Spontaneous Car Purchases
Discussion
I was at a Sunday Service at MB World, Brooklands having a pre-breakfast browse of PH when I saw an Audi A8 mentioned in the 'Best smoker barges 1-5 large' thread. Before breakfast had ended I'd arranged to see it on my way home to Chesterfield (it was in Darwen, Lancs. By the time I arrived home late that evening I'd put a deposit on it. I still have it, six years later.
Was sitting as my desk one Friday evening thinking I’d like a convertible car.
Saw a Z4 maybe 2 hours away.
Called the guy and agreed to meet half way.
Drove there via the bank with the now wife.
She drove home - he didn’t come with a ride so I took him home and then had an awesome blast at night with roof down enjoying my new whip!
Other times I take months...and never buy anything.
Saw a Z4 maybe 2 hours away.
Called the guy and agreed to meet half way.
Drove there via the bank with the now wife.
She drove home - he didn’t come with a ride so I took him home and then had an awesome blast at night with roof down enjoying my new whip!
Other times I take months...and never buy anything.
Most are pretty spontaneous. My current car (Octavia) I’d never been in one (sober), never driven one, had pretty much no idea about them but it was a bargain on lease lol
My Q7 was a Thursday impulse after seeing it pop up as local and newly added and had it financed and driven off 2hrs later.
My TTS was a Tuesday evening impulse bored working away from home from a car supermarket type place. Finance arranged and collected it the following evening.
Had several eBay punts that have ended in purchases.
Keeps the Mrs on her toes lol
My Q7 was a Thursday impulse after seeing it pop up as local and newly added and had it financed and driven off 2hrs later.
My TTS was a Tuesday evening impulse bored working away from home from a car supermarket type place. Finance arranged and collected it the following evening.
Had several eBay punts that have ended in purchases.
Keeps the Mrs on her toes lol
The four below were all spotted and paid for in the same day.
Honda FD2 - bought from Litchfield as they were the only ones importing them at the time. Spotted it appear on their website when I was looking for an S2000. Sent the missus down to collect it as I was stuck at work.
Bought a one year old Audi S3 saloon without a test drive. Got in at the dealer then hopped straight back out as I didn’t know how to open the fuel flap. I was going to look at a Merc A45 in Blackburn but the dealer said to me I couldn’t drive it away that day as the finance department weren’t open! Pulled over, looked at Auto trader when the S3 was listed the same day in a dealer in Ulverstone. Turned around and was driving it three hours later. Merc dealer was a bit gobsmacked when he called later on in the afternoon if I wanted to make an appoint for Monday evening and I had to tell him that’s it ok as I’ve just bought a car.
About 15 months later, same dealer had a C63 pop up. Wasn’t actively looking but dropped him an email. Left work in Blackpool and was heading back to Lancaster with a V8 rumble in front of me. In the snow. Wasn’t much fun I’ll admit....
Bought my current £3k snotter Alfa 159 SW same day from a chap in Warrington via eBay. That took a little longer as I had to get the cash out of the bank and a train down.
The only cars I’ve waited for have been ordered new.
Honda FD2 - bought from Litchfield as they were the only ones importing them at the time. Spotted it appear on their website when I was looking for an S2000. Sent the missus down to collect it as I was stuck at work.
Bought a one year old Audi S3 saloon without a test drive. Got in at the dealer then hopped straight back out as I didn’t know how to open the fuel flap. I was going to look at a Merc A45 in Blackburn but the dealer said to me I couldn’t drive it away that day as the finance department weren’t open! Pulled over, looked at Auto trader when the S3 was listed the same day in a dealer in Ulverstone. Turned around and was driving it three hours later. Merc dealer was a bit gobsmacked when he called later on in the afternoon if I wanted to make an appoint for Monday evening and I had to tell him that’s it ok as I’ve just bought a car.
About 15 months later, same dealer had a C63 pop up. Wasn’t actively looking but dropped him an email. Left work in Blackpool and was heading back to Lancaster with a V8 rumble in front of me. In the snow. Wasn’t much fun I’ll admit....
Bought my current £3k snotter Alfa 159 SW same day from a chap in Warrington via eBay. That took a little longer as I had to get the cash out of the bank and a train down.
The only cars I’ve waited for have been ordered new.
In total honesty, I can't remember the last time I actually planned a car purchase. Just this week I pick up a B5 A4 Avant, buddy put it in a group chat, just said I'd take it. No rhyme or reason, but a change of scenery. I go through 4 or 5 sheds a year this way. Pretty much cost-neutral motoring. I'll drive that til the tax runs out in August then punt it on again.
I usually research, research and research what car/ model I want. I usually know every available extra, every item that 'could' go wrong, prices, depreciation, tax, insurance prices etc.
Once a particular model is chosen, I then start looking. A spot of a car on the internet usually means within half a day I have visited and bought the car in a whirlwind. I don't recall ever not buying a car I went to see to purchase. (naivety in the extreme, but I haven't bought too many lemons!
)
Once a particular model is chosen, I then start looking. A spot of a car on the internet usually means within half a day I have visited and bought the car in a whirlwind. I don't recall ever not buying a car I went to see to purchase. (naivety in the extreme, but I haven't bought too many lemons!
)minghis said:
2016 BMW 440i GC bought and paid for within 5 minutes of seeing it.
I had no idea I was going to buy it however I was close to pulling the trigger on a A45 so budget was set. Sat in it, drove it round the block and knew it was the one.
Sometimes you just know.
Normally I’ve researched a car to death before test driving it and frankly if the sales man can get me in for a test drive - all my cars have meant I buy it there and then. I had no idea I was going to buy it however I was close to pulling the trigger on a A45 so budget was set. Sat in it, drove it round the block and knew it was the one.
Sometimes you just know.
AdeTuono said:
Nearly all of mine have been spontaneous. Decide I want an 'x'; check eBay/Autotrader for the nearest, buy it. Normally the same day.
Either that, or drunken, late-night eBay purchases. Most notably a NYC cab and an American school bus.
You don’t live in Yorkshire do you.Either that, or drunken, late-night eBay purchases. Most notably a NYC cab and an American school bus.
I pass an American school bus all the time
Mrs Tidy bought a new Mini One from Sytner, Sunningdale in 2003.
And based on the service she got I bought a 320td from Scotthall (who were brilliant) that I had serviced by Sytner as they were the nearest main dealer (my 320td had a service pack).
She then got invited to the R56 launch event, and came home with an order placed for a Red Cooper.
So that may have something to do with why I got invited to an event at BMW in Bracknell for the launch of the facelift 1 Series, among others, in early 2007.
I loved it, but waited a bit and later in 2007 (September IIRC) the 123d got released.
Anyway around Xmas 2007 I was off work with time to spare and found a pre-registered 123d SE Dynamic on the BMW AUC listing, which may have been one of the 1st used listings for a 123d.
Still I went to view it and left a deposit on it that day.
Given I was taking a car allowance from work instead of a diesel Golf/A3 company car it just made sense to me, and I ended up keeping it for over 6 years and 80K miles, so spontaneous can work out well!
And based on the service she got I bought a 320td from Scotthall (who were brilliant) that I had serviced by Sytner as they were the nearest main dealer (my 320td had a service pack).
She then got invited to the R56 launch event, and came home with an order placed for a Red Cooper.
So that may have something to do with why I got invited to an event at BMW in Bracknell for the launch of the facelift 1 Series, among others, in early 2007.
I loved it, but waited a bit and later in 2007 (September IIRC) the 123d got released.
Anyway around Xmas 2007 I was off work with time to spare and found a pre-registered 123d SE Dynamic on the BMW AUC listing, which may have been one of the 1st used listings for a 123d.
Still I went to view it and left a deposit on it that day.
Given I was taking a car allowance from work instead of a diesel Golf/A3 company car it just made sense to me, and I ended up keeping it for over 6 years and 80K miles, so spontaneous can work out well!
Ilovejapcrap said:
AdeTuono said:
Nearly all of mine have been spontaneous. Decide I want an 'x'; check eBay/Autotrader for the nearest, buy it. Normally the same day.
Either that, or drunken, late-night eBay purchases. Most notably a NYC cab and an American school bus.
You don’t live in Yorkshire do you.Either that, or drunken, late-night eBay purchases. Most notably a NYC cab and an American school bus.
I pass an American school bus all the time
I think a lot depends on the financial position one is in.
If one is a powerfully built financial director (as all of us are on PH) then dropping 10-large on a whim is no problem, whereas those peasants with only a couple of grand of hard-saved money will probably be looking to make sure they are not going to be throwing all that money into a bottomless pit that needs replacing in three months time
If one is a powerfully built financial director (as all of us are on PH) then dropping 10-large on a whim is no problem, whereas those peasants with only a couple of grand of hard-saved money will probably be looking to make sure they are not going to be throwing all that money into a bottomless pit that needs replacing in three months time
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