Traveling To Buy A Car
Discussion
Michaelbailey said:
Love a car buying trip. When I bought my S4 B5 I went from south Manchester to Yeovil by train. (one way ticket)
Thankfully the car was in good shape otherwise I would have had a long journey back! Set off at 6.30am and got there at noon.
That's a good journey time! I set off 5:40 and hoping to be home by approx 15:30! It's a new car so unless the PDI missed something major should be good *touch wood*Thankfully the car was in good shape otherwise I would have had a long journey back! Set off at 6.30am and got there at noon.
I both love and hate it. I have driven to a car three hours away (having confirmed at 9am when I set off all was well) to find they sold it to a local guy who came over at 10am. The f***rs didn't bother to call me to let me know either.
But then I have also driven from Essex to Bath to deliver a car I was selling, then up to Warwick to collect my new toy and back to Essex home.
But then I have also driven from Essex to Bath to deliver a car I was selling, then up to Warwick to collect my new toy and back to Essex home.
I wanted an Elise 220 Cup 2 years ago and couldn't find one for love nor money.
Signed up to a Facebook page for Cup owners and found a car for sale privately.
Turns out it was in Aberdeen, I was in Bedfordshire. Couldn't get much further really.
Had a lot of dialogue with the owner and all people verified it was a good car and the owner was straight.
Got an Easy Jet flight from Luton to Aberdeen and a hotel for the night. Seller collected me from the airport, went back to his house to look over the car and do the deal.
Thankfully the car was as described, deal done and I drove to the hotel with a big smile on my face.
The next morning the sun was shining, got up and started off home and took the scenic tour through the Northumbrian National Park taking in all the twisties and getting some nice experience of the car.
Rest of the journey was via the A1 so not that exciting but all in all a great journey home.
Stopped for a pic in Northumbria peaks.
Signed up to a Facebook page for Cup owners and found a car for sale privately.
Turns out it was in Aberdeen, I was in Bedfordshire. Couldn't get much further really.
Had a lot of dialogue with the owner and all people verified it was a good car and the owner was straight.
Got an Easy Jet flight from Luton to Aberdeen and a hotel for the night. Seller collected me from the airport, went back to his house to look over the car and do the deal.
Thankfully the car was as described, deal done and I drove to the hotel with a big smile on my face.
The next morning the sun was shining, got up and started off home and took the scenic tour through the Northumbrian National Park taking in all the twisties and getting some nice experience of the car.
Rest of the journey was via the A1 so not that exciting but all in all a great journey home.
Stopped for a pic in Northumbria peaks.
Composite Guru said:
I wanted an Elise 220 Cup 2 years ago and couldn't find one for love nor money.
Signed up to a Facebook page for Cup owners and found a car for sale privately.
Turns out it was in Aberdeen, I was in Bedfordshire. Couldn't get much further really.
Had a lot of dialogue with the owner and all people verified it was a good car and the owner was straight.
Got an Easy Jet flight from Luton to Aberdeen and a hotel for the night. Seller collected me from the airport, went back to his house to look over the car and do the deal.
Thankfully the car was as described, deal done and I drove to the hotel with a big smile on my face.
The next morning the sun was shining, got up and started off home and took the scenic tour through the Northumbrian National Park taking in all the twisties and getting some nice experience of the car.
Rest of the journey was via the A1 so not that exciting but all in all a great journey home.
Stopped for a pic in Northumbria peaks.
awesome looking thing! what a day that must of beenSigned up to a Facebook page for Cup owners and found a car for sale privately.
Turns out it was in Aberdeen, I was in Bedfordshire. Couldn't get much further really.
Had a lot of dialogue with the owner and all people verified it was a good car and the owner was straight.
Got an Easy Jet flight from Luton to Aberdeen and a hotel for the night. Seller collected me from the airport, went back to his house to look over the car and do the deal.
Thankfully the car was as described, deal done and I drove to the hotel with a big smile on my face.
The next morning the sun was shining, got up and started off home and took the scenic tour through the Northumbrian National Park taking in all the twisties and getting some nice experience of the car.
Rest of the journey was via the A1 so not that exciting but all in all a great journey home.
Stopped for a pic in Northumbria peaks.
I live in Birmingham, so I always aim to travel far away for a car. That said my Lexus was bought not 5 minutes from my house and it was fantastic.
Bought my current car from Manchester, around a 2 hour drive back, it's a reasonably rare spec and well looked after so I had to have it. I like travelling for a car, a long drive back is a good way to get used to the car and an opportunity to listen for any untoward noises on longer, high speed trips.
Edited to add, the bloke I bought my car off in Manchester bought it from Newquay, he caught a flight to pick it up, so fair play to that man there
Bought my current car from Manchester, around a 2 hour drive back, it's a reasonably rare spec and well looked after so I had to have it. I like travelling for a car, a long drive back is a good way to get used to the car and an opportunity to listen for any untoward noises on longer, high speed trips.
Edited to add, the bloke I bought my car off in Manchester bought it from Newquay, he caught a flight to pick it up, so fair play to that man there
Edited by BenKH95 on Friday 29th March 09:19
MondeoMan1981 said:
Currently on my way to Liverpool (from Edinburgh) to get a car.
What's PH'ers tales of traveling to get a car, how far have you gone?
I'm getting up at dawn and driving from West Berks to the close to the Peak District tomorrow to look at a car (160 miles), and did the same a few years ago (coincidentally). My wife's car came from North Wales. The way I see it is if you're spending £5k plus on a car that'll last you years, what's £30 in fuel and a day out to find the right car? £5,030, or £10,030? No problem.What's PH'ers tales of traveling to get a car, how far have you gone?
Longest I've done in terms of distance is Gloucestershire to Hatfield, but a mate very kindly gave me a lift.
Most inconvenient was Gloucestershire to Coventry, which I did via train. It would have been easy if I'd been able to get a train to Birmingham, but the line was closed due to a signal failure so I had to get a bus to Oxford, two trains then a taxi at the other end.
One of my colleagues once went from Wick to Dorset to buy a car. Wick -> Edinburgh by air, then Edinburgh -> Heathrow (flight), Heathrow -> Woking (bus), Woking -> Dorchester (train) then a taxi at he other end. All in it took him something like 11 hours, plus two day's drive back.
Most inconvenient was Gloucestershire to Coventry, which I did via train. It would have been easy if I'd been able to get a train to Birmingham, but the line was closed due to a signal failure so I had to get a bus to Oxford, two trains then a taxi at the other end.
One of my colleagues once went from Wick to Dorset to buy a car. Wick -> Edinburgh by air, then Edinburgh -> Heathrow (flight), Heathrow -> Woking (bus), Woking -> Dorchester (train) then a taxi at he other end. All in it took him something like 11 hours, plus two day's drive back.
Despite living in London my last three car purchases have been :-
BMW 320 d - Somewwhere in Oxfordshire
Suburu Legacy - Chippenham
SAAB 900- Somewhere in the Hampshire countryside
Only the BMW was from a dealer, and I part exchanged the Suburu, the others were private and involved trains, and in the Suburu's case a return trip the very next day after viewiing it, the seller finally accepting that the price he wanted for a 2.5 petrol estate that stank of dogs and cigars wasn't acheviable.
BMW 320 d - Somewwhere in Oxfordshire
Suburu Legacy - Chippenham
SAAB 900- Somewhere in the Hampshire countryside
Only the BMW was from a dealer, and I part exchanged the Suburu, the others were private and involved trains, and in the Suburu's case a return trip the very next day after viewiing it, the seller finally accepting that the price he wanted for a 2.5 petrol estate that stank of dogs and cigars wasn't acheviable.
Went from Edinburgh down to pick up a classic Range Rover in Manchester via a night out in Birmingham. Had to catch the train from Birmingham early doors with a massive hangover. Arrived in Manchester phone ran out of data so I couldn't use my map app to find the guys house. Called the guy got some directions & had to call him when I arrived at the flat to let me in as no buzzer but by that time battery had then ran out on my phone.
Charged phone in the guys house did a bank transfer for the amount which wouldn't show up on his account & after calling his bank they said it wouldn't show up till next day. He was very trusting so let me take the car
Car seemed ok, drove fine on a quick test drive but as soon as I got on the motorway it developed a horrific wobble which felt like the wheels were going to drop off and then the abs light came on & the brakes turned to s
te!
All turned out ok in the end a few bushes & a steering damper cured the wobble and the abs was just a dodgy sensor.
Charged phone in the guys house did a bank transfer for the amount which wouldn't show up on his account & after calling his bank they said it wouldn't show up till next day. He was very trusting so let me take the car
Car seemed ok, drove fine on a quick test drive but as soon as I got on the motorway it developed a horrific wobble which felt like the wheels were going to drop off and then the abs light came on & the brakes turned to s
te!All turned out ok in the end a few bushes & a steering damper cured the wobble and the abs was just a dodgy sensor.
Bought a couple of cars from London when I was living near Glasgow. No problem with doing that for the right car - flights aren’t too expensive and if the seller is genuine and decent and you likewise - they’ll be happy to get you from an airport/station
I’ve mates who won’t leave the county to buy a car and see perfect cars for sale a couple of hours away but deem it too far away. Oddballs.
I’ve mates who won’t leave the county to buy a car and see perfect cars for sale a couple of hours away but deem it too far away. Oddballs.
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