MOTORS

We don't use an RAC scheme but some local competition do. I've looked at the scheme but our own 136 point PDI check sheet is better than the checks that any scheme does. We diagnostically scan every car at point of purchase, fix any errors and re-scan before sale. Copies of the PDI and diag scans are given to the customer. Prep your cars well and aim to get a shed load of good reviews via Autotrader. If you have to lose money on a car to get it right then do so - you cant afford to let any lemons out of the bag. People will buy from you on reputation not because you have an RAC scheme. Good luck

I think the plan for the weekend is to take payment for the car, then go on line to tax it. "I cant believe DVLA are closed, thats never happened before" "Do you want to drive the car now or come back on Monday for it?"

We use Contact at Once. Used to be free of charge until around 4 months ago. Have some really good enquiries from it, usually 2 or 3 a month - all genuine buyers who have got the bit between their teeth and want information NOW. Well worth having it but the latest removal of them answering chats in the daytime is going to be a problem as we dont just sit at the computer waiting for chats. I have the app on my mobile but you have around 20 seconds to answer before it's lost and when you are painting with an air fed mask on, valeting or driving it's not long and the chats can easily be missed with no option to "phone them back". I'll maybe have to get the app put on the families phones so one of us can grab the chat if only to get a name and phone number.

Thanks - I didn't know there was a free service. We've been paying £24 per month for them to answer all chats, which to be honest is really handy when you're busy. Most of the chats come through at night so maybe still worth the charge. I'll have to remember to turn the chat on and off otherwise my phone will be dinging at 2am.

Next thing we know Autotrader will be offering to under-write our part exchanges via their Part Exchange "offering".

"Chat Assist will now operate between 6pm and 9am. Therefore, you need to chat, engage and manage your chats outside these hours when your dealership is open, to benefit from a 24/7 service." We use the chat assist. Normally we leave them to answer all chats 24 hours a day. Looks like we will have to answer them all ourselves during office hours. Bit difficult when your valeting or painting a car side. Less for more again courtesy of Autotrader.

At a "Discovery Day" earlier in the year at AT they showed the group a BETA version of a website to "compete" with Dealer Auction. Seems like they have had a spectacular change of heart and now want to JV with the competition. More cars badly described by more dealers, or possibly the ability for us independent car dealers to list cars like the old Autotrademail on the new site (but I doubt it)? Time will tell how much more sh1t will come our way.

Yes, get the car back to your mechanic. We sold a 2002 Honda S2000 a couple of years ago with full Honda serv hist 93k. Broke a con-rod and made nice hole in the side of engine. Customer wanted a full refund. I employed the services of ACE Inspection engineers who reported that the valves had bounced off the piston heads immediately before engine failure (physically marked) . Their report stated that the driver had probably mis-selected a gear and over-revved the engine causing the failure. Customer collected the car with tail between his legs and got it repaired elsewhere at his own cost. Don't give up too early...

We've had a couple of XC70's with faulty HU-850 units. If the car has rear parking sensors they are wired through the HU-850 unit and wont operate if you replace with an after market unit. Central Services 01206 396272 repair the units and have done a good job for me in the past.

Thanks for this. Wouldn't have known until I tried to tax a car thats going out on Saturday

If you are covered by your trade insurance policy for personal use you should be fine. Would also get it added to the MID

We had an SL350 last year. Bought it trade from a Mercedes dealer. EML came on on way back to office. It was a worn sprocket on the end of the balance shaft. Had to take engine out and replace balance shaft at a cost of £1850. A google search will tell you all about it and which engine number range to avoid. I would scan the car and look for error codes relating to this issue.

Don't forget to look in to planning permission for change of use before spending money on extending your garage and driveway. I trade from home and all was well until I added a small conservatory in 2013 to use as an office and started getting busy. The council visited and stopped me trading until I had full planning permission for change of use. Luckliy I got planning (although there were a few local objectors) and could continue trading from home. Then the rating office came round and assessed business rates, It was a joke really as they charged me £450 annual rates but will small business rate relief it reduced to zero. Because part of the land was now business related the council lowered the residential rate band which reduced our house by £550 per year.

You could give Evolution Funding a try - they have a panel of 32 lenders. I think they lend up to a vehicle age of 15 years at end of the agreement for HP. Not sure about any mileage limit.

Had a CCL and now FCA. Been happily taking the commission on finance sales for the last 5 years. Had our first finance clawback this week due to a repossession (-£464). Just shows don't count your chickens until 6 months have passed in the case of a finance settlement, or in the case of a repossession at any time (on a reducing clawback value basis).