Traveling To Buy A Car
Discussion
I buy cars regularly and I set a fairly strict 100 miles / 2 hours limit.
Simply because so many sellers lie
I did break this recently because it was a cheap, one owner car with FMDSH and when I spoke to the seller - a car dealer aged 75+ I trusted his description and it was spot on - I'd happily travel 5+ hours to buy similar cars.
Simply because so many sellers lie
I did break this recently because it was a cheap, one owner car with FMDSH and when I spoke to the seller - a car dealer aged 75+ I trusted his description and it was spot on - I'd happily travel 5+ hours to buy similar cars.
Euro star to Belgium started from Southampton to London. picked up the car and saved nearly £7k on price of one in UK. Full UK spec, funny thing was only one years warranty in Belgium, but on registering in local dealership in Southampton it reverted to 3 years 
Then a trip to Portsmouth to reg it on UK plates (about 2 1/2 hours including trip to Pompi and home) best thing was I filled the car up with beer/wine at tunnel so an excellent trip
Also did Southampton to Horsham for my MX5, I think I swore that would be my last train journey, filthy train, obnoxious passengers with feet on the seats, that's one of the reasons I love cars
Then a trip to Portsmouth to reg it on UK plates (about 2 1/2 hours including trip to Pompi and home) best thing was I filled the car up with beer/wine at tunnel so an excellent trip Also did Southampton to Horsham for my MX5, I think I swore that would be my last train journey, filthy train, obnoxious passengers with feet on the seats, that's one of the reasons I love cars
JASC1993 said:
Quick photo of the pick up today. An absolute beauty ??
I'm going to look at 3 cars for my Dad on Thursday and I'm already looking forward to it. The cars are quite specific - colour, gearbox and price range. . The plan is to leave home at 4am and go to the furthest one in Leeds for 8-9am breakfas, then to Doncaster if that one isn't bought, a final one in London and then back home to Maidstone.
The car I'll do it in? The super comfy luxobarge 520d? The MINI Clubman that transforms from a crashy town car to a supreme Motorway cruiser? No. I've vacuumed, washed, waxed, checked fluids, tyre pressures, loaded with crisps, snacks and drink, the mighty Daihatsu Charade 1.0 Super Leggera Automatic Shed.
My Brother and I have been on a few decent car buying road trips over the years. The last one was about 5 years ago when my brother decided he wanted to buy a K5 Chevrolet Blazer. The one he had his eye on was in Edinburgh and we live in Surrey! So very early one morning our Sister dropped us to Gatwick airport and EasyJet flew us up to Edinburgh airport. From there the seller picked us up and drove us about 30 minutes into the s
ttiest part of the UK I’ve ever seen 
We were greeted by this monster!
The seller showed us that it started and ran, explained what didn’t work (it would of been quicker to explain what did work!) and we were on our way!
It was freezing! The truck had no door seals, no heater, no exhaust (just the downpipes coming off the 5.7 V8 diesel!) and one of the wiper blades flew off when it started to rain
It took us about ten hours of continuous driving to get home. We had to stop every couple of hours for diesel because the fuel gauge didn’t work and we had no idea how much it might be using
ttiest part of the UK I’ve ever seen We were greeted by this monster!
The seller showed us that it started and ran, explained what didn’t work (it would of been quicker to explain what did work!) and we were on our way!
It was freezing! The truck had no door seals, no heater, no exhaust (just the downpipes coming off the 5.7 V8 diesel!) and one of the wiper blades flew off when it started to rain
It took us about ten hours of continuous driving to get home. We had to stop every couple of hours for diesel because the fuel gauge didn’t work and we had no idea how much it might be using
I have done a fair few over the years.
I live near Dover so the choice is usually train or coach for the outward journey.
I have done Leicestershire, Nottingham, London , Gloucester, Portland Bill all for internet purchases.
I had a guy come from North Wales to collect a Volvo 245 that was a 24hr+ round trip for him .
I also drove my friends super fit dance teacher daughter up to Manchester and back to collect her 206CC , we got some strange looks on the journey back from those thinking trophy wife / sugar daddy / daddy's little princess . That was a marathon journey due to fatal accidents, roadworks and motorways being closed
I live near Dover so the choice is usually train or coach for the outward journey.
I have done Leicestershire, Nottingham, London , Gloucester, Portland Bill all for internet purchases.
I had a guy come from North Wales to collect a Volvo 245 that was a 24hr+ round trip for him .
I also drove my friends super fit dance teacher daughter up to Manchester and back to collect her 206CC , we got some strange looks on the journey back from those thinking trophy wife / sugar daddy / daddy's little princess . That was a marathon journey due to fatal accidents, roadworks and motorways being closed
Not the furthest journey by mileage... but was certainly a palava. My first car.
Saw a broken Skoda Octavia TDI on eBay, it needed recovery. Car was in Derby, I was in Cheadle, Cheshire. Decided to borrow a mate’s dolly... only when it turned up, I realised the dolly was past its best. I did some hasty minor servicing (wheel bearings were ropey) and off I went to collect (Fiat Scudo van as tow car!).
Bought the car and gingerly loaded it on the dolly. The creaks and groans were worrying. These got MUCH worse as I drove off... Did all of about 10 Miles and decided the dolly was not likely to hold up on the country lanes all the way home. Returned back to the seller and advised I’d arrange for it to be transported. Should have done that from the start...
Saw a broken Skoda Octavia TDI on eBay, it needed recovery. Car was in Derby, I was in Cheadle, Cheshire. Decided to borrow a mate’s dolly... only when it turned up, I realised the dolly was past its best. I did some hasty minor servicing (wheel bearings were ropey) and off I went to collect (Fiat Scudo van as tow car!).
Bought the car and gingerly loaded it on the dolly. The creaks and groans were worrying. These got MUCH worse as I drove off... Did all of about 10 Miles and decided the dolly was not likely to hold up on the country lanes all the way home. Returned back to the seller and advised I’d arrange for it to be transported. Should have done that from the start...
Drove to Scotland from Brighton, around the NC500 and then test drove my Integra near York on the way back. Only saw it advertised while we were heading home so didn't have the money organised on a Sunday afternoon. Took the train back up to York the following Saturday to pick it up and then drove straight back. That was a long day considering it had the most uncomfortable fibreglass bucket seat..
Flew from South Carolina to San Diego to buy a 1984 Lotus Turbo Esprit. Stayed a night in a hotel in downtown San Diego. My jaw hit the floor when the seller pulled up in front of the hotel the next morning. He let me drive it back to his place to inspect it, including putting it up on his lift. Checked out, drove to the bank to pay the man and drove it to LA where a friend had arranged a truck to take it back to SC. I was sorely tempted to drive it back across country but my head said not this time.
Been through this a few times recently. I went from High Wycombe to Leicester to view a car, waste of time. Went from High Wycombe to Bedford to look at another, waste of time. Then we went from High Wycombe all the way down to Exeter and bought it. Left at 9am and was home again by 15:30.
The last one was a great trip, my wife got the rough end of the stick driving home in my old car, which is now her new car, I wafted home in a new (to me) car on cruise control listening to music. Not bad for a few hours work I guess, she picked up a free Mark 5 Golf GTI
The last one was a great trip, my wife got the rough end of the stick driving home in my old car, which is now her new car, I wafted home in a new (to me) car on cruise control listening to music. Not bad for a few hours work I guess, she picked up a free Mark 5 Golf GTI
geeman237 said:
Flew from South Carolina to San Diego to buy a 1984 Lotus Turbo Esprit. Stayed a night in a hotel in downtown San Diego. My jaw hit the floor when the seller pulled up in front of the hotel the next morning. He let me drive it back to his place to inspect it, including putting it up on his lift. Checked out, drove to the bank to pay the man and drove it to LA where a friend had arranged a truck to take it back to SC. I was sorely tempted to drive it back across country but my head said not this time.
That is gorgeous. I hope it turned out to be as good as it looked... For bog standard family car I wouldnt go more than 30 or 40 miles (am in Surrey/SW London). For my weekend toys though happy to go anywhere, bought cars from Cheltenham, Coventry and Gillingham - always love the drive home although always a little paranoid I have bought a dog and it will go bang!
Sold my Celica GT-Four recently and chap flew over from Ireland, stayed in a hotel, I went and got him early Saturday morning drove back to Richmond, parted his cash from him and he drove back to west Wales to get the ferry and was back in Cork by 9pm!
Sold my Celica GT-Four recently and chap flew over from Ireland, stayed in a hotel, I went and got him early Saturday morning drove back to Richmond, parted his cash from him and he drove back to west Wales to get the ferry and was back in Cork by 9pm!
Only 2 cars have been local, one MG was from fife (only a couple hours from aberdeen). The 200SX was from Birmingham (early flight!) And my current 335i was from a weird seaside town just north of Newcastle, got 2 trains from Aberdeen to morpeth and had to drive it up through the hills in snow & ice as I got diverted off the A1. That was interesting!
Sammo123 said:
My Brother and I have been on a few decent car buying road trips over the years. The last one was about 5 years ago when my brother decided he wanted to buy a K5 Chevrolet Blazer. The one he had his eye on was in Edinburgh and we live in Surrey! So very early one morning our Sister dropped us to Gatwick airport and EasyJet flew us up to Edinburgh airport. From there the seller picked us up and drove us about 30 minutes into the sttiest part of the UK I’ve ever seen We were greeted by this monster!
The seller showed us that it started and ran, explained what didn’t work (it would of been quicker to explain what did work!) and we were on our way!
It was freezing! The truck had no door seals, no heater, no exhaust (just the downpipes coming off the 5.7 V8 diesel!) and one of the wiper blades flew off when it started to rain
It took us about ten hours of continuous driving to get home. We had to stop every couple of hours for diesel because the fuel gauge didn’t work and we had no idea how much it might be using
I'm jealous - I've been on the lookout for some yank tank around Edinburgh/Fife with a thumping great V8 ttiest part of the UK I’ve ever seen We were greeted by this monster!The seller showed us that it started and ran, explained what didn’t work (it would of been quicker to explain what did work!) and we were on our way!
It was freezing! The truck had no door seals, no heater, no exhaust (just the downpipes coming off the 5.7 V8 diesel!) and one of the wiper blades flew off when it started to rain
It took us about ten hours of continuous driving to get home. We had to stop every couple of hours for diesel because the fuel gauge didn’t work and we had no idea how much it might be using
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