Panda's roadtrip! - the final chapter!

[pandamonium]

Here is the scenario.

 

I have found a buyer for my Mercedes, but in true Pandamonium style, I have to find my next car today, and with the proceeds of the sale!

 

The buyer was due to travel from Coventry to Essex by train to collect the Merc. I then started scouring the for sale adverts, and getting every suggestion rejected by my wife - too small, too old, too far, too expensive etc etc. In the end I gave up, moved away from the computer and said to her 'You find me a car then!' 30 minutes later, she had found it... my next car. Damn her skills.

 

I won't reveal the actual car until it rolls up to my door, as I don't want to jinx things. I will say this though. 90's Jap with 68k, Automatic, 80's styling!

 

Hmm, the car is in Watford and untaxed - no problem as the seller is a trader and can tax it. However, the buyer for my car then told me that the earliest he could be here was nearly 3pm! This would have meant that I would have to sell my car and get to Watford by train before the post offices closed. No chance.

 

Hmm, 'Baldrick, I have a very, very, very cunning plan.'

 

I found out the closing time of the post office in Watford - 5pm.

 

I asked the Mercedes buyer if he could stop off near Watford instead of coming to Essex - he said yes, he would get there at 1.30pm

 

I asked the ****** seller if he would please try not to sell the car before I got there - he said yes, and that he would meet me at the same place as above.

 

I battled the OMG PETROL PANIC CHAOS (Three closed diesel pumps and a 2 car queue), and put fuel in the Mercedes.

 

So, here I am, poised to go, hoping that none of the following things happen....

1 The Mercedes breaks down on the way.

2 The buyer changes his mind / hates the car.

3 The buyer's train is delayed, leaving me no time to tax the ******

4 The seller sells the ****** before I get there.

5 The ****** is a total shed and I don't want it.

6 I buy the ****** and it breaks down on the way home.

 

So, all being well, providing I'm not in my own special house with a special coat that makes me hug myself by the end of the day, I'll update this thread with pictures and tales of new shite collecting!

[Guest]

Good luck looking forward to hearing how you got on

[pandamonium]

Well, the Mercedes sold ok.

 

Unfortunately, the car I went to see was not great

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-moto ... t/99210553

 

Clattery driveshaft, creaking from the suspension and tracking way out, all on one corner did not bode well, and when it randomly lost power going up a hill, that was the last straw.

 

I bought a train ticket home and I now have no car and need one in the next 24 hours or so!!

[Guest]

Would it have been to much to expect the seller to have told you about the problems before you got there?

Or is it the done thing not to tell you and as you have travelled all the way there you just buy it anyway?

[pandamonium]

Obviously!

I went to so much trouble to list all the Mercedes faults before the person made the trip, so much so, that he drove it around the block, handed me £500 and signed the logbook without so much as opening the bonnet!

[Spiny Norman]

Shame, smart looking cars these old 323s.

I've had too many dealings with arsehole traders on Gumtree that I make it a point never to deal with anyone who only puts a letter as a name.

[Guest]

maybe your better half will let you pick now

 

every cloud and all that...

[meggersdog]

Time to catch the bus round to Angry Dicky's house by the sound of things.

[pandamonium]

I would, but I need rear seatbelts and only have £500ish

[hairnet]

what could wuvvum sell you that youd like

 

 

oops eating chinese while i type

[stuboy]

no cheap astras?

[M'coli]

I would, but I need rear seatbelts and only have £500ish

I know you're tall, but doesn't the seat go back far enough??!!

 

Edit - you might have to buy something out-of-character that is very cheap indeed to fulfill a short-term vehicle gap.

[pandamonium]

Finally sorted.

 

Ok, so not great for family or in fact anything, but following M'coli's advice, I have bought something very cheap.

Not really out of character though, considering my screen name!

Check out how straight this door is!

Patina? No, just muck.

 

And so ends this weekend of car hunting.

 

I drove 30 miles home with the tank on empty, filled up £45, knowing that will last me at least a month, and my insurance company halved my premium.

 

I'm happy.

 

[M'coli]

That is so full of win! Nice!

[trigger]

That's brilliant!, is it from Ipswich originally?

[dollywobbler]

Oh nice buy! Well done for rejecting a car when you had cash in hand - and you then got treated to a proper beauty! Can I have some more interior pics please? I love how basic they are.

[pandamonium]

Not sure Trigger, the bloke i bought it off was in St Lawrence Bay.

 

Dollywobbler, will grab some interior pics when I get a minute. It has the 'hammock' rear seat, no clock, no cigar lighter, no anything!

[Guest]

Nice one panda, very fitting.

[dieselnutjob]

Wanted - sub £500 large shite - new parameters p2!

[pandamonium]

[dollywobbler]

You've got a rear wiper AND a stereo! Life of luxury!

[hairnet]

fek i misread the dance on the seat as 'janice'

 

must get me eyes tested.........

[retrogeezer]

Panda's really are ace aren't they. Why can't you buy a dead basic car like this any more.

[Angrydicky]

I drove past this yesterday, and can confirm it looks just as GR8 as the pictures would have you believe Although I didn't get to see the awesome interior as it was getting dark.

 

I noticed you have some interesting shite poking out from under a cover on a driveway opposite you Panda - Armstrong Siddeley?

[Vin]

Excellent Stuff

 

Even more shite points for being a 'Dance' - All the 'luxury' of the later MK2 Panda but with the earlier 903cc pushrod engine

[pandamonium]

I drove past this yesterday, and can confirm it looks just as GR8 as the pictures would have you believe Although I didn't get to see the awesome interior as it was getting dark.

 

I noticed you have some interesting shite poking out from under a cover on a driveway opposite you Panda - Armstrong Siddeley?

 

Not sure exactly, not been nosy enough to ask / look.

 

Give me a knock sometime if you are passing - the worst I can say is piss off!

[pandamonium]

Excellent Stuff

 

Even more shite points for being a 'Dance' - All the 'luxury' of the later MK2 Panda but with the earlier 903cc pushrod engine

 

I have owned 4 Pandas now.

 

An 'H' reg one which was also a red Dance edition, a 'M' plate one with the ELX injected engine, a 'D' plate Bianca edition with Bullbars and the 1000 'Fire' engine, and finally this one.

 

The 903 really is the best in my opinion - never liked the other two really.

[RobT]

That looks superb, I can't recall ever seeing a car with a fabric dash before!

 

I thought these things were quite pricey these days, or is that just the 4x4s?

[Lord Sterling]

Thats superb, only on Autoshite can you trade down from a Mercedes to a Panda!

[rml2345]

Thats superb, only on Autoshite can you trade UP from a Mercedes to a Panda!

 

EFA That looks so utterly basic that it couldn't be anything other than smashing. Top buy!

Plus points for buying something that didn't fit any of the other parameters.