Easter car buying road trip
Discussion
TLDR - collection thread for a (hopefully only) slightly rusty car that's a very long way away.
Since selling my 996 last summer I’ve been undecided about what to replace it with. I wanted something fun to drive, with enough space to go away for a weekend with my wife and the dog which ruled out most 2 seaters, and ideally relatively cheap to run.
I’d looked at MGBs with a view to doing a Zetec engine swap and possible Frontline suspension upgrades, but there wasn’t any overlap between what a solid car now sells for and what I was prepared to pay. If a 944 S2 was a decade older and tax exempt I would probably have had one of those last year! I’ve fancied an Elise S1 for years, but it would hardly get used. I came close to buying a Abarth 595 and Clio 182 Trophy, thinking my wife can use it instead of the Caravelle day to day, but she wasn’t keen on either.
Then I stumbled upon this, I won’t say what it is just yet. I thought they were beyond me, this wasn’t as it’s tatty but (apparently) solid, the only exception to that being the boot opening channel/gutter which is holed. It's got some nice retromod type bits on it, it ticks all the boxes, and with the added bonus that anything I spend on it is likely to add to its value.
Anyway, I’m in Kent and it’s in the north of Scotland so we’re going on an Easter road trip to collect it. We're turned it into a family adventure, albeit one dragging a trailer as there are to many spares to drive it back with the spares in the car. The seller seems genuine and honest, so let’s hope it’s as solid as he says, it’s a bloody long way to go if it isn’t!
Since selling my 996 last summer I’ve been undecided about what to replace it with. I wanted something fun to drive, with enough space to go away for a weekend with my wife and the dog which ruled out most 2 seaters, and ideally relatively cheap to run.
I’d looked at MGBs with a view to doing a Zetec engine swap and possible Frontline suspension upgrades, but there wasn’t any overlap between what a solid car now sells for and what I was prepared to pay. If a 944 S2 was a decade older and tax exempt I would probably have had one of those last year! I’ve fancied an Elise S1 for years, but it would hardly get used. I came close to buying a Abarth 595 and Clio 182 Trophy, thinking my wife can use it instead of the Caravelle day to day, but she wasn’t keen on either.
Then I stumbled upon this, I won’t say what it is just yet. I thought they were beyond me, this wasn’t as it’s tatty but (apparently) solid, the only exception to that being the boot opening channel/gutter which is holed. It's got some nice retromod type bits on it, it ticks all the boxes, and with the added bonus that anything I spend on it is likely to add to its value.
Anyway, I’m in Kent and it’s in the north of Scotland so we’re going on an Easter road trip to collect it. We're turned it into a family adventure, albeit one dragging a trailer as there are to many spares to drive it back with the spares in the car. The seller seems genuine and honest, so let’s hope it’s as solid as he says, it’s a bloody long way to go if it isn’t!
There is nothing as noble as a road trip to buy a car. Seems many people dislike travelling for things, yet there is no finer reason for a journey. I've done a 400-mile round trip with overnight stop for a service. And I'm going 250 miles tomorrow for a gearbox.
Looking forward to updates!
Looking forward to updates!
600miles up to Fort William yesterday, traffic was pretty slow around Liverpool and Glasgow but otherwise it was an easy drive.
I was hoping to stop at the Clachaig for dinner but there was nowhere to park with the trailer.
Glenfinnan and Loch Ness today, and picking up the car in the morning.
I was hoping to stop at the Clachaig for dinner but there was nowhere to park with the trailer.
Glenfinnan and Loch Ness today, and picking up the car in the morning.
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