EPV

I’m yet to hear about a car marques or engine that doesn’t go wrong. Each to their own. My stock profile is very similar to yours.

I was going to put a resin floor down but I didn’t bother in the end. It just gets fucked so easily. I’m all about the fake grass now! https://www.elitepreownedvehicles.co.uk/used-bmw-3-series-bromley-london-1897332

Exactly this. Just buy and sell popular cars and take it on the chin when you have to pay a big bill.

What he said.

Same as. Pointless me having anything else as no one will see it.

Mate if you were in Kent i’d have you with me all day long. Good luck with finding something that will make you happy. I know from first hand experience that depression is a tough thing to get through.

One of my first questions when calling for a private car "is the logbook in your name" and when I get the answer, usually in an Asian accent "no, I am selling for my uncle" or "erm, nah, when I bought the car yeah, I never got the name transferred over to me" Yeah, ok sunshine.

Good advice as ever. I'd add to it that you shouldn't listen to people saying you can't do it or the good old days are gone or it's not like it was. Rory off here said numerous times to me and others for that matter, to "just work harder than everyone else" and it's true. Instead of moaning about something not happening, work harder etc. If you have your own successful business then you no doubt have this mentality anyway. There are a couple of sayings I like. One from Gary Player, the American Golfer; The harder I practice, the luckier I get" The other, supposedly George Bernard Shaw; "People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it" Good luck.

Amen.

Sorry, I meant that I'm far more risk averse these days than when I started out. If I was starting out again with no prior knowledge I'd do the same thing I did when I started. That being, get round some privates and learn a little, what stuff can be fixed easily, what mechanical issues don't really matter and what does etc.

Well done Benji

The request wasn't "where can I buy straight, problem free cars at trade prices" it was "where can I buy cars at trade prices" Auction, private, part ex. You pays yer money and takes yer chances. I've bought plenty off privates and made some of my biggest margins doing so. I don't buy so much that way lately as I'm lazy and rather than travel 75 miles to look at a shed I'd rather stay in my PJ's and buy 4 cars in one day and have them delivered and as you say, if I cop an unfortunate one so be it. But if I was starting out again, I'd be buying from privates 90% of the time. I couldn't say for sure mate, I just shortlisted it a few days ago and never got round to picking the phone up, mainly for reasons given above!

Sell the cars quicker

It seems like I'm digging you out this evening but I can assure you I'm not, it's just you're talking nonsense I'm afraid. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201812293519712?price-to=9000&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&advertising-location=at_cars&seller-type=private&make=SKODA&price-from=8500&radius=1500&postcode=br12qf&sort=sponsored&page=1 Books around £8900. Take my word for it I could find a dozen more examples of either trade or the equivalent with auction house tip within an hour.

Not quite. Actually, not at all. You have two options, self administrated or administrated. Self administrated - You pay LG £x per brochure, you give this to your punter and register the warranty on their intranet. In the event of a claim, you sort the warranty claim yourself. Administrated - As above but they take a fee and manage the claim on your behalf. In both instances you pay the bills, whether than comes as and when, or you put a bit of money by per sale is up to you.

More like now you have someone to do it for you, King fkin Rory. Must be nice...

Given your post regarding the mercedes and now this, it's surely worth signing up to a place that will have qualified people respond to chancers like this on your behalf. If you're confident that you had paperwork to back up the cam belt change, then you have little to worry about. He's not much of a solicitor is he because if he WAS any good, he could have come back to you when it snapped in 2018 (if it even did) and made a claim against you under the CRA. Probably successfully. The fact is he didn't yet here we are, 9 months later and it's only just dawned on him to get in touch with you? Like Dave says, this is bordering on fraud.

I have a 2009 1 series in the corner of my unit, where it has been for about 10 days since it was moved in. I went round starting all the cars yesterday for 10 mins to top up the batteries and the same light came on. As said, it's probably a drop in voltage and a run and charge will sort it.

Why? There's already one dealer on here (well, part dealer, full time mechanic god, Sir Dave of Scotland) who was unaware of the facts so if a couple of other dealers on here get educated it can't be a bad thing. If I know about it and I'm a proverbial pup, everyone should know it. And yes, as you have pointed out, trying to keep things "secret" from the entire internet is a futile task. In any case, I think people should come on here and see that most of us do the job right, know what we're talking about etc. It inspires consumer confidence in the industry.

The CRA doesn’t apply to 6 months but 6 years. Very extreme circumstances obviously but if a punter can prove at the POS that the fault was there, up to 6 years later, they can make a case under the CRA.

1000km per litre.

True, I did. The customer was aware when he bought it that the 2.0 engines drank oil but he was surprised at the 1.8 drinking as much as it was. He had a couple of other niggles which I sorted and as a gesture and at the recommendation of a VAG specialist, who has a GTI 30 edition himself, the oil was changed to a thicker grade (I think 5/40w) which seemed to slow down the consumption for said VAG Indy in his GTI That was 2 months ago and I haven’t heard from the customer again. It could be that he’s had enough and sold it or, it may have slowed down the consumption enough for him to be living with it. Unless it’s a full Audi history then they won’t want to know. It wouldn’t stop me buying these cars, they sell well and don’t all drink oil excessively.

I'm not being disrespectful but that is one boring looking car. Not that it's your fault of course. It's a lease car, a sales rep car and as someone has pointed out, it's red. Which wouldn't be a problem if it was an M Sport, with 18" wheels as you could change them to black and I think it would fly out but in that colour combo for that model, it looks deeply uninspiring. If it was black, or even silver I don't think you would have a problem. But you are looking for a boring middle aged safe driver who likes sensible fuel economy and low tax and he probably wants it in a low key, non showy colour and red isn't helping. So I don't think the reason why you haven't sold it, is because it's too cheap. I think it's the wrong colour for that car. For the majority of people of course, not everyone. You could also try being a little more salesy in your advert. There will be some one here who will think the way I describe cars is a little bit corny or cheesy or "estate agent" but I think they're wrong so make your own mind up but I find describing what it's like to own the car, rather than "clean bodywork" and "clean interior" inspires the imagination a little. You're a car dealer, you present your cars very nicely, they will know it's clean and can see it's clean. What they want to know is what is it like to drive? Here's a description of a 320i SE Convertible I have up for sale; "Elite Preowned Vehicles, an award-winning car dealership in Kent, are proud to offer this excellent BMW 320i Convertible for sale. This 2 owner example (previously owned by a Doctor since 2008) drives without fault and has been prepared for retail with no compromise. A superb vehicle, it has covered just 78,000 miles and has just received a new MOT, new brake discs and pads, a new service and an 82 point mechanical health check, including a full scan on the latest diagnostic technology. This car is mechanically faultless. The specification on this car is massive, including full black leather, heated seats, cruise control and Bluetooth. The Sparkling Graphite metallic bodywork is free from any major scratches or scuffs and the excellent 17" alloy wheels are unmarked and shrouded in tyres with plenty of tread. The Dakota Black leather interior is pristine and the carpets are spotless as the entire vehicle has been carefully valeted by a professional car detailer, Wow Factors of Kent. The 2.0 petrol engine sounds sweet,170 horsepower pulls the car smoothly through the automatic gearbox and the steering is tight and agile. A 3 month warranty tops off what is surely a superb opportunity to own a thoroughly well prepared rare vehicle with excellent aftersales care. Need finance? Let us obtain a fantastic deal for you through our prime finance lenders, even if you have little or no deposit. Buy with confidence from an award winning 5 star rated Autotrader dealer." Make your own mind up of course, I hope the above helps.

He’s obviously been shopping at auction this month and that’s his SiV

Of course you can do that. You can leave all your profits in the business and not pay income tax. You'll have no money though and still have to pay 20% corporation tax and VAT though.