Pop a note on the windscreen - Does it ever work?

[MrSchwifty]

During lockdown, I have taken the opportunity to explore the local area a bit more on my daily walk or cycle. As it turns out, there is quite a bit of shite lying on drives that I would never have otherwise seen. 

I have spotted one vehicle lying on a drive which I am rather keen on. A look on Google maps shows it has been sat there since 2015 when it last had an MOT. Weeds have grown around it and judging by the general unkemptness of the place I suspect it is an elderly person who resides there and owns the car.  Obviously, now is not the time to be knocking on the door of a potentially vulnerable person going "hi m9 u wanna sell dat". My question is, given there are obviously attachment issues as the car is still there and not scrapped, how best do you approach to enquire as to whether they would at some point consider parting with the car? Has anyone on here got first or second hand experience of doing this - were you successful? 

Thoughts on a postcard. 

 

Cheers!

[Tamworthbay]

Tried a few times, worked once. Put a note through the door and got a call within minutes. They were an old couple who were worried about having ‘dodgy people’ around to take it away so were very pleased. They flatly refused to take anything for it so I bought them a bottle of whisky and some chocs. A couple of weeks later the old guy came around with a stack of history and some spares he had found in his shed. It was a volvo 240 and did us well for a few years. Most times I have had no response and a couple of times they have called but wanted silly money. The saddest one was a Moto Guzzi in Boscombe near where my mother in law lived, I put a few notes through the door over a few years and never heard anything back, I then tried asking at the local motorbike shop in case they knew the owner, they said the owner was in prison and the other person in the house was very aggressive if people knocked the door about the bike. I saw that poor thing rot into the ground over a ten year period. I would go for it if it’s something you want, nothing to lose.

[New POD]

I would have thought a polite letter through the post box, in an envelope, written in sentences, with name address and phone number might be the most effective way to make someone interested. 

I wouldn't be knocking on doors just in case they are paranoid about C19. 

In the past I have given people my business card in supermarket carparks or at petrol stations and have been phoned 3 to 18 months later.  I bought one and given the others good advice on disposal of their unwanted future classic.

 

[Shite Ron]

If you read the excellent Mondeo thread on here you can see it can if you are lucky work very well.I think a nicely written polite note through the door is the best way forward.

[warch]

Some people develop really strong emotional attachments to a car, even one that's been sat deteriorating outside their house since the year dot. They're often the type you see on Car SOS, the car is one they owned when they were younger but it's rotting away and they don't have the time or money or skills to repair it. 

Some people get quite shirty about quite innocent enquiries about a car they own, many people think that they are sitting an automotive goldmine. Owners of old land rovers (for example) all know that their vehicle is worth thousands, even if there is little or nothing of salvageable value on the rotten immovable algae strewth heap that's been sitting outside their house for 25 years.

Personally I'd generally rather move something on if I don't use it. I'll always be polite to people asking if I want to sell a vehicle. My Land Rover has been in the family for nearly 50 years so its a keeper but I won't be unpleasant if someone inquires about it, I'll usually put them off by explaining how shonky it is.

[Zelandeth]

It can work, though I'd usually go for a well written letter through the door.

Don't go overboard though...I must have had a couple of dozen notes under the windscreen of the van telling me to get in touch if I'm selling it from the same guy.  Seriously...one or two is fine, but it just gets annoying beyond a certain point.

[Jerzy Woking]

My brother in law has a Transit pickup parked in the corner of his driveway, and his house is on a busy road. He only uses it a few times a month, but it does get used. He told me he gets people "of a certain sort" knocking at his door at all times wanting to buy it. He put an A3 sign in the windscreen stating it is not for sale, but a few knockers have told him they can't read. 

[purplebargeken]

It's worked for me a couple of times, a couple of times not. So 50/50 really.

Last time was a Daf 44, never heard a dickie bird about it. Might even be still there.

[Slowsilver]

1 hour ago, Shite Ron said:

If you read the excellent Mondeo thread on here you can see it can if you are lucky work very well.I think a nicely written polite note through the door is the best way forward.

This. One polite, well-written letter posted through the letter box is probably best. Leaving a note under the windscreen is not ideal, unless it is not on a property, as it would probably get wet, blow away or be ripped off. As previously suggested, multiple approaches are probably counter-productive. They will either keep the first one or ignore them all.
Although I think I was lucky with my timing. The car was taken off the road in 2013 but, having owned it since 1995, the previous owner obviously couldn't bear to part with it and simply left it on the drive. He apparently died about three years ago and, even then, his wife could not bring herself to get rid of it. It was pure coincidence that his wife had died a few weeks ago, otherwise she probably would have still insisted on keeping it. As it turned out their daughter was happy for us to take it away as she obviously would have enough other things to deal with and it was one less thing to worry about.
 

[Spottedlaurel]

Yes it can work. Ideally put a landline number. The note visible on the windscreen here led to it being in my ownership less than a week later:

1988 Nissan Sunny 1.6LX 5dr (N13) by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

Doesn't always work out that quickly, sometimes it was several years before I got a call.

[Uncle Jimmy]

I tried it with a Mulliner Bentley I happened upon, fifty pounds seemed perfectly reasonable.

[St.Jude]

I've never done it, but when the Corolla was on axle stands looking sorry for itself someone put their card in 3 times to me. I may have sold it at that point as my head wasn't in the right place, but when I saw that it was from someone who would either try to flip the car or scrap it, it spurred me on to actually get the Corolla back on the road.

So it can work both ways, you might give them a kick up the backside to use the car. 

[1duck]

On the other side of the coin I had a guy leave notes/call over a period of a year. Finally met him, agreed a price, shook on it then never heard from him again. Shame as I'd have quite liked rid at that point. 

[New POD]

My parents bought a house with a double garage in 2001, which had been semi derelict for 10 years.  In the garage was an early Renault 5.  Very early. I'm thinking 1970s reg.   It looked in savagable condition.  It was missing the rear window most of which was in the boot in 10000 pieces. The tyres were flat, but it was a real barn find. 

I said to them that once he bought the house, I would help them apply for a V5 and get someone in the owners club to give them money for it.

Of course my parents have no motoring soul. 

Instead, the contract included everything left on site, so they had a legal document.  They paid a scrap dealer to come and remove it.  

(This and other car related stupidity is why I think I was adopted) 

 

 

[ETCHY]

It worked for me years ago, it's how I got my 105e Ford Anglia.

I wish it hadn't though, that car was shit.

[Billy - Medhurst]

I can say it works for sure. Got a mk3 Cortina 2000E  for £30 in 1995 just saving it from the scrap man. Family owned car with service history but old enough to embarrass them in front of the neighbours.

Only needed a wing (Rust) and stupidly I sold it for a good profit to a mate to rape it of the perfect running gear. Also had a Hillman Imp and Datsun 100A that way too.

[tul66]

Worked for me with a Thema VIS which I'd noticed on my way to work a few years ago. It was running out of tax and was going to be scrapped at the end of the month. Bought it as it had a tow bar for £150 & ran around in it for another 10 years & 60000m or so before it was taken off the road & left on my drive for 4 years before I scrapped it in February last year. Got £50 from the scrappy too.

I've also jumped out at a set of traffic lights & gave the driver of a Lancia Dedra my number. Bought that 2 months later.

[Jifflemon]

A friend has just done something similar but with a different approach. He’d been lusting after Triumph gt6, sat under a tarpaulin for a least 5 years; well known in the local circles as one of those “do not ask, it’ll never be for sale”.
My friend knocked on the door, started talking to the chap about the car; explained how he’d seen it getting worse under the tarp and would the old boy mind terribly if he removed the tarp and gave it a good cleaning - may even dissuade some of the annoying people knocking on the door asking if it’s scrap etc.
During the car clean (which turned into several successive cleans - deliberately), they chatted at length about the car, the history of them etc. He ended up not just cleaning it, but getting it fired up and running. After 6 weekends of visits, he ended up getting the car through an MOT (despite it not needing one), where upon the old chap gave him the car. There’s a whole sad tale attached to why he was so attached to the car, and seeing someone else who had the same passion for the car is what helped him let go of it. My mates also made a bit of a habit of popping round to “ask him for advice” on the car.

So, I’d say ask away; the worse they can say is no.

[Kiltox]

Not this shit again ?‍♂️ 

 

[New POD]

3 minutes ago, Kiltox said:

Not this shit again ?‍♂️ 

 

Are you unhappy Gary? What can we do to cheer you up ? 

[Timewaster]

20 hours ago, Jerzy Woking said:

My brother in law has a Transit pickup parked in the corner of his driveway, and his house is on a busy road. He only uses it a few times a month, but it does get used. He told me he gets people "of a certain sort" knocking at his door at all times wanting to buy it. He put an A3 sign in the windscreen stating it is not for sale, but a few knockers have told him they can't read. 

When I first moved to the house I am in, I had a scruffy transit which I used as a mobile skip.

Tip runs, collecting materials etc. Very usefull and paid for itself several times over.

But my God did it attract Pikeys!

I found if I left it under a tree and it started to turn green then the door knockers doubled until I washed it with a broom and fairy liquid.

I also have a sought after Sierra and that tends to attract potless  idiots who think it is their right to take it away. Some get arsey when told it's not for sale.

One Pikey told me I should let him have it because it is a car for a young man. What happens when you are gone? Your kids won't appreciate what it is. Cheeky fucker, I'm 47

Out of years worth of door knockers, not one has ever made anywhere near a sensible offer or shown me any money.

A polite letter is the way to go. Door knockers can fuck off.

[Zelandeth]

My mystery note leaver (called Simon apparently) must be reading this thread...found yet another note on the van this afternoon when I went out to the garage!

I do seriously need to think about putting a sign in the window that clearly states "NO, this vehicle is NOT for sale, quit it with the damn notes!"

[Out Run]

I’ve knocked once about a neglected and unused U.K. spec twin turbo, manual mk4 Supra and got sent packing - expected to.

Another time, when I was into P11 Primera’s, I called into a chippy that had a JDM 4dr parked  outside, asked if it they would like to sell it, and it turned out it was out of MOT, so they offered me it for £80 there and then and I accepted.

It was rotten and I broke it for spares, taking al the seriously rare JDM parts and black dash etc for my own car. I mean who imports a P11 Primera? The folding mirrors were mainly why I wanted it - but when I popped the bonnet I would have been made up if there was an SR20VE underneath! Sadly, it was just an SR18DE.

But yeah, it can work. Be polite and literate. That applies to all of life, though!

Oh yes, there was another one. An old Mini in a blokes garden. I put a note through the door, and he sent me a riddle via text! I successfully answered that, he sent another and then I heard nothing else. Wilson Wilson will remember that strange encounter.

[spike60]

I've had it the other way, two lads knocked on the door wanting to buy the Alfa Sprint Veloce I had as a daily and I sold it to one of them about a year later. Later a woman came up to me in Tesco car park asking questions etc about the 1992 Corvette I was using, said she would like first refusal when I sold it. When I got in touch it was a bluff called, she'd either got cold feet or it wasn't the car that caught her eye, I'm not always the sharpest....1980 Scimitar and MK2 Transit coachbuilt camper also attracted door knockers.

[bunglebus]

I've bought five MK2 Escorts by knocking and asking, but that was when they were worth nothing. Paid no more that £25 for any of them, two estates, a Pop and two 1300 Ghias. Kept one of the estates for years as I really wanted to finish it, got £650 when it sold, it pops up on eBay now and again, still unfinished. Last time was about £2500.

Oh and my 1st Beetle.

[barrett]

When my Humber was sat outside for ages a guy called in a couple of times asking if it was for sale (this was like a week after I got it). I have his number in the history file, and I'll be giving him a call as soon as I decide to move it on. I still never left a note on the abandoned Mk1 BX I found a couple of years ago, I must pop back and see if it's still there soon

[Lankytim]

I don’t think a note has ever worked for me, and even knocking on the door has rarely resulted in me taking custody of a crunchy old knacker.  I’ve had a nice chat with a few people but usually they have an inflated idea of the cars value. Many of these ended up scrapped soon after anyway.

I’ve recently missed out on dead V70 that had been parked up for 6 years or so. I was going to wait until restrictions had lifted to ask about it but it was dragged off for scrap last week. Doh! 

[lesapandre]

I have an old Landcruiser. It attracts 'attention'. So being on the receiving end it's not great if leaving a scrappy note on my windscreen. I get quite a few: Do U wAnt to seLL THis veHle 123456. 

It's irritating because if I don't notice the note for a few days it makes the vehicle look abandoned - I never ring back I am not interested but if I did  - I know I'd get the 'what do you want for it treatment' and them telling me it's  '****ed M8' (its not but I leave it looking ****ed to deter thieves - it's already been nicked once) which is tedium.  They never ever offer a ballpark sum.

However - a nice letter - printed if possible -politely asking if a vehicle is for sale with a reason for interest and a sum of money offered - something proper and a return address and phone number would be fine IMHO. 

[Six-cylinder]

Placing a note on this Herald 13/60 convertible led to me purchasing it.

When I arrived to collect it the lady said somebody else has put a note on it, my heart sunk thinking she was going to ask for more money, but no. Do you you want the the tel number of the chap who says he has a rust free bonnet, boot and doors for it to replace the moth eaten ones. Yes was the answer and I called and they turned out to great and the £100 would include fitting. I pointed out there were green and he said my mate will spray the whole car for you for £100. It looked great but all this was a long time ago.

The current photo is the house I bought it from, now I quite like that Merc.............

[lanciamatt]

I've done it a few times and people have always phoned me, I bought all them I've done it to. Can remember in early 2000s goung to to a DAF dealers in Doncaster for something, spotted a dedra parked up on balby road. Knocked on door, ended up buying it. The car was white but you couldn't tell, it had been parked under a tree for years, took some right cleaning. Gave it another lease of life and some more years service