This applies much less this year than previously but this is the worst time of year to be buying a bus... Good luck
normally mate I would have said "never hand over the folding stuff till you see the whites of the sellers eyes"(wise old sage that I am)but I saw the whites of the really really really pretty girl in west London who sold me my bus(skip with roof) still handed over the wedge thou (hypnosis, I reckon) so I aint gonna say that no more , good luck with your search ,and hello.
I sent him an email telling him about my findings and he wasn't happy about me suggesting he was a dealer etc. so I apologised and said I'd still buy the van if he could provide receipts for at least some of the £15k worth of parts he'd bought and to confirm that the V5 would be in either his or his soon to be ex partners name. All he's said is that he's reporting me to ebay and I'll get a non payment strike Anyway - had a quick look on ebay just before I went to make my tea and spotted a bus in Manchester that had been listed an hour or so earlier - gave seller a call and it turns out it was about 3 miles away! Went to look. Was a good honest bus, all the rust and dents were there and not hidden under bog and a cheap paint job, the guy was really nice and I've paid the deposit required to hold it. It'll be mine tomorrow ! Pics and details to follow. And that Tinypie is really pee'd off as she wanted us to have matching buses and go everywhere together - even suggested I buy a blonde wig FFS!!!
Cant wait to see the pics dude Id rather have a honest tatty bus over a full of bog freshly painted bus any day of the week
One thing I'd like to get done once I've driven around a bit and made sure there's nothing expensive to splash out on is to get it lowered a bit - not slammed just a 2 or 3 inch drop. There's a guy in Winchester does it for £275 but that's a bit far away - anywhere around Manchester way that does something similar - not exactly sure what he does but he does state that it isn't a cut n twist job. Alternatively I could buy the horseshoe plates for about £70 - I gather they're reasonably easy to fit - but what about the front - any suggestions as to how to do that without having to remove the beam and fit adjusters?
Who's this fella in Winchester? would be interested in knowing what he does! Front, from what I can gather is a couple of options... Beam and adjusters, which you don't want. 2 1/2 inch dropped spindles - keeps the beam as existing (about £400 for parts?) 3 1/2 inch dropped spindles (Upside down spindles) - keeps the beam as existing (about £500 for parts?) Red 9 Coilovers - remove the leaf springs, but keeps the beam as existing Red 9 wishbones... removes the lot! Others may add to that list or add ££££s as a guide! I'm not convinced about horseshoes at the back, I think reports are that the wheels are difficult to remove... could try adjustable springplates instead? I'm not an expert at this, as I'm still a high flyer but I did spend 3 hours reading the lowering and tyres thread on prototype bay!
Don't slam it! Is it just so the bugnutz crew won't laugh when you turn up in a yellow submarine they're always telling me to do mine but noooooo love her as she is I know your little spud will good ol' Betsy And as for not getting the matching blue one well.... guess I'll have to carry on being a loner for now... Any of the ladies out there with yellow busses beware...daves on the loose...
^^^^ As above. Don't slam it. It may look "cooler" but the ride will not be as comfy however it's done. You could try eating more burgers and chips and stuff like that, that'll drop it down a bit
I think you and the TLB masses have answered your question. You lost £100. That's a weekend away in a bus. It is annoying. However in the long run look at what you could have ended up with?? So many of us get caught up in the moment with a dream. My own foray into the bus world was not without its problems. Always go in thinking "there is always another one out there" as you have found out. As for the payment strike "whatever". Contract or not, as a buyer of a vehicle you have a cooling off period. And if the vehicle doesn't match the description you an legally walk away.
Don't tell me about eBay busses, just look at my resto lol Glad you got a Goodun in the end buddy. Welcome to the late bay
Excellent news on the new bus dude, shame about the eBay numpty! Rather than letting him report you why don't you report him I've done it a few times, I don't think it achieves anything but it makes me feel better As for lowering you are probably aware there are as many that say yay as say nay, personally I went for it and so pleased I did. I was expecting the worst after all the posts I had but to be honest I find Mrs Robo's new shaped mini cooper cabrio a harsher ride than my bus. The only thing I did was go adjustable all round so the ride height can be tweaked oh and change the shocks too as they make a big difference.
Me too - (you've not seen my bus have you.... lol) Well done davek - like para says look forward to seeing the pics. I am near Manchester too so may even see it in the flesh some time.....
I'm not after slamming it - just a subtle couple of inch lowering. Would be looking for some wheels too if anyone has some for sale. The guy in Winchester puts adjusters on the front beam and drops it a spline or two at the back from what I can gather. All for £275 or £300 depending if he has an offer on. It'd be a fair old trip though - anyone local to Manchester do something similar? Will try and get a few decent pics taken this weekend - the ones Ive got at the moment aren't great.
I spoke with the guy in Winchester his name is Justin. Said he has done this over 700 times to bugs and buses. Sounded like he defo knew his stuff and I will be going to him in September as T2d are just way to expensive. Has anyone else used this guy. He said he can do it in 4-5 hours.
I used him back in 08' he was in Petersfield then, but he's a top man who knows his buses. He also has a stretched bay.
It's a shame there's so many bad traders out there, but there lots of really good ones too. It's a very hard business to make money out of if its done properly....and that's the problem. I've been selling cars for nearly 15 years, for both main dealers and myself, but I now also repair them and most of my customers remain as customers...it's the only way to do it properly and it's great for people buying as they can see they aren't buying from muppets.
Lucky escape but rather lose a hundred quid than end up with a nightmare of a bus that will cost you more in the long run. I once went to Birmingham from Newcastle on the train to buy a Golf that was said to be one owner, mint etc etc. when the lad drove up to the station to pick me up, my heart sank. Drove it round the block and headed straight back for the train. Told him to his face that if i'd have been my younger self i would have kicked his head in. A ticket to travel on the next train home was 200 quid but I paid it and put it down to experience.
