Collecting a cheap, sight unseen, car

[paul_c123]

Today I bought a car for £325. I have seen pictures of the car, but it doesn't come with a mechanical report (it was in the "No Reserve" section), it has 123k miles and is a 2008 VW Golf diesel. I am collecting it on Friday, by public transport then planning to drive it back. Tax and insurance are covered, and it has 9 months MoT.

The question is, what would you take?

I am thinking:

1l coolant
1l engine oil (any oil...)
some cable ties
a tyre inflator
a diagnostic computer
some really basic tools, like a few screwdrivers/pliers/common sizes of spanners/adjustable spanner (bearing in mind I am walking about a mile and on the train/bus)

[Huntsman]

A noco booster pack.

[Nickp82]

More fun if you take nothing

Auction will give you a jump to get you going if needed

[Wheelspinning]

A warm jacket, and food.

[Raymond Reddington]

AA or RAC membership number and phone number….

I do hope you have breakdown cover

[interstellar]

I’m in for this. Keep us posted please

[Mr Tidy]

I'd add a roll of gaffer tape to the list.

Good luck, and let us know how you get on.

[the griffin]

I think you’ve got everything covered, chances are it’ll be fine and you’ll not need anything.
Keep us updated.

[Hugo Stiglitz]

Wheelspinning said:

A warm jacket, and food.

And a fully charged phone with a powerbank

[Dave _]

Mr Tidy said:

I'd add a roll of gaffer tape to the list.

Good luck, and let us know how you get on.

Gaffer tape to go with his cable ties?

Next someone will say he needs chloroform and a cloth as well…

[Blue_star]

A mate who wants adventure and can come with you/drive you

[soad]

Raymond Reddington said:

AA or RAC membership number and phone number .

I do hope you have breakdown cover

Their app is easier to use, to report a breakdown and the location.

[Matt_T]

I suspect that your AA, RAC etc membership won't cover you for this as any issue would have been present before you owned it. I can imagine them saying no...

[vikingaero]

It's not a proper car collection caper unless you're hundreds of miles away from home!

[7 5 7]

Matt_T said:

I suspect that your AA, RAC etc membership won't cover you for this as any issue would have been present before you owned it. I can imagine them saying no...

RAC cover yourself not the car, so you could be passenger in your mates car and if that breaks down your covered.

So suspect they will, doesn't matter if you own the car or not, so in this case it would be fine if you need them.

Keep us updated OP, was it an auction buy?

[fooman]

Phone, a credit card and breakdown cover s all I'd take unless you have some prior knowledge of issue.

[Rob 131 Sport]

Love stories like this, that are so much more interesting than collecting a new SUV EV Bore Box.

What were the auction fees on such a purchase.

[M138]

I’m going to suggest a bottle of K-Seal
Great for head gasket failure on old bangers.

[E36Ross]

If its a dog, it probably aint fixable road side anyway.... But its a Diesel Golf, it it starts and drives itll probably make it back.

[paul_c123]

Rob 131 Sport said:

Love stories like this, that are so much more interesting than collecting a new SUV EV Bore Box.

What were the auction fees on such a purchase.

The fees always sting on a cheap car purchase. These were £255 (on a £325 car). I bought another car 3 days ago too, it was only £175 and the fees were more than the car (£179)!

vikingaero said:

It's not a proper car collection caper unless you're hundreds of miles away from home!

Unfortunately, its 'only' 40 miles away. It involves motorway driving though. I will look up the non-motorway route, in case it goes into limp mode (and I can't reset that with the diag machine).

Mr Tidy said:

I'd add a roll of gaffer tape to the list.

Good luck, and let us know how you get on.

Duct tape is a good call, whether to take them IN ADDITION to cable ties, not sure now?

I do have an idea to not take any coolant, instead taking 1l of water and some juice concentrate. If I can get there and check it over before I get too thirsty, if it has coolant I'll use the water to make up some juice for the drive home. If not, I'll just add the water and stop at a shop (possibly for coolant as well as a drink!)

I do have the luxury of being able to leave it there if its unroadworthy, then arrange transportation. But what's the fun in that? My main fear is it working initially then something weird happening on the journey. I am in the RAC but they probably won't cover me for this heap of ****.