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I've always approached this from a different angle. If you're not looking for a specific car you find loads of interesting stuff crop up on your doorstep. I've always bought local cars not because I wouldn't travel but because I've always found an abundance of choice nearby.
Of course this falls over if you want an exact model or a certain trim level, but I quite like car shopping with nothing but a budget and whatever fate places in my way.
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Jun 28, 2015 10:18:00 GMT
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I got my starlet (which is what I was looking for) less than a mile away from me. My escort was about 30mins drive and my st200 was delivered from about 10 miles away. I won't go far for a motor. I don't like anything that much I do however travel all over the UK to collect motors for my clients. But that's a different reason.
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Sinky
Posted a lot
Run Baby Run......Please!
Posts: 1,395
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Jun 28, 2015 13:01:09 GMT
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All the retro´s I want are in the UK I did go from Edinburgh to Copenhagen once for a Saab 900
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Last Edit: Jun 28, 2015 13:03:13 GMT by Sinky
2001 Volvo XC70 wagon
2003 Piaggio X9 Evo
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Jun 28, 2015 14:56:36 GMT
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Everything is local to somebody.
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MonzaPhil
Posted a lot
Think like a man of action, act like a man of thought
Posts: 2,456
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Jun 28, 2015 15:04:27 GMT
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I'm not
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This is now a clicky linky!
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omega
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,060
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Jun 28, 2015 15:24:35 GMT
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On weds I'm flying out to Canada to collect my new car from Toronto and move it to Montreal ready to ship it back to the UK. It has no engine, I've only seen a few photos of it but that hasn't stopped me. Plus, while I'm there, I'm flying 2,000 miles to Calgary just to *view* another car before flying 2,000 miles back to Toronto before flying 3,500 miles back home. "If only it was closer" you say? Wanting everything to be on your doorstep means you're missing out on a whole world of cars, adventures and experiences. wow but most of us havnt got that much time or cash to spare but you see a nice car its at the right price you talk to the seller and you decide to travel you book a cheap train ticket ÂŁ35 pounds you change your car insurance so you can drive it back[another 30 pounds] get there go for a test drive and the car dosnt run right.seller wont budge on the price so do you risk taking it hopeing you can fix it[maybe if its a rare car but when its nothing special? and you need it as a daily you walk away) the seller who picked you up from the station is no longer intrested so a 10 pound taxi ride to the station to find that a ticket home is now ÂŁ60.75 and theres no train for a hour and a half so the whole day has been wasted its cost you approx. 130 pounds plus food and drink then you have to sort your insurance out again so at the end of it you spent close on 200 pounds and got nothing to show for it. also the seller knows that if you have come along way you really want the car so hes not going to move on the price. I have travelled and its all been good,but it can go wrong.
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craig1010cc
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,998
Club RR Member Number: 35
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Jun 28, 2015 15:41:29 GMT
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That is why i always book a return ticket as normally it isn't much more than a single and you have a route home planned to remove the pressure if its not right.
Generally, if you ask the right questions, and ask for the right pictures you won't go to far wrong. Plus there are enough people on here all over the country /world that normally you can find someone local enough that is willing to have a look over it for you.
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Jun 28, 2015 15:43:33 GMT
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I think the problem is that everyone who's recently gotten into cars nowadays are a buncha lazy cursewords ;D I drove this car, that hadnt run for 3ish years, with an unknown electrical error that made it stop and you had to wait for a while (just a plug that werent up to spec, fixed after it happened half an hour into the drive) about 700kms. And thats not even the top "friggin sketchy car" pickup. Just a month ago i got an omega 2.6 with cut out rear arches, owner had no idea if it'd go anywhere because it was from a, whats the word, the owner died and the car had been sitting. Anyway, new brake fluid, new oil, 400kms no problem. And thats just because i thought it'd be a waste to go there just to pick up 4 door windows for my Impala (that i trailered the same distance with a 30 year old van that had, SURPRISE, been sitting forever
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Last Edit: Jun 28, 2015 15:49:32 GMT by Deleted
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Jun 28, 2015 16:14:43 GMT
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It also depends what you're after & its rarety.I've found all my projects in the past around where I live in Bristol including a Vw baywindow,a vw beetle & my datsun 100a,a 4 door Nissan Skyline & a fiat 127.It's only recently I've ventured a bit further a field as the prices over here have rocketed for Vw's that are basically scrap so I'm importing from America.
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stuuuu
Part of things
Posts: 62
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Jun 28, 2015 16:30:08 GMT
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It also depends what you're after & its rarety.I've found all my projects in the past around where I live in Bristol including a Vw baywindow,a vw beetle & my datsun 100a,a 4 door Nissan Skyline & a fiat 127.It's only recently I've ventured a bit further a field as the prices over here have rocketed for Vw's that are basically scrap so I'm importing from America. Importing a vw from America was what I was thinking of doing but even if you get the car dirt cheap by the time you've paid all the shipping, other transport and vat its just not worth it, not on a bug anyway.
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stuuuu
Part of things
Posts: 62
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Jun 28, 2015 16:34:32 GMT
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I've always approached this from a different angle. If you're not looking for a specific car you find loads of interesting stuff crop up on your doorstep. I've always bought local cars not because I wouldn't travel but because I've always found an abundance of choice nearby. Of course this falls over if you want an exact model or a certain trim level, but I quite like car shopping with nothing but a budget and whatever fate places in my way. I'm always looking for something specific, whether a normal car or a classic, and I'm right in the corner of the country, theres never a thing I want that's local.
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,269
Club RR Member Number: 170
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Jun 28, 2015 18:26:37 GMT
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Distance is a massive issue now Adays as 90% of cars are not as described and are sheds Surely you can see in the photos whether it is a car or a wooden box for the garden? One has wheels to start with. *n Totally agree here. Maybe I expect too much but when I was looking out for a daily many were described as 'minters' with the photos making them look amazing. If I am honest my old Mercedes W124 300D with 300k on it and my old Mondeo V6 with 260k were in better condition. Out of all of the cars I saw locally only two were actually any good (which is why I ended up with what I did) and the photos did them no justice whatsoever. As for pictures tell it you all ; a picture says 1000 words. That IMHO is the issue. The photos are generally not concise enough or do a good job of hiding defects. Examples could be quoted but let's not turn this into a whingefest . My old B6 Passat looked like one of the best condition cars I owned in the pictures yet it has to have been the worst car I have ever had the pleasure of owning for a multitude of reasons (dodgy computers, knackered camshaft, a tired interior, handling so dangerous and dodgy that a Marina would would look like a LMP1 racer next to it). On weds I'm flying out to Canada to collect my new car from Toronto and move it to Montreal ready to ship it back to the UK. It has no engine, I've only seen a few photos of it but that hasn't stopped me. Plus, while I'm there, I'm flying 2,000 miles to Calgary just to *view* another car before flying 2,000 miles back to Toronto before flying 3,500 miles back home. "If only it was closer" you say? Wanting everything to be on your doorstep means you're missing out on a whole world of cars, adventures and experiences. Damn straight mind you. I am disagreeing with my above statement admittedly. In all honesty now for me to travel to get a car, it has to be interesting and certainly cheap enough to be worth a gamble. I am probably an for saying that, but I guess many arses for being blatent liars in their descriptions. Sometimes, just sometimes trekking out has worked and boy the day trip has been more than worth it . Whilst it was on a smaller scale, the Dolomite Sprint I owned had to be one of the best deals I have enjoyed, from meeting the guy to the drive back. It was the same for the Spitfire too. Buying something abroad is next on the list if I can get the time ; This seems to be a rarity now :/.
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Last Edit: Jun 28, 2015 18:34:48 GMT by ChasR
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Jun 28, 2015 18:57:05 GMT
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Personally I am thankful nothing is near me, I have too many cars as it is Doesn't seem to have stopped you much, the Panda quadrohydrocvhmatic that was down south or the lada that was due west... Actually forget what I said, as I have just bought a car from South Wales
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1993 Fiat Panda Selecta 2003 Vauxhall Combo 1.7DI van 2006 Mercedes Kompressor Evolution-S AMG SportCoupé
"You think you hate it now, wait til you drive it"
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Jun 28, 2015 22:08:13 GMT
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I'm sure there's an old late 60's / early 70's Rover for sale - extremely low mileage - ONE careful owner, never been in the rain, must collect and be trailered - only thing is - its on the moon haha
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stuuuu
Part of things
Posts: 62
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And yet again ive been proved correct, I'm looking for a 3 door phase 1 Peugeot 106 to use as a daily, not everyones cup of tea, but I like them, ive been on pretty much every internet car site and ive found 2, ones in Norfolk and ones in Southampton! and I'm in kent! FFS.
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And yet again ive been proved correct, I'm looking for a 3 door phase 1 Peugeot 106 to use as a daily, not everyones cup of tea, but I like them, ive been on pretty much every internet car site and ive found 2, ones in Norfolk and ones in Southampton! and I'm in kent! FFS. 100 miles is nothing - get on a train to soton ffs. *n
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Top grammar tips! Bought = purchased. Brought = relocated Lose = misplace/opposite of win. Loose = your mum
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100 miles is definitely classed as local when it comes to buying a car you're actually looking for, and not just a modern thing to get you around.
I live in Newcastle, and these are the distances I have gone for old curse word...
Morris Minor - 332 miles one way (Cardiff)
Fiat Panda - 326 miles (Kent)
VW Camper - 227 miles (Conwy)
Fiat Panda - 270 miles (Oxford)
and the Lada wasn't even in this country (Northern Ireland).
Of course cars being local makes things so much simpler, but it rarely happens.
plus for some reason, no matter where you are in the country at the moment of looking for a classic car or even just car parts, the ones local to you are no good, and you have to travel to the other end of the country for something.
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1993 Fiat Panda Selecta 2003 Vauxhall Combo 1.7DI van 2006 Mercedes Kompressor Evolution-S AMG SportCoupé
"You think you hate it now, wait til you drive it"
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slomoshun
Part of things
Going forward one nut and bolt at a time
Posts: 319
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Being a bit of an old timer and been through the car buying scene once too often i now do swaps only or rather did as ive finally found something i want. Advantages are i can get to see another car wherever it is, have peace of mind i can get home and there is no more guarantee of a good car whether cash is involved or not. Virtually always an hidden fault but if you want new go to another forum. Had some good swaps, met genuine enthusiasts who have paid my petrol home. Finding exactly what you want is harder but compromise a bit and you can be rewarded.
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Last Edit: Jul 1, 2015 8:35:17 GMT by slomoshun
Traction and horsepower is nearing perfection
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craig1010cc
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,998
Club RR Member Number: 35
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And yet again ive been proved correct, I'm looking for a 3 door phase 1 Peugeot 106 to use as a daily, not everyones cup of tea, but I like them, ive been on pretty much every internet car site and ive found 2, ones in Norfolk and ones in Southampton! and I'm in kent! FFS. Your problem is more that what you are looking for that there are only 2 available in the UK. Based on that the chances that 1 of the 2 are going to be local is very slim. This leaves you with 2 choices, widen your search (to increase the number of cars available) or man up and travel. If its going to be your daily, the drive home will highlight any areas that need sorting/improving.
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steveg
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,586
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I'm on the lookout for a car at the moment and trying to get people to take a half decent picture is proving a problem. I specifically asked a guy for and engine photo so he sent me one of each inner wing ! I gave up with that and he has since re-advertised it with an engine bay shot which shows brand spanking head bolts. Why he didn't mention it when I quizzed him about all the coolant round the header tank I don't know and made up a story about leaving the cap off. Well I do it's probably because it didn't fix it !
My latest possible is up in Norfolk, I'm in Hampshire. I'm considering hiring a transporter to get it as I can't find anything locally but the seller is still being a bit difficult answering a few questions.
I ask for specific photos and MOT test number/reg number. You can then look up the MOT history and get some idea of a cars condition but even then one turned out to be a complete pile. If everyone was honest about what they are selling it wouldn't be a problem but things start getting expensive if you go viewing a few and they aren't any good.
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