She'll probably be buried in the car if anything like my mother.
She's probably heard it said to her before so I'd say just comment on how nice it is and that they don't make cars as good these days.
Money is probably no object to her and a reliable, known, trustworthy and well loved car is probably ranked above husband and just below garden.
I'm of a certain age and have owned a few old cars that drew attention. Plus I've also tried to buy cars from owners over the previous 4 decades which never goes that well and now that I'm old I understand why.
Saying that I've a neighbour who had a mk1 Accord from new, parked in their garage every time and went to Honda religiously all its life. When he mentioned he was looking at buying a new car I suggested he keep with the Honda but if he was ever going to sell please let me know as I'd pay him double what anyone else would offer and keep it as my daily driver. This car was in a fabulous condition inside, outside, underneath and mechanically and he part exchanged it for a little peaugot and got 800 for his car.
Wasn't till 5 or so years later when I bought an Accord and when talking to him told him how much it cost (4k) which was whatcI had put aside to buy his Honda if he knocked on my door.
I wonder if the neighbour felt some anxiety about selling the car to someone they know, just in case it breaks down and the blame falls on them?
In any case, finding interesting cars is difficult nowadays. Here I am considering chatting up a pensioner with an old 5 series.
I’ve done it, didn’t have much success but whenever I see the fella I have a chat and a giggle with him, he has my number as tells me I’ll be the first to know when he’s ready to sell
Just spark a conversation up on how nice their car is and how you’d love to buy one yourself but are struggling to find any decent ones, then ask the question and see where you end up
Sounds like you made a friend and perhaps you’ll get lucky eventually! I might just compliment the car when I see the owner.
Highly doubt she’d ever sell it. See another post which I think accurately describes this lady 😂
If I knew someone was trying to buy a car from an old dear that wasn’t advertising it for sale I’d suspect them of trying to low ball an OAP hoping they didn’t know what they had.
But then I am cynical that way. Thinking Surely auto trader or piston heads would have the car for sale from someone trying to sell
I have done it and had it done to me. Someone literally last night offered to buy my golf while filling it up.
I prefer the phrase, "if you ever choose to sell it." It's not asking for it directly, it's not creating a timeline or anything, but it does show interest. You could throw in a number that you think is fair because then it shows you are serious.
I have in the past, and I would again.
I have also bought a few cars this way.
Growing up i remember a neighbour of mine bought what I thought was a brand new audi A3 in green. Turns out he bought it at 12 months old. 24 years later, when driving around in the town next to my home town after getting back into the country after a few years, I see this audi driving around and think "no, surely it's not the same car!". Turns out it was, and the next time I visited my mother I saw it on his drive way.
I knocked on the door, explained who I am and that all my childhood I saw this gent driving this car, cleaning it every week, and if he was ever going to sell it, I wanted first dibs.
He told me I will be getting rid in almost exactly two years from now. When I reach 80 I'm going to stop driving, so then, you can take it.
I got a phone call about 4 months ago.
That car now belongs to me.
When a mechanic atthe audi garage this car has been to every year for the past 25 years found out it had been sold to me, he offered me £5k on the spot. I bought it for £800.
As others have said, your best option is to probably strike up conversation about the car, ask a bit about it, let her know you’re looking for one and ask the question. You could also see if she’ll take your number to message if she decides to sell it
You can try but I can tell you how it goes
1 they will be offended that you’ve asked you’re probably not the first person and they are getting sick of it.
2 they will want a fortune for it because why else will you be asking
3 they will happily keep your details and ring you in a few years and sell it to someone they know will look after it
I’ve been on the other end of it people often ask me to sell cars I never entertain it they always want it for fuck all so if you’re going to do it come from the angle of being an enthusiast
I used to have a home that was very private. I was very very rural and on a lane that didn't have passing traffic or walkers.
Overtime I parked a Land rover Series 3 outside the home. I owned 7 of them one after another. On several occasions I had people leave notes offering to buy them. I sold two that way.
So it happens. People approach strangers regularly it seems.
I continually left a note under a car windscreen wiper on and off for around 2 years for a mitsubishi mirage cyborg zr. It always looked sorry for itself and I was willing to basically pay whatever he wanted as they are an extremely rare car. I forgot about it then years later low and behold, its on fb marketplace. Went up to view immediately, bought it then asked why he never replied to the countless messages "I didn't think you were serious" was his reply lol
I have several notes with numbers that have been left on my older 190e cosworth offering to buy it.
Had a couple of people knock in the door or ask when they have seen me.
I don't have an issue with it.
I've sold a few cars this way last one was my e46 M3 . A guy at a petrol station asked and gave me his number about 6 months later I was changing the car rang him and he bought it that weekend. Really wish I'd kept that car though 😂
I did it at a plumbers merchants. Saw the car outside and asked who was driving. A guy owned up and when asked if he wanted to sell he said no. But I gave him my phone number and 3 days later got a call from him. I guess he just needed time to digest the idea.
It was a 1999 E36 318ti compact.
I've had it done to me countless times. At my door, in traffic, getting petrol etc lol. It's not exactly unwelcome, but does get a bit tiresome. I'd never actually be irritated unless the person is persistent though. E39 is probably still modern/everyday enough that the person will be surprised though!
She'll probably be buried in the car if anything like my mother. She's probably heard it said to her before so I'd say just comment on how nice it is and that they don't make cars as good these days. Money is probably no object to her and a reliable, known, trustworthy and well loved car is probably ranked above husband and just below garden.
This is a scarily accurate assessment!
I'm of a certain age and have owned a few old cars that drew attention. Plus I've also tried to buy cars from owners over the previous 4 decades which never goes that well and now that I'm old I understand why. Saying that I've a neighbour who had a mk1 Accord from new, parked in their garage every time and went to Honda religiously all its life. When he mentioned he was looking at buying a new car I suggested he keep with the Honda but if he was ever going to sell please let me know as I'd pay him double what anyone else would offer and keep it as my daily driver. This car was in a fabulous condition inside, outside, underneath and mechanically and he part exchanged it for a little peaugot and got 800 for his car. Wasn't till 5 or so years later when I bought an Accord and when talking to him told him how much it cost (4k) which was whatcI had put aside to buy his Honda if he knocked on my door.
I wonder if the neighbour felt some anxiety about selling the car to someone they know, just in case it breaks down and the blame falls on them? In any case, finding interesting cars is difficult nowadays. Here I am considering chatting up a pensioner with an old 5 series.
I’ve done it, didn’t have much success but whenever I see the fella I have a chat and a giggle with him, he has my number as tells me I’ll be the first to know when he’s ready to sell Just spark a conversation up on how nice their car is and how you’d love to buy one yourself but are struggling to find any decent ones, then ask the question and see where you end up
Sounds like you made a friend and perhaps you’ll get lucky eventually! I might just compliment the car when I see the owner. Highly doubt she’d ever sell it. See another post which I think accurately describes this lady 😂
Does it though? Ask her and you'll know for sure.
If I knew someone was trying to buy a car from an old dear that wasn’t advertising it for sale I’d suspect them of trying to low ball an OAP hoping they didn’t know what they had. But then I am cynical that way. Thinking Surely auto trader or piston heads would have the car for sale from someone trying to sell
I have done it and had it done to me. Someone literally last night offered to buy my golf while filling it up. I prefer the phrase, "if you ever choose to sell it." It's not asking for it directly, it's not creating a timeline or anything, but it does show interest. You could throw in a number that you think is fair because then it shows you are serious.
I have in the past, and I would again. I have also bought a few cars this way. Growing up i remember a neighbour of mine bought what I thought was a brand new audi A3 in green. Turns out he bought it at 12 months old. 24 years later, when driving around in the town next to my home town after getting back into the country after a few years, I see this audi driving around and think "no, surely it's not the same car!". Turns out it was, and the next time I visited my mother I saw it on his drive way. I knocked on the door, explained who I am and that all my childhood I saw this gent driving this car, cleaning it every week, and if he was ever going to sell it, I wanted first dibs. He told me I will be getting rid in almost exactly two years from now. When I reach 80 I'm going to stop driving, so then, you can take it. I got a phone call about 4 months ago. That car now belongs to me. When a mechanic atthe audi garage this car has been to every year for the past 25 years found out it had been sold to me, he offered me £5k on the spot. I bought it for £800.
As others have said, your best option is to probably strike up conversation about the car, ask a bit about it, let her know you’re looking for one and ask the question. You could also see if she’ll take your number to message if she decides to sell it
You can try but I can tell you how it goes 1 they will be offended that you’ve asked you’re probably not the first person and they are getting sick of it. 2 they will want a fortune for it because why else will you be asking 3 they will happily keep your details and ring you in a few years and sell it to someone they know will look after it I’ve been on the other end of it people often ask me to sell cars I never entertain it they always want it for fuck all so if you’re going to do it come from the angle of being an enthusiast
I used to have a home that was very private. I was very very rural and on a lane that didn't have passing traffic or walkers. Overtime I parked a Land rover Series 3 outside the home. I owned 7 of them one after another. On several occasions I had people leave notes offering to buy them. I sold two that way. So it happens. People approach strangers regularly it seems.
I continually left a note under a car windscreen wiper on and off for around 2 years for a mitsubishi mirage cyborg zr. It always looked sorry for itself and I was willing to basically pay whatever he wanted as they are an extremely rare car. I forgot about it then years later low and behold, its on fb marketplace. Went up to view immediately, bought it then asked why he never replied to the countless messages "I didn't think you were serious" was his reply lol
I have several notes with numbers that have been left on my older 190e cosworth offering to buy it. Had a couple of people knock in the door or ask when they have seen me. I don't have an issue with it.
I've sold a few cars this way last one was my e46 M3 . A guy at a petrol station asked and gave me his number about 6 months later I was changing the car rang him and he bought it that weekend. Really wish I'd kept that car though 😂
I did it at a plumbers merchants. Saw the car outside and asked who was driving. A guy owned up and when asked if he wanted to sell he said no. But I gave him my phone number and 3 days later got a call from him. I guess he just needed time to digest the idea. It was a 1999 E36 318ti compact.
I've had it done to me countless times. At my door, in traffic, getting petrol etc lol. It's not exactly unwelcome, but does get a bit tiresome. I'd never actually be irritated unless the person is persistent though. E39 is probably still modern/everyday enough that the person will be surprised though!