Overhaulin'

I bought a car on ebay thats located in another state. Which states laws apply to this purchase?

I bought a 1995 Mitsubishi 3000GT Base Coupe on ebay for $1,200. The vehicle has 136,000 miles, but has always been garaged and looks much newer. The seller has let the car sit virtually unused for nearly 2 years rarely starting it. Of course the battery has went dead and he claims that it will now only start with a jump. The same fuel, oil and other fluids still remain in the vehicle from about 2 years ago. I'm driving about 700 miles round-trip in person to pick the car up with a car trailer. I'd like to at least drive the car up the block to see how the transmission shifts and the engine sounds before paying the remaining balance. Will I potentially ruin the car by doing this? The tires are slightly dry rotted as well. Also I was wondering which states laws will apply to the sale? The state of the seller in Ohio, or the state in which I live Virginia?

Public Comments

1. state of purchase.
2. The state in which you register the vehicle will charge the sales tax and transfer fees.
3. No "laws" apply to the purchase. You also have committed to buy the vehicle by being the winning bidder. You do not have a choice as to whether you pay him the rest. If you do not honor your contract you may well end up with no car and lose what you have given them. You should have checked out the car BEFORE commiting to the sale. I suggest you go get it, pay him, trailer it home and then go through and do the required maintenance. Do NOT do a "flush" on a car with that kind of mileage. People who suggest this don't know what they are talking about. You will be much better off doing an oil and filter change, run it for a couple weeks and then do another. This will clean out any contaminants in the oil system. Do replace the belts, hoses and all filters along with fluids. Another DO NOT is any kind of additive for the fuel system or oil system as I am sure someone will suggest. They do not do what they claim and most will cause more harm.
4. Ohio state laws apply on the purchase. Once you register it in Virginia, your state laws apply. I highly recommend NOT starting up the car. The fluids in the engine have gotten badly contaminated, as well as the gas in the tank. The viscosity of the oil has broken down to a point where it will no longer lubricate the engine parts. And it has a serious sludge build up that will destroy the engine. The gas has dirt and other contaminates in it that will plug up the fuel lines and foul everything from the tank to the cylinders. Before you start it up, drain all the fluids, flush out the engine and have the tank boiled out. Then replace all the fuel lines and fuel filter.