Where do you search for cars when looking to buy?

Where do you search for cars when looking to buy?

Author
Discussion

Wafflesmk2

Original Poster:

1,347 posts

155 months

Monday 19th March 2012
quotequote all
I saw an ideal car the other week,then bottle'd it, didnt look at it and it's now sold.

Trying to find another one in budget is proving to be a nightmare.

Im trying to locate an E90, 330d M Sport (ideally Saloon but touring would suffice - cant be the coupe and can't be black), iDrive, Xenons, less than 60k miles and less than 15 grand in cost. I've found some cars with iDrive and no Xenons and the other way around, i've seen the odd 320d with similar spec, but there's no movement on the spec i want.

I'd take a 335d also but they are even more rare and expensive. The nearest i've found is a 300d with everything i want but 1700 over budget and 200+ miles away.

I know im being fussy, but there must be out there! The one i saw was 42k miles with everything i wanted and just a little over 14 grand. Really regret not going to see it now frown

I've tried auto trader, BMW approved used, ebay and PH classifieds all to no avail. Am i missing anywhere obvious, or am i just going to have to wait/hope the right one comes up one day?

I suppose, slightly on topic, who else has had big car regrets over cars they didnt end up buying?

ecain63

10,588 posts

176 months

Monday 19th March 2012
quotequote all
I think, for this type of car youre looking in all the right places already.

VII

131 posts

158 months

Monday 19th March 2012
quotequote all


bowtie

Wafflesmk2

Original Poster:

1,347 posts

155 months

Monday 19th March 2012
quotequote all
VII said:


bowtie
Im confused frown

TomN94

2,401 posts

159 months

Monday 19th March 2012
quotequote all
Front Page waffles.

Wafflesmk2

Original Poster:

1,347 posts

155 months

Monday 19th March 2012
quotequote all
Haha, i get it now biggrin

billzeebub

3,864 posts

200 months

Monday 19th March 2012
quotequote all
You are looking in all the right places. I pretty much use Ph as my primary search, then expand to Autotrader and maybe Dealer Network. Failing that then look tentatively at Auction Site. The only other good source I use (though granted maybe what you're looking for is a tad young for this site) is Car and Classic. The right car will come up, especially seeing as how you are searching the Dealer network as well. If you need to get something quickly then maybe compromise on colour/spec, otherwise don't lower your criteria and patience will be rewarded. I searched for around 6 months for both of my 90s weekend cars, and even a month for the daily..

have you tried speaking to your local dealer groups? worth a shot maybe. If you build up a rapport they may call you before its retailed thus negating you missing the right car. Of course you may also be contacted with an endless stream of unsuitable vehicles!..

Edited by billzeebub on Monday 19th March 23:30

Wafflesmk2

Original Poster:

1,347 posts

155 months

Tuesday 20th March 2012
quotequote all
Damn, looks like im going to have to be less impatient then! frown

Wafflesmk2

Original Poster:

1,347 posts

155 months

Wednesday 4th April 2012
quotequote all
Still looking. Still failing.

Im stunned how crap the selection is on the used BMW website. About 80% of the cars on there a peasant spec 320d SE models.

Annoying frown

ben5732

763 posts

157 months

Wednesday 4th April 2012
quotequote all
Take your time one will pop up. Waited over 2 months to find what i was after.

Matt UK

17,713 posts

201 months

Wednesday 4th April 2012
quotequote all
Patience grasshopper.

Set up some search alerts and maybe put a wanted ad in PH.

When you do see the one you want, get in quickly.

vixen1700

22,978 posts

271 months

Wednesday 4th April 2012
quotequote all
Took me two months to find the right Civic Type R recently, looking on here, Autotrader and the Type R sites.

It's horrible when you have money burning a hole in your pocket and you can't find the right one isn't it? hehe

Wafflesmk2

Original Poster:

1,347 posts

155 months

Wednesday 4th April 2012
quotequote all
vixen1700 said:
Took me two months to find the right Civic Type R recently, looking on here, Autotrader and the Type R sites.

It's horrible when you have money burning a hole in your pocket and you can't find the right one isn't it? hehe
Exactly that. I've started looking at different specs but realise its a compromise and rageclose my web browser laugh

kiethton

13,896 posts

181 months

frosted

3,549 posts

178 months

Thursday 5th April 2012
quotequote all
kiethton said:
I bet if you bought that today and sold it tomorrow you would struggle to get 10k for it

Wafflesmk2

Original Poster:

1,347 posts

155 months

Thursday 5th April 2012
quotequote all
frosted said:
I bet if you bought that today and sold it tomorrow you would struggle to get 10k for it
Why so bad? They retail on auto-trader at similar prices.

F i F

44,113 posts

252 months

Thursday 5th April 2012
quotequote all
Only thing I can suggest is that some dealers only put vehicles on their own websites and don't have them on manufacturer, autotrader etc. Downside is these people also seem to set prices quite high