Nick M.K.

Why is 6 a month great and why do we continue to count only the number of cars sold as a measure of how well we’ve done? In my first year of trading (2006) I averaged 10 a month from a London house with 2 parking spaces.

I disagree with some of the above. Full time you will do MORE, if you borrow you will do MORE, if you buy higher value stock you will earn from it MORE, you have a chance for finance income AND for much better part exchanges. DO NOT stay small if you have a chance and desire to grow, you are just wasting time and opportunity. The following 5 years will give a lot of opportunities to clued up dealers that are willing to put in the investment and the work.

I remember when you used to take your photos outside a few months ago, looked much better.

Neither did I and had no need to find out :-) thank you for this unique forum contribution

Don’t just dream. Wake up and do it.

Wait for your first deal with £3K retail margin, ££££ finance comission or £2K profit on the part exchange, all in the space of a week. Will make you sick every time you smell the inside of an old Corsa.

No such tales from me after 14 years of Appointment only. It has several downsides but certain advantages also.

I always have a couple, amazing price fluctuations and real bargains to be had at auction sometimes. Also, MINI buyers always say that they were specially looking at a MINI so it’s not like you can hope to get those buyers with different stock.

Nothing. Nothing at all. Attention grabber, 2000 word adverts and when they come to view by appointment the deposit is usually already collected in advance. I don’t have walk-ons.

Call Nextgear Capital, they will send a rep over. If it can be done they’ll do it. Don’t bother with BCA Partner finance

Most suggestions for your plan will be simple: Don’t.

I thought it was a yellow light. Just because I see it often :-)

Simon, those letter ARE from Lawgistics and for many years I've been saying that even smallish dealers should have a Lawgistics membership. If you are worried about prejudicing yourself in a letter write on top WITHOUT PREJUDICE. Tony, the guy doesn't threaten court action because the belt snapped. He is saying the car was not advertised properly. You can have records that show a belt replacement but an old actual belt in the car. Ideally you wanted to inspect what's left over of that engine and that belt. Now weeks after the fact and after everything has been replaced and old parts thrown away you have no way of inspecting hence no way to confirm or deny if the car was "represented" properly.

Yes, that customer should have given you an opportunity to inspect the damaged engine to confirm liability (the reason for the snapped belt). His omission to do so means you are not in a position to compensate him for his loss which is his own and unmitigated.

And for those lacking it it gives 6 years of (near) peace and mind if they do muster the confidence to buy :-)

No! When the car is standing around the voltage drops. The ECU sees this is flashes a reminder. When the car is driven longer or when the battery is charged with a charger the warning will not appear. Is it on all the time or just briefly when you start the car?

Weak battery voltage on startup

Just wait for the Grass Cutting Regulations 2021 and the Window Cleaning Norms, Standards and Clarity Rules 2022 :-)

Sure. But most dealers would sleep better if they didn’t know: The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 can be used instead of CRA by a customer to take a dealer to court for breach of conract. This can be for faults found up to 6 years post sale. The onus is on that consumer to prove that the fault WAS present at the point of sale. Normally very difficult but not for well known common faults which usually start soon after manufacture.

It's just about being optimistic, it's about numbers. When you have dozens of cars in stock you can not afford several ticking time bombs. The legal comeback time for a major AND such well known fault can be up to 6 years post sale.

It sounds to me like he was, especially about eating the sim card. The new nano sims taste awful.

Even if the 50 miles weren't an issue Simon asked for a proper workshop. I would ask the customer to get the AA or RAC out (even pay to extend their cover to Home Start), even if they don't manage to start the car they will at least plug the diagnostic in and give some idea of the problem.

Not great engines and now sadly everyone in the Greater London area wants them instead of the TDIs

1 brake disc? you mean a set of discs and a set of pads???

It does indeed say Octavia but him answering like he did led this whole discussion Astray (see what I did there).