Buying unseen!?

I want a P38.

Living in Hull there is generally no choice that I can get to easily with work commitments so I was thinking of doing the unheard of and buying unseen of theBay.

Would buy from a garage to give some Sale Of Goods protection, and pay by credit card.

I would press for a few weeks engine and gearbox warranty.

Would only do it if the price was right.

Has anyone sone this successfully? Do tell me if you think I'm a mental.:lalala::screaming_bug_eye_f

A warranty given on something like a p38 is probably not worth the paper it's written on. Buying unseen is never a good idea but I did with mine as it was the right money and touch wood she's been generally very well behaved for the last couple of years. Radiator exhaust air bags that kind of thing.

Buying from a garage though is risky unless they are a specialist the problem is most specialists will know if it's a good one and price it accordingly.

Best plan is to maybe put a deposit on one and then go and see it or get someone else to, I believe with distance selling any deposit over the phone is refundable if you don't buy it but you have to go and see it to get the deposit back.

Distance selling regs don't apply to something purchased online, but then picked up in person as you have the chance to inspect it at the point of pickup. If you purchase and pay upfront AND have it delivered, then you are covered. But virtually all sellers will want a deposit followed by cash on collection - so that rules out distance selling regs.

Cheers chaps.

You would have to be mental to buy unseen.

Take a week or two off work and look around properly

Buying a P38 unseen is like balancing on a one legged stool and putting your head in a noose.

I just did it Germany; as long as you don't expect to much it will be fine.
there's always a list of things that doesn't work
gives you a bit to talk of the price

It might be worth offering a few beer tokens to get someone to take a look at one you have your eyes on then arrange a day off work to view yourself might be able to get a mechanic to do this for you.

After a lot of research and looking, I bought mine unseen on Ebay. The car was in Birmingham and I live in France. Look at lots, ask plenty of questions and jump in if you find a good one.

Bought both of my P38's virtually unseen, one through a popular auction site and one after seeing it on the web at a dealers the other end of the country.
Do you know your way around cars? do you know what to scrutinize in photos and any information given? ask the seller for the current MOT certificate number then you can check its whole MOT history including failures and advisories and mileage on the dvla website.
To be honest you wont get a warranty from any dealer on a 20 year old range rover, do your research, spend hours trawling through ad's to get a feel for what it available and when you take the plunge spend good time checking everything works and test driving before you hand the cash over.

You should factor in the cost of a full engine and auto box filter and fluid changes, get yourself EAS unlock and leads and be prepared to spend on air bags / pump / valve block rebuild at some time.

50/50 air con wont be charged or even work, heaters may play up a bit, heated seats probably wont work, if you've done your research you will know this already

Other than that you are in the hands of the gods, but you could buy a BMW or Merc that's 20 years old and have as much luck.

If you see anything you fancy ask for advice on here, you never know there could be a member who lives round the corner who could pop and have a look?.

That's interesting, apart from the OP there have been 8 replies to what in essence seems like a crazy question, the thing is 4 of the people who replied have bought unseen.

I bought mine unseen from a member on here.
Couple of photos and a description and went from there.
Mind you only paid £550 for it so wasn't expecting much

Drove mine home from Birmingham to Poitiers in France in ****ing rain with no problem.
Needed a new aircon condensor PDQ and precautionary new airsprings then a front height sensor and window regulator. Other than that, really it's been normal wear and tear apart from the gearbox playing up which was fixed with several oil changes and doses of Lucas Transmission Fix. Had it 6 years now, never free of niggles but never let me down. Driver pack was the last event.

See, I knew I wasn't a total spanner!

To be honest I am downsizing from a nice-but-dull car to one I really want to spend time in and should have a good few quid left for repairs, Faultmate etc. Been lurking on here for a good while so I know it will be a rollercoaster where you pay and pay.

Every one I see makes me smile.

How much are you looking to spend? from my experience £2500 Is what you will be buying a half decent one for, but I am fussy.

I'll be fussy too. I'll pay for the right one. Would love a Bordeaux but it would be a sod to get parts!

False economy to get a cheapo one. But paying loads is no guarantee of quality either!

davidsmith1307 said:

I'll be fussy too. I'll pay for the right one. Would love a Bordeaux but it would be a sod to get parts!

False economy to get a cheapo one. But paying loads is no guarantee of quality either!

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Very true, you get what you pay for only up to a point.

davidsmith1307 said:

I'll be fussy too. I'll pay for the right one. Would love a Bordeaux but it would be a sod to get parts!

False economy to get a cheapo one. But paying loads is no guarantee of quality either!

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A 2001 Bordeaux (in either a 4.0 or 2.5) won't be difficult to get parts for!!??!!

It is just a entry level County with Alveston Paint and colour coded wing mirrors, bumpers and the alloys had red inlays....the head brake gaiter, steering wheel etc where lightstone like the rest of the leather...and piped with Rowanberry Red seams.

No more special when it comes to mechanical parts than any other P38!

Damn. Now I have to have one! I do appreciate that it was listed as a mid-range special edition.

Perhaps a Linley would be better.......

davidsmith1307 said:

Damn. Now I have to have one! I do appreciate that it was listed as a mid-range special edition.

Perhaps a Linley would be better.......

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If you can a) find one, the b) re-mortgage the house to pay for it!

There were only 200 Bordeauxs made so while not rare like the Linley, they are not plentiful either!