It's new car time and I'm sure by now people know I want to buy a Vauxhall Zafira B. I'm not exactly spoilt for choice though, there are only half a dozen petrol 1.8 Elites (but over 200 diesel ones 
) which means I may have to travel to the far reaches of the country to find the right one.
I've been as far as Manchester from London to buy a car but I was young and hasty. Can anyone offer some advice on how to prepare for a long distance purchase, particularly when buying from a dealer - when they realise you've travelled 100+ miles to view a car might not be so willing to haggle because they will have sensed your commitment.
How far are you willing to travel...and do you drag the wife and kids along or head there on own via train.
Last Sunday we spotted a lovely looking Ford Galaxy on Autotrader (Dealer but works from home type) and I was so confident in the motor after speaking to seller I gave a £100 deposit over the phone.
Agreed with hire Company to return the Zafira back to them near where I was collecting our Galaxy...luckily we arrived at the sellers house before him,had a poke about and unlike me I actually had a look under the car,found coolant dripping,when he arrived had a proper look around it and went on test drive...came back and long story short when I checked the coolant,it was so pressurised it was like a bomb exploding when I started to undo cap...coverd both of us.
Cheeky sod must have known head gasket was shot and kept quite...that's after he was told it was a 130mile trip each way and we had to bring our kids,the bloke still refused to accept it was head gasket despite it being obvious to a blind man.
So a 260 mile round trip costing about £35 in fuel and about 9 hours traveling (coffee stops/wee breaks/kids hungry/daddy falling asleep etc) for a wasted journey.
Few days later...off down to Slough to look at a car that's under priced...over spec and sounds to good to be true...oh here we go again im thinking (bones will be broken if so) yet im gobsmacked at the owners (probably a dealer on quite lol) honesty and the fact the car is a complete peach...even has half a tank of diesel and drives like a much newer car.
Best bit is he listed it for £2150 (bargain) told the wife it was £2000 on the phone and let me have it for £1950...talk about total opposite of the previous car and seller.
Ive been from Huntingdon to Carlisle to buy a Sierra 4x4 2.9i....that was a long slog,but was off a forum member so knew it wouldn't be far off as described.
But for Omega"s...bought two so far from members off here...lovely lovely lovely Green Saloon 2.5 off a chap up north somewhere (Sunderland possibly...deal was done in Train station car park and was told to bugger off by station worker as not allowed to do deals on there car park...if your still on here hello,loved that car...lol.)
Other was off member from Reading...again a lovely Estate in Black...One of the best cars ive had,think I sold it in the end as was Manual).
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Topic: How far would you go/have been to buy a car? (Read 4368 times)