How far would you travel for a cheap car?

How far would you travel for a cheap car?

Author
Discussion

funkyrobot

Original Poster:

18,789 posts

227 months

Thursday 11th February 2016
quotequote all
I've found a really good looking estate car that seems to tick all of the boxes. It's cheap (£600), it has been looked after (owner had it for years and then passed away), and it's spacious.

The trouble is, it is located 3 and a half hours away from me. Will be difficult to go and see it.

This got me thinking, have people travelled a long way to purchase a cheap shed? Also, what do people consider to be their limit (distance wise) for this sort of thing?

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

125 months

Thursday 11th February 2016
quotequote all
Furthest for me was half way down the Atlantic coast of France. For a non-runner. That, six and a half years later, is still a non-runner (but now in bits)...

funkyrobot

Original Poster:

18,789 posts

227 months

Thursday 11th February 2016
quotequote all
TooMany2cvs said:
Furthest for me was half way down the Atlantic coast of France. For a non-runner. That, six and a half years later, is still a non-runner (but now in bits)...
Was it a Renault 5?

wink

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

125 months

Thursday 11th February 2016
quotequote all
funkyrobot said:
Was it a Renault 5?

wink
Outside... Now.
<rolls sleeves up>

gizlaroc

17,251 posts

223 months

Thursday 11th February 2016
quotequote all
TooMany2cvs said:
Furthest for me was half way down the Atlantic coast of France. For a non-runner. That, six and a half years later, is still a non-runner (but now in bits)...
You could have asked CorvetteConvert to have brought it back for you, he probably has a Villa in the same town.

briang9

3,262 posts

159 months

Thursday 11th February 2016
quotequote all
Glasgow to Leeds, bought it for £1000 unseen Jan last year, covered 10000 trouble free miles since then, keeps the mileage off the Audi

biggrin

Ozzie Osmond

21,189 posts

245 months

Thursday 11th February 2016
quotequote all
briang9 said:
keeps the mileage off the Audi
Which begs the question, "why?".

briang9

3,262 posts

159 months

Thursday 11th February 2016
quotequote all
Ozzie Osmond said:
Which begs the question, "why?".
If you have to ask you are probably not going to understand anyway....

Ozzie Osmond

21,189 posts

245 months

Thursday 11th February 2016
quotequote all
Personally I can't see the point owning a car you like and then driving a junk-heap all the time instead.

Each to their own.

briang9

3,262 posts

159 months

Thursday 11th February 2016
quotequote all
briang9 said:
If you have to ask you are probably not going to understand anyway....
looks like I was correct.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FWovgOzmFU

Ozzie Osmond

21,189 posts

245 months

Thursday 11th February 2016
quotequote all
Well, I guess you always have the option of selling both and buying one decent car. smile

Shakermaker

11,317 posts

99 months

Thursday 11th February 2016
quotequote all
funkyrobot said:
I've found a really good looking estate car that seems to tick all of the boxes. It's cheap (£600), it has been looked after (owner had it for years and then passed away), and it's spacious.

The trouble is, it is located 3 and a half hours away from me. Will be difficult to go and see it.

This got me thinking, have people travelled a long way to purchase a cheap shed? Also, what do people consider to be their limit (distance wise) for this sort of thing?
Is it a difficult to come by model that you are desparate for, or are you less specific in what you will travel for?

I went two hours away to get a £99 Carlton estate, probably now a similar car would cost even more.

How much extra is the next cheapest car or the nearest equivalent car? Work out if the cost of taking all day to go and buy it really stack up

LukeDM

467 posts

122 months

Friday 12th February 2016
quotequote all
I drove a friend to Crawly from Cornwall to get a £900 BMW E36 328i touring a couple of weeks ago. The same friend drove me to mid Wales to buy a £650 BMW E36 328i saloon a few months ago! rotate

funkyrobot

Original Poster:

18,789 posts

227 months

Friday 12th February 2016
quotequote all
TooMany2cvs said:
funkyrobot said:
Was it a Renault 5?

wink
Outside... Now.
<rolls sleeves up>
Come on then!
<jumps around punching the air>

hehe

funkyrobot

Original Poster:

18,789 posts

227 months

Friday 12th February 2016
quotequote all
Shakermaker said:
Is it a difficult to come by model that you are desparate for, or are you less specific in what you will travel for?

I went two hours away to get a £99 Carlton estate, probably now a similar car would cost even more.

How much extra is the next cheapest car or the nearest equivalent car? Work out if the cost of taking all day to go and buy it really stack up
It's a make and model that is slowly disappearing (Volvo 850). It appeared on my radar and as I am after something cheap, it ticked quite a lot of boxes.

It's also a private sale and I have spoken to the seller. It seems to be a genuine reason for sale.

I've looked at others and they are much higher mileage, older or even more expensive (there is one on AT for over £4K eek).

Shakermaker

11,317 posts

99 months

Friday 12th February 2016
quotequote all
funkyrobot said:
Shakermaker said:
Is it a difficult to come by model that you are desparate for, or are you less specific in what you will travel for?

I went two hours away to get a £99 Carlton estate, probably now a similar car would cost even more.

How much extra is the next cheapest car or the nearest equivalent car? Work out if the cost of taking all day to go and buy it really stack up
It's a make and model that is slowly disappearing (Volvo 850). It appeared on my radar and as I am after something cheap, it ticked quite a lot of boxes.

It's also a private sale and I have spoken to the seller. It seems to be a genuine reason for sale.

I've looked at others and they are much higher mileage, older or even more expensive (there is one on AT for over £4K eek).
then go for it. a pre-booked train ticket to the destination and 1/2 tank fuel to get back with the car, if that is less money than the next cheapest example.

There is always a "genuine reason for sale" mind you - you just never know what that is but it boils down to the seller wanting money.

sdkrc

116 posts

106 months

Friday 12th February 2016
quotequote all
Mid January I drove 7hrs from Glasgow to Swindon for a £170 banger
Last week I drove 6hrs to Leicester for a £650 Merc.

Would do it again no problem but mainly because I love motorway driving and long journeys. I factor the cost of the drives into the bangernomics.

bob1179

14,107 posts

208 months

Friday 12th February 2016
quotequote all
I'll have a go at this one.

I've just bought myself a Volvo 940 on Ebay for £200. It's based in London and I live near Aberdeen - 517 miles door to door according to Google.

It's MOT'd until August, though the speedo doesn't work, it needs a code for the radio and I quote, 'it has a knock coming from the top end...'

I'm collecting it tomorrow and driving straight home. Well driving as far as it will go. Currently we have a sweepstake running in the office as to how far it will get before it dies.


smile

funkyrobot

Original Poster:

18,789 posts

227 months

Friday 12th February 2016
quotequote all
Shakermaker said:
then go for it. a pre-booked train ticket to the destination and 1/2 tank fuel to get back with the car, if that is less money than the next cheapest example.

There is always a "genuine reason for sale" mind you - you just never know what that is but it boils down to the seller wanting money.
Apparently, the reason for this sale is the owner's demise. So, it may be genuine. smile

Will check train ticket prices.

I think I'll make it a day out with my fiancee and 17 month old daughter. smile

Can't get there until next weekend though. Told buyer I would be in touch next week to see if the car is still available.

Oh yes, it's just over £600 for the car.

funkyrobot

Original Poster:

18,789 posts

227 months

Friday 12th February 2016
quotequote all
bob1179 said:
I'll have a go at this one.

I've just bought myself a Volvo 940 on Ebay for £200. It's based in London and I live near Aberdeen - 517 miles door to door according to Google.

It's MOT'd until August, though the speedo doesn't work, it needs a code for the radio and I quote, 'it has a knock coming from the top end...'

I'm collecting it tomorrow and driving straight home. Well driving as far as it will go. Currently we have a sweepstake running in the office as to how far it will get before it dies.


smile
hehe

Sounds like fun.