On the knock, success or FAIL?

[Cavcraft]

There's two cars within a few hundreds yards of me that have been in their respective gardens for bleeding ages. One is an early Mk3 Fiesta, the other is an old (K1)?) Micra about 1990 I think.Now I don't really like door knocking as the owners could be oldies who don't like random strangers turning up, and with the advent of thieving pikey bastards I don't fancy knocking if some twat then nicks the cars as it'll look a bit suspicious. So I might write them a letter and include my 'phone number and address and see if they fancy parting with them.So, anyone else been on the knock and if so how did you get on, success or fail?

[FredTransit]

I have tried a few times, mostly fail. Teh one time I was successful wasn't in reply to my note, but the same van came via a mate who was 25 miles away!

[ashmicro]

Only ever did it once, and had no problems. The guy recognised me as a local, mind you.

[wuvvum]

The only time I've ever done it I came away with a running-but-rusty Delta HF Turbo for 50 quid. I had a mate who used to do it all the time though - I once had to drop a Saab off for some work and said mate was with me. The garage was in a village a bit of a way out and we'd missed the last bus and were looking at a fugging long walk home. We started walking Norwichwards, and in the next village we came to there was an old beige Fiat Panda parked up the side of the shop. Mate went into the shop, came out with two bottles of Pepsi and the keys & logbook to the Panda - it belonged to the manager who was going to scrap it anyway. So we jumped in and drove back to Norwich in it - clutch slipped a bit but otherwise it drove fine - and when we got there matey sold it for £30, so win all round.

[Station]

I'm pro writing a note and putting under windscreen wiper. If they're offended, they just throw it away.

[meggersdog]

Door knocked twice, both on the estate where I live.Each time I had heard the owner wanted rid so both were purchased.1st.Seat Inca (Caddy van) bit scabby with no test.Purchased for 80 quid.Went straight through an MOT and sold via ebay for much more.2nd.Renault 5 taxed and tested but with a running fault.Paid the woman 150 quid (I think).Replaced cracked vacuum pipes and doubled my money.

[VWPowered]

i got my first Scirocco GTI for £50 by knockin the door, would recommend it as baragins could be had

[mattblack]

Enquired after this when I had my MK1 Sceptre...

 

 

Got the old 'It's my lads, he's going to do it up' spiel... about 2 years later it was still there so I asked again and got the same... 2 day later it was on ebay.

[Alexg]

Followed a not mint but original looking early mk1 mg metro in to a multistorey. Missed the owners by the time I found it but parked my metty next to it an put a note asking if he wanted to sell and my mobile. That was nearly 4 years ago and still no call...

[outlaw118]

I've done the "message under wiper" thing twice, both for chaps on here, one on an 1100 Ozztin, another on a Manta; I'm assuming neither worked, as I've had no messages from the people concerened...and the Ozztin is still mouldering away...

[dollywobbler]

I leafleted a 2CV in Brum once, inviting the owner to our local meet. What I actually got was a FREE and immaculate 2CV as the bloke wanted it to go to a real enthusiast.I still feel guilty about that one as while I did look after it, I did also once take it off-roading and I later sold it for £1100 as it had a RUBBISH after market chassis under it and it handled like a shopping trolley on cobbles. (must be one of very few 2CVs rechassied by a Citroen main dealer too!).Mind you, while that was £1100 of profit (after six months of ownership) I've lost a hell of a lot more since!

[hennabm]

Not so much a knock but a chat..I came out of a Fiat dealership to see a guy stood in front of his 320, having just received an MOT failure. Started chatting to him about it and found he lived in a terraced house, the MOT was out and the tax was out in a month. After some more discussion I left with the car and he left with £70 Still running that car today, more than 3 years on..