July 2024, I drove to 3 hours to view a van on the other side of the country having come across it online at 1am that morning. I culd hardly sleep. I had been looking for so long. This van felt right and scary all at the same time. I phoned a friend who said to me “go look at it. You don’t have to buy it. Just look at it”
As a woman, looking at vehicles on my own has always been an experience that brings a lot of trepidation. Will I be taken advantage off on price, on quality? i am no mechanic but my brother and father are. onLY PROBLEM? neither of them live in my country to accompany me. In an attempt to lighten teh load on myself and pick myelf up/boost myself up enought to go and see this van that I so desparately wanted, I jokingly sent a text to my friend. “Guess where I’m going? With a photo of the van and it’s location” He prompty replied with his live location on WhatsApp and a “You won’ believe where I am”. It was kismet!
I picked him up on teh side of teh road after a nervous 3 hour drive to teh town teh van was and coincidentally also his home town where he had gone just that very morning to visit his mother. Before leaving the house that morning, I had nervously consulted with my housemate, who already knew aout my ludicrous plans for this van should i get it. Filled the car with a fuel tank of petrol, got a Mcdonald’s Happy Meal to go and hit teh raod. I rang teh owner after this call and had what I can only describe as a very standoffish conversation. Me trying to get a lot of answers that would quieten my anxieties and maybe..just maybe give me a reaosn to chicken out. But no such luck. The seller-to-be was nothing but calm and forthcoming with information.
Me: Why are you selling
Them: I need teh money for my family.
Me: How many miles are on the vehicle?
Them: ….
Me: Are there any issues with it? What’s it’s service histor? Why did you decide not to finish the project? Why are you giving so much of teh maerials for the build away? Are you lying to me?
Maybe I didn’t say that last one, but a lot of questions were asked and answered. He needed the money to get his family out of Ukraine. He couldn’ finish the project and putting in all teh other parts of teh buidl he had already bought made for an attractive deal. And he was not lying. There was a huge amount already bought for the van that would save a considerable amount for anyone who bough it and continued to finish the project. A lot of savings for me.
We took a test drive. It wa smy frist time driving a vehicle so big. I was nervous. I got my friend who was a truck and lorry driver to also drive it. We discussed between ourselves and after some inspection agreed it was a good one. I wanted it.
Given thje sensitive nature of the urgency with which he needed teh funds, he wanted a cash buyer on teh day I went. Unfortunately as I was not insured, I could not take it and neither could my friend as neither of us were leagally insure don it. The onwer offered to drive he van back to where I was and I would drop him to a coach that would take him back home. And so it was agreed and was done. Another kismet moement of having my friend there wa sthat although I had teh funds to purcase teh vehicle having secured a loan, my bank transfers had a daily limit. He helped me out wih the remiaing 4K which was promptly repayed when the limits were lifted!
We did stop off for a meal at a truckstop where I could ge them both a meal in thanks (it wasn’t much but it was something).
After buying the van, I parked it up for a good month seeing as I had no money left having spent all of it and my loan on the purchase of teh van. But I had it! it was mine!!
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