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Written by Mark Brewster
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Friday, 14 October 2005 |
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I've wanted an MX-5 since they were first brought out. In the early nineties I was saving to buy one and had a good deposit ready. But then I met my wife to be and the rest as they say is history. Three kids later and I thought well it will just have to remain a dream. My wife has always known that I wanted this car and she even started a little account to try and surprise me one day. I think there is still about £112.00 in the account and that took two years of saving.
My work takes me overseas and from June to August this year I was working in Venezuela. On the nightshift one night I was browsing the Internet and typed in a search for MX-5. Only a couple of choices came up and one was for dandycars. I started going through the site and was struck by how well it had been put together. It was professional but at the same time was down to earth,concise and just seemed honest. Eventually I got to the stock list and when I saw my car I knew then that I was about to do something totally out of character. You see, I like to plan everthing well in advance. I don't like debt and save for things before buying them. That night without looking at the other websites to see there choice I sent an e-mail to David at Dandycars saying I was interested. I called my wife the next day and she said I was crazy but told me to go for it. I didn't need any more encouragement and duly e-mailed David to reserve the car.
Obviously I had to explain my situation to David, that I was overseas and would not return till August which meant reserving the car for more than a month. I thought that as David is a dealer he could not keep stock held back for this long. David came back right away and said that as it was such an unusual situation he would agree as long as I kept in regular touch. I then appeared on the stock list as "Tom from Venezuela" which I think David enjoyed relating to other customers. As all of our correspondence was by e-mail he was placing a bit of trust in me as he could not prove I was really in Venezuela. I think he was a bit relieved when two weeks later I arranged for an RAC inspection. In his words "I now know you are genuine".
I returned to Glasgow on the 7th August and took the early morning train to London the next day. David picked me up at the station and drove me to his premises (in an MX-5 of course). His premises are basically for storage so don't expect a gleaming showroom. My car was sitting there ready to go. David took me through the car showing me all the features and then we went out for a test drive. For a moment I thought I was back in Venezuela as a thunderstorm began. We drove along the motorway for about 10 miles in this, but it was good thing as I managed to see that there were no leaks. Back in the office we went over a few points raised by the RAC and David promised to sort them all out no problem. On leaving to return to the staion David suggested we take my car and as the sun had now come out we pull back the softtop. That was it, the car was mine.
I had a few extras done including a hardtop which is sprayed pearlescent red and looks superb, as well as undersealing, a windjammer and an immoboliser fitted. I would recommend anyone to think about these things as they give peace of mind and more enjoyment of the drive.
One week later the registration documents arrived and I asked David if he could meet me with the car at Stansted airport. This would be no problem and we met in the car park were David took some photos. I then drove the car from London back up to Glasgow on a beautiful day and I can tell you I felt ten years younger. I only had four more days at home before returning to Venezuela and my wife is saying that she wonders if I can't wait to get home to her or the car. Silly isn't she, there's only one answer!My thanks to David at Dandycars
Tom for Glasgow (and Venezuela)
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 16 July 2006 )
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