metcars

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Posts posted by metcars

  4. Posted

    There are a few car radio forums where they'll get you a code if you grovel hard enough. There are also a few pieces of software knocking about on the internet (not as much as there used to be). Google is your friend;)

  7. Posted

    9 hours ago, tradex said:

    No help on the finance side of things but MINI's are known for failing header tanks and failed oil coolers....both which can give symptoms like a blown head gasket.

    Halfords, got a feeling they are an approved site for Centurion Warranties?

    Halfords - "centre of excellence":D

  8. Posted

    1 hour ago, Mikey said:

    Rory does it have the Bose upgraded amp and speakers?

    I've known the issue to be with the amp fuse blowing in the past, so might be a cheap fix?

    Oh forgot to say it's worth checking all your fuses.

    If it does have Bose it doesn't work off the radio fuse, I think it's off the interior or dimmer fuse. check them all, all under the bonnet and at the drivers side kick panel, as if memory serves me right that's where the interior fuses are.

    These fuses are particularly liable to blow when teenagers are in the car!:D

  9. Posted

    35 minutes ago, audispecialistlondon said:

    It seems unbelievable that they would bother to go to all that length when there is surely one parked unsecured somewhere on someones driveway? Without CCTV or gates? 

    We've had a similar issue in the past and have dropped bollards in the floor all over the site to make it particularly hard work to get a car out overnight.

    I dont understand why they would steal from a dealership. Surely this is so much riskier than stealing from a private individual?

    Depends what they are going to do with it, the fact that you're a dealer is irrelevant, you just happened to have the car they wanted. Bare in mind a 'pro' gang could have your car stripped to parts in a few hours, in which case the tracker is irrelevant.

  10. Posted

    1 hour ago, Rory RSC said:

    Sorry to hear that, we have had a Focus stolen along with a few thefts and acts of vandalism and it is gutting.

    I think it would be best to put the cars in and indoor unit and if they are outside make sure they are blocked in by other cars. 

    Maybe some of those metal bollards that would prevent them getting the car out.

    Ultimately if someone is tooled up with a generator and an angle grinder and they want it enough they will always find a way you can just make it as difficult as possible so they go somewhere else.

    I agree, at the end of the day, if the 'really' want it and have the equipment you don't stand a chance. But, time is their enemy, and anything you can do to slow them down will hinder them. Guys like these are 'experts', they will steal to order. They will probably have been watching your place for days/weeks as having the least security of the cars on their list.

  11. Posted

    21 minutes ago, sparky said:

    Do you think so Rory? I think that most years and yet we get to March and prices are still strong, I can't see things being any different this year, far from it in fact.

    Like above, my most profitable cars are ones that need some recon that take the big boys out of the game. Cars that require paintwork obviously and then those cars you know inside out that have an EML on for example which you feel is nothing  to worry about. This is when BCA comes into it's own IMO putting plenty off with their flashing orange reports, keep flashing I say!

    Especially now you can check MOT history that shows EML has been on for two years?:D

  15. Posted

    The last estate I sold (Focus), was to a self employed painter. I asked why he didn't buy a van, his answer was that, where he lived, vans were regularly being broken into and that with an estate, you could see what 'wasn't' in there? But I suspect "grant8064" has hit the metaphorical nail on the head with younger buyers preferring MPV's and SUV's to conventional estate cars. Whereas the old guard will have to be dragged out of their Volvo/Merc/BMW estates.

  16. Posted

    18 minutes ago, Ocsltd said:

    Yeah completely agree. I have sewn the seed, as when I sold it to him, it was a "1 lady owner from new car". So I told him it has lost some of that appeal. Also, I need to over come the fact that the last owner hasn't had the car long, which could some may be suspicious about. 

    My problem is I always feel obliged to try and help them out a bit.... He's also a really decent and genuine chap, he's local, so want to try and keep him sweet, without stitching myself up in the process.

    Yeah, I understand that. But it will be easier if you can thrash out a realistic price 'and' a timescale that suits both of you;)

  17. Posted · Edited by metcars

    6 minutes ago, Ocsltd said:

    Yeah fair comment, think I'll go back to him and ask what figure he wants and go for from there. Although, from experience he will probably just say, as much as possible...! :rolleyes:

    But, the car now has another owner and more miles and is another year older (2017)? So its not going to make its original selling price. If he wants top money, "you" will have to work hard to get it. I appreciate you don't want to beat him up but business is business

  18. Posted

    4 minutes ago, Ocsltd said:

    It's a really low mileage 55 plate Toyora Celica, Full Toyota History. 

    We replaced the water pump under warranty, so I'm confident in the car mechanically, and think it will sell well. But I suspect he's happy to wait to get the right money for it. 

    It's trying to work out which is the best option, to be fair to him, but also make it worth my while....

    Look at it this way, he has your expertise in preparing the car, advertising, dealing with customers, test drives, paperwork and all he has to do is wait for the cheque. The thing is, is he 'really' expecting you to effectively give him his money back? But it sounds like 'he' has to decide how much he wants for it?

  21. Posted

    5 hours ago, M.J said:

    I've got one that is now close to a month! Paid in full and started off as ''i'll collect next week'' then Christmas was approaching so they said can they collect just after Christmas, then just after the new year. I'll be on the phone to them 9am on the 3rd to collect their vehicle!

    I suppose after a month, its not a case of him just being late collecting his car but that he's parked illegally?:D

  22. Posted

    On 30/12/2016 at 0:15 PM, tradex said:

    I think we all end up with a serial test driving Frank at some time or another, I look at these guys as probably lonely types who really just want a chat...sorta care in the community.

    I did have one serial test driver, used to pop in when ever i had a Focus on site...which was every week. Anyway he turns up and I'm not in the best of moods having just scratched an S Class wing on the entry door to the valeting area, and tell him not today aint got time for messers..bit rude to be honest but.... He takes great hurt at this and promises if the car car drives fine (why wouldn't it) he will be taking it home at the end of the day. So we test drove a peachy TD estate Focus he likes it, gets the wallet out and then professed surprise that he had no cash deposit....ffs!

    So i say come back later today and leave deposit....of course he doesn't, car sells next day.

    5 days later my Frank comes back to buy that Focus again and gets the right hump cos its sold....snooze 'n loose i tell him....he says have you got any other low mileage one owner Ford full history TD focii Ghia fully loaded even having wind and skin, summer & winters packs, in straight red, with personnal reg' and is painfully puzzled when i say no and dont hold ya breath waiting for one.

     

    How do people like this dress themselves in the morning.

    He probably thinks, like a supermarket, there's more than one of each on 'the shelf!'.:D ie you buy five or six the same?

  23. Posted

    1 hour ago, Tom said:

    I've had a car sat for 2 weeks or more before they collected it but it was agreed at the time of sale. Just tell them the car needs moving asap. 

    I wouldn't have minded if it was agreed beforehand, I would have told them to move it somewhere else. Originally it was "back tomorrow to pick up" but one day turned into two etc. I messaged them every day and every day was a different excuse. I must admit I was starting to think about getting a forklift. :D

    • Like 2

  25. Posted · Edited by metcars

    Just wondering what you guys have experienced as I've recently had a customer pay for a car in full and then not collect it for nearly a week? It started after doing the deal as, "we'll pick it up tomorrow", and that continued every day for nearly a week. Various excuses were offered, but as they had paid in full and they had the docs, keys the lot I couldn't even move the thing up the road. I think I'll have to take a tip from the auctions and apply storage fees after 3 days?.