Quote:
Originally Posted by T5R92011
Here's a nice R-design on marketplace (93,000 miles) being sold by "Gatwick Motor World".
Regarding my own black 08 S40 T5 (same year as this V50), I bought it over the telephone without viewing it in person (something I'd never do if spending £3,000 on a car). Car was some 200 miles away, so I had the dealer to deliver it to me. I knew I would struggle to find another black manual facelift R-design T5 so I had that "crazy" moment and went all in and just bought it. I was NOT wrong about the rarity. They are getting very hard to find now.
The interior condition was very nice but the car did need a lot of mechanical TLC which was apparent when I finally drove it for the first time but I got those issues sorted out and now the car drives very very nicely. I dont reget the blind purchase because the core drivetrain in these cars will last a long time.
Issues were:
Timing belt was overdue by 20,000 miles.
Wheel alignment was out.
Wheel bearing was grinding and car was vibrating badly at 70mph+.
Wrong coolant tank had been fitted (from 4 cylinder S40).
Car was down on power.
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Totally get your blind purchase.
As for the GMW one, looking at the pictures carefully it's missing the washer jet cover and the bumper looks bent on that corner, rear bumper looks messy, maybe cracked (vertical line to the right hand side), and the rear of the front seats look a right mess in one of the pics... I almost called up the garage last weekend to enquire but I can only think it must look worse in person. Wheels scuffed too, so I fear it will need paint, bumper fettling, wheel refurb, maybe a replacement interior and various other cosmetic things which will add quite a fair bit to the overall cost, and ultimately I don't really have the spare time to be running around trying to sort all those bits... If it had half the mileage then I might've considered it, but as it is I think I'll have to let this one go
