MattGM

Available 7 days a week here, but as I'm in a unit not a pitch ALL of my viewings are appointment only. I'll work on cars Mon - Fri and occasionally collect stock on Saturdays too, but I don't get dirty on weekends, just have dirty weekends If there's no appointments on Sat or Sun, they're days off. It's 50/50 for me tbh, had both days off this weekend which was nice.

Out of interest was it a traditional fluid driven auto, or a DSG box? Where was it leaking from?

I take your point completely Rory, but there's extremes I won't repeatedly stretch to. I'm far from 9-5, infact it's approaching 10pm and I'm still at my gaff now, but 80+hrs over 7 days a week is not sustainable, let alone enjoyable. I didn't leave my job to start my venture to see none of the home, and the family I work so hard for. Don't get me wrong, there's times when one must go above and beyond the reasonable working day, tonight is a prime example, but I offset that with the days I've had half a day because as far as I was concerned, I'd done for the day. Aslong as the business IS making reasonable money (which it is), and if that difference is the difference between 40k a year, and 50k a year, so-be-it. Other people may see things differently, and that's grand for them, but I'm not trying to build an empire, just a living. And I'll work to live, not live to work.

You want to slow down a bit mate before you fall off that thing!

1990s - "Petrol combustion is bad, very bad, you need diesel.... diesel is the future. We're going to tax the arse off you if you don't use diesel" 2017 - "Diesel combustion is bad, very bad, you need petrol.... petrol is the future. We're going to tax the arse off you if you don't use petrol" You just know that in the 2020s/30s, some new research will reveal that some new technology is available that will save the planet, and render the government's previous fossil fuel of choice obsolete.

You do, yeah. The date they're mentioning is the anniversary date.

As if some handbags on a forum turns into a load of toss about stock getting nicked Chill your shit fella, it's only the internets. End of the day opinions are like arseholes, everyone has one, some of them stink. Move on, life's too short as you seem very much aware. Don't be saying rubbish like that, it makes you look a c**t

It's an option bud, it certainly is. A mate of mine I used to work with already uses my 4 poster some weekends for his foreigners, I'm just happy to help but he has said he'll repay me with some work when I need it and he isn't working. As it stands, we've had the conversation, but he hasn't enough of his own work to leave his job and do 50/50 for me, so it's a bit stalemate.

Little cock?

Crazy, crazy week. Done about 80 hours this last week, and I have to admit, doing everything myself including the hands on repairs is taking its toll. However, 4 in a week out the door, and a healthy mark up on all of them. Off up to Liverpool tomorrow to collect a very nice ebay find that I'm confident about. I have to admit it's going to be nice getting out the unit for a good 3/4 of the day. Thinking seriously about getting a mechanic on board given the hands on nature of the stock I keep to free me up, but concerned the extra overheads will (at first at least) hurt the profits, we'll see. I know one thing, another 80hr 7 day week is NOT going to happen anytime soon!

Disco 3 TDV6 is the tow vehicle and the family wagon Freelander 2 TD4 is the wife's weapon of choice and other family wagon And the one I use most, a snotty old 05 plate Focus estate 2.0tdci with 240k miles on it that I swapped to the tune of £200 a year ago. If it ever needs more than a ton spending on it, I'll bin it, but it just gets me everywhere, all the time. I sometimes use the stock on trade plates to run around in, largely to put some miles on them to get an idea of any underlying issues.

The really astute negotiators that want to know sod all about the car, and almost immediately open conversation with 'what's the lowest you'll take?'

Earache

I wouldn't worry too much mind. We're still making an annual profit of 180k

Probably tradex's purchase receipts from all the oil his Focus was using.

Oh come on, it's no option, I said it in jest. You're clearly a savvy man from your other business ventures, you're not about to seriusly go and be a garage bitch for £7.50ph. The point I, and others make is real though, somehow you need to get experience of the trade to know the pitfalls. Not sure how that fits in, in a workable situation as you're obviously, perhaps understandably not going to jump into a minimum wage job to get this experience at your stage.

I'm trading from an industrial unit on an estate, doing reasonably well within the first 12 months, but there are things to be aware of. Most units suitable are classed under the 'B' bracket, which is general industrial office, and distribution. To retail from your unit you will need A1, and getting that depends what the local council are like as it'll require planning permission, and indeed a landlord willing to seek it. I fell lucky with mine, as the previous leaseholder ran a fixings company, and the unit came with A1 when I took it over. I have heard of industrial units gaining A1, there's recently been a 'Screw Fix' open up on an estate neighbouring mine, so they must have got it also, but I've also heard stories of it being a royal P.I.A.

Try working at an indy garage for 12 months sweeping the floors. You'll get paid f**k all (in fairness so do mechanics) but after 12 months you'll know what a clattery dmf sounds like, you'll know what a Corsa timing chain that's about to jump off sounds like, and you'll know what an engine burning it's oil smells like, amongst many, many other things.

The 2.0 FSIs and TFSIs are a dog of an engine anyway. The older 1.8 20v much better.

Before you go any further, you've looked into eligibility for a conumer credit license?

Best one yet. 1994 300TDi Defender 110 county station wagon Purchase price - £2280 Repairs, adverts, and other costs of sale - £1763.87 Sale price - £6175 VAT - £649.17 (Ouch!) ------------------ Profit - £1481.96 Got that one rediculously cheap from an ebay auction that ended at something silly like 5am. Was half expecting the 'Not seling it for that' message over ebay, but the seller was genuine, and let it go as promised. Profit is slightly better when refund of VAT on certain repair and advertisement costs are considered, but I never take that into account when considering profit/loss on stock.

Understanding VAT, and understanding the VAT margin scheme is another matter, with its own pitfalls. Get to know the latter well if you don't already. 4-6k stock and you'll approach the threshold in no time atall if you move them. Keep good books, you'll need a VAT compliant stock book as a bare minimum. I run my own Excel books, including stock, sales, bank & cash receipts, and profit & loss account amongst others. Don't sell shite that you know is coming back, because it will. And it'll cost you more in the long run than just fixing it to start with 2/3/4 cars at home as a second income is fine, but don't expect to make anything like a living off it. Unless your motors are dirt cheap they won't be selling the moment you advertise them, and factor in the cost of re-advertising, because it's a given. With just a couple of cars from home, the phone won't be ringing as much as you'd like, trust me, been there. Growing your reputation is more important than skinning a vehicle for every last penny, don't cut silly corners on repairs, or try to hide faults that are present, the customer will find out later if not on inspection, and they'll see straight through your bullshit excuses. Sometimes people just aren't happy, and it doesn't take a lot for some to 'lose faith' in the car in a short period of niggles after purchase. If you've prepped well, this should be the exception rather than the norm, but even so, things go wrong sometimes. Don't be affraid to refund if you can't win, get the car back, fix it, and go again. Know the law. You don't have to be a lawyer, but know key facts about the consumer rights act. And just treat good people fairly, honestly. and don't drag the 'used car dealer' name through the dirt.

Second and thrid the above M.J. The boxes in these and their linkages are archaic, they are essentially the same boxes with revisions as they fitted in the old Novas. They're not known for their issues internally, but the plastic linkage sections, as alreadfy mentioned ARE prone to failure. Any decent sized local parts supplier should supply you with the replacement parts, or you can pick them up off ebay. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vauxhall-Corsa-D-2007-2012-5-SPEED-MANUAL-Gearbox-Gear-Linkage-Assembly-/281169699320?epid=0&hash=item41770521f8:g:GNkAAOSwB-1YrVT0