I was told this afternoon that a colleague's landlady was selling their 1991 MkII Golf GTI that they've had from new, 80k miles, and been standing in their garage for a couple of years. I said I'd take it. He texted them, but they'd just sold it to a neighbour.

Ok, so I really didnt need it, I really have no time for a project, and I'm sure that previously owned cars should probably stay in my rose-tinted memory, but now I feel a bit sad that I missed out. I'm sure others have far better "missed out stories"......

Missed a Escort RS Turbo years ago, really good condition the owner part exd it and got virtually nothing for it. Insurance would have been steep for me at the time but from a distant memory it went for around2.5k when it would have been put up for 5-6k iirc.

A few years ago, I pulled up at work to see a for sale sign in an H reg, white 1.9 205 GTI which was owned by the Estates Manager. He was a full on beardy, tweed jacket with arm patches, Cornish pasty shoe wearing type of guy. Priced at £650 I knew it had to be a proper bargain. Instead of going and drawing the cash out and buying it immediately, I umm'd and ah'd and a couple of days later it was gone. Saw it on eBay a couple of weeks later sell for in the region on £2000. You snooze, you lose is the motto of that story I believe!

Small world.... I to was trying to justify adding this to the fleet.

I missed out on a one owner Nova GSI with 40k on it about 8 years ago when an elderly gent died and his executors (read kids getting inheritance with no interest in a old car) scrapped it.

I also missed out on a Polo Coupe 1.3S with 30k on it about 11 years ago when others were going for £1000-15000. I wanted it as a first car and could of had it for £300 but my uncle (who is meant to know all about cars) told me not to because it had oil all over the engine which meant it needed a new one.

Years later after owning countless other Polos and it was clear the oil was a result of a £3 rocker cover gasket - IF ONLY I'D KNOW!

This, in September last year for £9995:



A boring SE you say? Read on...

It's a 335i...Just a debadge needed for a very stealthy 'SE' 3 series with over 300hp, or 360hp with a cheeky remap. 34,000 miles, one owner from new and it was absolutely mint. Attractive/slightly odd (delete as applicable to your point of view) options combo of electric memory cloth sports seats, xenons and the very rare logic 7 DSP hi-fi.

do not worry , if you miss out on a deal . there is always another one , you just have to look out for them

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...

Sorry, this link should work. Not the same one but similar.

But at more than double the price - it's not a great deal.

You can get an E36 M3 for less.

A deal I got offered at the weekend on one of these - http://www.roadtrackrace.co.uk/rtr_tr1ke.html

I'm rather conflicted because it would very much be a sunny afternoon toy, and I'm not convinced I can justify it.

On the same token, I doubt I could build one for the price I was offered it for, so it's a very good deal. Not to mention f*cking ballistic!

I missed out on a few but bagged one

1985 911 carrera on ebay - I had been looking at loads and they were pretty shabby but this one looked good. Rang the guy and had a quick chat, he collected Ferrari's , Bentleys etc. He bought the 911 on a whim and had only used it once. It was circa 15k he paid for it.

I won it on ebay for 9400 - Went to pick it up. He didnt even read the folders that came with it detailing the FSH from new, complete ground up rebuild and receipts for everything from 1985 including all sales receipts everytime it was sold. Also had factory made notes about the car. Had all the original gear and drove like new.
valued for insurance the following day - 20K!!!! still got it and been my daily for last 18 months

also got offered a 205 gti 1.9 back in 2002 for 250 quid. Great condition with the exception of a dent in rear wing. Couldnt get insurance so never bought it. It sold for considerably more a few weeks later.