Dublin > Manchester and back with new car in a day ? (all by boat)

mr_happy

Im hope to trade in a car.

Is there a boat to Liverpool from Ireland?
Could I do a return in a day?

I did it once before but flew to Manchester and got the boat back with a car via Hollyhead.

colm_mcm

AFAIK the ferrys take 7 or 8 hours and are ridiculously expensive from Liverpool. I'd stay over one night and travel the day after, that way if there's any issues (or spot in the day you have it) you can get them resolved before you travel home. It's under 2 hours drive to Holyhead, there's a 90 min ferry.

bazz26

I would not do it in one day, I'd at least stay overnight otherwise you will find that you are putting youself under pressure to buy a car that might not be right, for the sake of making that ferry home.

I'd be taking my time viewing cars and expect to go test drive at least 4 different cars not just one or two.

JHMEG

Fast ferry to Holyhead.

Max Headroom

Easy..early ff to holyhead..drive to manchester..3 hrs max...get car ,look around..late slow ferry home (think its 02.00 )...150euro return Irish Ferries...;)

colm_mcm

slow ferry sucks unless you get a cabin

Max Headroom

colm_mcm wrote: »

slow ferry sucks unless you get a cabin

...he'll be too excited to sleep.....

colm_mcm

probably buying a Pissat or a 320d or something, hardly enough to keep you awake

listermint

colm_mcm wrote: »

probably buying a Pissat or a 320d or something, hardly enough to keep you awake

Well judging by the username, both of these would make him excited.

-Corkie-

You would make it no bother, bring someone with you and share the drive. How much is merchant ferries btw going to liverpool.

Gumbo

mr_happy wrote: »

Im hope to trade in a car.

Anybody else see this as a problem?
Will the UK dealer take an irish car as trade in?

Assuming OP is trading in an Irish car.

galwaytt

gumbo wrote: »

Anybody else see this as a problem?
Will the UK dealer take an irish car as trade in?

Assuming OP is trading in an Irish car.

I was wondering about that too........well, OP, what about it ?

As far as Ferry's go, I overnight to Birkenhead on the commercial ferry, and the cabin is included in the price, along with your dinner, and you get a proper night's sleep. You're going to need to sleep anyhoo, so rather than take it out of road time, take it out of boat time.

Redjeep!

Without checking the timetables, I'd say it's managable if you get an early enough flight. It probably all depends on when the last boat is from Holyhead to Dublin. Don't even consider the Liverpool boat.

It probably also depends where exactly in Manchester you're going to to buy the car (it's a big place) and how you're going to get from the airport to the garage. There is a very good public transport system, they've had an equivalent to the Luas for 20 years now and it goes a long way out into the suburbs. (Manchester was actually the first city in Western Europe to reinstall a tram system). I'd say you're best bet would be to ask the garage if they're near one and work it out from there.

I went over just before Christmas to buy a car, flew into Manchester airport then got the train from the airport to Picadilly train station (central Manchester). I was also visiting relatives so took a few days, but if I'd wanted to there was no reason why I couldn't have arranged to pick up the car that day and drive to Holyhead. It's only a 2 hours drive and then a three hour crossing.

BTW - They wouldn't touch an Irish car, you'll have to sell it seperately and you'll have to figure out someway to pay them in GBP. It will take a few days for any bank to transfer money even if you have a UK account.

colm_mcm

the P&O one is 8 hours.

JHMEG

colm_mcm wrote: »

the P&O one is 8 hours.

[I deleted my post when I realised you were talking about somewhere other than Holyhead.]

OP. Fast ferry to and from Holyhead. It's a handy drive from Holyhead to Manchester.

JHMEG

Redjeep! wrote: »

Without checking the timetables, I'd say it's managable if you get an early enough flight.

OP wants to drive as he's intending on trading in a car.

pebbles21

Redjeep! wrote: »

Without checking the timetables, I'd say it's managable if you get an early enough flight. It probably all depends on when the last boat is from Holyhead to Dublin. Don't even consider the Liverpool boat.

It probably also depends where exactly in Manchester you're going to to buy the car (it's a big place) and how you're going to get from the airport to the garage. There is a very good public transport system, they've had an equivalent to the Luas for 20 years now and it goes a long way out into the suburbs. (Manchester was actually the first city in Western Europe to reinstall a tram system). I'd say you're best bet would be to ask the garage if they're near one and work it out from there.

I think he might me way over his luggage weight quota with the trade in hes bringing over

Redjeep!

pebbles21 wrote: »

I think he might me way over his luggage weight quota with the trade in hes bringing over

Is he already driving a UK reg car then ? I can't see any reason why a trader in the UK would take an Irish reg car unless he was going to offer silly low money for it.

R.O.R

I'd take an evening fast ferry. Spend the £30 or whatever it is for a night in a travelodge, make an early start the next day and catch the evening fast ferry back.

Outskirts of Manchester to Holyhead is doable in under 2 hrs. Just don't get to Holyhead too early as there is bugger all to do there.

Voodoomelon

After my trip to the UK to get my car, i'd recommend staying the night. Most ferrys only run til 7pm ish (well 2 years ago) and you're constantly watching the clock trying to make the ferry on the way back.

I flew into the very south of england at 8am and had to make it to Fishguard for 6.30pm and I arrived at 6.35pm. The ferry was an hour late so we made it in time, but would have missed it otherwise.

Staying the night gives you all the time in the world.

tossy

Its easily do-able in one,no need to add ot the expense by staying a night.Jesus if you get the fast ferry you would get to Manchester before you'd get to dingle

galwaytt

colm_mcm wrote: »

the P&O one is 8 hours.

JHMEG wrote: »

[I deleted my post when I realised you were talking about somewhere other than Holyhead.]

OP. Fast ferry to and from Holyhead. It's a handy drive from Holyhead to Manchester.

The reason I do use the P&O, or Norfolk Line is, what in the name of God are you going to do in Manchester in the small hours of the a.m. ? Time better spent in the leaba on the ship methinks, and you've only 20 mins to travel when you dock. Coming back I do 50/50 depending on timing.

-Corkie-

galwaytt wrote: »

The reason I do use the P&O, or Norfolk Line is, what in the name of God are you going to do in Manchester in the small hours of the a.m. ? Time better spent in the leaba on the ship methinks, and you've only 20 mins to travel when you dock. Coming back I do 50/50 depending on timing.

Listen to all of o tooles big 620 s coming of the boat.

mr_happy

Hi, Thanks everyone for the ideas.

I bought a car from a Dealer in Manchester (now on Irish plates) and two years later I hope to Trade in that same car for another they are getting for me. (hopefully) That will be an Automatic Passat 05/06

L1011

Voodoomelon wrote: »

After my trip to the UK to get my car, i'd recommend staying the night. Most ferrys only run til 7pm ish (well 2 years ago) and you're constantly watching the clock trying to make the ferry on the way back.

Theres now so few ferries that its not a case of "run til", there's basically a few morning ones, an evening pair and a middle-of-the-night pair (2am ish).

Redjeep!

mr_happy wrote: »

Hi, Thanks everyone for the ideas.

I bought a car from a Dealer in Manchester (now on Irish plates) and two years later I hope to Trade in that same car for another they are getting for me. (hopefully) That will be an Automatic Passat 05/06

Will they take it back as a trade ? It'd surprise me if they did, but maybe because you bought it from them they'll honour a deal.

nogoodnamesleft

I bought and brought my car home within 24 hours....

Aer Arann flew directly to Manchester at the time from Kerry Airport after work flight was at 6:30pm. Looked at car checked V5 gave the car a once over. Bought the car. Drove to Holyhead was there for 12am ferry wasnt until 1:30- 2:00am fcuk all to do there really there was a small coffee shop/ resturaunt in the ticket office if your feeling hungry.

Dont need a cabin....once you get on board the vessel go to the seated resturaunt/bar area on one of the upper decks they have comfy enough seats get to the seats furthest back from the noisy area. This is where i parked myself for the 4-5 hours and I got a good 4 hours sleep. Although if I was doing it again I would have brought the sleeping bag with me as many of the truckers had this and pillows with them.

Landed in Dublin around 6am. Drove it bk down to Kerry was down home for 12pm.

If your going to do it this way have all your checks done before hand. Dealer had faxed me copys of service history, HPI and recent MOT.

I also ran a HPI independent of what he was providing and I also got a RAC check done on the car.

That was 2.5 years ago and I have nearly 40k on it since.

galwaytt

mr_happy wrote: »

Hi, Thanks everyone for the ideas.

I bought a car from a Dealer in Manchester (now on Irish plates) and two years later I hope to Trade in that same car for another they are getting for me. (hopefully) That will be an Automatic Passat 05/06

I'd be very interested to see how that works out - surely the trade in value is very low (i.e. UK market value), due to the VRT you'll lose on the car you are trading back ?