buying from distance
Discussion
I've found a car that i like the sound of, decent price and the photos/mileage look good. I've contacted the seller and he has sent me the digital service history of the vehicle. An MOT and HPI check does not reveal anything untoward. I'm going to speak to him this evening to discuss further and potentially offer a holding fee for a few days.
Only downside is its 100 miles away and, as it's a private seller, i can't just trade in my old car and drive off. Annoyingly its also a pain to get from where i am to where he is via public transport, doubly so if i have to return on it! I have heard of Shiply, whereby someone will collect the car for you at a pre-agreed price. Has anyone here used this service and is it reliable? I could drive there, inspect the car, drive back and arrange delivery. No doubt i'm massively overthinking this but i don't buy cars very often so want some reassurance
Only downside is its 100 miles away and, as it's a private seller, i can't just trade in my old car and drive off. Annoyingly its also a pain to get from where i am to where he is via public transport, doubly so if i have to return on it! I have heard of Shiply, whereby someone will collect the car for you at a pre-agreed price. Has anyone here used this service and is it reliable? I could drive there, inspect the car, drive back and arrange delivery. No doubt i'm massively overthinking this but i don't buy cars very often so want some reassurance
I've bought from a distance three times
1st: Honda Accord 2.4 petrol from an independent dealer. No problems but that's more due to the car being pretty bullet proof.
2nd: Kia Sorento from an independent dealer. AWD system was faulty. Thankfully it was less than 30 days and the garage was honourable and refunded me in full. I did check out their rating beforehand though.
That was a hassle having to drive back down again with a rear diff waiting to go bang so I vowed never again.
Then I found a car in Leeds but it was Infiniti so being a franchise they have one on Glasgow and could ship it up on a transporter. Had two minor issues but fixed no problem at the local branch which is only 10 minutes away. This is the only way I would buy from a distance.
1st: Honda Accord 2.4 petrol from an independent dealer. No problems but that's more due to the car being pretty bullet proof.
2nd: Kia Sorento from an independent dealer. AWD system was faulty. Thankfully it was less than 30 days and the garage was honourable and refunded me in full. I did check out their rating beforehand though.
That was a hassle having to drive back down again with a rear diff waiting to go bang so I vowed never again.
Then I found a car in Leeds but it was Infiniti so being a franchise they have one on Glasgow and could ship it up on a transporter. Had two minor issues but fixed no problem at the local branch which is only 10 minutes away. This is the only way I would buy from a distance.
I've done it before (and thinking about it again now)
Depends what the car is and value I guess (whats your maximum loss if it all go t*ts up)
I bought an X-Type from deepest Cornwall completely unseen (other than photos and a long chat over the phone), had a bloke drive it up to me.
It was £4500 at the time so was a reasonable amount if it went wrong.Do your due diligence and do what feels right.
This latest one is a bit more money and further away so more due diligence
Depends what the car is and value I guess (whats your maximum loss if it all go t*ts up)
I bought an X-Type from deepest Cornwall completely unseen (other than photos and a long chat over the phone), had a bloke drive it up to me.
It was £4500 at the time so was a reasonable amount if it went wrong.Do your due diligence and do what feels right.
This latest one is a bit more money and further away so more due diligence
I buy cars unseen all the time and over much longer distance (last one was last week and it was in NYC, I'm in Dallas TX which is 1500 miles give or take. I usually am only interested in these long distance cars if they're cheap and I can get out of them easily if it goes sideways (usually by dismantling).
If you have concerns , run your own vehicle history report to make sure that nothing he's sending you is suspect, or have him take it to a local specialist for inspection and pay them to give you a report or if you want to see it yourself. Find a location that's convenient to you both which is not hard to get to via public transport and meet him there. Let him know that if the deal works out, you will drop him off back to his house.
100 miles isn't far.
If you have concerns , run your own vehicle history report to make sure that nothing he's sending you is suspect, or have him take it to a local specialist for inspection and pay them to give you a report or if you want to see it yourself. Find a location that's convenient to you both which is not hard to get to via public transport and meet him there. Let him know that if the deal works out, you will drop him off back to his house.
100 miles isn't far.
Done it many times and on cars up to £40k.
I've always got the seller to send me lots of photos and a few videos of the car being started etc along with some extensive questions. if all checks out then I pay for an inspection at a main dealers nearby and if it gets a clean bill of health, use Shiply to deliver the car on a trailer.
I've always got the seller to send me lots of photos and a few videos of the car being started etc along with some extensive questions. if all checks out then I pay for an inspection at a main dealers nearby and if it gets a clean bill of health, use Shiply to deliver the car on a trailer.
bx14 said:
I'll speak to the guy this evening, ask for more pics and a video of it starting (hadn't thought of that!)
Will report back with his feedback and see what people think...
Do some googling on the most common issues with the car and focus on those in addition to obvious stuff like oil cap, tyre tread, etc. Make sure you get another video of dash when starting as that can be helpful if any check control messages show.Will report back with his feedback and see what people think...
ZX10R NIN said:
Why not get him to pick you up from a mainline station that's best for you. Or get a mate to run you up there, yes it's a 4 hour round trip but for me you can't beat viewing the car in person.
Yes, I'll definitely view it in person but it's the logistics of making sure it's worth the trip and getting the car home either on the day or using a 3rd party to deliver it. Hadn't really considered how easy it is now to just get a video walk around in advance. I'll update later when I know more. Thanks all for your thoughts so far.
Have you got Thrifty car rental close to you and to the car your looking at ? if you have look at a 1 way hire, its usually around £40, other companies want £100 +. If the owner will pick you up from the station it will give you chance to have a very quick look over the car, usually you can spot a wrong un in the first 30 seconds, that way if it is no good you can jump back on the train.
If it is ok you can use the trip back to his house as a test drive. I would let them drive so you can listen for any noises and to see how mechanically sympathetic they are too it. If it all seems good insure it for the day have a drive yourself then pay up and leave.
Get the bank details before you travel, set the account up and send £1 to ensure you have the correct details, most banks will however let you bank transfer 10k in any one day.
For train travel its usually cheaper to split tickets and normally a £1 or so extra to make a day return ticket. If they are in the middle of nowhere make sure they are happy for you to use their wifi
If it is ok you can use the trip back to his house as a test drive. I would let them drive so you can listen for any noises and to see how mechanically sympathetic they are too it. If it all seems good insure it for the day have a drive yourself then pay up and leave.
Get the bank details before you travel, set the account up and send £1 to ensure you have the correct details, most banks will however let you bank transfer 10k in any one day.
For train travel its usually cheaper to split tickets and normally a £1 or so extra to make a day return ticket. If they are in the middle of nowhere make sure they are happy for you to use their wifi
Right, I'm taking the plunge. One way Thrifty hire, thanks for heads up on that BTW. Spoke last night and he struck me as a genuine chap. We agreed that he would upload a video of the car starting and a quick walk around, he did that first thing this morning for me and, I know it's a small thing, but the front of house looked to be well kept and I thought that was a good sign. I was never completely convinced by the shiply option, although their bids are getting very low and tempting but for the peace of mind I'll do it myself. Will update with a pic of my new wheels in a few days. If I don't post again he was bogus and my body is in a Nottingham landfill...
Thank you for your thoughts and advice.
Thank you for your thoughts and advice.
Out of interest what are you going to look at ...
Always go with your gut feeling, make sure the invoices you see match the address you are at, and also look around you when you are there see if pictures of the owner are there. Take your time don't get distracted and its easier to pay £100 on an extra days car hire or return trip by taxi than buying the wrong car. I spent 2 years buying from the private market and you soon get a feel for the good ones.
Always go with your gut feeling, make sure the invoices you see match the address you are at, and also look around you when you are there see if pictures of the owner are there. Take your time don't get distracted and its easier to pay £100 on an extra days car hire or return trip by taxi than buying the wrong car. I spent 2 years buying from the private market and you soon get a feel for the good ones.
If it's what you really want and can't find one nearer, 100 miles isn't that far!
I drove 100 miles to Cambridgeshire on Sunday 24 March to view a car and left a deposit on it.
Was planning a day trip with a mate who has trade plates to collect it, but he had a car that he needed to take to an auction in Norfolk so we put that on his Transit transporter and made a little detour on the way back to collect mine - result!
But 3 years ago I went from Berkshire to Rugby to look at a car, left a deposit and took a train (or 3) to pick it up - well worth it each time.
I drove 100 miles to Cambridgeshire on Sunday 24 March to view a car and left a deposit on it.
Was planning a day trip with a mate who has trade plates to collect it, but he had a car that he needed to take to an auction in Norfolk so we put that on his Transit transporter and made a little detour on the way back to collect mine - result!
But 3 years ago I went from Berkshire to Rugby to look at a car, left a deposit and took a train (or 3) to pick it up - well worth it each time.
If it’s the car you want - go for it.
Sometimes we forget it costs time and money to find a car.
Compare travelling costs with the time you’ll spend looking for that perfect one to turn up next door, but be prepared to walk.
F f sake don’t tell them you are travelling 500 mile to look at it or you lose any negotiation powers, or show them your return ticket.
Sometimes we forget it costs time and money to find a car.
Compare travelling costs with the time you’ll spend looking for that perfect one to turn up next door, but be prepared to walk.
F f sake don’t tell them you are travelling 500 mile to look at it or you lose any negotiation powers, or show them your return ticket.
Last October I bought a car 550 miles away, privately, no inspection,just did as much homework as humanly possible and then went on gut feeling as to the type of people the sellers were and the car itself. Paid a £500 deposit,flew up from London City airport, got collected by the owner and left to my own devices to spend as long as needed checking it over, then drove back over the course of two days stopping at a specialist en route to do a once over for future reference.
Worked out fine, but if I’d had any doubts in my mind whatsoever I wouldn’t have done it.
Worked out fine, but if I’d had any doubts in my mind whatsoever I wouldn’t have done it.
I live in Inverness, as you can imagine there isn’t a huge selection of cars and rust is everywhere.
I have been to London for a 83 Datsun cherry turbo, a 01 focus (free though) and a e61 520d.
Been to Norfolk for a 87 defender and a 84 323i.
Been to Birmingham for a Merc s430.
Been to Cheshire for a broken rolls Royce.
Been to South Wales for what was the cheapest L322 Range Rover in the uk at the time.
I have also had a S14a 200sx delivered from Ipswich via Shipley.
Bought 2 cars from the USA and only my mum viewing them upon delivery.
Buying cars when you can see them is too boring!
I have been to London for a 83 Datsun cherry turbo, a 01 focus (free though) and a e61 520d.
Been to Norfolk for a 87 defender and a 84 323i.
Been to Birmingham for a Merc s430.
Been to Cheshire for a broken rolls Royce.
Been to South Wales for what was the cheapest L322 Range Rover in the uk at the time.
I have also had a S14a 200sx delivered from Ipswich via Shipley.
Bought 2 cars from the USA and only my mum viewing them upon delivery.
Buying cars when you can see them is too boring!
Datsun cherry turbo! Drove one in late eighties and regretted not buying it - insurance scared me off. Hope yours was a good one!
Bought a few cars unseen, always get the train with a return ticket booked so I can walk away - First one I bought was a dishonest rally car dealer and the car wasn't anywhere near his description, but having travelled all day with trailer it was easier to take it with a bit of discount and give myself six months of welding instead of going home empty trailered. So always give myself an opt out now, and never been dissapointed since. Got a surprise turning up to buy a dahatsu sirion rally 4 to find out it had the loudest exhaust I'd ever heard, but it kind of grew on me
Bought a few cars unseen, always get the train with a return ticket booked so I can walk away - First one I bought was a dishonest rally car dealer and the car wasn't anywhere near his description, but having travelled all day with trailer it was easier to take it with a bit of discount and give myself six months of welding instead of going home empty trailered. So always give myself an opt out now, and never been dissapointed since. Got a surprise turning up to buy a dahatsu sirion rally 4 to find out it had the loudest exhaust I'd ever heard, but it kind of grew on me
Bought it back in 2013 when I was 18 and got my first Years no claims. It was on gumtree with a mot running out in 3 days or so. Booked flights for me and my mate, the guy ragged it round some London streets, I paid him and set off. Sat at 80-90 the entire way home except outside Glasgow a snow storm hit and I had bald tyres.
Was crusty and blew 2 headgaskets, straight through exhaust from turbo to back, upgraded turbo with boost way too high, big intercooler dangling out the front and no abs/airbags/power steering
Was hilarious fun, would run side by side with the Astra vxr’s till 70ish, doors would flap above that and would get scary above 90.
Ran it for a year and it got sold back to birmingham where it got restored.
Scarily small!
Was crusty and blew 2 headgaskets, straight through exhaust from turbo to back, upgraded turbo with boost way too high, big intercooler dangling out the front and no abs/airbags/power steering
Was hilarious fun, would run side by side with the Astra vxr’s till 70ish, doors would flap above that and would get scary above 90.
Ran it for a year and it got sold back to birmingham where it got restored.
Scarily small!
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