PayPal safe?

i had done this in the past, buyer disputed payment 2 days later. try'd to say i sold a car with a cracked block. i called the buyer and told him i was on my way with his money and his *** whoopin. dispute was closed that day. he didnt want to give the car back, just didnt want to pay for it. i ended up screwed out of about 750 of the final deal.