Ever narrowly missed out on a car? Or done it to someone?
Discussion
I've done it to someone for the first time today.
Paid deposit on a new car today, only to be told that another customer had previously left the dealership 'very interested' but wanted 24 hours to think it over.
Hard luck, old boy.
I then pondered "I'd be livid if that were me" but then argued "if you want it that badly, don't walk away".
Then got me thinking, I wonder what epic vehicles people on here have narrowly missed out on. So, at the risk of entering "cool story bro" territory, any tales to tell?
Paid deposit on a new car today, only to be told that another customer had previously left the dealership 'very interested' but wanted 24 hours to think it over.
Hard luck, old boy.
I then pondered "I'd be livid if that were me" but then argued "if you want it that badly, don't walk away".
Then got me thinking, I wonder what epic vehicles people on here have narrowly missed out on. So, at the risk of entering "cool story bro" territory, any tales to tell?
When I was on the hunt for a Z4 coupé I found one at a BMW dealership. The same franchise had a dealership that was closer to me so I phone them up asking if I could see the car there. They were fine with this and had the car driven down. The car was excellent so I agreed a price, put down a deposit and signed the paper work. 2 hours after I got home I had a phone call from the dealership telling me that unfortunately the car has been sold at the dealership further away from me 3 day before hand (Why did they even drive it down). Needless to say I wasn't impressed and was even more annoyed that it took them 2 weeks to give me my £500 deposit back.
Yep,happened to me. Driving to view a car (vx220) and got a message when 20 miles away to say it had been sold the day before. Really pissed me off as i was travelling from isle of wight to north london and had paid for ferry crossing etc......
Nevermind, picked up another example a month later....
Mike
Nevermind, picked up another example a month later....
Mike
richcorsavxr said:
isn't that just standard dealer talk, to presure you into buying it?
Occasionally it can be, but it usually isn't. Just as people who walk who get told there's someone else appointed to see it later on think it's spiel. Then they kick off when they find out it wasn't and someone else made the decision to buy before them.
OP - they had their opportunity to buy, they walked. You had your chance too, you bought.
"Money talks, bulls
t walks" Nearly 'stole' an absolutely stunning XJ-S.
Very low mileage, low ownership..all that stuff and it was offered for a song. Drove 200miles to go see it....loved it.... Guy said he had someone else interested, but that they had another to go look at 'near London'. I'm sure that was the very rusty/ratty car I had looked at the previous day for more then he was asking for his..so I knew as soon as they saw it they would be begging this guy to sell them this immaculate one. Sadly I got cold feet because I was worried what OH would say. I realised my error the next morning but it was too late. I then went on to spend more then the XJ-S would have cost on my XJ anyway.
Also had someone transfer the money into my bank account, sight unseen for a Land Rover I sold. I did feel a bit bad telling the guy who wanted to come see it at the weekend (this was a Monday) that it had been sold but how could I turn down the full asking price? He wasn't too happy but until a deposit has been paid the seller doesn't owe the buyer anything.
Very low mileage, low ownership..all that stuff and it was offered for a song. Drove 200miles to go see it....loved it.... Guy said he had someone else interested, but that they had another to go look at 'near London'. I'm sure that was the very rusty/ratty car I had looked at the previous day for more then he was asking for his..so I knew as soon as they saw it they would be begging this guy to sell them this immaculate one. Sadly I got cold feet because I was worried what OH would say. I realised my error the next morning but it was too late. I then went on to spend more then the XJ-S would have cost on my XJ anyway.
Also had someone transfer the money into my bank account, sight unseen for a Land Rover I sold. I did feel a bit bad telling the guy who wanted to come see it at the weekend (this was a Monday) that it had been sold but how could I turn down the full asking price? He wasn't too happy but until a deposit has been paid the seller doesn't owe the buyer anything.
I've done it to someone, but only on a complete shed!
I was without a car and a long-standing family friend who runs a secondhand forecourt gave me a call, had a reasonable old Escort in, would give it to me for £300, chucked me the keys to have a look over it when I arrived. He popped out a couple of minutes later to say "Sam, do you want this car? As in, do you want to take it now?" and I thought, yeah, sure, why not.
"Well get in and we'll drive it to your place quick smart, because I've got a trader coming over for it in about half an hour, we can come back here and sort the paperwork out once it's off the front"
He drove me the mile back to my house in the car, left it there, we got a lift back to the forecourt via a cash machine, job done. Fair enough
I was without a car and a long-standing family friend who runs a secondhand forecourt gave me a call, had a reasonable old Escort in, would give it to me for £300, chucked me the keys to have a look over it when I arrived. He popped out a couple of minutes later to say "Sam, do you want this car? As in, do you want to take it now?" and I thought, yeah, sure, why not.
"Well get in and we'll drive it to your place quick smart, because I've got a trader coming over for it in about half an hour, we can come back here and sort the paperwork out once it's off the front"
He drove me the mile back to my house in the car, left it there, we got a lift back to the forecourt via a cash machine, job done. Fair enough
Yes, on a Volvo 850 T5 saloon.
I saw a mint one advertised down south. Rang up and was told that there was a bloke coming to see it the next day. I said I'd buy it over the telephone if need be, and I'd travel down and pick it up to drive home in. The dealer was out, so his missus told me she'd get him to call me when he got in.
They called me 20 minutes later, having sold the car by telephone to the other bloke. Fair, I suppose, as he had got in touch first. I was a bit disappointed in having missed out on it, but more hopeful that it wasn't a stinker in disguise, saying as I had forced this bloke's hand!
I saw a mint one advertised down south. Rang up and was told that there was a bloke coming to see it the next day. I said I'd buy it over the telephone if need be, and I'd travel down and pick it up to drive home in. The dealer was out, so his missus told me she'd get him to call me when he got in.
They called me 20 minutes later, having sold the car by telephone to the other bloke. Fair, I suppose, as he had got in touch first. I was a bit disappointed in having missed out on it, but more hopeful that it wasn't a stinker in disguise, saying as I had forced this bloke's hand!
was on my way to view a 205 1.9 gti (60 miles away) when 2/3rds of the way into the trip the seller called to say it had gone, was pissed i hadn't got a wriggle on earlier in the day but was glad the guy had the decency to call me. went on to buy a nail of a 205 1.9 gti from a dealer a week later but that's a whole other story.
brought a 3 year old nissan 200sx, give the bloke 50 quid deposit as someone else was looking at it, it was the s14a model and the worst car i ever owned so poetic justic there, i missed a 330ci when looking for mine cos it was to good to be true, in the end thought sod it and went to view it, it had been sold 2 hours previous.
Back in '08, we were looking for a replacement to the 60k diesel Scenic we had. Found in Autotrader a year old Scenic for not much money and ad read "50 miles"...
Rang the guy, who answered quickly and said he had been going through the answer phone enquiries regarding the car as he had been away on holiday the previous week. I said I'd be straight over - about an hour and a half drive, and we sealed the deal.
Turned out the car was a prize for a horsey event and the owner didnt want it. It had 46 miles on the clock!
Friday morning, found an old '98 civic 5 door for sale with 22k on the clock. Salesmen didnt return calls and was 100 miles away.
Saturday morning I was off to see my accountant so on the way stopped off to call the car still available but 1 hour away. Got there, haggled, got it for what I had in my pocket, and its bloody ronseal! Almost as it left the factory with fsh..
Missed more than Ive got though - usually because I dont decide quick enough and give it a day to think before I go look.
Rang the guy, who answered quickly and said he had been going through the answer phone enquiries regarding the car as he had been away on holiday the previous week. I said I'd be straight over - about an hour and a half drive, and we sealed the deal.
Turned out the car was a prize for a horsey event and the owner didnt want it. It had 46 miles on the clock!
Friday morning, found an old '98 civic 5 door for sale with 22k on the clock. Salesmen didnt return calls and was 100 miles away.
Saturday morning I was off to see my accountant so on the way stopped off to call the car still available but 1 hour away. Got there, haggled, got it for what I had in my pocket, and its bloody ronseal! Almost as it left the factory with fsh..
Missed more than Ive got though - usually because I dont decide quick enough and give it a day to think before I go look.
Chap had traveled from the Isle of Wight to Merseyside to view the Jaguar in my profile. Upon viewing decided he wanted it but needed to measure his garage before putting down a deposit, as it was the LWB version and he wasn't certain it'd fit. Few hours later I rocked up and purchased it then and their.
Would I have been pissed off had it happened to me? Perhaps. But then I don't understand why you'd go seriously shopping for a car when not in the position to immediately purchase, simply weakens your position if you cant move then and there.
Would I have been pissed off had it happened to me? Perhaps. But then I don't understand why you'd go seriously shopping for a car when not in the position to immediately purchase, simply weakens your position if you cant move then and there.
piefacemate said:
Chap had traveled from the Isle of Wight to Merseyside to view the Jaguar in my profile. Upon viewing decided he wanted it but needed to measure his garage before putting down a deposit, as it was the LWB version and he wasn't certain it'd fit..
Well it's not like his garage was at home before he travelled all that way was it? Oh, hang on...Took my R32 out for a test drive and then did the deal. Was walking out the showroom and the other salesman talking to two blokes stood by my future car.
The two guys looked at me and one said to the other "what a bloody waste of petrol that was boyo" (in Welsh accent) bearing in mind was in mid Hampshire. A rye appeared on my face at that point.
The two guys looked at me and one said to the other "what a bloody waste of petrol that was boyo" (in Welsh accent) bearing in mind was in mid Hampshire. A rye appeared on my face at that point.
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