Am I mad?

[timbob]

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?

 

[timbob]

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.

 

[timbob]

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!