metcars

I would be more annoyed with myself that I hadn't bothered to check the lights before the test?

Yes, same here

Watch out you'll catch the bug, I did exactly the same thing as you and ended up keeping one for 10yrs. It lasted longer than my last marriage. Drove everywhere in it, unstoppable. Tow anything. Fetch a washing machine back from Makro and still get five people in it. Fuel consumption gets tiring though

To which you reply "no, that's fine, I'm quite happy to pop over now while they are pdi'ing the car for you, be there in 10mins". Don't forget the idea is not to go to them but to 'encourage' them to come to you? Taking a car to a punter always puts you on the 'back foot' as far as negotiation is concerned

Tell them you will pop over and 'do the paperwork/collect payment' then have car delivered?

Another good one yesterday: Wheel trim missing

The old shoguns would run on anything but the mk3 are fragile in comparison. The pumps cant be rebuilt, they can go at any time. Its their achilees heel and will write off a car. Rear camber (bolts sieze and usually explains new cheapo tyres on the rear) and chain tensioner is an issue too. I love those old shoguns. Ive had a few over the years, still in the club! Lol

The injection pumps on those are a 'ticking time bomb'

I'm still trying to calculate the 'rough split' between my new and used sales? In the words of the greatest rock song every written, "the legend of the rent was way hardcore!"

You're never alone at the block, there's always internet bidders?

Sadly, as far as auctions are concerned, you are never alone with online bidders, real or imaginary? As a 'side note' has anyone else noticed how, as if driving in the snow wasn't challenging enough, trying to spot 'speed bumps' makes it a really exciting game?

I wouldn't bank on it!

Funny because I've seen a few vans getting cars started today. This cold weather could be their saviour

A pre-requisite for any independent inspector

I think a lot of guys are expecting it to 'die' at any moment so they can dance on its grave, but it's still hanging on in there. I think I remember reading about an expert from AT talking at the recent Scottish motor trade summit thing?

I understand that Brighton is full of 'youtubers', so any snow fall will be well documented online

I remember the big lever on the pump to change between 3-5 stars, no diesel at the pumps though. You'd have to go and queue up with the HGV's for that over the back.

I still see a lot of guys driving on trade plates where they have attempted to cover the actual number plates. In fact this morning I was following a 'newish' white golf with the plates 'removed from the car' and a trade plate in the back window?

I was hoping he'd recommend a video production company, possibly a start up business?

He's got to earn his money so there'll be at least £120 quids worth of findings? When they've successfully put the buyer off your car they'll recommend one of their own!

http://www.auction-plus.co.uk/

Exactly, and whether you like it or not 'punters' will now require an explanation if they see something like that in the MOT history; and probably quite rightly so. Perhaps MOT testers should just make their observations to the person that presents the car rather than jot them down as advisories as this gives them more gravitas? is UKCGR the BCA equivalent to Manheim 'auction plus'?

This. Because of how MOT guys can use advisories to make 'notes' on a car you have to thoroughly check MOT history, because any 'howlers' will leave a car sitting dead in the water as punters make their pre sales 'checks' through it. For example, last week I ran a check on a Scenic auto I fancied, and its last years MOT the tester noted "auto box not operating correctly"? Hmmm?

Some MOT guys treat advisories like 'notes'? Let's be grateful they don't have to test drive them?

OP, expect a chancer with a knackered old van to arrive 'when he likes' usually 10mins before you are going home, and spend about 2hours fucking around with it, then send an undisclosed list of imaginary faults to the prospective purchaser.