. We had people telling us to not transport it open but to go enclosed. I would have loved to drive it the 3 days to get back home but I am not retired. It would have cost me approx. $1,100 to fly out via Southwest Air and drive it home, and another $350 - $400 for my wife to join me. I am still employed full-time with a finite number of vacation days. My vacation days are already "allocated" and so there was no time available to drive it home. I agree I am in the Princess and the Pea territory but that is fine by me. I have been reading & researching for many years, doing what needed to be done to get me to this point. I know what I want and there is no hurry so another few months, another year to get the right car is fine by me. Does this answer all of your questions? If you have other questions, please let me know and I will do my best to absolve you of any uncertainties. I know how difficult life can be to go around without answers to the questions that arise in my head.

Cee Jay - ask me how I know about the issues that home buyers find to decide a house is not for them.

Sean W - I have corresponded with the seller in The Villages, in addition to another seller of another that I found.