Furthest you've travelled to buy but eventually walked away?
Discussion
Kent to Aberdeen to buy an E500 the only straight panels were the roof & bonnet lots of scuffs & marks, the guy was asking top money & wouldn't negotiate so I left it but we (I'd taken my mate along to drive my car back) made the most of some of the roads like we'd planned to do so not a total waste.
not quite me, but evans halshaw transported a 6 or 10 mth old mondeo for me from portsmouth to bradford- now thats what- 350 miles ???
went to view the car, obvious its lots of money and on a proper dealers forecourt, as oppose to say buying from Mr Daley and a lockup.
Hmmmmm- it had 4 mis matched tyres, all cheap ones.
radio ariel missing
wing mirror smashed off- the glass
and I could see the tell tale signs of a eurocars hire sticker on the boot.
Oh and 5000 miles was something like 30000.
the monkey trying to sell me it thought that its high mileage and the fact it was an ex hire car was of no concern. yeah- right !!!
well monkey boy you've just spent a fortune shipping it here for a no sale.
went to view the car, obvious its lots of money and on a proper dealers forecourt, as oppose to say buying from Mr Daley and a lockup.
Hmmmmm- it had 4 mis matched tyres, all cheap ones.
radio ariel missing
wing mirror smashed off- the glass
and I could see the tell tale signs of a eurocars hire sticker on the boot.
Oh and 5000 miles was something like 30000.
the monkey trying to sell me it thought that its high mileage and the fact it was an ex hire car was of no concern. yeah- right !!!
well monkey boy you've just spent a fortune shipping it here for a no sale.
Surely I can't be the only one who travels hundreds of miles and walks away? I've done it so many times for so many different types of car. Very few cars are in the condition advertised, or don't have issues etc even some dealerships I've been to, and when you've driven three hours and they won't discount for the scratches and whatnot, well.....
I mean, in a day I've gone from Essex to Chesire then down to Bristol, across to Oxford then back to Essex to view cars....
I mean, in a day I've gone from Essex to Chesire then down to Bristol, across to Oxford then back to Essex to view cars....
I drove from Yeovil, Somerset to Bournemouth at 4am to collect my father and then drove to Lincoln to view an SLK55 AMG which I did not buy. Some 600 miles, 1.5 tanks of fuel and 8 hours return trip.
I had talked at length with the seller, reviewed all service history, called the garages it was serviced at, been told the car "was spared no expense" and conducted a full HPI check that came back clean. I saw countless photos, verified all work done and arranged temporary insurance to collect the car, I even took out the cash ready to buy.
When I arrived the paintwork was bad, the interior in poor condition, had horrendous brake wobble and squeal on even the lightest touch and to top it off had an engine warning light and a front headlight out (the HID type that are not so simple to replace).
The chap had described it as in excellent condition but would not negotiate on price despite the issues. He apologized for wasting my time and I set about the 4 hour drive home for a take away and a large number of beers. Never did buy an SLK55 after all that and ended up with a 645i!
I had talked at length with the seller, reviewed all service history, called the garages it was serviced at, been told the car "was spared no expense" and conducted a full HPI check that came back clean. I saw countless photos, verified all work done and arranged temporary insurance to collect the car, I even took out the cash ready to buy.
When I arrived the paintwork was bad, the interior in poor condition, had horrendous brake wobble and squeal on even the lightest touch and to top it off had an engine warning light and a front headlight out (the HID type that are not so simple to replace).
The chap had described it as in excellent condition but would not negotiate on price despite the issues. He apologized for wasting my time and I set about the 4 hour drive home for a take away and a large number of beers. Never did buy an SLK55 after all that and ended up with a 645i!
Northampton to Bournemouth for a 'Mint' Range Rover.
Had a agreed a PX on my car so all night valeting and making sure mine was presentable.
On arrival all the Alloys were corroded, The rear bumper was cracked with three reversing sensors out and the air suspension was inoperable.
All of which I was told must have happened over night and would £500 off be OK for a deal?
It was a nice drive back at least.
Had a agreed a PX on my car so all night valeting and making sure mine was presentable.
On arrival all the Alloys were corroded, The rear bumper was cracked with three reversing sensors out and the air suspension was inoperable.
All of which I was told must have happened over night and would £500 off be OK for a deal?
It was a nice drive back at least.
A bloke once came to see a Golf MK2 VR6 Golf I had
He drove from Devon to Warrington so around 240 miles each way, to be fair the car was exceptional it had KW Coilovers genuine 8" BBS RS's and painted in Standox flip paint plus the 2.9 VR6 Conversion and a Corrado VR6 Interior..... unbelievably he walked away because it was a bit "flashy" and not subtle enough for him (he was in his 40's)
I thought that was a cracking journey to consider knowing it had all of these "flashy" bits and I sent him plenty of pics.....and he turned up in his sons Golf Rallye! Hardly subtle!
He drove from Devon to Warrington so around 240 miles each way, to be fair the car was exceptional it had KW Coilovers genuine 8" BBS RS's and painted in Standox flip paint plus the 2.9 VR6 Conversion and a Corrado VR6 Interior..... unbelievably he walked away because it was a bit "flashy" and not subtle enough for him (he was in his 40's)
I thought that was a cracking journey to consider knowing it had all of these "flashy" bits and I sent him plenty of pics.....and he turned up in his sons Golf Rallye! Hardly subtle!
I travelled from Shropshire to Worcester to look at an approved used Golf GTI at the VW franchise.
It was a POS, overspray, ill-fitting front wing / bonnet and scabby wheels (it was a MK4 1.8T Anniversary).
The sales bloke was miffed I didn`t buy it as "you`ll not find a better one sonny" was his closing line.
He was partially correct, I didn`t even look for a better one and bought an S3 instead.
It was a POS, overspray, ill-fitting front wing / bonnet and scabby wheels (it was a MK4 1.8T Anniversary).
The sales bloke was miffed I didn`t buy it as "you`ll not find a better one sonny" was his closing line.
He was partially correct, I didn`t even look for a better one and bought an S3 instead.
I try and resist traveling long distances as I put myself under pressure to do the deal whatever, even when I know it's a bad idea
There was one, Doncaster to London to view an immaculate s class. Full service history turned into a single service, parking sensors missing, off winter and summer tyres. Not inpressed.
We did have a couple travel London to Bristol to. view my wife's 206. It was nothing exceptional so surprised that they would travel that distance. They then asked to spend some time alone with the car (without the keys). I kept half an eye out. An hour later they decided it was not the car for them. All very odd. Sold to someone local who had his mechanic check it out and was very happy
There was one, Doncaster to London to view an immaculate s class. Full service history turned into a single service, parking sensors missing, off winter and summer tyres. Not inpressed.
We did have a couple travel London to Bristol to. view my wife's 206. It was nothing exceptional so surprised that they would travel that distance. They then asked to spend some time alone with the car (without the keys). I kept half an eye out. An hour later they decided it was not the car for them. All very odd. Sold to someone local who had his mechanic check it out and was very happy
150 miles to Cardiff to see an RX8. This one was the colour I wanted and was very low mileage. Got there, drove it and liked it. It had a few minor issues- rust on boot lid (common issue), overdue a major service, wheels needed refurbishing etc. The dealer offered me pittance for my car and would not budge on his asking price (probably assuming that as I'd traveled so far that I would buy it regardless). I walked off, seeing as we were nowhere near a deal. Such is life.
100 miles for an e46 330 in the exact spec I wanted. Looked good in the pictures so I called the guy; sounded like it had been looked after etc. Then I asked specifically 'are there any marks on the bodywork I should be aware of?'. He told me that there was a minor scratch on the rear wing which wasn't very deep; sounded like it would buff out. So off we went, my wife drove me there with our 3 month old baby (no family nearby). I walked away in less than a minute- turns out it had badly rusted rear wheel arches, which they guy 'forgot about'. f
king . I was fuming.
100 miles for an e46 330 in the exact spec I wanted. Looked good in the pictures so I called the guy; sounded like it had been looked after etc. Then I asked specifically 'are there any marks on the bodywork I should be aware of?'. He told me that there was a minor scratch on the rear wing which wasn't very deep; sounded like it would buff out. So off we went, my wife drove me there with our 3 month old baby (no family nearby). I walked away in less than a minute- turns out it had badly rusted rear wheel arches, which they guy 'forgot about'. f
king . I was fuming.West Wales to Chichester to buy a Panda Cross 4x4 for Mrs Orse.Told by the dealer that they'd just taken it in part ex and it was "Mint - like new,not a mark on it".Well it would have been like new if Fiat had built it with half an allotment in the boot,mouldy and dirty rear seats(where even more earth or god knows what had been carried),a serious oil leak and badly worn tyres.
They seemed a bit surprised that the oil leak was at all a concern or that I was bothered by the fact that they'd said they had serviced it the day before and stamped the book but it was obviously an old oil filter and the oil was like treacle.Must have been the 200 yards from the service bay to forecourt.
We walked away even though they'd already filled in the V5 before we got there and they tried to get us to take it - "we'll get the oil leak fixed - you can make a warranty claim".Sod off.
They seemed a bit surprised that the oil leak was at all a concern or that I was bothered by the fact that they'd said they had serviced it the day before and stamped the book but it was obviously an old oil filter and the oil was like treacle.Must have been the 200 yards from the service bay to forecourt.
We walked away even though they'd already filled in the V5 before we got there and they tried to get us to take it - "we'll get the oil leak fixed - you can make a warranty claim".Sod off.
Caught a train from Derby down to the south coast to view a car at an independant well known specialist dealer... did walk round with salesman on phone, mint yada yada, asked is bumper on right etc etc...
Collected form station by dealer: Car from bumper loose and missing fixings, badly scratched paint work, evidence of accident damage poorly repaired etc etc..
No way he would offer a lift back to the station and nearly wouldn't even ring for a taxi.. bd.
Collected form station by dealer: Car from bumper loose and missing fixings, badly scratched paint work, evidence of accident damage poorly repaired etc etc..
No way he would offer a lift back to the station and nearly wouldn't even ring for a taxi.. b
d.Leicester to Leeds to buy a "mint" s2000, which was very far from "mint" , badly kerbed wheels and a scruffy interior, which also had a ripped centre console patched with gaffa tape. 2 minutes and I was heading home again. Very disappointed and since then I won't travel more than an hour to see something unless the owner sends me lots of decent quality pictures
Traveled from Warwick to Aberdeen with a good friend of mine to look at an M3. Car wasn't really as described and no additional movement on price to account for the issues, so we drove all the way home again. Over 900 miles in the day, in a diesel Insignia that I'd hired from Enterprise! Tiring!
I've travelled a fair way to buy several cars, and always come back with them. It might feel like I'm being a pain, but I'll call the seller up (rather than email/text) and let them know that I'm absolutely serious if they can prove it's as advertised. I'll ask for detailed photos of the car, focusing on anything that might be of concern, including paperwork.
In a few instances where the seller has been evasive or unwilling, I've just given up and kept my powder dry. They clearly don't need to sell the car to me, and I'm not going to waste a whole day on going to see a car that I'm not feeling 90%+ about.
It's too easy to let the heart rule the head when buying cars. I know that if I uncover some sort of fault with a car after buying (that I could/should have spotted), it's likely to taint my ownership experience. So I try to make an investment of common sense up-front, in the hope that it pays back in the long-run.
In a few instances where the seller has been evasive or unwilling, I've just given up and kept my powder dry. They clearly don't need to sell the car to me, and I'm not going to waste a whole day on going to see a car that I'm not feeling 90%+ about.
It's too easy to let the heart rule the head when buying cars. I know that if I uncover some sort of fault with a car after buying (that I could/should have spotted), it's likely to taint my ownership experience. So I try to make an investment of common sense up-front, in the hope that it pays back in the long-run.
generationx said:
The furthest I went was Watford from south Essex while on the hunt for a Mk2 RS2000 in the mid 90s. Saw two in one day so it wasn´t a completely wasted one, but dear god what a minefield of rust, "tasteful" modifications, accident damage, never-raced-or-rallied etc.
Eventually found one two miles from my house...
Oh for a time machine and a barn to keep them in. Even those complete sheds would be worth a fortune nowEventually found one two miles from my house...
Did a 300-mile round trip to look at what was described as a Senator in "fantastic condition" and priced accordingly, had seen plenty of photos... of a different car.
Turned up and the one that was actually being sold was in the same condition as all other Vauxhalls of that era, with all the rust on the rear arches and then some badly filled and sprayed over job.
Worst of all though was that the one he was trying to sell didnt have the cool LCD dashboard like the one in the photos had sent.
Not quite sure who he thought he was fooling.
And what made it worse was, although the 150 mile journey there went without incident, the 150 mile journey back, took me 5 hours cos the Dartford crossing was closed
Turned up and the one that was actually being sold was in the same condition as all other Vauxhalls of that era, with all the rust on the rear arches and then some badly filled and sprayed over job.
Worst of all though was that the one he was trying to sell didnt have the cool LCD dashboard like the one in the photos had sent.
Not quite sure who he thought he was fooling.
And what made it worse was, although the 150 mile journey there went without incident, the 150 mile journey back, took me 5 hours cos the Dartford crossing was closed
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