Now, you may remember that our recent trip to Salies and Sauveterre de Bearn was precipitated by the anticipation of viewing a car to replace the old Saab. It was a convertible Suzuki Jimny, but as reported we never got to see it. Interestingly a few days after it disappeared from Leboncoin it reappeared under a different username and with a higher price….mmmm.
We continued to pursue the idea of a Jimny but decided a fixed roof one might be better after reading that the convertibles leaked like sieves. We found another option – back down south again, near Lourdes – but that journey was called off the day before when it sold before we could get there.
Soon after, we went on the Caviar tasting day out and someone there told us about how to register a vehicle purchased privately – it did not sound easy. Then I got an email with further details of the process and went for a lie down. Our Brit neighbour came round and we had a 10 minute multiple commiseration session about yet more ridiculous French paperwork. Sometimes its seems so bad you wonder if the dream is worth it. But then we sit with coffee/tea/apero in the sunshine and look at our view and think, OK, yes, it is worth it….
So B and I sat down to contemplate the situation, and B, seeing my stress levels, suggested that maybe it would be worth paying a bit more to buy from a car dealer as they have to do the paperwork for you. Top idea, I thought, and promptly searched the internet again for further options, finding a garage in Thiers, the other side of Clermont Ferrand, which had more than one available.
Thiers is a 200 odd mile 3-hour drive – but then no different to Biarritz or Lourdes so we thought what the heck. Especially as there was a client located nearby. This seemed promising so off we went in Hercules. We viewed 4 or 5 different Jimnys but all had rather a lot of rust – particularly around the rear door hinges and under the bonnet. Add to that the fact that they are 12-15 years old and the interior dates from the late 90s, they just didn’t seem worth the money. So we decided to take our leave, but then, as we walked back to Hercules, we saw it.
“It” was a very cute cream Fiat 500 convertible with a red roof, in very good condition – the perfect fun runabout. A test drive and haggle later I had bought it. As the car had to be put through its Controle Technique, reregistered to me, and then insured with the correct registration number, we couldn’t drive it away, or even come back the next day as at least a week is needed for all that. But no matter, the deal was done and it was getting too late in the day to contemplate the long drive home, so to celebrate I selected a rather attractive chateau hotel a few minutes away (a few more when you get lost, but hey) so then we could relax and regroup.
This is the Chateau de Codignat – somewhat hidden in the trees when you pull up at the front, but nonetheless stunning as it reveals itself. A complimentary glass of champagne in the late afternoon sun was our toast to mission accomplished!
Ten days later the paperwork was all in order and we went all the way to collect Hugo. Finally, after a horrendous convoy drive home in storm Alexa, he is now warm and dry behind Hercules in the garage at Petite Tour and – fortunately – we now know he does not leak like a sieve! 😉
