Collecting a 2024 Kia Ceed: A Journey from Oxford to Lanark

The Plan

The plan today was to collect a 2024 Kia Ceed from our customer, a dealer in Oxford. This car was being delivered to a retail customer living near Lanark in Scotland. I was excited about the trip. My wife was joining me, and we aimed to drive to Carlisle, where we’d stay the night with family. We left our car in Oxford around 9 AM because of a part exchange—a 2019 Renault Captur was coming back with us. Or was it?

The Drive North

The drive north from Oxford onto the M40, M42, then the M6 toll was pretty straightforward. You know, the service area on this stretch of the toll road is always packed with people. Why is that? It’s like a magnet for folks, even when the toll road itself is nearly empty!

From there, we continued on the M6, north of Birmingham, heading towards Cumbria. Honestly, it was an uneventful journey. The Kia just got us there, comfortably and without fuss. But let’s be real—it wasn’t exactly thrilling.

The only dangerous thing about the car was its horrible bronze colour. I mean, who thought that was a good idea? Its gutless petrol engine was neither economical nor inspiring. It was just on the border of comfortable and not. Everything worked fine, but it didn’t do anything to make me want to buy one. Or maybe I just missed the point. Those qualities are why people buy them, right?

Arriving in Carlisle

Just south of Carlisle, we decided to visit the customer and then head back to Carlisle. We wanted to be ready for our drive south in the morning. June was treating us well with another glorious day of sunshine. It wasn’t going to get dark in Scotland until around 10 PM. I called the customer to let them know we were on our way, and they were delighted to be getting their new car that evening.

We arrived at the customer’s house after driving on some beautiful back roads in Lanarkshire. It was a total of 348 miles from Oxford. We exchanged pleasantries with the lovely couple buying the car. But then, alarm bells rang when he mentioned his son, a mechanic at a local garage, had maintained the Renault Captur we were taking back. Still, the car seemed sound, with no issues, and it drove well. After the handover and appraisals, we headed back to the M74 to go south to Carlisle.

The Renault wasn’t as good a car overall as the Kia, but it was clean enough and had enough fuel to get us to Carlisle and beyond. That was a great saver!

The Beautiful Countryside

As we drove away from the customer’s house, the sun was getting lower in the sky. The fading daylight really showcased the beauty of the area. It was one of those moments where you just have to appreciate the scenery, right?

But then, as we found the M74 southbound, the car suddenly started to lose power. The engine management light flashed amber constantly. Great…!!! Those alarm bells I heard earlier rang true, obviously.

Having collected many older cars sold to the trade from dealers, I know exactly how common it is for these folks to use their handheld devices to delete faults and turn off engine lights. And then, boom! The light reappears twenty minutes later.

Breakdown Blues

This time, the car wasn’t running properly. It sounded like it was running on three cylinders. Not ideal, right? Having good breakdown cover is essential in this business. So, I had to think quickly. I decided to limp to Carlisle and call for assistance there. That way, they could take the car to my destination in Oxford, and it wouldn’t be stranded in Carlisle.

The car limped into Carlisle without any major drama, and we spent the night there. I figured this would get sorted tomorrow. Time for sleep! 💤

Reflections on the Journey

Looking back, this trip was a mix of excitement and frustration. I mean, who doesn’t love a good road trip? But when your car decides to throw a tantrum, it can really put a damper on things.

I’ve had my fair share of car troubles, and it’s never fun. But hey, that’s part of the adventure, right? You learn to roll with the punches.

So, what’s the takeaway from this journey? Always be prepared for the unexpected. Whether it’s a car that doesn’t want to cooperate or a beautiful sunset that makes you stop and appreciate the moment, life’s all about the journey.

And who knows? Maybe next time, I’ll have a better experience with the Renault Captur. Or maybe I’ll just stick to the Kia Ceed. After all, it did get us there, even if it wasn’t the most exciting ride.

So, here’s to more adventures on the road, and hopefully, fewer breakdowns! Cheers!