MattGM

There is.... but it's the engine management light

Too new to this game to really have any stories worth telling since setting up, other than one customer who phoned me up (was my 3rd sale after going full time infact) to say that he was really glad he bought off me and I was a 'pleasent young gentleman' But when selling from home, did have one couple who bought a Focus off me, it was only for £1k or thereabouts, send me a Christmas card with a £20 Argos gift card, and a photo of them with their car on the Milau viaduct in the south of France earlier that year. Thought that was a very nice gesture, and I've got that photo in my office at the gaff. Trouble is the couple are a year or two older than me, and my insurance rep clocked the photo and asked if they were my kids! The photo was roughly 3 years ago

Absolutely this, in my opinion. Also, the 12 months cover with them is almost certainly going to be the boggo standard roadside cover. Looks good in the handover pack yes, but let's be honest, most people have this level of cover anyway, and many get it free with their current account. I wouldn't be paying money to advertise another company, with the only real benefit of being able to piggy back off their brand.

The emissions don't have to be out for an EML light relating to a faulty or out of value reading from an O2 sensor. I'd check to see if the sensors are branded, or if they're white box shite from China via Euro car parts. We've seen plenty of vehicles in with faulty lambda sensors (and other sensorts for that matter, MAP sensors being a popular one on the pugs) with seemingly 'new' sensors on them, but they're cheap and nasty and work for about a week.

You see I thought it's the driver's fault, but the insurance is invalid.

Like most, if not all of you I suspect, I have demonstration insurance bundled with my trade insurance package. Naturally, the policy dictates that the policy holder (me) needs to be present in the vehicle, and the driver ofcourse has to have a full driving license. Now I'm going to be totally honest, I've never once asked to see a driving license prior to a drive, I may be breaking a golden rule there, I just never have, I've assumed in all cases prior to the one I'll mention that they have held a full license. On Friday I have a young lad and a middle aged man come to view a car. They look around it and I establish that it's the middle aged man that's showing interest to buy. We get to the point that he wants to take the vehicle out, but oddly wants his son, the younger lad to drive the vehicle. To my eye, this young lad is 17 at most, but looks like a spotty teenager, I'm unsure so say I'd let him drive if I could see his photocard, which he 'didn't have'. I then drop a bit of a bollock by saying the older guy can drive it, but I never asked to see his license, so obviously the conversation then turns to 'You never asked to see his license', and the whole thing becomes very awkward. To cut a long story short, I stuck by my guns and expressed concerns that the young lad didn't look old enough, he couldnt show me any form of ID, so I said I'd let the older man drive the car on the road, and the younger lad could drive the car around the private industrial estate on which I'm based. End result, is the two guys got the arse and walked away at that point, no real bad blood, just not happy with my offer to meet in the middle.. if you will. So should I be checking licenses all the time? Do you guys? And what would you have done? I'm a little gutted as the car in question has been up for a little longer than most, and they seemed interested, and judging by the new X6 they pulled up in, they had the finances to buy on the spot too. My gut feeling is that the dad wanted the Defender for the lad to use on the farm and then once he passed his test, but I may be wrong. I did leave it open for them to come back with a license, but I genuinely don't think the lad had one, and the father wouldn't progress with the deal as a matter of principle. I'd like to think however, that any decent father wouldn't allow their unlicensed son to drive without a full license, or meeting learner criteria anway, very odd!

Up until yesterday I sold ONE car this month, with 12 in stock, was starting to get a little concerned. Getting interest, just not getting many viewings, then yesterday I got shot of 2 more so atleast it's picked up. Got plenty done in the week which means all my remaining stock is sorted now. Going to make some headway to clearing a couple of the ones with no interest now, even if it means a bit of a loss. Got more of a feel for what's going quickly so going to focus more on getting some of them in.

Okay, point taken! In fairness, does anyone get in a Defender and expect it to be 'nice'? Actually, scratch that. I've already had more than a few come and drive and remark how 'little room' there is, or throw it into a corner at 40mph and say 'rolls a little doesn't it'

Just to reign the love in a little... I also think they're horrible little boxes of toss, personally. Engines are gaff, build quality is French levels of nasty, they're not atall nice to work on and they're unforgivably ugly. But by far the worst thing about them is the gearboxes. We're talking auto gear changes that are so sea-sickeningly bad they make the next worse auto spastronic car around (Anything by PSA or Renault) feel like a Mclaren. Awful... awful, awful, awful, awful cars. I wouldn't piss on one if it was on fire. I don't like them.

Cheers for the advice guys, we've decided (honestly, I was involved in the decision) to book up for the dealer's holiday destination of choice, Mexico, for 11 nights next May. My old man's going to come in and deal under instruction, he's going to spend some time with me going through my OCD routine of paperwork and procedures, and I've told him if he does a really good job, I'll take another holiday in September so he can enjoy it some more. Work to live, not live to work Interesting a watch as that was, I'd hate to be involved in that level of restoration! Especially on those old donkeys, nothing but headaches those old V8s. And that's definitely not me, not with that brummy accent and that much enthusiasm

Specifically you guys that work on your own, or with the missus. What do you guys do/how do you get on when/if you have a holiday? She who must be obeyed is giving me earache over wanting to book 11 nights in Mexico next May. I'm not averse to the idea myself, but as I'm now self employed I'm a little unsure on the impact of closing doors for what will turn out to be the best part of 2 weeks. It's not the loss of income over those 2 weeks that is my real concern, I can budget for that, I'm just concerned that opening up after will take some time to get the wheels turning properly again. I COULD get a family member in to man the phones and take people around and out in cars, that's not an issue, but the person in mind is no salesman, and the majority of what I do, only I can do, so I'm not sure. Be interested to hear other people's tales of how they've gone about it. And no, letting her go off and jolly it up without me is not an option. If I've got to stay secluded here in this desolate empire, she can sip a pina colada in the garden and like it.

Had a shit day, cheered me right up!

I've no experience doing this, but from an outside perspective I can see the potential appeal. I mean it's a potential mark-up with no, or little capital investment. That said, I can appreciate the pitfalls also.

Some BMWs both petrol and diesel have them, it's just an exhaust sensor probe akin to your generic lambda probe, but specifically for monitoring levels of NOx content in the exhaust emissions. Edit, beaten to it

I can't help in terms of the valuation, other than to reiterate that if it's got a bed in the back and VW badge they go for mental money. However, I've MOTd a half-dozen or so T26 payload models from a local conversion garage through a couple of years. I recall they were all relatively comprehenisvely 'kitted out', and professionally too. No doubt the higher payload models are the preferred choice, but they are about. Even the 26s have a payload capacity of around 3/4 ton, allowing a full tank of fuel and other gubbins, that's about 1/2 ton of payload or fittings, well within range of your typical lightweight timber units etc.

Funnily enough, my dad bought a Cortina once for £60. Worst bag of shit he'd ever had the stupidity to swap notes for. Moving on..... I've worked as a mechanic for more time than I dare remember. I came into some money and decided I was sick of making some for other people. So decided to lose some myself

Personally, I think the original Sciroccos would be good to get hold of for an investment. I bet they'll be worth a pretty penny in years to come, if they aren't already. Then you've got the low volume 'special' versions of run of the mill motors. I'm talking Cavalier GSI/Turbos, Primera GTIs, 406 coupe. The interesting thing is they don't have to even be good cars

Landline number diverting to mobile, keeps the stupid texts to a minimum.

Sold my tidy Sierra Cosworth 6 years ago for about £4k. Aren't I the astute one

Abysmal day. two viewings booked, one showed, the other in dreamland over what he deems sensible offers, miles apart and wasn't happening. Shame, because June was a largely positive month. Work I could be getting on with on some other stock but I can't be arsed now, so locked up and buggered off.

We are STILL an EU member state at this moment unless I'm mistaken?

Providing all other wiring is still evident, yes, it should.

They have always demanded a premium, but they've shot up more since they've stopped being built in the UK. I think a lot of people assume they've stopped all together, but they're just bolted together overseas now, Turkey.... I think.

Not sure if that's a good thing or bad

A while ago I posted a very similar thread on these forums, and now I've been doing it 'legit' for three months. I'd not been able to do it the way I have, had I not had a substantial investment to be able to do it with. As it stands I've sunk around 80k into my business, some of that was start up expenses, the majority is stock, and some is left in the bank under the business as a buffer for expenses. I've worked for many years in the motor trade, mainly as a mechanic, but also in sales (allbeit parts, not cars), and would say I have a feel for the industry. Both the capital investment, and the time in the industry have been crucial for me to be able to be where I am right now, I wouldn't have done it without either. I specialise in a specific product, and I know that product very well, it's that niche, and the fact that I repair, and to some extent restore my stock all in house that gives me my edge, personally. The common denominator in most, if not all business success stories, is an understanding of the market you're going into. With the best will in the world you could piss thousands away if you don't know what you're doing and don't understand the market. Have you thought about VAT implications? Remember the VAT threshold (83k) is measured on turnover, not profit. That equates to less than £7k per month turnover before you need to think about the margin scheme. Then there is the margin scheme, where you pay VAT on the difference between the price you pay for stock, and the price you sell it for, and it doesn't take into account any investment in that particular stock. It's quite conceivable that you could make a loss on a vehicle after repairs and other costs of sale are considered, and still have to pay margin VAT after. Silly made-up example, you buy an 07 plate Mondeo TDCi. You pay £700, but it's a tidy motor, nice low miles, decent spec, you're happy. You spend £100 tarting it up and putting a fresh ticket on it, and £50 advertising it online. It owes you £850, you put it up for sale at £1200. Your margin VAT if you sell at that is £83. Now imagine the same car turns out to need a set of injectors at £650 fitted. You've now made a loss of £300, but you've still got a VAT bill of £83. This is a prime reason why knowing vehicles, and knowing your market is crucial. Everyone will get caught out from time to time, and these are just some of the mistakes that people talk of that you have to learn from, but for a new starter they could be crippling ones. But if you've got the knowledge, got the confidence, and you're good with people (another big point), you can make a success of it if you apply yourself accordingly. Don't jump into anything, I spent ages just browsing this forum, and some others silenty, like some dirty stalker, just taking in all the information that was being posted before really making a contribution myself, and I've learnt more that way than any way else. And if you're still interested after some of the doom and gloom posted here then you know the idea isnt a flash in the pan 3 months in, and I'm turning over a profit, I'm not featured in any articles in the financial times don't get me wrong, but it's steady, AND it's improving, and most of all, I'm happy. It can be done. My only other tip for any starter is don't put all your funds into stock, leave some in the bank and don't rely on having to sell X amount of cars to pay bills every month. Cash is king, and you might have £10k worth of high end motors on your property, but if you can't pay the rent at the end of the month, you're broke. Best of luck, I genuinely hope it works, but please take a long hard look at what your model is going to be before taking the plunge.