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Very strong start here this month, both in terms of units sold, profits and overall the general feel is better and busier. Anyone else experiencing the same? It's nice to be able to say this as the last 3 months of last year were pretty dire. December being my worst trading month by a distance in 7 years. So far in 2018 January, February & March - Good April - average/disappointing May - Good June - Very good start.

Old cars much better than newer ones is what I’d say. It’s ‘not like the old days!’ They’re all crap now Don’t get me started on German stuff! Fun? A sold car is the only good car, but I’ve been doing it too long. Twat Waffle not a patch on Cock Womble. But I’ll take it. ;o) Speaking of nutters- Isle of Man TT shortly. ITV4. Now they’ve got some ‘testicular fortitude!’

We all have

Newbies, this is what years of experience teaches you. There's money in the bangers !!!

Proper cars can also attract proper C***S.....Doesn't matter what you sell its part of the job, you can't blame it on the car, the price, you have have to be like a psychologist and try to weigh people up when they call, if they sound like a nutter then I'll do my best to swerve them. If the car is under a grand then the majority are planks! first time buyers can be a nightmare and the main thing I dislike is they don't have a part ex, on the other hand the older generation are great, in the last month Ive took in a nissan micra 54 plate with 35k on the clock from a lovely old lady, needed a steering rack, so I allowed her £100, the next week after £170 steering rack fitted and £30 mot it was on sale and gone for £1300 by the end of the week (I should have advertised it at £1695 but hey ho) next part ex 2009 corsa, 65k in black needs a door, allowed £600, its worth £2295 all day long so plenty of profit left in that and then lastly an old chap chopped in a Hyundai Couple 2002, he'd had it from new (yes nearly 16 years) loads of history with just 50k on the clock, I tried to get it for £500 but in the end allowed £600 to get the deal done, advertised it for £1500, had quite a few enquiries so thought sod it and put it up £1895. Its the part exes that make my money up every month and they generally sell quicker, yes I'd love to be selling every car with a clear £1500 profit in it after vat but thats what Im working my way towards....slowly slowly catch the monkey, small acorns turn into mighty oaks...thats what I keep telling myself anyhow

A clutch is £65, my mechanic is pretty sure it'll solve the issue.. Advertising it with a new clutch just fitted plus a fresh MOT & service will be a great selling point... It owes me £25 for a set of wheel trims so far

+1. Tbh if for some reason I had to make the decision between serving the small car market & serving the £500 shitter market I’d take my chances with the shitter customers cos they’re easier to deal with AND more realistic. See above. Plenty of traders make a living out of the small car market but not me. I don’t think I’ve ever drawn proper money out a small car (I’m internet based, appointment only), the punters are pathologically unrealistic (that’s code for fussy as f***) and never have money - they’re maxed-out on insurance costs and expect me to discount to subsidise their lifestyle. Give me a big Estate or 4X4 any day of the week - 4 figure profits, well maintained, rarely any outstanding jobs, usually fly through an MOT - does that sound like a 6 owner Corsa/Fiesta/Clio to you? Unfortunately I have two smalls in stock at the moment, sat gathering dust, I’m about to cut the arse off the price & blow them away. I’ll be working for about £200 each assuming I manage to sell them at their new prices. Next to them will be one of Sweden’s finest with £1500 wiped across it & a couple of miley Jap 4x4s with £1-1200 across their bonnets. The buyers of these will NOT be f***ing about whinging about money, road tax and insurance - they’ll be on the phone, ask a couple of questions, then come and cross my palm with silver. PROPER CARS ATTRACT PROPER PUNTERS. F*** THE SMALL CAR MARKET, YOU’RE ALL WELCOME TO IT!

Jan/Feb/March - brilliant April - average May - very good June - steady so far. I've always found summer to be the slowest season for me. Hoping to change the trend this year!

With respect, I think you could do with reading the CRA. You certainly do NOT have to give anyone a warranty and your legal obligation to carry out repairs to certain faults is 6 months not 3 months.

In my experience it depends on the type of car. Estates, vans & 4x4s no bother finding cash buyers. Standard family hardware I personally wouldn’t bother with at that money unless you have a pitch & as for small/first-timer cars don’t f***ing bother! After saying all of that I’m sure others will disagree.

Jan/Feb - Good March - Bit below average April - Cracking June - Steady so far but nothing to shout about I forgot May - Cracking

BHM, so when a customer says "Is there any warranty?" you say no? I mean, no one month warranty or anything?

You want to offer a “better service” but I think you’re trying to emulate pitch practices as an Internet seller - many have tried it but here’s my take on how an internet business should operate in these harsh economic times. 1) Warranties. Don’t bother, you’re selling 10 year old cars from the door, those punters are price driven. You’re just asking for comebacks (warranties confuse banger customers into thinking everything is covered) and I soon learned that punters will take a warranty if it’s free but rarely value them enough to pay for them! 2) See andymc1973’s answer. Believe me, you do not want, or need, to take CCs. Those punters who cannot raise the funds for an old car are punters who turn into screamers because they have no money for maintenance. Do not worry about servicing the penniless, the right cars at the right prices sell. 3) Financing old cars. No f***ing chance whatsoever - are you wanting comebacks?