Buying cars in england
- Thread starter shaughey
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big_pete
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are you just planning on flying over and trying to randomly find one? Madness
Artoir
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As above, never done it the way you're planning!
The process has always been;
The process has always been;
- Fire up the computer to check emails
- Open Pistonheads classifieds for a laugh
- Spot something and go "Oooh"
- Read the ad and fall in love
- Convince yourself MPG is meaningless anyway
- Call the seller
- Land at Stansted/Luton/Holyhead/Heathrow/Aberdeen the next day and drive home
Woodcutter
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You'd be mad to head to London and buy a car at auction!
Get on Autotrader, eBay and Pistonheads, there has to be a load of them for sale over there!
Woodcutter
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Took 5 seconds to find this!
www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/alfa-romeo/gt-coupe/alfa-romeo-gt-1-9-jtdm-16v-blackline-2dr/2173997
www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/alfa-romeo/gt-coupe/alfa-romeo-gt-1-9-jtdm-16v-blackline-2dr/2173997
- Thread Starter
- #9
Im not going to spend 5k for one. I'v been trying to get one for weeks. Every ebay one i'v went for has been removed before the end of auction whit people buying them when they go to view. I'm going to england for a week not just for a car. So ill have plenty of time to get around and find one i like.
Back to my first question
What websites are best for english cars? iv been on pistonheads ebay gumtree is their any others?
Back to my first question
What websites are best for english cars? iv been on pistonheads ebay gumtree is their any others?
Woodcutter
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Autotrader is the biggest site in GB for cars.
Not a fan of 6b, having went out and came home empty handed... its one extra persons costs to cover should it go tits up and the car is a parcel and nothing else suits. I go alone
Lostinspace
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Flew over a few Friday nights ago to newcastle, went out in town on the Friday night and then my mate drove me around a few cars on the Saturday. Looked at 3 cars, bought the 3rd one, drove straight to cairnryan, 4.15am boat home then straight home to bed lol.
Ghisallo
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I bought a car via a broker. Told him what I wanted, he went looking until he found one he was happy with, and I flew over, paid him, and Brought it home after an afternoon driving in north Wales.
Ghisallo
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I was recommended a guy called Adam Cooper either by a garage that my wife had used for some service work, or by some people that worked with her in Chester -I can't remember which! His company is called acprocar based near Wrexham .Basically he did the leg work and sourced and acquired the car which I then bought from him.
Get logged on to British Car Autionns mate, http://www.british-car-auctions.co.uk/en/Auction-centres/?loc=PR56AJ
And see what is going throw the rings, dealers arnt/wont say who there buying from (me for 1) but there is a rough heads up
And see what is going throw the rings, dealers arnt/wont say who there buying from (me for 1) but there is a rough heads up
surprising_skoda
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The Alfa forums are atrocious for buying/selling stuff. You'd be as well sending an email to yourself and save the hassle as your the only person will ever see the ad...
Artoir
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In all seriousness. Take your time, narrow down a few cars and then make contact with the sellers.
Call them if a number is there. People don't take texts and emails seriously as it is without them coming from someone foreign (English honestly do believe Norn Iron is the other side of the world).
Reassure them you're not a pikey or a nigerian scammer and then find out all the information you need. Maybe ask about a few quid off once there's a bit of a rapport, then get onto skyscanner and start looking at flights and then Google Maps to work out the quickest way home. Arrange a time and go get it.
I've never had to do it, but in the event that you turn up and it's not described, have a few backup plans in place. Look on Autotrader, etc for other options in vicinity even if it's not something you particularly want, just something you can punt on sharpish and maybe even cover your costs (think VAG) and go lift one of them if you need to.
Call them if a number is there. People don't take texts and emails seriously as it is without them coming from someone foreign (English honestly do believe Norn Iron is the other side of the world).
Reassure them you're not a pikey or a nigerian scammer and then find out all the information you need. Maybe ask about a few quid off once there's a bit of a rapport, then get onto skyscanner and start looking at flights and then Google Maps to work out the quickest way home. Arrange a time and go get it.
I've never had to do it, but in the event that you turn up and it's not described, have a few backup plans in place. Look on Autotrader, etc for other options in vicinity even if it's not something you particularly want, just something you can punt on sharpish and maybe even cover your costs (think VAG) and go lift one of them if you need to.
- Thread Starter
- #21
The prices arn't all that great from most of the stuff i'v looked at. I assume it was a bigger price difference a few years ago. I'm almost giving up on the Alfa GT but ill be over anyway so ill see if I can find anything. I'm not a fan of auctions in general, iv seen some of the scrap that's came through the auctions here but ill have a look at BCA.
The last thing i'd want is to get stuck in england with no tools etc
The last thing i'd want is to get stuck in england with no tools etc
Exactly. I got that 156 sw 1.9jtd with 104k genuine (& verified) miles for £700 and he even threw in another set of alloys.
Said he had it for over a month and no interest in it, didnt have it advertised elsewhere either.
Its gems like that can pop up on it
Can only view on that site. You cant buy unless you are a trader. Been looking to buy from there myself but cant unfortunately
Lostinspace
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Sign up as a "Trader" then
Dave..
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From my own experience make sure you have some breakdown cover that will get you home if it quits on the way. I bought an old Land Rover and drove it from Manchester to the Liverpool boat
but it quit at the docks and had to be towed onto the boat and off again in Belfast, my breakdown cover got a low loader to pick us and it up and bring us home.
Best £35 I ever spent.
but it quit at the docks and had to be towed onto the boat and off again in Belfast, my breakdown cover got a low loader to pick us and it up and bring us home.
Best £35 I ever spent.
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