Should I knock the door?

[stephen01]

A few streets away from where I live and on the school run there's a nice 'old' estate which I don't think has moved for a few months, the car is still MOT'd and taxed but has proper giffer mileage, something like 77k

 

From what I know it's an old couple, and I wouldn't want to look like I was pressuring a sale or anything like that but at the same time it could just disappear one day soon.

 

Should I show my interest or would perhaps a letter be better?

 

[alcyonecorporation]

There are loads of Passats that age knocking around. 

I'm not saying you're scary or owt, but a Passat Variant really isn't worth mithering old folk for. 

[Junkman]

Yes.

[sierraman]

Could have given up driving or could be ill. Who knows?

 

Knock at the door. Worst it'll be will be a 'fuck off'. Best might be a real pearl for a couple hundred.

[mitsisigma01]

If you want it , knock for it !

I door knocked for a 'K' reg mini back in 1987 , got it for nothing , shame I was too young and irresponsible to repair it , in fact I can't even remember what happened to it or where it went !!!

[Lord Sterling]

There is one on here going for £260, except it isn't an estate.

[Cavcraft]

The only letter that dreadful pile of crap needs to see:

 

[xkjagnz]

In good nick they are really nice to drive, and relatively cheap to maintain (unless you are completely stupid and buy the W8) ah f**k that's me!

[sierraman]

Those old passats were solid cars.

[warren t claim]

 

I haven't even knocked the door on this 24 carat AS gold yet.

[Ghosty]

Yugo? JFDI!

[twosmoke300]

Pisswet ? Wouldn't bother - prob filled the May footwell with water and taken the convience control unit out .

[Lankytim]

Just knock on before someone else does!

[Bucketeer]

If you're genuinely a fully grown adult who can't decide by themselves whether to knock on a door or not, without the help of a whole thread, then I'm not sure you're safe to be behind a wheel.

[dollywobbler]

sana1.PNG

 

I haven't even knocked the door on this 24 carat AS gold yet.

HOLY COW!

[nigel bickle]

I get door knocked regularly, often within 20 mins (if I get the Mk1 Transit out)

 

They tend to come as two broad types, the 'nice' Irishman happy to help me out, for a pittance ( natch) who seems genuinely annoyed once quickly rebuffed. Time to lock it back up/ hem it in...

 

And the enthusiast. If they know what they are looking at ( not always so easy here) I will stop& talk in some depth, and if there is ANY chance I'll ever sell, I will take their details. I give them a current price expectation(ish) & gauge reaction. I don't mind under selling, slightly, to someone who wants it, as opposed to someone who wants to profit from it.

Of course, some enthusiasts know nothing - but want to learn. That needs a deep breath, a furtive glance at the time, and as much time as possible.

 

I was young, foolish, full of mistakes once - I remember my elders/ betters guiding me. I feel it's time to return the favour.

 

So door knock. Be polite, knowledgeable, friendly. Carry your details written clearly on a clean sheet of A4 ( harder to misplace) . You might get rebuffed, you might not, but it's unlikely you'll get chased down the drive with a shotgun.

 

Unless you've an Irish accent and a Tarmac lorry.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

I used to love knocking on doors for cars, at one time it was the only way I bought cars.

Highlights were a 1967 Merc 300SEL that hadn't moved for 5 years, £100 , 2 sets of jump leads (24volts) and a can of Easystart , saw me drive home( probably to a pre-booked MOT)

1971 XJ6 2.8 m.o.d in Buckingham , for which I paid £150 but the woman gave me £100 back the next day when I went back for the logbook "Because I looked so happy with it ,and George ( her late husband) would have wanted me to have it" !

Got told to fuck off a few times and heard that old chestnut ' Nah, I'm doing it up mate' far too many times .

Even ended up going out* with a woman that sold me her husbands 2.0 Capri whilst he was in prison.

[fordperv]

You could start with a polite letter popped through the door showing your interest with your phone number on if your unsure whether to knock or not

[BorniteIdentity]

You could start with a polite letter popped through the door showing your interest with your phone number on if your unsure whether to knock or not

 

To be honest, this is the better approach.

 

I'd be a bit pissed if someone knocked on my parent's door hoping to buy their car - particularly if they were elderly and had no previous encounters like this.  I know this might sound a bit much - but the truth is lots of folk only feel safe when they're in their home.  Someone coming to the door like that may feel a bit intimidated, and obviously you're not out to do that.

 

Stick a letter through the door - say you've admired the car for a while and would love to give it a good home for a good price when they're done with it.  If they're finished, they'll call.

[castros_bro]

Would the Mods please move the thread the appropriate place.

 

https://www.mumsnet.com/

[oldcars]

No.

[oldcars]

sana1.PNG

 

I haven't even knocked the door on this 24 carat AS gold yet.

is that a Yugo Sana?

[Angrydicky]

I had a letter offering to buy my Somerset left on the windscreen. It was very polite, saying his dad had an identical car in the 1950s and he liked the idea of owning one. I had no plans to sell (still don't) but I phoned him anyway and had a nice chat, and explained that I'd keep hold of his note and let him know if the situation ever changed. I then put the note in the car's history file. 

[gtd2000]

Those old passats were solid cars.

They rust like hell from what I've observed?

[Mally]

They rust like hell from what I've observed?

 

He said they 'were' solid.

[AlabamaShrimp]

Have you considered knocking on the door and running away? Or knocking on the door yet leaving the infamous flaming bag of dog poo behind?

[BorniteIdentity]

Have you considered knocking on the door and running away? Or knocking on the door yet leaving the infamous flaming bag of dog poo behind?

Setting fire to his car is a bit strong...

[oldcars]

Thinking about this again, and i have changed my mind. I think you should. When i had my MK4 Golf, someone chapping the door and asking to take it away would have made my fecking day.

[Captain Furious]

I really, really despise people knocking on the door asking if I'm selling stuff, no, otherwise it would have a for-fucking-sale notice on it.

 

I've never actually had one, but if I did that would be how I felt about it.

[Mally]

Perhaps he has a better car in the garage that you may want?

That's how I park when I want to get the proper car out.