Lucas

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Posts posted by Lucas

  1. Posted · Edited by Lucas

    57 minutes ago, Dave2302 said:

    /\ /\ /\ +1

    Un believable ........................ :rolleyes:

    I have been buying tools, mostly Snap On since I was 14, over the last few years the Snap On purchases have gone down to just the occasional lost socket, or a new gadget etc.................

    However, the need for specialist Dealer Level Diagnostic machines, and the learning curve of Computers, (and for you Lucas) how the Cars Electronic Systems works is very very steep.

    My Workshop Equipment expenditure last year alone will wipe out your remaining capital .......................

    I quote Fraser from Dad's Army (for those of us that remember it lol) "Doooooomed, Doooooomed"

    Why do you think the fella is selling up ??

    I have a mate locally, owns a fleet and wants his son to take over his business, the boy is brilliant with computers and his dad asked me if i could teach him to use diagnostic stuff ..........................

    I gave it a shot, got the boy reading fault codes, looking at data, but the issue is he has no idea how an Engine etc works, so when the code says "EGR Valve" he might just as well go down the pub............. Not a scooby !!

    Lucas, you are full of surprises, keep 'em coming :D

     

    Thank you Dave. You are awesome! Yes, the specialist equipment could be very costly. And yes, the car electric system is complicated full of hardware and computer technology nowadays.

    I am somehow an electrician and electronic engineer. I've been making electronic products since I was 12. One of my previous business is an electronic product manufacturer. I developed electronic products for a quite long time, such as the digital processors, LCD,  amplifiers, and some 3D image products. These products sell globally. I had 10+ patents and several trade-mark in that area in the different countries. 

    Anyway, those are not for car use. So, I have to learn the car business from scratch for sure. I have to learn from you guys. Thanks. :)

  2. Posted · Edited by Lucas

    26 minutes ago, NOACROSS said:

    How much is the rent, the utilities, the business rates, the insurance, the public liability insurance, equipment (is it still there- you need ramps etc), how much do you think a mechanic x 2 is a year? PAYE, holiday pay etc. What sort of garage? MOT? If so, that's another minefield. How well did the last guy do? 

     

    Who's gonna answer the phone and deal with the customers?

    Thank you NOACROSS. 

    The rent is £18K per annum exclusive, rates payable £2.6K, insurance usually could be 2K to 3K for normal people (but for me maybe will cost another "million" as you know! ), equipment still have some basic thing there like a car lift, air compressor and other hand tools. Mechanic wage between 20-35K per year each based on the internet search. Of course probably plus 20+% other add-ons, etc.etc. It just a normal garage doing things like oil change, small repairs, brake, tyre change, etc. No MOT. The previous owner runs it with a part-time partner help. Business is not good. He said only doing 50K turnover.

    That phone... deal with customers...okay, I'd think about it!

    9 minutes ago, Nick M.K. said:

    Small garage is good. 

    After your last post about paying your first repair bill last month and thinking of a garage business I was worried you might start by taking over a BIG garage or a chain. 

    Best of luck! You will need lots of it mate! 

    Thank you Nick. 

  3. Posted

    1 minute ago, MrV said:

    "The problem is that I am not a mechanic" isn't that a prerequisite for opening a garage? What's your plan Lucas to employ mechanics? Have you employed people before?

    Just out of interest what business we're you in before? Property? 

    Thank you MrV. Yes, I have to hire one or two mechanics. Yes, I employed people before.

  4. Posted · Edited by Lucas

    A couple of days ago, I was thinking to run a garage. Now I found one. Small, just 800 sqft ground floor, 400 sqft mezzanine with a small office, 500 sqft front yard. An old gentleman ran it for 20+ some years and retired now. I am going to take over it. The problem is that I am not a mechanic. Will this place too small? What is the maximum capacity do you think it can do? Any input appreciated. 

    By the way, if you are a mechanic or you know a mechanic who interested in running a small garage, maybe we can talk.

  8. Posted · Edited by Lucas

    Do we have a car dealer association? If yes, we probably can do something with this.  For example, in the USA, the car dealer association even makes the law prohibited manufacturers sale car. All cars must be sold by the car dealer! This is the power of the industry association.

    If we could have an association, so we can challenge some company like BCA, AT, etc. Regarding in price, terms, etc. We can make the best deal for our car dealer member.

  15. Posted · Edited by Lucas

    4 minutes ago, NOACROSS said:

    So you've paid a million quid for (limited) trade insurance, but it doesn't include personal use, so you've also got a personal policy?

    Ouch!

    Congrats on manual test- I'm not sure I'd pass my test now after 30 years of bad habits.

    Yes! Because the motor trade insurance company said if the policy covers my personal car, that will make me only can stock 4 trade cars. So, I decided to keep my personal insurance policy. :(

    Thanks.

  16. Posted

    12 minutes ago, justlooking said:

    great news Lucas, well done, time to change those illegal brake pads on the XF?

    what is your main Full time job?

    Thank you, Justlooking. Will do soon, I currently out of town. I am so embracing to answer that the motor trader is my fulltime job now even too busy (too lazy) to change the brake pads yet! :D

  17. Posted · Edited by Lucas

    Unbelievable! I told my personal car insurance company Admiral that I got manual license yesterday. Then they increase £110 on my yearly premium. I ask why? They answer no reason, the lady said just their system shows that I have to pay more for updating my auto license to manual. Interesting!

    Glad that my motor trader insurance premium not change!

  21. Posted · Edited by Lucas

    26 minutes ago, Mark101 said:

    Lucas - out of interest, what was your job before you started trading cars?

    I can't understand how you've got yourself in to this mess.  I would put as much of your money in a bank and completely rethink your strategy before you lose everything.  Get a job to cover your living expenses and spend your spare time listing everything you need to do before you jump.

    I think you're a friendly chap, perhaps a little too nice and if you're not careful it won't be long before someone takes advantage of your niavity.

    Surely, the very first thing you would need is a driving licence to cover the cars you are selling.

    All said with the best intentions, to help you.

    Thank you Mark. You are a good man. You always kind and give the great advices. Thank you very much! I will be careful. 

    8 minutes ago, David Horgan said:

    So you didn't take a manual test even though you can drive manual gears .

    What a plonker you are Lucas 

     

    Yes. Because I was not planning to drive manual car in my daily life. But I have to get one now as a trader. Thanks for your comments.

  23. Posted · Edited by Lucas

    16 minutes ago, whitestone679231 said:

    I just discovered that my driver license only allows driving the automatic car today! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    How the FCUK do you just discover something like this???

    Can you remember taking a test??

    How do you expect to just hire a car when you don't have a license for it?

    I was using the foreign driver license before. That allowed me to drive and rent both auto and manual. But, now I have to use the UK license as a trader. That's why I just realized I need to do manual test. Thanks.

  25. Posted

    10 minutes ago, David Horgan said:

    The driving examiner would ask you to sign to say he is covered to be in the car when conducting a test , I wouldn't think renta car insurance would cover that if its in someone elses name on the rent agreement .

    So have you got insurance cover  that would make you legal to drive a rent car , a manual car, and take a test in it . If not the examiner would void the test .

    What you need is a driving school car really as they have the insurance for the test . 

    If you have insurance cover now it wont cover manuals . Does your cover also include learner drivers ? 

    Small cheapie car , A friend over 21 and insurance for a test seems to be a solution if you cant find a school car .

     

    Thank you very much! This save me. I was just thinking to rent a car on my own name with normal insurance cover. Then hire a temporary driver to delivery the car to the test centre. The driver won't sit in  the car during the test. But, it looks like I'd better to find a driving school car instead. Thanks.