Buying a second-hand car?

We’re off again with four wheels this week, dear readers! When returning the rental car, we passed an estante, a car dealer of which you have many in Portugal. Often many together.

Handy if you want to buy a second-hand car

Now I wasn’t immediately looking for pre-owned wheels, but my eye fell on a white van. That happened almost exactly the same years ago, a bit further on the same road, at another car dealership, who’s owner has since retired. There are a number of car dealers on the road to Coimbra, because there you have a lot of exposure.

A lot of exposure to interest. Exactly what a seller of things wants. Years ago I looked over my right shoulder for no reason, just after passing a viaduct, and that was apparently to catch the wink of a red van.

On the way back I went past it and fell for that winking bus. For years I drove a Nissan Vannettie with great pleasure. My sister Nettie contributed to that, hence the quip in the name. A volunteer had turned the chairs around so that we had a kind of living room, it had a red carpet – very cozy. Everyone and everything and the dog could come along in the Vannettie.

Now almost the same thing happened with a white Renault Master van

It didn’t wink, because it’s too serious a character for that. Or maybe it worked too hard, because it belonged to a plasterer, who apparently took good care of it. There were still a lot of cards in the glove compartment. He’s a seasoned worker; he’s been on it for 26 years, and in car years that’s the same as 78 human years.

An experienced handyman van – therefore perfectly suited to my purposes. As owners of 8 buildings, we’re actually always busy with improvements and maintenance, and now the Casa Principal needs a major overhaul. And for major overhauls you need materials. Our normal Xsara can’t handle that.

Part of my incomparable family is here for about six weeks, and there’s always something going on. A brother-in-law knows a lot about cars, and likes to tinker with them. He approved it, after a thorough inspection and a test drive. My oldest brother-in-law, ditto sister and brother in turn contribute to the purchase of the Master.

I spent an afternoon trying to find an insurer. My sister: “What? In the Netherlands you just call, give the registration number, and you’re insured. Why does it always have to be so complicated here?”

Well, that’s just how it is in Portugal, sis, why do it easy when you can make it difficult?

Insurers should better be called Insecurers, because they’re never sure about things, always want more proof. That counts for all of the Insecurers, internationally, definitely not just the portuguese ones. Most of the companies I google don’t do an old second-hand car or van, they prefer to do new all-risk. You can’t even do an online simulation there. But I called – always better in Portugal – and got the tip that Fidelidade would be willing to insure old work vans.

I started emailing all the paperwork, but it didn’t paperwork out. Photos, details, stamps, proof of existence, citizenship, address, registration … they kept wanting things. Too bad for them, because in the meantime I had contacted Sérgio from Generali Tranquilidade, and he wasn’t nearly as difficult.

The advantage of buying from a car dealership: inspection is arranged, service book and manual is included, tax is paid, all filters and oils are fresh. We won’t have to worry about that until next year.

For now, the only thing missing is a nice nickname for our new companion

Ideas, anyone?

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We moved here in 2000 from Rotterdam, the Netherlands, to the Termas-da-Azenha, Portugal.

A big step, especially with two small children.

We are busy to rebuild one of portugals cultural heirlooms: Termas-da-Azenha, an old spa which has been turned into several holiday houses, rooms and a campsite.

You’ll find mosaics and paintings everywhere.

Since 2018 we call ourselves the first B&B&B in the world – Bed & Breakfast & Bathrobes. You can buy a home-made unique bathrobe/housecoat with us.

Each week a little blog about what is happening around us. An easy read. A few minutes in another world. A little about what it going on in Portugal. If you plan your holiday to Portugal, it might be a nice preparation

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