How far would you travel for a car?
Discussion
I've seen a car that looks good on the adverts, genuine seller, good price.
Everything seems good. The only problem is the car is in somerset, 230 miles from my house...
The cars value is under 2k, but is quite rare in the form that it is in - and it is perfectly what I wanted (and haven't seen before)
Would you undergo a 460 mile trip and risk the car not being what it looked like?
Dan
Everything seems good. The only problem is the car is in somerset, 230 miles from my house...
The cars value is under 2k, but is quite rare in the form that it is in - and it is perfectly what I wanted (and haven't seen before)
Would you undergo a 460 mile trip and risk the car not being what it looked like?
Dan
What sort of car is it your looking for? If there thin on the ground you might have much choice then to travel but to save a couple of hundered quid its not worth it as you'll use that in petrol just going to look at it.
I went all the way to West Wales from Surrey to buy a Porsche a few weeks ago but then it was in the exact spec and price range I wanted. Finding another car like it would have taken a couple of months probabaly.
I went all the way to West Wales from Surrey to buy a Porsche a few weeks ago but then it was in the exact spec and price range I wanted. Finding another car like it would have taken a couple of months probabaly.
I wouldn't (again!). Theres nothing more depressing than driving back in the car you want to change having seen the car you wanted, but not as described (or whatever reason).
Unless it was genuine enthusiast-owned car with lots of detailed pictures and lots of prior communication, but still...
Unless it was genuine enthusiast-owned car with lots of detailed pictures and lots of prior communication, but still...
I have a friend who will go anywhere in the country and he's found some real crackers so to him it's worth doing.
Me, I limit my searches to within five miles. It just means I have to wait a bit longer for the right car to come along; took a month to find my current daily driver but at least I can get to see a reasonable number of cars in a day and when I do buy one it's a 10-minute taxi ride to collect it.
But I wouldn't knock anybody who does it the other way.
Me, I limit my searches to within five miles. It just means I have to wait a bit longer for the right car to come along; took a month to find my current daily driver but at least I can get to see a reasonable number of cars in a day and when I do buy one it's a 10-minute taxi ride to collect it.
But I wouldn't knock anybody who does it the other way.
I've done Central Scotland to Chester via train before to buy a car, and picked up my new 172 Cup from Edgware Road in London - drove a hire car down that time. I've also had a fellow forum member kindly offer to check out a car for me which was a similar distance away. Lucky he did as it turned out to be far from described.
Also had one guy travel all the way from London to me for a set of alloy wheels! 6 hours here, 15 minutes checking they were all okay, handing the cash over and then he turned around and headed back home!
Also had one guy travel all the way from London to me for a set of alloy wheels! 6 hours here, 15 minutes checking they were all okay, handing the cash over and then he turned around and headed back home!
it looks like a clean example and sounds like a heck of a lot of car for £2k.
It must be worth a 3 hour drive if thats what you are looking for?
Just ask as many questions you can before going, get the v5 ref number so you can do a vosa mot check, find out if it sounds genuine - number of keys, how many old mots/bills, hpi clear, how long owned, in his name at that address etc you will soon guage if its NOT worth travelling.
It must be worth a 3 hour drive if thats what you are looking for?
Just ask as many questions you can before going, get the v5 ref number so you can do a vosa mot check, find out if it sounds genuine - number of keys, how many old mots/bills, hpi clear, how long owned, in his name at that address etc you will soon guage if its NOT worth travelling.
rallycross said:
it looks like a clean example and sounds like a heck of a lot of car for £2k.
It must be worth a 3 hour drive if thats what you are looking for?
Just ask as many questions you can before going, get the v5 ref number so you can do a vosa mot check, find out if it sounds genuine - number of keys, how many old mots/bills, hpi clear, how long owned, in his name at that address etc you will soon guage if its NOT worth travelling.
I've spoke to the seller, he is a MG rover enthusiast and owns one of those V8 ZT's, so instant respect..It must be worth a 3 hour drive if thats what you are looking for?
Just ask as many questions you can before going, get the v5 ref number so you can do a vosa mot check, find out if it sounds genuine - number of keys, how many old mots/bills, hpi clear, how long owned, in his name at that address etc you will soon guage if its NOT worth travelling.
He says it has FSH, and has just had a headgasket and cambelt... will have to ask him if the head was skimmed etc.
Do as much research as you can on the vehicle, with pics if possible, and a good chat to the owner, just to let
them know how for you are travelling. I just make it a bit of a road trip, and can't remember the last time I bought a car locally, they are usually too expensive compared to what's out there.
Impreza Mk1 - 180 miles
Bora 150 - 200 miles
CTR Anniversary - 500 miles
Mk3 UK 300 Impreza - 400 miles
Hawkeye Sti Impreza - 400 miles
Golf GTI Turbo - 600 miles
them know how for you are travelling. I just make it a bit of a road trip, and can't remember the last time I bought a car locally, they are usually too expensive compared to what's out there.
Impreza Mk1 - 180 miles
Bora 150 - 200 miles
CTR Anniversary - 500 miles
Mk3 UK 300 Impreza - 400 miles
Hawkeye Sti Impreza - 400 miles
Golf GTI Turbo - 600 miles
I live just outside Preston.
I bought an Alfa 156 from Colchester.
a GTV from North London.
a Griffith from Guildford.
an Esprit from Surrey.
an F328 from London.
a Mini from Southend.
a Guzzi from London.
I would travel anywhere in the UK for the right car or bike.
In fact, only yesterday I was pondering the possibility of having an old Triumph Trident imported from the USA, but that would be cheating, because I would have to buy it unseen.
If you live in the Grim North and want anything unusual, then there's a good chance that you will need to travel to get it.
Only once have I been disappointed and come home empty handed, and that was when I went to Bristol to look at an Alfa Sprint.
I quite fancy a trip to France to buy a Citroen 2CV van (or DS Decapotable when I win the pools).
I bought an Alfa 156 from Colchester.
a GTV from North London.
a Griffith from Guildford.
an Esprit from Surrey.
an F328 from London.
a Mini from Southend.
a Guzzi from London.
I would travel anywhere in the UK for the right car or bike.
In fact, only yesterday I was pondering the possibility of having an old Triumph Trident imported from the USA, but that would be cheating, because I would have to buy it unseen.
If you live in the Grim North and want anything unusual, then there's a good chance that you will need to travel to get it.
Only once have I been disappointed and come home empty handed, and that was when I went to Bristol to look at an Alfa Sprint.
I quite fancy a trip to France to buy a Citroen 2CV van (or DS Decapotable when I win the pools).
I'd travel any distance providing I don't have to catch a ferry or a plane; as long as I can just drive there, it doesn't bother me so much. Did a 400 mile round trip for the 156. Making a 300 mile round trip for the GTV. The 156s new owner is coming from Ireland by plane, which just strikes me as lunacy! 
Last Saturday, a very nice chap called Alasdair flew down from Edinburgh to London, bought my W124 300E Merc for less than a grand and then drove it all the way home.
There'd been lots of e-mails and photos (of the car, not each other!) backwards and forwards so he knew exactly what he was getting.
So OP - my advice is don't be afraid to ask lots of questions, get him the seller to send photos of anything and everything, make it clear you're travelling a long way so expect full disclosure, and trust your instincts as to whether or not the seller is being straight with you. Good luck!
There'd been lots of e-mails and photos (of the car, not each other!) backwards and forwards so he knew exactly what he was getting.
So OP - my advice is don't be afraid to ask lots of questions, get him the seller to send photos of anything and everything, make it clear you're travelling a long way so expect full disclosure, and trust your instincts as to whether or not the seller is being straight with you. Good luck!
The above poster, does remind me of one instance, that I'd forgotten about. After looking at one great condition, but unfortunately very slow version, of a Mk IV Golf, we then spent the rest of the w'end looking at 3 cars before I found the mint Golf T, that I eventually bought. All three at 3 seperate dealers. First one, the wing/light unit was way out of alignment, possible prang, but mainly the car stank of cigarette smoke. Second one, the motor was described as good condition, it was stood outside, with green algea in all the rubber seals, and a big scratch running down the passenger side. Third was a great looking motor, top price. Started it up, and well straight to the point, the headgasket had gone. White smoke everywhere, horrible water pump noise, and more mayo than Hellmans.
I'd asked all of the dealers about the cars, and they'd basically just chosen not to mentioned the faults, even though my questions where specific. Might be lucky, but never had this once with private sale, when telling the seller how far I was travelling, and to be brutally honest about the car.
I'd asked all of the dealers about the cars, and they'd basically just chosen not to mentioned the faults, even though my questions where specific. Might be lucky, but never had this once with private sale, when telling the seller how far I was travelling, and to be brutally honest about the car.
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