RE: PH Blog: buyer's notes

RE: PH Blog: buyer's notes

Monday 3rd December 2012

PH Blog: buyer's notes

Alex tries to buy a new car, but finds that the sellers aren't as keen to get rid as you'd expect



On my arrival at PH I was pleased to find my choice of wheels, an E39 BMW 528i, met with a reasonable murmur of approval. However, what I didn't tell you back then was that the E39 was actually up for sale.

E39 was great while it lasted
E39 was great while it lasted
I bought it nearly two years ago now, needing a big, comfortable barge capable of swallowing miles without fuss. I'd been a bit of a BMW sceptic until then, but the 528i converted me pretty quickly. I became a huge fan, and as the months wore on into years, the BM gradually became one of my longest-owned cars.

But earlier this year, I started to become increasingly mindful of the 528i's growing mileage. I decided I wanted to sell it before it hit the big 150,000, and so it went up for sale early in November. After three weeks without a single phone call, it finally went last weekend. I'm not afraid to say I was rather gutted to watch it drive down the road; I'd become rather attached to it, and it felt like watching a faithful old retriever being taken off to the vets for the last time.

So, to cheer myself up, I turned my thoughts to its replacement. I'd decided to go for something a little quirkier, a little more interesting, and probably a little older than the Beemer. With the need to commute in it removed, it didn't need to be too sensible, and as such, there were plenty of options with my £2,000 budget.

900 Turbo was one of the contenders
900 Turbo was one of the contenders
Chief among them was the Mk1 Toyota MR2. They aren't universally loved, partly thanks to their reputation as rust mongers, but I was drawn to the combination of their oh-so-80s straight-edged lines, their revvy, mid-mounted engines and the T-bar roof. And, of course, the kid inside me had always wanted a car with pop-up headlights.

But as is always the way with these things, all those cars I'd seen and earmarked in the classifieds simply seemed to dry up the moment I actually found myself endowed with some folding to throw around. I called up about two promising cars; one had sold that morning, and another turned out to be up in Scotland. So I turned to some of the other cars I'd been considering. A Citroen BX GTi, for example, had sold the day before. An utterly fantastic CX GTi had sold two days before that. I scoured eBay for a classic Saab 900 Turbo I'd liked the look of, but it had evidently been taken down. The same story was true of a 9000 Aero I'd been after.

MR2: the (eventual) final choice
MR2: the (eventual) final choice
I then found a cracking-looking Merc 230CE, of the W123 persuasion. Naturally, with the PH office's well-documented love for big old Mercs, it was a popular choice. But the ad only had an email address attached to it, and that elicited no response. The same went for a very promising classic Saab 900 Turbo that Mr Garlick very kindly deposited in my inbox - no joy.

By Friday, desperation was setting in. I arrived at work and announced proudly that I'd spotted a P6 Rover 3500 that was actually still for sale. This was met with the silence it deserved. I rather fancied the idea of an old boy's Rover with a silly V8, but I knew in my heart of hearts that my colleagues were right: at this price, it had the potential to be a world of pain.

Then, to my amazement, on the journey home that evening, someone actually replied to me. It was a chap from Walsall with a Mk1 MR2 T-Bar. It was still for sale, and yes I could come and have a look the next day. At last! So it was that after a Saturday morning schlep up the M40, I returned with my very own slice of 80s retro fun - and a big silly grin on my face.

I'll reveal the full details of the new addition to the PH Fleet with a proper update another time. Right now, though, I'm off for a drive. With the roof off, and some Human League on the stereo, natch.

Alex

Author
Discussion

Itsallicanafford

Original Poster:

2,759 posts

158 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
...Well done, i am pleased for you but buying the very first one you look at. 'Decide in haste and repent at your leisure', springs to mind...

muckyman

296 posts

190 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
Good choice Sir.
I bought a mark 1 MR2 just a few months ago, after last owning one about 15 years ago. Always knew i would have another one day. Great little cars, and getting quite rare now.

matbat

772 posts

244 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
Good cars the MK1 MR2!

That engine is fantastic and plenty of scope for upgrades.

Keep us posted on how it goes!

Switch

3,455 posts

174 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
muckyman said:
Good choice Sir.
I bought a mark 1 MR2 just a few months ago, after last owning one about 15 years ago. Always knew i would have another one day. Great little cars, and getting quite rare now.

Nice Smiley...

5678

6,146 posts

226 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
My wife had one of these before we met. I toyed with buying one for her as a surprise birthday present, I then read up on the amount of rot they suffer from and if put me off.

carinaman

21,221 posts

171 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
I'm not sure I got the man logic. I am not sure the 528i reaching 150K is much to worry about unless worried about how much you'll get for it or the likelihood of big bills?

So the answer to a car that may about to incur big bills or take a hit with regard to value for some buyers is the justification to buy something completely different that may have many unforeseen faults?

It's just the long winded way of saying you fancied a change? Not using a JCB here, but it's the sort illogical jutification frequently trotted out on Internet forums, car parks and workplaces. Having the E39 that not long probably disqualifies you from being one of those that changes their cars more often that I change my socks.

Was this the SAAB 900 that turned your eye:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1989-SAAB-900-TURBO-DOHC...


I tend to add stuff to my eBay watch list if I find it that interesting.

Any eBay listing that says 'XXX watchers, bid now it won't be listed again' or any other indications of desperation or frustration means they automtically get added to my eBay watchlist.

Edited by carinaman on Monday 3rd December 15:27

FELIX_5

952 posts

196 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
One step closer to a mk1 mx5.....? whistle

Garlick

40,601 posts

239 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
regarding the MX-5, I've said his MR2 is more hairdresser than my car. We'll get the cars together (including Dan) and will allow the debate to rage on...

TristanYoung

5 posts

147 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
I've has two Mk1 MR2s. The first was a T-bar. It leaked and rusted. The second was a coupe. It also rusted. That said, they are brilliant to drive and totally reliable. And I would have another if I could find one without rust. Top choice. PS I now own an MX5.

pits

6,423 posts

189 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
Why do you care what people think of you and what you drive? Oh noes someone will be upset in the office if I buy something they don't like, by what you want, drive what you want seems a bit silly that just because you work for PH or any motor magazine etc that you should pander to what people think you should be driving

carinaman

21,221 posts

171 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
Was there a minimum word count? I could be having a terribly grouchy Blue Monday but the last paragraph smacks of lazy cliche. I'm not sure how many times we can expect to see the chronological age or era of a particular motor to fashion or music. I bet a bob we'll see another cliche in a PH editiorial before the end of the year.

'PH - Cliches with clout'?

I'm loving the MR2 and the pics. but.......

I wasn't too keen on what looks like a brochure shot for the 900 either. I love 900s, that just looks like it came from some marketing material. I guess using one of those saves using one of an actual owner. There you'd go I'd be less of a grouch of if it was a bigger image of that 900 with the Scndinavian looking background. wink

Edited by carinaman on Monday 3rd December 15:34

crostonian

2,427 posts

171 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
'natch'. What does this word mean? The late great Russell Bulgin used to sprinkle it liberally into his articles and I never fully understood what it meant then.

MarJay

2,173 posts

174 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
Mk1 MR2's are made entirely of win.

However, empirical evidence suggests that win is more suceptible to rust than normal steel. frown

carinaman

21,221 posts

171 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
Seems it's slang for naturally:

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/natch

I'm picturing Russell in a maroon Explorer in the pages of CAR.

FELIX_5

952 posts

196 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
crostonian said:
'natch'. What does this word mean? The late great Russell Bulgin used to sprinkle it liberally into his articles and I never fully understood what it meant then.
Google it. wink

laam999

538 posts

168 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
I finished my project mr2 in Sept, it took me 3 years and I did it all myself (most technical thing I did before that was lego) the rust will kill it oneday and when iy does I want another to get acid dipped and build from shell up.

Congrats

carinaman

21,221 posts

171 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
'making up loads of excuses and justifications to change my car because I fancy a change, natch'?

'PH - Cliches matter, natch'?

crostonian

2,427 posts

171 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
FELIX_5 said:
crostonian said:
'natch'. What does this word mean? The late great Russell Bulgin used to sprinkle it liberally into his articles and I never fully understood what it meant then.
Google it. wink
Doh why didn't I think of that, makes sense now, still sounds pretentious though!

pickledsmurf

11 posts

159 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
I love the mk1 MR2.

I bought my first one at the age of 21. The reason was that it was cheaper to insure than a 205GTI or other hat hatch of the time, and in my opinion, was a lot more fun. I had four of them in total over the years. 122bhp is just enough to have lots of fun without worrying that you will instantly lose your licence, and certainly enough to get it sideways on a damp roundabout. I am very jealous.

Off to the classifieds...

Scrof

197 posts

153 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
Ta for the comments, all, positive and negative!

Well, carinaman, you've answered your own question - I was concerned about the likelihood of big bills, and about getting less money for it on resale. The MR2 is less likely to depreciate (in fact, I'm hoping it might appreciate slightly) and if it does need fixing it'll cost much less. And in addition, I did fancy a change, too - I don't see why that's a problem. As regards the last paragraph being a lazy cliche, not so - I did actually do just that on the way back from picking it up. I had the roof off on the M40 with Human League on the CD player and it was a magnificent '80s experience that I thought I'd share!

Mr Pits - I don't believe I mentioned being concerned with what people think of me for driving it; if I was, logic dictates that I probably wouldn't drive it!