Buying a car in Illinois: what to do

Just a few thoughts from an Illinois resident - and one that lives down the street from the Hinsdale Ferrari dealer (Continental Auto Sports), Lamborghini Chicago, and Luxury Motors.
1) Don't buy from Luxury Motors. Period.
2) A PPI is an acronym for a Pre-Purchase Inspection. You should find a qualified dealer or mechanic recommended by an F-Chat member near a car you are looking at and schedule a pre-purchase inspection. This will likely cost you around $200, but could save you a ton.
3 & 4 - Check the Carfax report as an initial indication of title, but it may not be completely accurate. In addition, if you can see the current vehicle registration, it will identify any lien holders on the vehicle. Then check with the office of the Illinois Secretary of State to see if the title is actually clear.

If you're considering buying a Ferrari or Maserati and living in the Western Suburbs, I can recommend two reputable guys at Continental Auto Sports and one at Lamborghini Chicago that could provide professional assistance with your questions - whether you buy from them or not. If you're going to be up North, Lake Forest Sports Cars has a great reputation. Feel free to pm me if you'd like more info, and good luck!

 

Lambo Chicago/Fox Valley Motorcars are great Lambo dealers. You can always seek a Lambo in other cities (Catexotics, Lambo Houston, etc...) All are upstanding places. However, purchasing locally will give you a local dealer contact and relationship.

 

These places will also have a Ferrari or two hanging around, so you can see both.

 

Sounds like Lamborghini Chicago/Fox Valley Motorcars would be right up your alley. Ask for J. Scott Rothermel (Sales Manager). He actually was the Ferrari Sales Manager at Continental for years, and was asked to come on board with Lamborghini Chicago when they expanded into Westmont. They organize a lot of road tours and track days, so that should be right up your alley. Also, it's not just any Lamborghini dealer from what I can tell. Want one of the semi-rare Supileggera's? They have three. The '08 Lp 640 roadster for just under 400k or an '87 Jalpa (like the one from the Rocky 3 movie) for under 40k - all in stock. Add to that a few nice Maserati's and Ferrari's and a two story show room and you really have to stop buy and talk to Scott. The best thing is that he is just a straight-up nice guy. I'm a local with a Mondial that stopped by to look at a 550 once and buy my girls a hat another time and he was just the nicest guy both times. We must have talked about the 550 for about 1/2 hour - even past closing time. I made it kinda obvious from the start that I wasn't really in the market for a 550 yet, but Scott didn't care. He just genuinely LOVES talking about cars. From what I can tell he's the genuine article, and I'd highly recommend you stop by and introduce yourself when you're back in town. Well, best of luck and I hope the move goes well. A fellow F-chatter is always welcome at my house for some grilling and garage talk, so drop me line if you're in town.

 

Yep, stay away from Luxury Motors and Gold Coast Bentley, even if the car is supposedly new; they are OITS.

 

Definitely! Maybe I can organize an F1 viewing party in Aug/Sept/Oct in my newly finished garage so I too can meet some of the local F-Chatters.

 

+1 See Scott at FVM/LC. Very good guy!

Whatever you do don't buy blue ones. We will have difficulty telling if it is you or Gus driving around!

 

Blue seems to be the new popular color. I think Lambo hit on the right shade as it really does look nice.

 

Maybe somebody here knows the ex-governor? Wait, he might be a little busy serving time in federal prison for doing this exact thing

Peter

 

If you can fog a mirror you can obtain an Illinois drivers license.
It's the tedious process that hurts. I recommend taking a nice drive north to Woodstock, Il. It wont be near as busy and the staff is actually nice.

 

Gee..do you think any of us could go to Switzerland and just obtain a driver's license without a pesky exam?

I've practiced medicine for 20 years; can I start working in Switzerland without proving my competence in some way to a regulatory agency?

No offense intended, but there's a certain amount of arrogance in your request.

 

You should see what Europeans need to go through to get a driver's license. It is taken very seriously and there are some major tests and schooling required. I would say it makes the US requirements look like a joke.

 

In a nutshell, yes!

Haven't you ever lived, or been out of the USA?

 

Interesting how you found a way to reply to that AFTER the OP explained the process. In answer to your questions posted in your usual tones of condescension:

1) No, I have never had the opportunity to live outside the US
2) As to whether I've travelled outside the US: Canada, Mexico, Spain, France, UK, Monaco, Greece, Italy, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Poland, Estonia, assorted Caribbean destinations--not as many as a lot of people, perhaps you, but still respectable. Perhaps if I hadn't worked in decades I would have had as much time as you have had to travel.

Where I was apparently mistaken about Switzerland, the same is not true all over Europe. Here is a quote from a website that discusses obtaining a driver's license in France:

"Your American license is exchangeable for a French one if it is from one of the following states: Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Kentucky (Please note this can change at any time!). If you think I missed a state, then call your local Préfecture or sous Préfecture or French embassy/consulate and tell them where your license is from and they will tell you if it is exchangeable. If not, then you are going to need to get a French license the hard way. It is a nuisance and expensive to get a French license from scratch. If you do have a license from one of the states I listed, you have one year from the date you entered France: the date stamped on your passport or Carte de Séjour, to make the exchange. If you wait more than a year, all is lost, you will need to get a French license the hard way."

 

WHOSE condescending!?!?

Gary, grow up!

 

Shouldn't that be who's condescending?

Having said that, you're right in that my original response to Andre was in poor taste.

Grow up? What exactly does that mean? What character trait of mine are you referring to? Skip, tell me that when you quit posturing.

I'd appreciate any further shots be taken via pm.

 

Not sure, but I wouldn't worry about it. You most certainly will pass.

And accept my apologies for my initial reply a few days ago; it was in poor taste.