Am I mad?

timbob · 7 May 2006 at 17:05

I'm looking for a Peugeot 106 GTi, and over the last month have missed out on 4 nice ones by a matter of hours....

I rang one garage up at 9:30am on a Saturday, arranged to view it, jumped in the car, turned up an hour's drive later, and they'd sold it 20 mins beforehand - it had only been on the forecourt an hour.

So, having found another nice one this weekend, I was hopeful, but it was overpriced massively (priced at £4800, book price £2600), and the dealer wouldn't budge - stating that it's low mileage and good condition meant it was worth that much of a premium, and effectively asked me what the hell I thought I was playing at when I said I'd pay £4k for it. Ho hum.

Anyway - found what looks to be a minter, spoken to the guy on the phone about it, and might go and see it on Tuesday evening...problem is, it's 180 miles, or 3 1/2 hours away. I'd be leaving at 3pm after I finish work, looking at the car with intention to buy if everything is as described, and heading back home after that, hopefully at home by 10:30....

Am I nuts to entertain the notion of driving a 360 mile round trip on a work night to go and see a car?

Muban · 7 May 2006 at 17:09

Not if you genuinely think it could be exactly what you want. I had considered this before, phoned up the guy and explained the situation (that I would be coming from 400 miles away) and asked if the car was exactly as described. He thankfully at that point admitted there were some problems and it saved me the trip. Luckily enough I found exactly what I wanted about a month later only 30 miles away.

Poppy · 7 May 2006 at 17:11

A 360mile round trip ... i dont think you're crazy! I did about the same when i went to view my Accord Type-R. Luckily for me the description in the autotrader ad was spot on. Phoned the guy up a few times before hand and he seemed like a nice genuine guy. I went down with £6500 cash with a mate with intention of buying the car if it all checked out... it did and i phoned my insurance company and got my insurance sorted out. Then had a great drive home in the new car!

BUT if it doesnt all check out you may feel a bit of pressure to buy the car ... youve just driven 160miles to see this minter that has a few niggling faults not mentioned ... do you buy it anyway or drive another 160miles home cursing the seller for not mentioning said faults?

Its pot luck.

Good luck though, try not to be pressured into buying a lemon.

timbob · 7 May 2006 at 17:24

I'd not be in the position to pay in full - only leave a deposit, but someone else is apparently going to see it later in the week, so it's fairly important to go ASAP (before I can get my hands on the cash) in order to possibly secure it.

I've spoken to the seller, asked 10 minutes worth of questions. Apparently there's not a mark to the body, totally standard apart from lowering springs. No noises/knocks coming from the engine, clutch feels good and no noises. I'll ring again to confirm another few important bits like cambelt replacement, tyre condition, alarm working, sunroof leaking.... etc before going up.

I definately won't feel pressured into getting it should there be any major problems, and won't go unless i'm 95% sure it's exactly what I'm after.

SgtTupac · 7 May 2006 at 18:35

I drove 600mile round trip to get one of my cars. So i dont think your mad

Mic · 7 May 2006 at 18:45

Pfft i went to a different country to get mine.
Must have been at least 5 and a half hours driving if not more.

Coco · 7 May 2006 at 19:09

180 Miles is a fair old trek on a school-night, plus I'd guess that your return-time of 10:30pm is likely to be a touch optimistic when you take into account rush-hour traffic & test-drive / paperwork time.

But if your after a specific car then sacrafices have to be made...

[TW]Fox · 7 May 2006 at 19:12

timbob said:
Am I nuts to entertain the notion of driving a 360 mile round trip on a work night to go and see a car?

Not at all, I'm giving serious consideration to a car in Scotland at the moment. It's a 1000 mile round trip

timbob · 7 May 2006 at 19:45

[TW]Fox said:
Not at all, I'm giving serious consideration to a car in Scotland at the moment. It's a 1000 mile round trip

You've just made me feel an awful lot better about things dude!

10:30 might be a touch optimistic I suppose, but I'd be getting there for 6:30ish, hopefully leaving before 7:30 (there'd be no paperwork on a viewing/testdrive/possible deposit). I'd still be in before midnight...would just have to have a few early nights to recupirate afterwards!