So my wife’s been talking about wanting a smaller car for ages now, something easy to park around the Marina where we live, and I found this really tidy 2019 Mini Cooper that seems perfect for her. The seller is a British guy who’s leaving Dubai next month so he’s motivated to sell, and the price is honestly pretty good compared to what I’ve seen at the dealerships. The thing is she’s traveling back home to visit family for another two weeks and I thought it’d be nice to have it ready in the parking lot when she gets back, but the more I think about it the more I worry about making such a big decision without her there to see it. I know the basics like checking for service history and taking it for a drive, but I’m no mechanic and I’d hate to surprise her with something that ends up having hidden issues. I was talking to a colleague at work and he mentioned that I could arrange a Pre Purchase Car Inspection before handing over any money, which seems like a solid middle ground since I’d at least know what I’m getting into even if I can’t have her input on the color or the feel of the car. Has anyone else done something like this as a surprise, and did it work out or did you end up regretting not waiting?