How far would you go to buy a car?
Discussion
Hi
So I have been looking for a BMW Z4 for a while. There are loads out there but few come up with the spec I want at a price I am willing to pay.
A really nice looking one has come up but it is 103 miles away from me. The dealer claims it is perfect (of course he would) but I can't help but think its a long round trip on a punt.
I have asked the dealer to comment on the honest condition as I have told him I feel it unlikely to be 100% perfect. I told him I would prefer him to say there are a few scratches here and there etc those things can be fixed but loss of faith in the seller can't.
So I have been looking for a BMW Z4 for a while. There are loads out there but few come up with the spec I want at a price I am willing to pay.
A really nice looking one has come up but it is 103 miles away from me. The dealer claims it is perfect (of course he would) but I can't help but think its a long round trip on a punt.
I have asked the dealer to comment on the honest condition as I have told him I feel it unlikely to be 100% perfect. I told him I would prefer him to say there are a few scratches here and there etc those things can be fixed but loss of faith in the seller can't.
I'd express to the dealer how serious you are about buying the right Z4 in the best possible condition, and that his is coming up trumps. Ask him to take the time to photograph a list of all your requirements, if he's a decent sort of bloke he should be willing to. I've done this many times with my customers who have been a distance away, the most resulted in them leaving a deposit on the strength of my photos and bought the car.
Current MR2 I have I flew from Newcastle to Exeter. Got picked up by the seller and drove to Bournemouth for it.
Intact the only local cars I've ever bought. Were snotters. Apart from my first brand new car nearly new. That was because they were Nissan s and there's millions rounf here being close to the factory.
Intact the only local cars I've ever bought. Were snotters. Apart from my first brand new car nearly new. That was because they were Nissan s and there's millions rounf here being close to the factory.
If you are travelling 100 miles then make sure if they DO get any interest or sell it in the mean time that they ring you.
I've travelled to see a 'mint' Z4 when I was buying mine to find the guy I spoke to had buggered off home after selling it a few hours earlier that morning!
I've driven some big miles before to see some real s
t heaps so I tend to avoid it now.
Dave
I've travelled to see a 'mint' Z4 when I was buying mine to find the guy I spoke to had buggered off home after selling it a few hours earlier that morning!
I've driven some big miles before to see some real s
t heaps so I tend to avoid it now.Dave
I flew from Newcastle to Gatwick once to pick up a pre-reg Fiesta, even brought my dad with me for moral support (I was 18 and had never bought a new car).
Nowadays I've resigned myself to the fact that if it's cheaper than all the others on Autotrader it's probably a dog. Definitely wouldn't travel more than 100 miles to pick up a snotter.
I'd drive up to 200 miles to pick up a nice car though, and indeed made two trips to Chester (150 miles each way, so 600 miles total) to view and, later, collect my Z4.
Nowadays I've resigned myself to the fact that if it's cheaper than all the others on Autotrader it's probably a dog. Definitely wouldn't travel more than 100 miles to pick up a snotter.
I'd drive up to 200 miles to pick up a nice car though, and indeed made two trips to Chester (150 miles each way, so 600 miles total) to view and, later, collect my Z4.
I bought two cars on the south coast when living near Basingstoke - about a 2 hour drive due to having to go down then across. Then, when living in Woking I bought a car in the furthest reaches of Essex (and looked at a complete stheap in Birmingham which was a little depressing as it was a couple of hours each way on the M40), and finally in Nottingham.
Personally, it depends on the car - in general a couple of hours each way but if I'm looking for something particular then going pretty much anywhere is fine; though I'd draw the line if I needed flights!
theap in Birmingham which was a little depressing as it was a couple of hours each way on the M40), and finally in Nottingham.Personally, it depends on the car - in general a couple of hours each way but if I'm looking for something particular then going pretty much anywhere is fine; though I'd draw the line if I needed flights!
103 miles?? nothing, ive driven that to get a take-away 
(but thats a different story lol)
if the cars worth having then its worth doing, Ive driven to lancashire to look at vans (from berkshire) and not even made an offer, cornwall twice, sussex/brighton area tonnes, Cumbria, all be it not mega far exactly but a fair old hog by yourself just to view a car lol even drove 20 odd miles with only 1st and 2nd gear!! it makes for good stories and makes you appreciate your new purchase even more!!
(but thats a different story lol) if the cars worth having then its worth doing, Ive driven to lancashire to look at vans (from berkshire) and not even made an offer, cornwall twice, sussex/brighton area tonnes, Cumbria, all be it not mega far exactly but a fair old hog by yourself just to view a car lol even drove 20 odd miles with only 1st and 2nd gear!! it makes for good stories and makes you appreciate your new purchase even more!!
P Nuts said:
103 miles?? nothing, ive driven that to get a take-away (but thats a different story lol)
If we're gonna divert the thread (why not eh? (but thats a different story lol) 
) I drove from Sunderland to Edinburgh once for lunch because me and my mate were bored. I really enjoyed being young and carefree now that I think about it...103 miles is local as far as I am concerned
I've gone thousands of miles... but back in 1985 my Mom won the prize. She stopped into the local BMW dealer (She had a 2 year old 533i) and asked if they would be getting the new M5 that she read about in Road and Track and was told that it wasn't coming to America and "She didnt need that kind of power anyway".
Cue me, at 10 years old finding a dealer specializing in selling grey market cars in Belgium who had one. A phone call, a wired deposit and a flight to Belgium later she bought herself an M5. Oh, we're from Northern New Jersey USA.. so that's what.. 5,000 miles I suppose?
I've gone thousands of miles... but back in 1985 my Mom won the prize. She stopped into the local BMW dealer (She had a 2 year old 533i) and asked if they would be getting the new M5 that she read about in Road and Track and was told that it wasn't coming to America and "She didnt need that kind of power anyway".
Cue me, at 10 years old finding a dealer specializing in selling grey market cars in Belgium who had one. A phone call, a wired deposit and a flight to Belgium later she bought herself an M5. Oh, we're from Northern New Jersey USA.. so that's what.. 5,000 miles I suppose?
I am just about to travel a minimum of 400 (both ways) as I live in deepest darkest Cornwall and the closest car that fits our criteria is in Chobham wherever that is otherwise it will be Stevenage.
To be honest I would prefer to buy local as this weekend is going to be a real hassle.
To be honest I would prefer to buy local as this weekend is going to be a real hassle.
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