lorry buying/money advice pleeease!

Bowen4Horses

Bowen4Horses

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23 March 2009
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Location
South Lincs/North Cambs
www.poppywebber.co.uk
Hi

as some of you are probably bored of hearing, i'm still on a neverending search for a lorry.

i want a lorry to nip to friend's houses, go hacking, go somewhere with a manege, take ponies to vet... and then, when raff is fit, to take him (and sometimes Iggle) to little shows and lessons etc.

i originally wanted a 3.5t, cos they're small and i thought would be easier to drive. so i bought a (bargain) lorry, but it was just too small.

i then decided i wanted something with living, as i have 3 kids and it'd be handy to have somewhere to put them at shows...

so i looked at some 7.5t... and almost pooped my pants with how enormous they are. i couldn't even climb up into the cab of some of them.

so then i thought about the inbetween sizes, and have found a PERFECT one. it is small enough to pop round friend's houses in, yet big enough for both ponies, kids and even somewhere to sleep!

PERFECT!

it was on eBay, but i went to view it yesterday, and it was ace. runs lovely. perfect size etc. it had 17 bids and was up to £1010 on ebay. i therefore had visions of getting it for £1500...

i sold my lorry for £2600 therefore that is my budget... absolute max budget (i thought i'd get it for 1500 then have 1100 to put some hardstanding in front of stables).

seller got worried that she wasn't going to get enough for it, so took it off ebay with 17hrs left. my heart broke. and i actually cried when i saw it was gone. i thought she'd sold it.

she emailed me and explained why she'd taken it off. she'd hoped for £4k for it. bah. i googled her mobile number and saw that she had previosuly had it on horsemart for £4400.

i've told her my MAX budget is 2600... thinking she'd tell me to stick it... she just texted me to say she 'couldn't let it go for less than 3000'...

now, my dilemma... firstly. i 100% believe she is genuine. she is not trying to rob me blind. and secondly, i think the box is probably worth 3000 (but prob not 4000).

now... do i blow the budget and spend money we haven't got (albeit £400.. but at xmas time when it could be useful) and have a LOVELY lorry that i can pootle around in merrily for a few years...?

or... do i hold out for an older/shonkier one, and try to get a really good bargain (and risk getting one that dies) and put some money aside for hardstanding (as in front of stables is a mudfest).

or... do i sit tight and wait for her to accept my 2600? bearing in mind there were 17 bids and therefore potentially a few people engaging in the same discussions with her...?

i realise that budget of 2600 isn't great, which is why my search for a bargain is taking it's time ( i am an AMAZING bargain hunter).

will someone please make up my mind for me?

thankies
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x
 
The chances are, if you buy a cheaper one you'll spend as much sorting it out. If it really is as nice as you say, and you're not just being blinded by 'nice lorry' syndrome and you can find any way of getting the extra £400 (well any legal way
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) I would do it. If however it would break the bank and cause lots of hassle I wouldn't. Only you know how easily you can find the extra £400 or not, but there are far more important things to get yourself into debt for (even though it's a relatively small amount)
 
Nope, won't make up your mind for you
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All I can say is, dependent on a mechanics view of the lorry, I'd use the £400 if I had it and buy that one.

I am very wary of lorries, having spent more than your budget on one and it dying quite dramatically less than a year later!
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I would want to see the last few MOT/Plating sheets, especially the last two - they'll tell you what is on its way out; I'd also want a mechanic to crawl underneath and look at the important parts.

I would also research the make and model - for example, the old Bedfords are nice, but the parts are flaming horrendously hard to get hold of and horrendously expensive
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Aren't I a little ray of sunshine and joy
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ahh bless I really want a lorry and have no Idea about the legalities etc of driving a 7.5 ton etc,

Very good advice Mrs M but im terrible and if you really do want it and have a mechanic to do a quick check etc then I would say go for it (its only £400)

Tell the kids santa's suffering in the credit crunch so he bought them a lorry to share and play with lol.

Oh yeah and one more thing can you find me a lorry aswell please xxx

good luck
 
I'm dreadful with budgets and making the most of my money (as most accountants are, aren't they?!
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), so yes, I'd go for it and blow the extra £400, but then that's not the most mature approach.
I agree with the above, to get a mechanic to have a quick look-see, altho if I remember rightly isn't your hubby a dab hand with the engines?!
And lastly, I'd like a 3.5t for around £1500, don't care how old as long as it's MOT'd and up north somewhere (Yorks/Lincs/Lancs), so feel free to use your bargain hunting skills and maternity leave spare time on me!!!
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[ QUOTE ]

And lastly, I'd like a 3.5t for around £1500, don't care how old as long as it's MOT'd and up north somewhere (Yorks/Lincs/Lancs), so feel free to use your bargain hunting skills and maternity leave spare time on me!!!
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[/ QUOTE ]

someone (you) is going to regret saying that...
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p.s. how big is your horse? i had real probs finding a 3.5t that'd fit my 15.1 in well.
 
[ QUOTE ]
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And lastly, I'd like a 3.5t for around £1500, don't care how old as long as it's MOT'd and up north somewhere (Yorks/Lincs/Lancs), so feel free to use your bargain hunting skills and maternity leave spare time on me!!!
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[/ QUOTE ]

someone (you) is going to regret saying that...
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p.s. how big is your horse? i had real probs finding a 3.5t that'd fit my 15.1 in well.

[/ QUOTE ]

She's a large 14.3hh HW cob, with a mahoosive arse!!
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I only really want one to carry her, not bother about giving anyone else a lift!
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ok so why is this one better than another that you may find for £2600?? or is it just that you know she thinks its worth £4000? you say its only worth £3000 so it isn't really a bargain.
If its not a bargain its not worth blowing your budget for.

Again if not a bargain it may be just as likely to go wrong as any other lorry for that money
 
"i then decided i wanted something with living, as i have 3 kids and it'd be handy to have somewhere to put them at shows..."

Pop, did you mean that to sound as funny as it does?! If you are not going to put yours in it between shows, can I put my one in it when its free?? I really miss peace and quiet!!
 
I'm equally rubbish at budgets so I would probably go for it! I have no self control - already bought new lorry before selling existing one - oops!!

Having said that when I was looking for ours (which is now for sale btw if anyone wants a really reliable and affordable older 7.5t!) there was naff all between £3500 and £5000 that was actually any better than those at around £3000. I looked at a few, even got as far as having one vetted that they wanted £5k for, and it failed spectacularly. I would say never buy a lorry that has been standing around for ages - you want something thats been regularly used as then problems are more like to have shown up!

In all seriousness tho I relly really need to sell ours - its advertised at £3250 but if someone offered me cash £200 either way wouldn't matter too much, especially if they were after a quick sale as I need the parking space for the new one (now need to travel 3 big horses hence selling ours). And I advertised at £3250 knowing I really need £2750 so I reckon you would find she might well accept your offer!


ETA Agree with Mrs Mozart, old bedfords are great
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but have actually not found it too hard getting parts. In all fairness ours has only needed new parts twice in 3 years, one was starter motor and other more recent was Master Brake Cylinder, both times got reconditionned parts with full warranty/guarantee and it was all totally painless and not very expensive.
 
[ QUOTE ]
ok so why is this one better than another that you may find for £2600?? or is it just that you know she thinks its worth £4000? you say its only worth £3000 so it isn't really a bargain.
If its not a bargain its not worth blowing your budget for.

Again if not a bargain it may be just as likely to go wrong as any other lorry for that money

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i think you've hit the nail on the head here... is it because she thinks it's worth £4400? she bought it for £5000 a year ago... but she could have been ripped off... is that why i like it?

it is defo worth £3000... but i wouldn't say it's the bargain of the year at £3k. and in the current environment there are lots of bargains to be had...


but, it ticks ALL my boxes. apart from the 'serious bargain' one...

gah confuzzled
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I would explain to her that *IF* you pay any more than the ££ you have ie £2600 you need to be sure you won't be breaking into your emergency repair fund, therefore would she mind if you took {knowledgeable mechanic friend} to view said lorry and pass opinion on it. If she is genuine, has nothing to hide and believes vehicle to be 100% then she will say fine, and if it is sound and according to your mechanic not likely to bring you ££bills then if it is what you truly want then £3K is worth it
 
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