The distance you'll go to buy a second hand car...
Discussion
Motorrad said:
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.
Awesome we have a winner here!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.
va1o said:
I 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.
Quite right. Unless the car is unusual or even a rare classic, it's pointless travelling more than 50miles. All mainstream cars in a price bracket are depressingly, or reassuringly - take your pick-similar. Low mileage is still a big draw but above all, avoid preconceived ideas and buy on condition.Caruso said:
The Spruce goose said:
buying a car requires time and a budget. you might get lucky but most of the time you have to kiss a few frogs to get the princess.
I read that and this is what went through my mind...
from this:
To this....
But there were a few wrong'uns on the way to this one, I once dragged my father to Wales to see a frogeye which turned out to be a midget once we got there, some people don't even know what they are selling.
Not so much distance in travelling but more going the distance, I spent 5 hours dragging a 7 series out of a garden with a winch, straps, blocks for a car parked sideways up a hill on grass with no keys which had also sunk into the floor and it was raining, not sure it was the best purchase I ever made and it certainly does keep fighting me but kinda worth it
50 miles is my LI'm it, but I've never been fussed and a car has always turned up.
Recently bought a E60 530d,that was about 40 miles away after going to look at a dog of.one 15 miles away, similar to the OP but private asked a load of questions gave the right answers.
Got there unwashed, all 4 "mint" wheels looked like they d come off a touring car after it had been thru the gravel trap.
Poor love after I'd berated him for his lies said well make me an offer I need it gone, I said I'm too polite to put it in to words what I'd offer.
And on that note we left.
Recently bought a E60 530d,that was about 40 miles away after going to look at a dog of.one 15 miles away, similar to the OP but private asked a load of questions gave the right answers.
Got there unwashed, all 4 "mint" wheels looked like they d come off a touring car after it had been thru the gravel trap.
Poor love after I'd berated him for his lies said well make me an offer I need it gone, I said I'm too polite to put it in to words what I'd offer.
And on that note we left.
Everyone is talking distance, but my last two purchases have been Volvo V70s, one 120 miles away, one 45. Probably the same travel time as one was M25/dual carriageway all the way the other in the depths of South London where roads have not yet been invented.
Both mainstream models, but the distance was justified to me by the spec, first ticked the boxes of "leather interior, not grey/silver/black". Second was "leather memory seats, nav, bluetooth" and I had to give up on not silver.
Last one was owned almost 8 years so worth investing some time/money on the hunt.
Andy
Both mainstream models, but the distance was justified to me by the spec, first ticked the boxes of "leather interior, not grey/silver/black". Second was "leather memory seats, nav, bluetooth" and I had to give up on not silver.
Last one was owned almost 8 years so worth investing some time/money on the hunt.
Andy
Not in a car, but I flew down to Luton from Aberdeen, hired a car and drove over to Shah motorsport near Dunmow in Essex to view an imported Evo, bought it but had it transported up at the beginning of the year.
Similarly, I've flown to Manchester to buy a used car in the past then drove it back up to Fraserburgh (40 miles north of Aberdeen).
Similarly, I've flown to Manchester to buy a used car in the past then drove it back up to Fraserburgh (40 miles north of Aberdeen).
Living in the North of Scotland, I was on the lookout for a straight six BMW 5 Series with a manual gearbox.
The BMW Used Cars website indicated, at the time, that there were only two available in the country and the best looking prospect was a car for sale, in London.
The car looked really good on the website and I decided to take the plunge and go and see the car.
I had a 520d BMW to part exchange against the 535i and after some discussion with the seller, we decided to meet half way down the country at Gretna Green, on the Scotland/England border, to have a look at both the cars.
I arrived at the meeting point first and after a two minute wait, with rising anticipation, a pristine, Space Grey, F11 Touring rolled up!
We exchanged greetings and after a good lookover/brief test drive of both cars, we agreed terms and signed off the deal in a nearby Coffee Shop!
I then had a memorable 250mile drive back up North in the newly acquired car which brought a perfect end to a 500 mile round trip!
Three years on, I still have the car, which has been my best purchase to date!
The BMW Used Cars website indicated, at the time, that there were only two available in the country and the best looking prospect was a car for sale, in London.
The car looked really good on the website and I decided to take the plunge and go and see the car.
I had a 520d BMW to part exchange against the 535i and after some discussion with the seller, we decided to meet half way down the country at Gretna Green, on the Scotland/England border, to have a look at both the cars.
I arrived at the meeting point first and after a two minute wait, with rising anticipation, a pristine, Space Grey, F11 Touring rolled up!
We exchanged greetings and after a good lookover/brief test drive of both cars, we agreed terms and signed off the deal in a nearby Coffee Shop!
I then had a memorable 250mile drive back up North in the newly acquired car which brought a perfect end to a 500 mile round trip!
Three years on, I still have the car, which has been my best purchase to date!
520miles which works out to about 11 hours non stop driving.
Each way.!
Found a JDM Subaru Legacy GT Facelift Gen IV Twinscroll with the 6speed Manual up in Rovaniemim northern Finland.
I have not see one for sale before or since in the UK or on the auction sites, so they are far from common so whilst I loved the WRX, I thought it might be worth a pop.
17:00 left home and dropped at Helsinki train station, jumped on the overnight train heading north, arrived about 09:00, met seller, nice guy, went for a drive and a coffee, agreed price and went to the bank. Back to the train station to put the car on the train for the journey overnight south, arrived about 09:30 following AM back home.
What?! you thought I was going to drive that far!
All in all about 39 hours and 1400 miles (as the train moves).
Was a bloody quick car, well worth it.
Each way.!
Found a JDM Subaru Legacy GT Facelift Gen IV Twinscroll with the 6speed Manual up in Rovaniemim northern Finland.
I have not see one for sale before or since in the UK or on the auction sites, so they are far from common so whilst I loved the WRX, I thought it might be worth a pop.
17:00 left home and dropped at Helsinki train station, jumped on the overnight train heading north, arrived about 09:00, met seller, nice guy, went for a drive and a coffee, agreed price and went to the bank. Back to the train station to put the car on the train for the journey overnight south, arrived about 09:30 following AM back home.
What?! you thought I was going to drive that far!
All in all about 39 hours and 1400 miles (as the train moves).
Was a bloody quick car, well worth it.
A couple of days ago I sold a 27 year old, 284000 mile VW Passat to a guy that came from Hereford to Kent to collect it, and was happy to drive it the 210 miles back home quite late at night.
Now I had every confidence it would be fine, but brave of him to trust an unknown car of that age and mileage to do that journey as a first trip! He texted me the next day to say the car had been faultless, and he had got back just after midnight, happy days.
Now I had every confidence it would be fine, but brave of him to trust an unknown car of that age and mileage to do that journey as a first trip! He texted me the next day to say the car had been faultless, and he had got back just after midnight, happy days.
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