The distance you'll go to buy a second hand car...
Discussion
Looks like I might be heading off down to Walsall (a six hour round trip, a bloody long trip for me, I've never gone over maybe twenty miles for any car that I've bought) to buy an XK if I can't sweet talk the trader in question to ship it up to me in Durham to one of their other dealerships. They have a Move Me Closer :cough: offer which this car has on their website, though it's classed as a runabout due to mileage/age and thus doesn't technically qualify.
The problem is sometimes that of supply. When you read threads such as "traders struggling to find stock", and it's a problem if you need something specific. The Daihatsu Shed was one of 13 for sale in the UK at the time. My Aunt wants a nearly new car. Again specific - Focus Estate Auto - 1-2 years old. Nationally there's 1,500 Focuses, 291 are automatic, 29 are a year old, 13 are petrol. So traveling is the only option for one of the 13.
I flew to Aberdeen to look at an E500 (I'd booked a return flight) the car was as described so I bought it & drove it home, but I've travelled over 100 miles for most of my cars & yes some have been dogs/or we couldn't agree on the price as some remedial work was needed but it's never stopped me travelling again.
Sold the Mercedes 500se.two weeks ago to a guy from London.
I am in N.Ireland.
He flew over and I picked him up from the airport 60 miles away.
Back to my home where we done the deal and he then drove 3 hours to Dublin where he stayed overnight and caught the early ferry to Holyhead the next day.
He sent me a text at 7pm on the Saturday night to say that he was home.
Very nice chap as well.
I myself will probably be driving 150 miles each way this week to view a car.
If you want something a bit different you have to travel as there is very little choice where I am.
I am in N.Ireland.
He flew over and I picked him up from the airport 60 miles away.
Back to my home where we done the deal and he then drove 3 hours to Dublin where he stayed overnight and caught the early ferry to Holyhead the next day.
He sent me a text at 7pm on the Saturday night to say that he was home.
Very nice chap as well.
I myself will probably be driving 150 miles each way this week to view a car.
If you want something a bit different you have to travel as there is very little choice where I am.
I bought my XKR back in 2013 off the internet without viewing it as it was in Canterbury 250 miles away.I had agreed a p/x with my Jag xj sport and had actually taxed and insured the XKR before I had purchased it.
All went well we had both been honest with our Cars and I really enjoyed the drive home but a long day.
All went well we had both been honest with our Cars and I really enjoyed the drive home but a long day.
With kids and very little spare time available I find even 25miles pushing it.
That's 50 miles round trip plus then viewing it test drive etc etc could easily be 3 hrs with heavy traffic or min 2 without. Then the next one is 25 miles other direction - so you realise that even a sat you can only see so many within a full day
That's 50 miles round trip plus then viewing it test drive etc etc could easily be 3 hrs with heavy traffic or min 2 without. Then the next one is 25 miles other direction - so you realise that even a sat you can only see so many within a full day
I got my current car from Aberdeen which is a good 500 mile drive from me! The selling dealer sent me a detailed video and we negotiated a deal over the phone I was happy with. So I took a sleeper train up from London on a Friday night and drove it back Saturday daytime. Very happy with the car and would do it again. The key is obviously to be 100% sure with what you're buying, I think it's easier on something new-ish from a main dealer.
O/H and I were at the Sunday Service at Mercedes Benz World (having bought my E320 Coupe via the PH barge thread). After breakfast I browsed PH for half an hour and in the same thread saw a link to an ad for an A8. I phoned the seller, arranged to see him our way home later that day and had an enjoyable time at MB World with PH.
MB World is in Surrey, we live in Derbyshire, the A8 was in Lancashire. Fortunately it was worth the detour and I put a deposit on it before the drive home. Not the furthest distance mentioned here but possibly the most unplanned.
MB World is in Surrey, we live in Derbyshire, the A8 was in Lancashire. Fortunately it was worth the detour and I put a deposit on it before the drive home. Not the furthest distance mentioned here but possibly the most unplanned.
rossub said:
rossub said:
I'm driving 600 miles to Devon tomorrow and driving 600 miles back home on Monday.
Can't say I'm looking forward to it. Neither car is motorway friendly!
First half completed in 9 1/2 hours - so not too bad. Can't say I'm looking forward to it. Neither car is motorway friendly!
rossub said:
Jesus those 50 mph M6 & 5 average speed cameras are torture!!!
Houston, TX, USA to Lancaster,Lancashire UK to buy a 1999 Prelude (bought sight unseen from ebay the car was fantastic)
Several thousand miles. Bought the Prelude instead of having to drive useless fecking hire cars then insured and taxed/sorn'd it as appropriate and used it when I returned to the UK.
I've even manage to find a picture, wonder where it is now? According to the MOT history in a pretty poor state and having done 30K more miles!
Several thousand miles. Bought the Prelude instead of having to drive useless fecking hire cars then insured and taxed/sorn'd it as appropriate and used it when I returned to the UK.
I've even manage to find a picture, wonder where it is now? According to the MOT history in a pretty poor state and having done 30K more miles!
Edited by Motorrad on Sunday 19th February 22:32
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff