buying cars over long distances question

I've bought a couple long distance. My son & I bought a used Dakota in KCMO a few years back. We flew out, done the deal and drove it home (12 hours). A very stressful trip for me, I wondered every time I heard a strange noise if this is where we start walking! But it made it home and he has been driving it for the last 7 years with minimal upkeep. We made it a weekend trip and stopped at the St. Louis Arch and spent a few hours in Nashville TN.
Another trip my daughter & I rented a car and drove to Ft. Lauderdale FL (10 hours). Bought the car, turned in the rental and drove home - no problems. We also made it a weekend and spent a day in the Tampa area.

One other experience, on a Pontiac site I frequent, a fella in OH was looking at a car in Atlanta. All the pics he had been provided looked good and he was preparing to rent the U-haul equipment to come get it. I drove up on a Sunday AM and looked it over for him. That car was total junk... I took a good many pics of the real condition, called him and relayed my thoughts. Sent him the pics when I got home. He was a happy camper that he saved the time & money to drive down for a big disappointment.
C