How far would you travel for a cheap car?
Discussion
I couple of years ago I travelled from Cirencester to Provence in the South of France to pick up a car I was given, shame it was a 1.8 petrol xantia estate! Still, it was a fun journey and all told (including insurance) I worked out it cost me about £300 to go and fetch it.
I later swapped it for a 306 GTI6 (which I had to drive up to aberdeen to fetch). I then sold the 306 GTI6 for £1000 so I did well in the end!
I later swapped it for a 306 GTI6 (which I had to drive up to aberdeen to fetch). I then sold the 306 GTI6 for £1000 so I did well in the end!
funkyrobot said:
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 ).
Is it the green one near Bristol?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 ).
£500 NA MX-5
South Wales to Stalybridge for a £500 MX-5.
3 trains and 2 trams.
Arrived to meet the drug-dealer-esque seller leaning up against his blacked out Range Rover Sport with the keys to the Auto MX-5 that I had travelled 5 hours to see.
It was advertised as a Manual. FML.
£1100 MK3 Golf VR6
South Wales to St Helens.
Left at 2.30pm on a Sunday afternoon. Got home at 1am. Up for work at 7am.
Car was mint. 66k miles one owner from new. Seller didn't know what he was selling.
Loved that car.
£1400 VW Golf Mk4 GT TDI Estate
South Wales to Blackburn
2 trains and 6 hours on a train.
Car was okay. 177k miles with lots of history. But a terrible sticky vaned turbo meant a smokey, laggy and underpowered 4 hour trip home.
Still have that car
£450 Mk3 Golf GTI
South Wales to Luton
Car was a back of nails. But had a £500 interior.
Drove it home. Zipped about in it for a while.
Got written off. Paid out £500, bought it back for £60 and sold the interior for £300.
Quids in :P
There are lots more too.
Generally have no issue travelling for the right car, at the right price. Early morning train tickets are a bargain
South Wales to Stalybridge for a £500 MX-5.
3 trains and 2 trams.
Arrived to meet the drug-dealer-esque seller leaning up against his blacked out Range Rover Sport with the keys to the Auto MX-5 that I had travelled 5 hours to see.
It was advertised as a Manual. FML.
£1100 MK3 Golf VR6
South Wales to St Helens.
Left at 2.30pm on a Sunday afternoon. Got home at 1am. Up for work at 7am.
Car was mint. 66k miles one owner from new. Seller didn't know what he was selling.
Loved that car.
£1400 VW Golf Mk4 GT TDI Estate
South Wales to Blackburn
2 trains and 6 hours on a train.
Car was okay. 177k miles with lots of history. But a terrible sticky vaned turbo meant a smokey, laggy and underpowered 4 hour trip home.
Still have that car
£450 Mk3 Golf GTI
South Wales to Luton
Car was a back of nails. But had a £500 interior.
Drove it home. Zipped about in it for a while.
Got written off. Paid out £500, bought it back for £60 and sold the interior for £300.
Quids in :P
There are lots more too.
Generally have no issue travelling for the right car, at the right price. Early morning train tickets are a bargain
LordGrover said:
funkyrobot said:
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 ).
Is it the green one near Bristol?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 ).
As pointed out in the bargain basement thread.
funkyrobot said:
skyrover said:
Alnwick to Cardiff for a Land Rover 90.
The trip home was "interesting" thanks to knackered steering and no back window.
700 miles and 13 hours roughly. Paid just over £1000
No back window? The trip home was "interesting" thanks to knackered steering and no back window.
700 miles and 13 hours roughly. Paid just over £1000
Edited by skyrover on Friday 12th February 12:12
At least it kept me awake as I didn't get back until 3am
It's usually within about 75 miles based on my ebay search preferences. I'll look further afield if I cant find what I want in that radius, but it'd need to be special to warrant travelling further.
Last car I bought was 55 miles away, car before that 20, before that 60, before that 85, but it was a V8 so that's OK
Last car I bought was 55 miles away, car before that 20, before that 60, before that 85, but it was a V8 so that's OK
LordGrover said:
funkyrobot said:
Indeed.
As pointed out in the bargain basement thread.
I'm a little bit interested, but it's probably too good and a shame to use for tip/allotment runs. As pointed out in the bargain basement thread.
I could take a look if you like, but I'm a bit of a numpty and clueless buying cars.
I'm a numpty too, if that helps.
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