Mark101

I do exactly that - Lechler Hydrafan water based base coat and 2k lacquer - with a 2k mask (should be air fed really but I only do touch-ins now and then)

No doubt Car Dealer 5 - super starter packages and really helped me out

It was a classified ad - I edited the title to say SOLD and showed the price at £1 because most people search from cheapest to highest and I thought that might direct them to my website and inturn, my other Mini.

Yes, good advice - when I get a "decent" car, i.e. one you'd expect to have seen the inside of a main dealer workshop, whilst it's operator sips latte and a Highland cookie - I often get at least a service printout. Especially true of lease or company vehicles as you say. Then again, they say nothing handles like a company car - so perhaps they're not the best!

It's quiet this morning - all the Ebayers must be watching (or starring) in Jeremy Kyle. These people exist - amazing!

PMSL absolutely hilarious - I hope you have left him such a 5 star review on his web page - class. I rarely laugh out loud, but you've just made me do that very thing.

Oh now I see what you mean - I thought I had made a typo lol. He turned up in a Land Cruiser, so don't think he was PC at all in that respect - I just found it weird that he never called himself be his christian name, I would find it very uncomfortable someone keep calling me Mr, I would say call me Mark. He may come back, who knows - stranger things have happened and I think you're right about teaching types being "out of water." What's the saying.... People who can = do, people who can't = teach Waiting for an onslaught from all the forumites whom are related to those in the teaching profession - it doesn't apply to them, they have been toughened up by their motor trade exposure lol

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Brilliant idea and checking driving licence has crossed my mind - yes, I have all the right insurances and admit I am stupidly taking a risk when it comes to "trusting" the buyer to own a licence. I really appreciate that input re: the form. I am going to create one first thing tomorrow - thanks s and b - great piece of advice.

Great analogy to be fair (and ironically, my old man owned clothes shops before he retired and he used to moan about that very thing). Back to our trade: In my eyes though, the risk is my insurance, the vehicle, the possible re-clean, fuel but most of all my precious time and how do people even have the brass neck to walk off - surely unless it drives like a dog during the test drive what is going on? This is the reason I don't sell cars that attract boy racers and test pilots - thought I'd have this nonsense covered. I am considering changing my tack, what do you think, reasonable? Customer: Can I have a test drive? Me: Yes sir, I welcome test drives and/or any other inspection but only after we have agreed a sale (subject to car performing as expected)

What is it all about. When I want a new car (a personal car) - I go and look at the few I have heavily pre-filtered - discount the ones which don't match the description closely enough and if I like what I see (to the point I will make an offer), request a test drive but only at that point. This week I have had someone look at my Q7, fall in love with it (I think this is going well) and ask for a test drive. At this point I know the car is perfect and a real pleasure to drive, so for me it's in the bag - he says I'm off to talk to my wife and will come back to you - that was Wednesday. He was not like the stereotypical tyre kicker either, a mature college lecturer whom insisted I called him Mr (despite me saying, good afternoon, I'm Mark) Another came today to look at my BMW Convertible - said it was the tidiest one he has seen and could he go for a quick spin. I grab the plates and off we go, he can't believe how well it drives - get's out and says, can I call you? because I am off to see a hatchback of the same model. How do people have the nerve to do that? My blood is boiling....

Or was it the free version on Auto Trader Website beneath each click advert?

arslan2468 - I am presuming you have not been trading very long. Do you have any experience in the motor trade in any capacity? Before anything, a full HPI all category check is the first (any category flag I 100% walk away from) thing I filter out. I hope you work this out and it doesn't become an expensive lesson but in any case, I think you'll have learned one - we had the exact same issue on here last week from a Newbie - read through that because that will provide all the answers you need but not necessarily what you want. I do hope it works out and good luck.

If you brought it, you're ok - if you bought it, you've got a problem

I am titled..... it's Mr.

That man speaks the truth

And also, servicing intervals are so long now on modern stuff, even a high miler may only have a few stamps - still FSH but 3 stamps doesn't look full.

Of course, everyone (I imagine) likes to advertise 1 owner, low mileage, FSH cars - but try and buy them right! Who really believes that a car with NO history has NEVER been serviced - it is bound to have been serviced at some stage and just the owner(s) haven't bothered to keep records. It's up to us to "convince" sorry, sell the car on it's merits and the car is surely only as good as its last service report and level of service performed. Would I sell a £10k with loads of owners and no history - no but would I sell a £2,995er - prepped right, full service? then yes and generally make a better margin because of the lower procurement cost. Full service history is subjective - 1 stamp in the book on 100k could be the cars "full" service history - it doesn't say (although it is interpreted as such) FSH to the servicing schedule.

600 to 1200 - it was only lacquer peel but to lose edges had to flat more than I hoped, hence taking out base coat. Then 2k the whole boot (I try and clear coat whole panels where possible, saves a lot of fade out and mopping). You can make good money and I enjoy doing the odd car of my own but it's no fun (for me) doing 2-3 every day, for ever and a day. I have fewer than 10 cars at the moment, so have the odd few hours most days where I can turn my hand to repairing my own cars when perhaps there isn't enough in a car to justify outsourcing or the affected area is so minimal. On the other hand, I am happy to outsource valeting, that is serious graft for less than 50 notes. I also outsource all mechanicals and PDI because I am not a mechanic. Successful? no, happy? extremely

Best thing I have bought so far (Smart repairs is how I started in the trade originally) Heavy stuff = Bodyshop Under £3k = I do it Here's before and after - passable Looks like I have been rumbled

Because there’s no history doesn’t mean there has not been any servicing, just that the owner was unorganised or not bothered about keeping the records up to date. You get a feel for a goodun or a totter and if the car looks right and the price reflects the lack of proveable servicing - I’m in

Here’s my set up for smaller smart repairs but with a 2k finish unlike many smart repairers - do it myself

I don't think Sex for sale and sticky should be in the same sentence

I think there's some more at the other dealer, Lidl