Cars I've "missed"

[The Jackeria]

This when it was eBay, fella who has it now has done sensational work, way better than I could ever achieve so it's in better hands realistically

[scrunge]

I missed a wee Subaru Justy a couple of years back that had been down the end of my street (in use) forever. I've always quite liked the shape.
I didn't see it for a week or two then found it in the local scrapyard with a sign in the back window saying something like "For sale £500, 8 months MOT"
It wasn't even rusty, I'd have had it in a heartbeat, especially as that was a particularly snowy winter and the awd would have been quite useful.
Sadly that was a yard of no return so I couldn't even have it back out again.

Doesn't even have to be something that cool to get that twinge of regret when you see it's now out of reach.

[vulgalour]

Datsun 120a, this shape.


To be fair, it was probably a bullet dodged. The thing had rot in all the usual places clearly on show without even getting that close to it. Still, it would have been an awesome little machine to tool about in.

I still have a fondness for the whole range of 70s Datsuns of the 100a/120a/Cherry range (there's so many!) because they're so unique in their styling approach. I'm just not sure I could keep one in enough welding wire to keep it happy.

[surprisingskoda]

Feb 4, 2024 20:21:08 GMT ChasR said:

-A 1989 Mini Racing Green, with a 1275 Cooper engine. It was £800 in 2002. I really wanted it as my first car. However, my dad talked me out of it, when I was getting a deposit ready.

Very similarly, in '04, first car options were a year old Seat Arosa in a dealer 4 miles away for £4k plus finance, or a BRG Mini 998 at a dealer just 2 miles away, £995 with 6 months T&T.

Obviously I made a very stupid decision or I wouldn't be writing this now. I've made many regrettable choices but this one is right up there!


Missed a Celica RA28 at 17 as well, guy I knew promised to give me one, a resto project, but he fell out with me just in time to not bother. Very strange fellow.

And a white Peugeot 406 V6 manual for like £500 or £1000 in about 2007 or 08. I posted about it on here. Just couldn't raise the cash fast enough - back then I was probably £3.85 an hour.

I turned down an R33 GTST but i don't regret that very much other than it's worth more now but I would have wrecked it.
I did pass on a lovely Lancer Evo IV last year as well but I was busy saving cash.
That's probably about it! More regrets of stuff I shouldn't have bought, or even worse, shouldn't have sold!

[Alpina99]

One I don't regret passing on, I was buying an MGB GT from a garage and happened to spot a mates old Mini on the lot,
"Casually" mentioned it looked like it had had a bump, assured by the salesman that it hadn't, was one lady owner from new and been well looked after, my mate had seriously pranged it three times to my knowledge, I then decided if he's bullsh****g me about a car I'm not interested in, what's the real history of the MG ??
Pulled out of that one,
Nigel

[pseudonymous]

One of these, in nice condition, offered to me for a pittance about 25 years ago.



At the time I'd just bought a Mk2 16v Golf after years of owning fast Fords and was a bit tired of constant battles with grot, so I passed on it. 

What a ****end

Can't win them all 

[metalshapes]

Feb 7, 2024 18:43:32 GMT Alpina99 said:

One I don't regret passing on, I was buying an MGB GT from a garage and happened to spot a mates old Mini on the lot,
"Casually" mentioned it looked like it had had a bump, assured by the salesman that it hadn't, was one lady owner from new and been well looked after, my mate had seriously pranged it three times to my knowledge, I then decided if he's bullsh****g me about a car I'm not interested in, what's the real history of the MG ??
Pulled out of that one,
Nigel

Typical for used car peddlers...

Me and my (now ex) wife went to go look for a Mk1 Miata for her when they were just becoming available used.

Found a really good looking black one in dealer lot.

The seller person sat in it, talking it up, as I was crouched beside it.

The sunlight hit the 1/4 panel just right to show a 2nd rate respray.

I asked, " tell me about the accident.."

She said " this car has never been in an accident"

And I say " Then why does it have all these sanding scratches on this fender?"

She came back with "We get these cars at an auction, so we know nothing about their history."


Yeah, thanks but no thanks.
No sale...


She had the nerve to call us at home about a week later, wondering if we were still interested in the Miata.

" You realize we caught you in a lie, right?
No, not interested."

[Alpina99]

Feb 7, 2024 19:08:23 GMT metalshapes said:

Feb 7, 2024 18:43:32 GMT Alpina99 said:

One I don't regret passing on, I was buying an MGB GT from a garage and happened to spot a mates old Mini on the lot,
"Casually" mentioned it looked like it had had a bump, assured by the salesman that it hadn't, was one lady owner from new and been well looked after, my mate had seriously pranged it three times to my knowledge, I then decided if he's bullsh****g me about a car I'm not interested in, what's the real history of the MG ??
Pulled out of that one,
Nigel

Typical for used car peddlers...

Me and my (now ex) wife went to go look for a Mk1 Miata for her when they were just becoming available used.

Found a really good looking black one in dealer lot.

The seller person sat in it, talking it up, as I was crouched beside it.

The sunlight hit the 1/4 panel just right to show a 2nd rate respray.

I asked, " tell me about the accident.."

She said " this car has never been in an accident"

And I say " Then why does it have all these sanding scratches on this fender?"

She came back with "We get these cars at an auction, so we know nothing about their history."


Yeah, thanks but no thanks.
No sale...


She had the nerve to call us at home about a week later, wondering if we were still interested in the Miata.

" You realize we caught you in a lie, right?
No, not interested."

Exactly, it annoys me they think we're just idiots !!
Nigel

[ahebron]

Turned down a Mk2 Crayford Savage, bought a Mk4 Spitfire instead.
Same with an Alfa 2600 Spider $6000 at a wreckers yard with a cracked windscreen , where do you get one of those.
15-20 years later a brand new OEM screen sold on a local auction site for $100

[gtviva]

Vauxall Viva HB GT for free! was about 1985 so still lived at the parents with a shared drive, single garage and no room at all for an additional motor, never even asked for the reg no so no idea if it got saved

[mrbounce]

I have always wanted a Mini Pick-Up. I needed to replace me current Mini at the time, so, as it was the mid-90s, I got a copy of the Free Ads and scoured through them. There was a blue late 70s pick-up within my budget about 20 miles away. Because it was 9pm I decided to call them the following morning. When I did, they told me a guy phoned them about the same time as I didn't, and bought it 20 minutes before I called that morning.

Regardless of condition I would have had it. A good one is £15k plus these days...

I have turned cars down because I didn't like the colour as well - decided against a road trip to see what looked like a mint Mercedes SLK 320 a few years ago due to it being silver. I don't like silver cars. It looked in way better condition than the one I bought as well. Doofus.

I won't talk about being offered a gorgeous 16v Mk2 Golf GTi for some way below book price due to the owner (a mate of a mate of a mate) copping a driving ban. I couldn't afford that at the time. Nuts.