LM: fly and drive

So hopefully within the next 2 months or so, I will be selling the Mazdaspeed6 and picking up something else. Going to get a focus st and because I'm being very picky about colors/years/options (recaro package is a must), I've broadened my search beyond the great state of Texas. Has anyone done a fly and drive with a dealership? Anything I need to look out for? I'll be posting the ms6 on here for sale among other places when the time comes but any tips for a fly and drive would be appreciated

I did a train-and-drive to get the new V60 last month, to a dealership about 250 miles away.  We did the same to buy DD#1's used C-Max last spring.  Although we drove, the used E46 I bought was from a BMW dealer about 150 miles away and I never saw it until I bought it.

It was very straightforward all times.  It's just like buying in person except:

• You need 500 pictures of the vehicle ahead of time since you won't see it until you're there.
• All of your interaction will be via phone or email (preferably email or at least email summary of any phone call).

The sale agreement will be contingent on your final approval of the vehicle when you see it in person.  I waited in the BMW showroom for a couple hours on a Saturday while they fixed a few minor issues at the service department.

For both the V60 and the C-Max, we had the dealer come pick us up at the train station.  Both were happy to.  For the C-Max, the 15 minute drive back to the office served as our test drive.  Come to think of it, the C-Max we bought on a Sunday because schedule and so the salesman actually came in special when the dealership was closed.

If you get a good vibe and have good communication with the dealership, I wouldn't hesitate to do it.  Every dealer has an internet sales manager now and they are very used to this.

Good luck with your search!

I have done two with dealers and its just like Duke said.  We flew in, got picked up by the dealer at the airport, did the paperwork and drove home.  I did schedule a PPI when we got the wife's R class which made things take a little longer.  Interestingly the salesman said I was the first person he had sold a car to over the internet that asked for a PPI.  

I work at a dealership and a staggering number of our sales happen that way. Just monday we had a guy drive in about 500 miles in a rental and drive home in a Supra. I don't work in the sales dept, but I can tell you that my internet sales-folks are the most honest and laid back sales-folks we have. 

I've done two "drive and drives" with dealerships, IE driving my car to trade in and getting the car I want.

Did a "fly and drive" for my original Bronzit '88 325, but that was GutenParts the handled a lot of the work, so not really a dealership.

Did a "fly and drive" for my V8 4Runner from a used car lot, a very nice one but still used, from Austin. 

Everytime I didn't have an issue with being provided a multitude of pictures, underside, etc. 

I did a "drive and drive" to pick up the Alfa, but that was only one state over. The big advantage was that I had already driven one so I knew I liked them and all I needed was to complete the deal. All the negotiation was via email and the salesperson had everything prepped when I showed up. We took the car around the block to make sure it was still what I wanted, signed the paperwork and I was out there quicker than any time I tried to buy a car from a dealership before.

IMHO the big advantage of a fly & drive to a dealer is that you normally don't have to worry about pesky things like temp tags etc, although depending on the from and to state, you want to look into the sales tax side of things.

It's a lot more fun when you aren't sure the drive part runs.