metcars

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Posts posted by metcars

  2. Posted

    14 hours ago, BHM said:

    You have a point for those in the nearly-new market, however there are more than enough punters who, thankfully, want absolutely f.a. to do with remote buying of secondhand cars. Tbh I don’t blame them - I couldn’t, and wouldn’t, recommend it & even those who are happy with the concept need to see the merchandise assuming they aren’t buying the same car as they already have.

    Covid19 may have accelerated digital buying techniques by years but I think it’ll be a cold day in hell before we see remote buying of secondhand vehicles overtaking traditional methods.

    These guys have managed to convince buyers that their ‘nearly new’ car will be as new perfect. It’s all about the ease of delivery, and specification. Ordered out of a catalogue, like a new car. No mention of ‘oily bits’ or mechanical condition reports.  Send it back if you don’t like the smell of it; like buying a candle off amazon.

    So, what could go wrong?

  3. Posted

    On 3/31/2021 at 12:42 PM, SC Derby said:

    Tech company 

    man on bicycle delivers you food

     

    whats techy about that 

    Man delivers ‘most’ of your order! 

    The weak link in their high tech chain is the human element. The idiot that forgot to put the fries in the bag! 

  6. Posted

    4 minutes ago, Halfpenny said:

    It seems that a lot of security features - locking wheelnuts, immobilisers and coding electronics to VIN etc. only cause problems for the law abiding. The lowlifes have no problems getting around them.

    True, a bit like online banking security protocols. With all the hurdles I have to jump to check my paypal account it certainly doesn’t stop ‘chloe’ from Paris spending £2500 on a jet ski!

    • Like 1

  7. Posted

    Bidding online has opened my mind to bidding at branches I wouldn’t normally bother with. Prices can be ‘interesting’ even after ‘weighing in’ increased transport costs. I would normally always attend on the sale day to inspect everything. My due diligence. But fortune favours the brave and if bca/manheim do restart physical auctions I will still continue the odd ‘off piste’ rogue bid somewhere distant? 

    • Like 1

  9. Posted

    On 3/23/2021 at 9:14 PM, Mercftw said:

    Have got loads of these of dealers, just go into parts and ask for a replacement, if you have the current one now and it’s damaged take that in as it usually has a letter to inform the dealer I.e. D, F,G printed on the inside 

    Yeah, I have the original key (broken) and the Julian number. But it still had to be ordered from Germany. None available on the shelf. The issue is a gorilla with an air gun overtightening everything! 

  14. Posted

    On 3/19/2021 at 10:38 AM, petrol head said:

    Did a poll on another, non automotive forum, cross section of social demographics, 82% would not buy a used car without test driving or viewing it. Seems pretty conclusive to me................

    ....... even if ‘Rylan Clark-Neal’ tips up with it in the front garden to narrate the process? :D

  16. Posted

    3 hours ago, trade vet said:

    Just received an invoice from BCA for a 14 grand car ( not mine ) ,£829 buyers fees plus £57 Assured fee....I think that should be classed as Extortion !

    Coincidence.

    I’m currently going through some old paperwork. I have a purchase receipt from manheim. In 03/2006 I bought a ‘01 Picasso. Balance due £3232. That’s £3100  at the hammer, buyers fee £80, delivery (60 miles) £41, £21 vat.

    £80 buyers fee! Those were the days!

    • Like 1

  18. Posted

    1 minute ago, MJG50 said:

    Exactly! In some cases, it appears as though a specialist is just someone who sells the same type of car! That said, I appreciate some specialists are former main dealer sales staff and workshop staff so to be fair in their cases they probably know how to sort out any issues that arise.

    Well, anyone can buy a jaguar anorak off eBay? A specialist mechanic/workshop is one thing, but a specialist in sales? Anyone can say that? 

  19. Posted

    2 hours ago, MJG50 said:

    Yes, my gut instinct is that it's a wrong 'un but the older get, I seem to think that about nearly all auction cars are unless they are ex-lease!! In the end, it made more than I wanted to pay anyway! Jags are hardwork to buy now as there are quite a few specialists about that seem to be able to command top retail money for them.

    Anyone can call themselves a specialist these days?

  20. Posted

    8 hours ago, MJG50 said:

    Many thanks for the info, much appreciated. I didn't even realise that main dealers used stocking loans on their PXs until today - it does make sense as a lot of lumpy PXs can add up to a lot of tied-up funds.

    I agree with Tony F that I originally thought a big dealer group wouldn't need to use stocking loans. I thought they were mainly used by those fairly new to the trade who want to kick start a 20 car+ business. When I had a pitch in the 90s, I don't think stocking loans existed - as far as I'm aware, BCA and Manheim have only been offering them for the last few years.

    I was a bit shocked at first to find an auction car on a stocking loan as up until today. I'd only ever expect a stocking loan to come up on a retail car advertised at a dealer.

    Going back to the car, it's a Grade 2 low mileage 2014 Jag worth about £10k so I'd have thought it would fit the stock profile of the vendor (Pendragon who own Stratstone Jag) It has a small scratch on a door but otherwise looks pretty much ready to retail. I noticed that all the revolving air vents are closed in all the auction photos which is pretty odd as normally they open by default when the ignition is on. I'd imagine they work ok though as normally if there's a problem, it's more likely that one doesn't work rather than all 4. The Assured report is all clean, admittedly that doesn't mean there aren't possible niggles.

    The other thing I do (which probably sounds paranoid!) is to check when the tax expired on all auction cars. While I appreciate that there can be delays, I tend to find most cars go from the part ex yard to the auction remarkably quickly - most cars lotted up in auction were last taxed about 10 days ago. This Jag has never had a private plate and it was last taxed 31st Jan and it was appraised by BCA on 26th Feb so my paranoia wonders if the car was intended for the forecourt, then a fault was found and it was decided to put it in the auction.

    In the past, I've a Googled a few BCA main dealer PXs and I see that the main dealer has tried to retail them and then after 30 days or so put them in the auction. I quite like these as I tend to think if the dealer was retailing it, in theory there shouldn't be any major faults. As far as I can tell, the main dealer has never tried to retail the one I'm interested in. What I find quite bizarre is that a lot of overage stock cars are snapped up by independent dealers at auction and advertised at a higher price than the main dealer failed to sell it for! Quite often, they sell them fast though - you'd think people would rather buy from a main dealer for the manufacturer backed warranty.

    Anyway thanks again, I'll be interested to see what that Jag makes tomorrow. I probably over-research them too much. The last few I've seen have made way over clean and they were all UK Car Group cars which I normally tend to avoid.

    Since the closure of physical auctions I feel the need to do as much research as I can on any prospective purchases. You might call it ‘paranoia’ and ‘over researching’, I say due diligence? And why not? We need all the help we can get?

  21. Posted · Edited by metcars

    6 hours ago, BHM said:

    .....It’s my opinion that there is a lot of self promotion in the legal expertise field by way of scaremongering & promoting confusion. 

    .....creating confusion, mixed messages and ambiguity does seem to trickle down from the top these days?

  22. Posted · Edited by metcars

    19 hours ago, petrol head said:

    Could you kindly post a link to the BBC documentary. 

    It’s on YouTube I think. The problem is that ‘experts’ are paid to give opinions? But for more accuracy try his official autobiography by ‘jabby’ Crombac. 

  23. Posted

    15 hours ago, It's me said:

    thinking of trading in these

    Getting some waggons delivering them to your door 

    You will have 10 days to reject

    I'm expecting a 20 mill loss in the first year but no probs 

    I'm looking for a full listing on the London stock market in 18 months

    I reckon I  might clear 1.5 bill for myself 

    Anyone in ?

    I see James is on the ball

     

     

    I can see ‘stocking’ issues?

  24. Posted

    On 2/18/2021 at 12:41 PM, trade vet said:

    I don’t think you can blame Mrs T.It was a Labour government who believed that De Lorean had 30000 orders for his car before the factory was even built.As for Colin Chapman he appears to have died in mysterious circumstances after millions of the De Lorean Motor Co’s money paid to Lotus was traced by the FBI.Chapman and De Lorean both brilliant engineers but it appears like a partnership made in hell.

    BTW just been watching Brightwells on line classic auction and although I know little,future classics like SL ‘s appear to be very good value but the bidding has not finished.

     

    Chapman pulled a lot of strokes to keep his baby alive, even since the beginning in the ‘50s. Learching from one financial disaster to the next. And as recent history has shown, many other manufacturers have too (I’m looking at you VW!) and after all “let those without sin cast the first stone?”

  25. Posted

    23 hours ago, trade vet said:

    Was Chapman not dead dodgy.Did him and De Lorean not siphon off millions of government money to Switzerland instead of using it to build Deloreans in Belfast.As I recall even Lotus Cortinas were shite back then.My idea of a good car is based on profit.I remember being given advice as a 15 year old when working on a pitch ‘ we are only here to sell them son,not effing fall in love with them ‘, advice I have followed to this day.

    Well, wasnt chapman a lifelong Tory donor and when he asked for help/subsidy to build huge factory in Norfolk got fucked over by thatcher for ‘charming’ delorean instead?

    not surprised chapman got his slice of the cake in the end. Was he dodgy, maybe? But you dont become a self made millionaire before you’re 40 without upsetting people.