A 6-week road tour of Scotland where I buy a car for the trip. What car?

[EndlessMoneyPit]

Could your family in Kensington buy the vehicle for you and get it ready for your trip? Or are you hoping to get off a plane in Scotland and buy a vehicle there? Although used car prices are relatively high at the moment, there's also plenty of older diesels being offloaded in and around London.

Just had a quick look on ebay, quite a few possibilities in your price range. Saab estate, some Mercedes ML's and C classes, a few Volvo's, there's a Jeep Cherokee in Glasgow that looks good (is that European tho?).

The camper idea isn't bad. You'd always have somewhere to kip at least!

 

[Spider10]

Mk2 Audi tt cab 2.0L tfsi excellent car's with quite a large boot for a 2 seater

 

[Neiltodd]

Ignore the bs re midges - done the nc500 - not a single midge.

Depends when you go, they can be absolutely terrible.

 

[BigJase88]

BMW Z4 if you can get one for that money

 

[Spider10]

BMW Z4 if you can get one for that money

As long as it's not the 2L they are rubbish

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

I admire your enthusiasm and the "romanticism" of touring the highlands in a potential open top vehicle during the summer but the reality of your plan may prove a bit of a nightmare.

Land in London , source a decent suitable vehicle for £2.5k , do a bit of routine maintenance and take out breakdown insurance , drive 300 miles to start your adventure at the borders , tour the remote highlands and islands for the remaining weeks soaking up the scenery some of which have no mobile signal / decent garage or B+B in every small village , drive back to London and sell said reliable vehicle then fly home - what could possibly go wrong ?

FWIW - Fly to Glasgow or Edinburgh , dig deep and hire a reliable camper van and do it properly , six weeks will see you doing the NC500 / Skye / Islay (MacDonald clan seat)

Some report the Highlands (NC500) is some kind of driving Nirvana , it isn`t . Roads are narrow / busy / poor quality , when we did the NC500 the camper van was more suitable than an F50 for 95% of the time , plus we didn`t need to worry about places to eat / sleep etc.

K

PS - Dont ignore the midge on the West Coast , they are f##king savage and can (will) ruin any outside activity you have planned.

20200814_135150 by Kenny Niven, on Flickr

20200814_104824 by Kenny Niven, on Flickr

+1

This man knows his onions.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

So my grandson is a Macdonald, which means I have to tour Scotland and learn stories to tell him of his ancestry sitting beside the hearth in winter.

Having done one too many holidays in a Hertz bubble car, I'm thinking of buying a car just for the trip, and then sell it at the end, or give it to the family member who will drive me to the airport. Budget probably under £2500. I have family in Kensington, so no issues on insuring or registering.

But what car?

It has to be an interesting car with character at the bottom of its depreciation curve, just before it starts rising as a classic. And it has to be European, not Asian or American. And it has to not fall apart for the duration.

An R171 Mercedes SLK would be interesting - I used to own a R170 and now have a R172.
A Jaguar S-type is on the list, as is the X350 (XJ series), although the latter may be hard to find in the right price range. I've owned both (and still have the XJ6), but have never driven the cheaper X-Type which can be had cheap as chips.
I just came across some old photos I took of a Smart Roadster, which would probably be a hoot but I may need to book a chiropractor as well.
Probably any Alfa, although I have never driven the newer ones... I have a 105 Spider now
Land Rover - any that will make the six weeks and hold together.

Convertible is the fantasy, although I suppose I should consider the likelihood if I get a convertible the top will be up most of the summer.

What would be the best car to tour Scotland - slowly and with many adventures (but not in repair shops) along the way?

Old IT man, he say: "Define requirements before prescribing solution." A 6 week trip is no time for AGILE.

How many people, how much luggage, what kind of accommodation, what time of year?

An E320 is a big car, a BMW Z4 isn't. (I run two cars of similar sizes - I'd never do six weeks in a Z4 in the rain)

At first glance, on that budget, I'd prescribe a Ford Focus, B Class or BMW E90 320d Anything bigger runs an irritating breakdown risk, anything smaller a potential break-in risk when you leave the motor parked up somewhere with possessions on show, and not enough space for six weeks of luggage for two.

Why not £5k ? You'll get most of the money back when you sell it on.

 

[2012SLK200]

Old IT man, he say: "Define requirements before prescribing solution." A 6 week trip is no time for AGILE.

How many people, how much luggage, what kind of accommodation, what time of year?

An E320 is a big car, a BMW Z4 isn't. (I run two cars of similar sizes - I'd never do six weeks in a Z4 in the rain)

At first glance, on that budget, I'd prescribe a Ford Focus, B Class or BMW E90 320d Anything bigger runs an irritating breakdown risk, anything smaller a potential break-in risk when you leave the motor parked up somewhere with possessions on show, and not enough space for six weeks of luggage for two.

Why not £5k ? You'll get most of the money back when you sell it on.

• £5k - good advice if I can actually recover most of it. I'm OK blowing £1-2, but would want to get the rest back.
• 2 adults, typically fly Emirates or Singapore Air with carry-on luggage only (and a credit card) - Patagonia shell and fleece, leather sealed, polished-leather walking shoes, week of underwear, 2 changes of day clothes, 1 dress shirt and trousers, buy a thrift shop tuxedo for the night at the opera
• No camping, no campervans. Eccentric accommodations, one night in a five-star to offset the eccentric
• Prefer long days, so close to the summer solstice unless the midges are at peak vampire.
• Post #20's suggested 5-day walk. I'll look into it. Most memorable European tour was one where we had bicycles made for us in Berlin and did the EuroVelo with no cars at all. Not sure I would want to bike Scotland however.
• I've owned four B-class, both W246 and W246. Too practical - might as well rent an Astra from Hertz.
• In '06 on a photo shoot, rented a Focus in Rome - fast, brilliant handling. At Stansted Hertz gave me an identical one- utter dog of a car. But no romance with either. Good for bank robbers "Witness: Umm, I think the car was blue; maybe silver, hatchback or was it a sedan?..., sorry officer, didn't notice"
• The Freelander 2 is something I'd not thought of. I own a Ford era Jag, and from what I can tell the Freelander has the same genes as the X-Type Jag - a Mondeo draped in class. The $1 billion Ford invested means a modicum of reliability if I find the right one. Big "if"
• On the complete other end of the scale, the Smart Roadster Coupe would be a very different Scotland experience, especially given the road width. Never driven one, but it seems the ultimate in minimalism and a hoot. And I get to wear the foul weather gear inside while driving.
• SLK R171 may be interesting. I used to own a R170 and now have the R172 which I really enjoy, but 2011 and newer breaks the budget. Never driven a R171, but I gather it is more comfortable than the R170. Carry-on luggage will fit in the boot with the top down.
• The ultimate in character would be the S-Type Jag, but it may not be the right car for Scotland B roads. It was brilliant on NZ roads, but they are wider 2-lane.

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[Deleted member 126251]

I think your might struggle to make a tour of Scotland last six weeks....it's Scotland! I saw every major city and natural wonder in Australia in less time than that! Ok I used a plane to get from East to West but even so.

Oh that trip must have been Japanese tourism. Jump out the bus take photo, back in bus to next site. You must have spent a few seconds at each one if you did it all in under 6 weeks even flying. I spent 8 years there and except for a couple of trips to NZ took every spare minute (including a 2 year period ~2008/9 where I was on a 4 day week and made every second weekend a 4 day break) to tour and never scratched the surface of what there is to see in OZ.

 

[Deleted member 126251]

That completely depends upon the time of year you make the trip. As does the number of motorhomes and other mobile chicanes clogging up (or not clogging up) the NC500...

NC500 has become a joke. Outrageous prices and traffic congestion. I’ve been trying to get to it since 2018 and for one reason or another I had to cancel (family deaths, covid etc etc ) and looking last year and again this year the accommodation, fuel & food etc prices are now daylight robbery on a route that cannot handle the traffic.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

• £5k - good advice if I can actually recover most of it. I'm OK blowing £1-2, but would want to get the rest back.
• 2 adults, typically fly Emirates or Singapore Air with carry-on luggage only (and a credit card) - Patagonia shell and fleece, leather sealed, polished-leather walking shoes, week of underwear, 2 changes of day clothes, 1 dress shirt and trousers, buy a thrift shop tuxedo for the night at the opera
• No camping, no campervans. Eccentric accommodations, one night in a five-star to offset the eccentric
• Prefer long days, so close to the summer solstice unless the midges are at peak vampire.
• Post #20's suggested 5-day walk. I'll look into it. Most memorable European tour was one where we had bicycles made for us in Berlin and did the EuroVelo with no cars at all. Not sure I would want to bike Scotland however.
• I've owned four B-class, both W246 and W246. Too practical - might as well rent an Astra from Hertz.
• In '06 on a photo shoot, rented a Focus in Rome - fast, brilliant handling. At Stansted Hertz gave me an identical one- utter dog of a car. But no romance with either. Good for bank robbers "Witness: Umm, I think the car was blue; maybe silver, hatchback or was it a sedan?..., sorry officer, didn't notice"
• The Freelander 2 is something I'd not thought of. I own a Ford era Jag, and from what I can tell the Freelander has the same genes as the X-Type Jag - a Mondeo draped in class. The $1 billion Ford invested means a modicum of reliability if I find the right one. Big "if"
• On the complete other end of the scale, the Smart Roadster Coupe would be a very different Scotland experience, especially given the road width. Never driven one, but it seems the ultimate in minimalism and a hoot. And I get to wear the foul weather gear inside while driving.
• SLK R171 may be interesting. I used to own a R170 and now have the R172 which I really enjoy, but 2011 and newer breaks the budget. Never driven a R171, but I gather it is more comfortable than the R170. Carry-on luggage will fit in the boot with the top down.
• The ultimate in character would be the S-Type Jag, but it may not be the right car for Scotland B roads. It was brilliant on NZ roads, but they are wider 2-lane.

Methinks you're heading towards a 2 seater, or at least a convertible. Sensible hatchbacks and saloons not tickling your fancy. (Ignoring your comment about the Freelander and Jag S-type as both prone to reliability issues)

R171 sounds like a good choice, as is a Z4 or Mx5, but do they have "character?" A Boxster is risky on the budget.

And then there's the Audi / BMW / VW convertibles: cheap as chips as they get older.

 

[ChipChop]

Due dilligence is quite important even at the lower end of the used car market in the UK. Especially so since the price of used cars became inflated meaning vehicles which may have been scrapped not long ago became financially viable once again.

An HPI check (£) or at the least use of the free online services provided by the DVLA (mot history, tax status check & ask MID) and third parties (carbaba for example). These will tell you the number of previous owners, if the car is an import, identify any mileage discrepancies and some even tell you if the vehicle has been previously accident damaged (carbaba). The third link below is a site that will tell you the tax rate for a vehicle, which can be as high as £600 for a post 2006 high CO2 model.

https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/

Check if a vehicle is taxed

Check and report if a vehicle has up-to-date vehicle tax or is 'off road' (SORN)

www.gov.uk

Check your vehicle | Vehicle Information

Check your vehicle . Get useful info including latest status checks, outstanding finance, valuation tracker & more.

ww1.vehicleinformation.uk

We Buy Any Car - Free Car Valuation - Sell My Car

Do you want to sell your car? Sell your car with Car Baba! We offer safe, easy and fast car selling service. Enter your car registration number for free and instant online valuation.

www.carbaba.co.uk

askMID

www.askmid.com

 

[m80]

Best solution is if some one is willing to sell you the car, and buy it back some weeks later.
Barring damage, with pre agreed prices you would know the cost, and don't have hassle of disposal, unless you prang it.

I would have thought that there are many reliable people on here that could be interested.

 

[2012SLK200]

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[Petrol Pete]

Could your family in Kensington buy the vehicle for you and get it ready for your trip? Or are you hoping to get off a plane in Scotland and buy a vehicle there? Although used car prices are relatively high at the moment, there's also plenty of older diesels being offloaded in and around London.

Just had a quick look on ebay, quite a few possibilities in your price range. Saab estate, some Mercedes ML's and C classes, a few Volvo's, there's a Jeep Cherokee in Glasgow that looks good (is that European tho?).

The camper idea isn't bad. You'd always have somewhere to kip at least!

A Jeep is European ....they are owned by Fiat !

 

[NJSS]

Anglasit suggests a Freelander 2. I entirely agree , but would up the budget as far as you are comfortable. There are a few low-mileage imports from Japan which are attractive, but maybe too expensive..

Get a Land Rover Freelander 2. A lot of the early cars are now within budget. Shop around and get the best you can afford. The SE/HSE spec are comfortable, have a nice high driving position and will go anywhere.
Despite LR's reputation the Freelander 2 is a decent reliable motor car.

 

[fabes]

I'd back a Saab 9-3 convertible as suggested earlier.
Possibly a CLK convertible.
But buy wisely, sell before end of summer and get most back.

 

[Deleted member 126251]

SIX Weeks !!! Save some money and get some of these, no hurry

No , seriously . I like your plan . I have just spent 5 weeks driving a dull Chevy Malibu rental to and from work in the USA , A proper road trip deserves the correct vehicle . Good luck

I once needed a car for 3 to 9 months (9 as it turned out). Instead of hiring, I picked up a high mileage full house SAAB 95 with LPG conversion. Sold it for what it had cost me.

 

[Deleted member 126251]

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& make sure there is a Landcruiser following to get you out of trouble.

 

[jdrrco]

CLK, BMW 3 series coupe or convertible or Volvo C70.