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Buying A Car Online
My wife and I have decided to replace our big car. We currently have a Citroen Xsara Picasso. It's been a really good car but is getting too old (needs ongoing repairs) and is getting less economical as the engine tires.
We've really enjoyed it due to the size, it's been really practical. So we're just looking to upgrade to a newer model with a more efficient engine.
Problem is that I'm looking online and the standouts are all down South. Was speaking to my wife and I'm prepared to get a train somewhere down South to drive a car home, but then I'm committing to buying a car without seeing it first (although I do have the advantage of knowing what the car's like to drive due to having one already).
I would plan on putting at least the first £100 of the payment on my credit card so I'm protected by the CCA. But I don't have experience of buying a car this way.
Anyone bought a car this way before? What was your experience?
We've really enjoyed it due to the size, it's been really practical. So we're just looking to upgrade to a newer model with a more efficient engine.
Problem is that I'm looking online and the standouts are all down South. Was speaking to my wife and I'm prepared to get a train somewhere down South to drive a car home, but then I'm committing to buying a car without seeing it first (although I do have the advantage of knowing what the car's like to drive due to having one already).
I would plan on putting at least the first £100 of the payment on my credit card so I'm protected by the CCA. But I don't have experience of buying a car this way.
Anyone bought a car this way before? What was your experience?
"Facism arrives as your friend. It will restore your honour, make you feel proud, protect your house, give you a job, clean up the neighbourhood, remind you of how great you once were, clear out the venal and the corrupt, remove anything you feel is unlike you... [it] doesn't walk in saying, "our programme means militias, mass imprisonments, transportations, war and persecution."
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Comments
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In my experience of visiting cars advertised on the internet I would never ever commit to buying a car without seeing it and test driving it first.0
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Returns tend not to be much more than singles on the train, so it's maybe worth planning to return empty handed. What are you doing with the old one? Can't you drive it down, trade it in and drive the new one back? How far are you considering travelling?
As Hollie said; cars can look very different in the metal.
Another option might be to get an AA/RAC inspection on it and then put a deposit down over the phone before heading down to get it. That way you'll get some impartial view on it and save a lot of time if it turns out to be a lemon or not as described.0 -
Have bought new cars purely online but wouldnt risk it with a secondhand vehicle.
Very easy to conceal things with selective angles or lighting etc0 -
Cheers folks.
It should be noted that I'm planning on buying from a garage, not privately. So I would have a bit more protection. Cheers for the advice so far."Facism arrives as your friend. It will restore your honour, make you feel proud, protect your house, give you a job, clean up the neighbourhood, remind you of how great you once were, clear out the venal and the corrupt, remove anything you feel is unlike you... [it] doesn't walk in saying, "our programme means militias, mass imprisonments, transportations, war and persecution."0 -
Have travelled twice, once up to Aberdeen and once to Munich, I flew to both destinations was picked up by the vendors, deals were done and then drove home, each went without a hitch but then again their ads were well written with lots of information and plenty of photographs so it was just a simple case of if the cars are as described I will have them.0
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It should be noted that I'm planning on buying from a garage, not privately. So I would have a bit more protection. Cheers for the advice so far.
If you think its a long way to go to view it, you'll also think its a long way to go to have it looked at if it isnt working properly, no?0 -
Just wait for one locally or buy something else. I limit my purchases to 50 miles of where I live and never buy without seeing and test driving. For instance there could be water in the oil (blown head gasket) but the seller could say they knew nothing about it.0
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Cheers folks.
It should be noted that I'm planning on buying from a garage, not privately. So I would have a bit more protection. Cheers for the advice so far.
Honestly, its really nit worth the hassle. OH did exactly what you are proposing. Garage assured him the vehicle had a good service history - it didn't. Within 6 weeks our local garage refused to touch it when asked to replace the cam belt. The garage then took a month to fix it, within a week it broke down again. The garage refused to refund and we are now going through Court proceedingsPlease forgive me if my comments seem abrupt or my questions have obvious answers, I have a mental health condition which affects my ability to see things as others might.0
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