[tschwimmer]

Fair point. I agree that many sellers are looking to make a quick sale without much additional hassle. I wouldn't buy a private party car without an inspection and I know that will cause me to lose out on some (good) opportunities. However, it's much more important to me to avoid type 1 error vs type 2. Of course, if you need a car quickly, this can be a problem. But my strong advice is not to be in a position where you urgently need a car in the first place (generally good advice for any negotiation actually). I admit that it's easier said than done in some situations but it's still a good principle.