How far would you travel for a cheap car?

[funkyrobot]

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?

[funkyrobot]

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?

[funkyrobot]

TooMany2cvs said:

funkyrobot said:

Was it a Renault 5?

Outside... Now.
<rolls sleeves up>

Come on then!
<jumps around punching the air>

[funkyrobot]

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 ).

[funkyrobot]

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.

Will check train ticket prices.

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

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]

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.

Sounds like fun.

[funkyrobot]

sdkrc said:

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.

Is the banger still running? Or was the second journey a result of it failing?

[funkyrobot]

Single train ticket for one person is over £100! And the journey time is over four hours!

Would be cheaper to hire a car or drive there myself.

[funkyrobot]

Searider said:

funkyrobot said:

Single train ticket for one person is over £100! And the journey time is over four hours!

Would be cheaper to hire a car or drive there myself.

Really, for a pre-booked ticket on named service.

Where to where?

Must be able to do better than £100, surely?

Spalding to Bristol.

I have, however, only looked in one place at the moment.

[funkyrobot]

macky17 said:

I always think that the further you travel, the more you need to trust the seller and the less bargaining power you have. Have you spoken to them on the phone? Does your gut say 'good car'? It's a fair chunk of your life you'll never get back if it turns out not to be as described.

I will speak to the seller when I am sure of a date and time I can visit them.

Don't see the point at the moment, as I don't know when I can make the journey.

[funkyrobot]

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

Edited by skyrover on Friday 12th February 12:12

No back window?

[funkyrobot]

DrTre said:

Try splitting the ticket. Various websites around.

Will give that a try.

[funkyrobot]

funkyrobot said:

DrTre said:

Try splitting the ticket. Various websites around.

Will give that a try.

Worked a treat. Got it down to £52.00

Thanks.

[funkyrobot]

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?

Indeed.

As pointed out in the bargain basement thread.

[funkyrobot]

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.
I could take a look if you like, but I'm a bit of a numpty and clueless buying cars.

Thanks, but don't worry. If I can see it in time and it is good, it'll most probably be used for better things.

I'm a numpty too, if that helps.