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I think we might have another just before Xmas. With some decent brand scotch as a prize for the winner :-)

I doubt it - it maybe that the door shuts are in original condition because of a lack of exposure but have you never seen a car being painted at the factory? Doors off or at least open and robots applying paint finish. Can't see a robot discriminating between a door shut and a panel. I reckon during re-finishing, door shuts don't get re-lacquered because the doors are shut during masking and possibly they weren't damaged and therefore didn't require and work in the first place. In my experience, a rrepaired panel will have more paint than factory anyway.

If he owns a nursing home he definately will be 'crawling in it'?

Well done Nick,it did sound a bit unbelievable 4 days on a 20 grand car,so I needed to hear the story,sad but I like the stories! I recall a case years ago when I had bought a quite rare 3.0 Sierra 3 Dr high spec thing out of Leeds.It was a civilian spec police vehicle and I paid a fortune for it.Next day it is waiting at the back of the pitch to be valeted.We get a call from a guy asking about it who says he saw it when he was driving past.I said you must have good eyesight,I told him the price and he says,I will have that I will pay you in the morning etc.Next morning ,this sharp looking guy comes in with the cash and hardly looks at the car.I again asked him how he spotted it from the road.......He said....I lied to you,I am a Police Officer,that was my car and I was going to bid a lot more for it but got called away etc.I got the auction to tell me who they sold it to and for how much etc.....stories .....stories I am away at the moment Nick,but I will call you next week.

My second question when someone calls, right after “have you watched the video I made” is “where abouts are you in your car buying journey? Have you looked at many others or have you made up your mind you want a Focus/Fiesta etc?” You’ll know by their response what to expect. If they are the type that have seen loads of misdescribed crap then you have a great opportunity. If they say they have got 3 more to see after yours then i’d probably tell them to go and see the other three first and when they’re ready to buy come and see mine. I also NEVER do same day appointments. Nobody who says “we’re the area and wondered if we could come and see yours” ever buys. Well, not from me. Those that say “I love the colour” or “i’ve been looking for one with ivory leather and walnut dash” are ready to buy.

Paddy, I do have a separate number for business, and genuinely don't mind someone calling me in the evening to enquire about a car. It's more the no shows or the window shoppers that really wind me up. Especially when it's a Sunday and you've changed all your plans for a viewing, only for someone to rock up and say "Well we still have ours to sell", or "My budget is £500-1000 lower than the bloody asking price." Going to start implementing everyone's pre-viewing filters I think. But you're right. It's all part of the business. My brother is currently car shopping and he's seen 6 already, and he doesn't know yet if he wants a 1 series or a Golf because he's scared of the emissions fix. I think I'd hate him if he were one of my customers!

Same as my “was looking for a bigger car” response. So there’s people out there that are looking for an automatic cruise liner but email about a manual shoebox. Yeah. Right

We’re normally moaning about about cars that have been sat around for months, it’s nice to hear some quick success and positivity

Quite why someone getting £85 pw DLA, & sat at home cos they can’t (or won’t) work, would choose to piss it away on a new Motability car is beyond me anyway. It just goes to show how vain/stupid people are - about £375 per month on a car in which to urinate in or let their dog urinate in. That’s almost £4500 p.a.! Personally I’d investigate the punters who choose to use their allowance in such a fashion & any irregularities would result in cessation of their DLA. Sorry, but this Motability nonsense has been going on unchecked for decades & it’s time some of these bloodsuckers got a taste of the world of work. It’s hard out their these days but there are still far, far too many living on the sweat of others. The social housing estates (I’m no snob & no offence is intended here) seem to be half full of either 10yr old Audis & Range Rovers in drug dealer specification, bald tyres & all, or family car dross up to 3 years old which I can only assume is Motability supplied. If I were given £4500 per year I certainly wouldn’t be tipping it into the local Hyundai dealer.

£39.99 at aldi !

If you come across any nice and I mean nice T5 Highlines for the right money drop me a PM

On vans? standard mechanical inspection as per any vehicke wash hoover wipe inside touch in any marks then sell you can get away with scuffs and dents you never could on a 3-4k car imo

Yep, don’t think I’ve kept one longer than 4 days when in part ex no vat absolute key

The knack at the cheaper end of the mark is definitely NO V.A.T.!!

I love vans and have always done well (when I had the pitch) but now I'm a home trader, replacing my 12 or so car stock with vans would be a step too far I fear for the neighbours.

Every van I have taken in PX has always sold really quickly (within 10 days) with a healthy margin. I agree with TV, the secret is no VAT.

An old mate does purely vans and has done for years, he does alright and generally has 30-40 on the pitch at any one time, he likes it and has very little come backs / screamers, says van punters are more bothered it has 12 months ticket and runs well and not fussed as much about the condition as car punters are, I know he did 2 today as I bumped into his valeter in the Indian whilst waiting for my dinner, I might pop in for a brew and catch up tomorrow if I've time and ask him your question.

Never been able to understand the van market.Sometimes I may have bought a nice Transit,then find out that the side door is on the wrong side or it has sliding doors.We know someone who is a big time operator in ex Police dog vans,so we bought one a two....got it wrong again.Then the big problem,the punters will not pay the VAT.Specialist market,it sounds like you are good,stay with it I would say.

Hi Adam, welcome to the forum, 3 weeks sounds good to me but I have no experience of vans at all. I've driven a Transit for a few days when we were moving house in 2013 and that's about it. If a customer asks me for a van I'll send them your way...

Our customers call us up and either ask for a specific car or give us a budget and an idea of what they'd like. We then go and find them a car. Give them the details, they give us a deposit. We buy the car, bring it back, hpi it etc then either the customer picks it up or we deliver to their door. We do cars from almost new to maybe 5 years old or so.