What car did you *just* miss out on owning, and you wish you didn't?

[bunglebus]

The other one that plays on my mind is a Toyota Crown - never saw it but the bloke offered it to me for about £250, I was probably only 18 or 19 so hesitated too long - think it went around the oval

[mintwth]

An orange (the paintwork as well as the rust) Fiat X1/9 in a local garage around two decades ago.

I chose practicality and reliability and bought a modern (at the time) VAG from the same garage instead.

I'll always wonder how much fun* I would have had if I'd gone with my heart instead of my head. 

[grogee]

A Porsche 944 S2 in white. Offered the full asking, he still said no. I think I dodged a bullet though as he was shifty AF.

Around the same time I entertained the idea of an XJ-C with the straight six that had been 'breathed' on, that would have been a beast but also probably quite needy.

I ended up with a Lotus Excel. 

An Alpina E21 323i. Shoulda coulda woulda.

Alfa 33 Green Cloverleaf. It probably would have been a world of pain.

Toyota Carina E estate diesel - it all checked out until I saw the bloke's fingernails and he proclaimed that he couldn't write. I believe he may have hailed from the travelling community.

Skoda Favorit rally - got a mention on these pages. £2k in the end. I will regret that for the rest of my life.

Instead I'm piss-balling about with a Maestro.

[grogee]

Oh, and while I worked at Ford there was an RS3100 for sale on the noticeboard, didn't buy it. Twat.

[Lanciaman]

Lancia HPE volumex.   This was in 1990, looking to replace my first car, Fiat 131 1600TC.   Bottled it as the fiat had taught me all about rust.   So bought an MG Maestro 2.0 instead.  Which rusted worse than the hpe would've.... 

[cort16]

I recently went to see a new shape Mini for sale. It was an amazing spec with HUD, glass sliding roof, satnav, leather etc etc.

It was fairly priced but when I turned up the bonnet wouldn't open, the aircon didn't work and he couldn't find the service history. I made a decent offer based on all this they turned down.

Once I was home he then found the service history, the bonnet opened and he'd had it booked in for a regas the next. I upped my offer to near the selling price as it still had quite a short MOT and he came back saying someone had offered full asking price and I take it I wouldn't want to match that.

I thought he was taking the piss and bluffing me and even though I really wanted the car and the asking price was fair and I had the money the 7 year old in me stomped his feet and replied "no sorry I don't want it".

Turns out he wasn't taking the piss and he had sold it for full asking price. I like the Megane I bought instead but I would have preferred the Mini.

[SteersWithThrottle]

15 minutes ago, grogee said:

Oh, and while I worked at Ford there was an RS3100 for sale on the noticeboard, didn't buy it. Twat.

Bloody hell, you might have won the thread there, for me. One of my dream cars.

My miss was a Z33 Gran Turismo 4 special edition in black, for 5 bags. I passed because I really wanted the Alezan leather (this had black). Then covid happened and the finances went out the window...

[Rust Collector]

A few that spring to mind over the years, no pics sadly as the adverts/phones from the time are long gone:

• Ford Sierra Xr4i4 being sold by an elderly couple for £450 as it was 'an old car and they were going down to one car between them'. I called fairly soon after it was listed, the lady sounded surprised at how much interest there was in such an old car and let me know that someone was on their way to buy it.
• Hilux Surf 3.0 SSSSSRRXXYXYS or something like that. Agreed £550 for it back when they were worth fuck all because cracked heads M9 and the bloke wanted shot before tax/MOT ran out. Collection agreed the following day. He calls me that evening saying that he's been offered £750 but the bloke can't pay for a month, but I can still have it for £650 seeing as I can collect now. I'm stubborn/principled so my counter offer was a deal is a deal, go fuck yourself. Should've just paid the £100 in hindsight as they're good trucks and I was gutted to not get it.
• Mk2 CRX VTEC. Advertised as a p/x so probably rusted to fuck, but again it was something like £400. I ummed and ahhed as they were worthless back then. By the time I stopped holding my dick in my hands and phoned the seller it was gone.
• Mk1 Impreza Turbo. I noticed it on the industrial estate where I work, it was sat for ages not moving and after an ask around I discovered it belonged to an Italian chap who worked in the unit opposite. He spoke no English, and another lad there acted as translator whilst I looked at the car and had a test drive. It was insanely good fun to drive. Agreed £900, and there was some confusion over he wanted to take it to the garage and sort a couple of bits. The car disappeared and I couldn't get hold of him for several weeks. I eventually caved in and bought a Xsara HDi estate. Something like a day after I bought that, his friend called and told me the car was ready... FFS. Didn't have the cash to buy it so had to bail out. Found out later it was a Tommy Kaira so double FML. Should have borrowed the £900 and punted the Xsara.

There's others I'm probably forgetting...

Conversely, there's been a shit tonne of cars that I have nabbed by being in the right place at the right time so I can't be too sad!

[danthecapriman]

30 minutes ago, grogee said:

Oh, and while I worked at Ford there was an RS3100 for sale on the noticeboard, didn't buy it. Twat.

A mate of mine bought an RS3100, went half’s with his brother, back in the early 90’s. It was bought really as a bit of fun to blast about in and of course they were worth sod all back then. He admitted they ragged the hell out of it everywhere! 
It died of rust and being worn out in the end and got scrapped. 
Naturally, when he told me this I told him how rare and valuable they are now!😆

Real shame.

 

Another one of mine was back in 2001 when I bought my mk2 Capri. It was parked on the side of the road with a 4 sale sign in the window. But, behind it was a mk1 (pre facelift) K reg 1.6XL also 4 sale from the same seller. He wanted £700 for it,which I would have paid but sadly I just couldn’t lay my hands on that much so got the mk2 instead. 
Fast forward a few years and said mk1 appeared on a local farm, in a right state. Rust everywhere and looking really sorry for itself. No idea where it went after that though. I really really wanted that car. Still do actually!

[camryv6]

Ok a few that stick in my mind

Renault 12, looked at it went away, changed my mind, phoned and it had sold

Mk2 Escort rs2000 but i thought £1500 pounds was a lot for a slightly rusty escort, yes i still laugh about this most weeks

E type Jaguar just about on the road for £5000, but i couldn't comfortably afford to run it, i should of bought it and just left it in my garage

Oh and i could of bought a Sierra Cosworth for £5000 but was £500 short at the time

 

[Blue 850]

Saab 99 Turbo for 200 Irish punts in the early 1990s, couldn't get insurance.

In the early 2000s, a really nice mk1 Triumph 2.5PI that I had arranged to drive 80 miles to view, seller sold it without bothering to call/text me on the way. I still see it at car shows

In the late 1990s, a Fiat 127 Sport advertised for £650, this was a misprint, seller only wanted 250 but windscreen pillars were rotten so I walked away , it was silver, apparently only 1 rhd silver remains in UK/Ireland, at least that one is in my brother's shed

I rented a property about 15 years ago of a family whose son had a Daihatsu Charade GTTI convertible, 1 of only 2 made, he crashed it, bought another breaker Gtti to repair it 

 he stripped them and let them sit in the yard.

I could've persuaded his parents to sell it. It's probably still there

[Rusty Pelican]

Massive regret was from way back in 1981 , Offered a MK2 3lt Cortina Savage in factory black for £100 with a blown diff and very dodgy brakes , i had the money but my Pops told me no way would i get insurance at the tender age of 17 - he was probably right but i regret it to this day '
 

[grogee]

50 minutes ago, danthecapriman said:

A mate of mine bought an RS3100, went half’s with his brother, back in the early 90’s. It was bought really as a bit of fun to blast about in and of course they were worth sod all back then. He admitted they ragged the hell out of it everywhere! 
It died of rust and being worn out in the end and got scrapped. 
Naturally, when he told me this I told him how rare and valuable they are now!😆

Real shame.

 

Another one of mine was back in 2001 when I bought my mk2 Capri. It was parked on the side of the road with a 4 sale sign in the window. But, behind it was a mk1 (pre facelift) K reg 1.6XL also 4 sale from the same seller. He wanted £700 for it,which I would have paid but sadly I just couldn’t lay my hands on that much so got the mk2 instead. 
Fast forward a few years and said mk1 appeared on a local farm, in a right state. Rust everywhere and looking really sorry for itself. No idea where it went after that though. I really really wanted that car. Still do actually!

Actually I might be lying. Now I think back I think it was an RS2600. 

Still megabucks now, mind.

[anonymous user]

The two that spring to mind, that I will never have the chance of again

Firstly a Bristol 405 that I could have had as a straight swap for my (not very old)  Triumph Spitfire. My father talked me out of it telling me it was an old man's car (I was 19) 

A Swallow Doretti, I thought I had agreed a deal and to collect at weekend, the seller took a higher offer in the week.

The list of things I should have run away from is much longer.

[Skut]

1978 Orange Mini for 80 quid in about 2001. Missed the 80 quid Mini boat now.

[Bradders59]

Accident was in 76. Got £12500 in 79. Should have been a lot more than that, but it later transpired that my solicitor probably pocketed the rest. He was later jailed for imbezzling clients funds.  Anyway, the injuries - Compound tib / fib fractures. Nerves cut to right foot meaning no ability to lift it ever since. Right knee joint shattered. Left kidney fucked. Minor spinal fractures and chipped vertebrae. Dislocated jaw, lots of broken teeth. And the best black eye youve ever seen. 

Apart from that lot, Im fit as a butchers dog. 😂

Sorry, I should have included a quote of  gr8platem8 post for that to make sense. 

[Justin Case]

Three come to mind, 

1 Some years ago, a neighbour's Bay Window VW Camper Van, in first class condition and only £900. Not bought because I couldn't at the time think of a reason to buy a VW Camper Van. I hope to have grown out of that way of thinking by now 🙂

2 Not many years later, a Maserati Quattroporte IV Evoluzione, being sold for £7995. I met the owner and car at an Italian car day shortly afterwards, I could have had it on the spot for £7,500, probably even less. Unfortunately I had my sensible head on that day and thought that 8 cylinders, 32 valves and two turbos was probably a bit excessive for driving around Sandwell, which it probably actually was (my job at the time involved quite a lot of that) so i bought a Mazda 6, which I still have, instead.

3 (the really upsetting one) Most recently an Alfa Giulia Spyder for £4,000, which I couldn't get insured on a classic policy as it was an import, converted to RHD and a variation that was never sold new in the UK. Perhaps I should have tried a few more brokers as it doubled in price a couple of years later

[GR8 PL8 M8]

1 hour ago, Bradders59 said:

Accident was in 76. Got £12500 in 79. Should have been a lot more than that, but it later transpired that my solicitor probably pocketed the rest. He was later jailed for imbezzling clients funds.  Anyway, the injuries - Compound tib / fib fractures. Nerves cut to right foot meaning no ability to lift it ever since. Right knee joint shattered. Left kidney fucked. Minor spinal fractures and chipped vertebrae. Dislocated jaw, lots of broken teeth. And the best black eye youve ever seen. 

Apart from that lot, Im fit as a butchers dog. 😂

Sorry, I should have included a quote of  gr8platem8 post for that to make sense. 

Fuck me, you definitely deserved that cash, and then some! I hope the Chevette made it somewhat worth it (of course it didn't but you know what I mean).

I asked as I had a similar experience, but with much lesser injuries than yours. The money paid for just over half of my ute, and when I'm having a particularly painful day (probably shouldn't have taken the first offer, but I wasn't in a good place) it cheers me up a little bit.

[Mrcento]

3 come to mind for me.

2.0 20v Fiat Marea. Was stuck at the back of a dealers lot for about 10 months, had a look at it. Navy blue exterior, interior was brown. Was virtually giving it away at the end just to get rid, but i was scared off by the timing belt risk. Just hung around a bit too long deciding, went 'fuck it' went to go and get it, it sold 20 minutes before i called.

2.0 20v Fiat Coupe Turbo. Sprint blue, biscuit interior (seems to be a thing with me and missed Fiats having 5cyls, blue paint and a brown interior 😂). Guy was asking £1500 for it,  folders of history, was pretty much the last point these were gettable for that working. Wimped out because the insurance was SPICY for me at that point. So close to taking that punt though. Prices exploded not long after.

But the really painful one...

Renault Clio Williams. £800. Mechanically perfect, complete, totally original. Mot'd for a few months. Back arches were rotten so needed some pretty extensive work. Didn't fancy getting into battles with bodyshops and chucking probably 2 grand at it in metal and paint. Yeah... under 3 grand all in for a very tidy Williams.... go have a look what a nice one sells for now 😂, even 7 or 8 years ago, i'd have made the money back and a couple of grand profit. Projects were 5k.  Now even a rough one starts at about 9k. Minters are north of 25k.

[High Jetter]

1 hour ago, Bradders59 said:

Accident was in 76. Got £12500 in 79. Should have been a lot more than that, but it later transpired that my solicitor probably pocketed the rest. He was later jailed for imbezzling clients funds.  Anyway, the injuries - Compound tib / fib fractures. Nerves cut to right foot meaning no ability to lift it ever since. Right knee joint shattered. Left kidney fucked. Minor spinal fractures and chipped vertebrae. Dislocated jaw, lots of broken teeth. And the best black eye youve ever seen. 

Apart from that lot, Im fit as a butchers dog. 😂

Sorry, I should have included a quote of  gr8platem8 post for that to make sense. 

Fair play. What doesn't make you weaker, makes you stronger.

[Bradders59]

I try to convince myself thats true, and also that a bit of pain never hurt anyone, but the remains of my right knee strongly disagree. 

I really need to go and get it replaced soon.

[warren t claim]

1976 Mk2 Escort RS1800 for £300. I've spoken about it here before. Biscuit tin floor and running on three cylinders. Spent an enjoyable evening with the owner bouncing it off huge boulders and trying to roll it.

[PhilA]

Black '72 2002Tii touring for £2200 back in the early 00's. Had the Alpina kit.

Still upset that I hemmed and hawwed and somebody else didn't.

[Alan_Green]

Spooky.  I drafted this reply but didn't bother posting because I couldn't attach an image.  Anyway mine was a black 1975 BMW 1602 bought from my mother's pal for £390.  Then I found out I was too young to insure such a high group car so we undid the deal and she sold it elsewhere.  (Insert in your imagination here a pic of black 1602 in an auction catalogue with a sold for £24K caption).  Oh well, there's always opportunities.   https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/1975-bmw-1602-lux 

[warren t claim]

VVW8W. The Ford press demo Capri 2.8i. I was or sale for a grand locally back in 1992.

[Metal Guru]

I bought a brand new Subaru Impreza WRX in 2004 for around £19k. At the time the dealer had a 22B for sale for £22k. It seemed silly to pay more for a 6 year old car, so never really considered it.  If only…..

[warch]

I owned my Calibra Turbo between 2002 and 2009, when I sold it for 250 quid with no MoT. It was still mechanically and structurally sound but the fiddly rear brake mechanism (disc and drum) was corroded and semi inoperative and there were a few other issues I didn’t have the cash to sort (credit crunch innit). 
 

About three years later I was idly skimming eBay when I suddenly happened upon my old car, someone had repaired most of the issues, got it a full MoT and it was on for about 1100 quid. It’d even done 2000miles less than when I’d sold it. Stupidly I didn’t buy it back (although my girlfriend was pregnant at the time and it probably wasn’t the best car for getting a baby seat in and out of the back). Still regret it now.

[Bradders59]

Around 1986 I sold a pretty rusty, high mileage, Mk1 Capri 1600GT for £20.

[artdjones]

In 1987 there was a Rapier identical to this for sale in a dealer's yard between Cardiff and Penarth for £250. It was R registration so late registration madness. I was so busy with various things happening in my life that I couldn't summon the resolution to buy it. Three years later I saw it for sale in Practical Classics, where it turned out to have been the last Rapier ever made.

[High Jetter]

1 hour ago, artdjones said:

In 1987 there was a Rapier identical to this for sale in a dealer's yard between Cardiff and Penarth for £250. It was R registration so late registration madness. I was so busy with various things happening in my life that I couldn't summon the resolution to buy it. Three years later I saw it for sale in Practical Classics, where it turned out to have been the last Rapier ever made.

Hn fecking ng!