What are my chances of making it 1200 miles in my new z3?
Long story short, I bought a fully loaded 1998 Z3 2.8 site unseen (well, only a deposit of $500 so far, will pay the rest on delivery). Heated seats, electric windows and top, even a six disk cd chamger in the trunk. There seems to be very little wrong with it. There is a small dent in the front quarter panel, the automatic top sticks a little when putting it down, and the odometer light is dim. You can still read the odometer though - 77k miles. Price, $6500 which seems fair.
I trust the guy that it’s in very good shape, but the car is in Maryland and I am in Nebraska so it’s 1200 miles away.
He bought it a year ago, drove it a bit initially and then let it sit until a few weeks ago in which he drove it for a day - about 15 miles. He’s says it runs great and I believe him.
The current plan is to fly to MD and drive it home. The owner thinks it won’t be a problem.
So my question is, what are the odds I can make it 1200 miles without incident? I’m mostly worried about the cooling system + belts and hoses. 77k miles is pretty low miles, but 28 years is 28 years and neither of us knows the maintenance record.
The alternate plan is that I have a truck and could rent a trailer for $250, drive up and get it, and haul it back. But the main reason I want the car is to reduce the miles I put on my truck every year to keep my 100k/10 year extended warranty as long as possible. So adding 2400 miles is a bit counter productive.
The owner doesn’t think I’ll have a problem driving it home and wouldn’t hesitate a 1200 mile trip.
I plan on taking it in for an oil change before I leave and having them check the belts and hoses. He says there are no leaks (nothing under the car).
So what are your thoughts and what do you think my chances are of making it home?
What would you do?