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I am aiming for the over 50's cash buyers who are comfortably off and probably voted for Brexit, and have bought stock which hopefully appeals to my target buyer in terms make/model/spec/milage and provenance. But we will see.

Same with used car retail.

No some do. "Good afternoon i seen yout advert for your Jaguar, i see it has fsh has x y z been changed?" Gosh i get so happy when i hear people talk like that. I hear voices saying "genuine genuine" Whereas for the chavs I say "for fucks sake"

Oh yes they do. Otherwise why does everyone that ring me ask What are the "couple of minor marks" that you mentioned in your advert text? I now put that "couple of minor marks" in every advert. Works superbly against the "Oh, but I thought you said the car was immaculate" brigade.

It doesn’t help you, it never will. Somebody selling 5 cars in one day, 300 miles away from you, will have no bearing on whether you are doing something right or wrong. I’m completely with Justin, no point in knowing how others are doing and comparing it to you. I like to know how my trader mates on here are doing just because, well, they’re mates/acquaintances but that’s all it is. If you’re not selling cars is it ok, if nobody else is? Will that pay your bills? I had my best month last month. I’m possibly going to have my worst this month. A month is too shorter a period of time to assess your performance anyway. Three months minimum in my eyes.

Talking of fiestas we took one in part ex last month customer advising the main dealers had advised the head had gone, 20 mins in our workshop diagnosed a split in the water bottle which under extreme pressure heat would eject coolant everywhere £20 fix. Main dealers sent what they used to be mostly full of spotty young kids who couldn’t diagnose anything without a machine.

TBH sales wise I don't usually touch Jaguar these days, since the hey day when they discontinued the original straight 6 and V12's but I used to do a lot of those back in the 80's and 90's, owned a fair few too. The V8's I've worked on a few now, there are 3 or 4 running around these parts who are good Customers of my Workshop, normally I'm dealing with Coils, ABS Pumps and water ingress causing Electronic issues on them. My customers have already had Pumps and Timing Chain upgraded Tensioners now. The V8 Jag's are a money pit, much more so than an equivalent Mercedes Water Pumps are a common item, and absolutely pour coolant out when they really let go. You need to find a good indie near you, and don't believe anything a main dealer tells you. Start with a cooling system pressure test, any good honest mechanic should be able to do that and confirm if it is Pump or not, then go from there HTH

Do it. I think apprenticeships are fantastic. We currently have 3 and are about to take an extra 2/3 on soon, 30% of our 40 staff started as apprentices and it's great getting fresh blood into the Industry and also gives something to the local area. My advice fInd the best college not the closest. Happy to chat and grants available usually.