grant8064

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Posts posted by grant8064

  2. Posted

    Not worth the hassle for us, just inviting problems into your life. Unless you're a busy repairing garage people don't expect a courtesy car when they're buying used and if they do just reset their expectation level.

  8. Posted

    A couple of the small traders around our way specialise and buy privately.

    One only does 107/C1 & Aygos, the other's into small autos.

    Limits the buying opportunities but once you've had a dozen of the same make/model you soon get to know the pitfalls, common issues, rough recon costs for bits etc. Handy if you're only doing a few a month and starting out.

  9. Posted

    25 minutes ago, EPV said:

    I think the fear of someone returning a car to a finance company for no valid reason is misplaced. Yes, people reject cars and yes they involve the finance company. But lenders are only too aware of the CRA and don't just bend over when someone complains that a tyre has blown of a set of pads need replacing. If you're happy to sell a car and stand by it under the law (as I'm sure we all are) then selling it on finance doesn't make any difference.

    +1

    On the few occasions we take a car back it's only for good reason; cash or finance buyer it would make no difference to the decision. I've never experienced a finance company putting any pressure on me facing a complaint or rejection so long as it's dealt with properly.

    BIGNIT; FWIW we do 2K - 8K and find about 90% of the finance applications that get accepted are on 5K + stock. Under 4K we find little uptake or enquiry.

    (that said we do get plenty of enquiries for finance on £995 part ex's :rolleyes: ) 

  11. Posted

    2 hours ago, SC Derby said:

    Dent man £25 per car

    Ours is £25 a panel...location, location, location!

    (we're gonna really struggle to hit those AT price markers looking at what some of you boys pay for work)

    • Like 1

  12. Posted

    10 minutes ago, J.T said:

    I have two Ring chargers, had them both a few years and still going strong.

    For conditioner I use L'Oreal, because I'm worth it.

    Another vote for Ring units, had a couple of "Tradecharge27"s for 3 or 4 years and both are robust units, can't kill 'em. 

    I wish I had enough hair left to need conditioner.

    • Haha 1

  14. Posted

    6 minutes ago, metcars said:

    :lol:

    I can quite believe it! How many MOT's do they do in a week at £35?

    Maybe the same as somewhere charging £50 but smashing it on the discs and pads?

     

    ...or am I just being a cynic? 

    • Haha 1

  15. Posted

    3 minutes ago, metcars said:

    Agree about the MOT's. I know it's grim up norf but blimey, how many MOT's do you guys have to do a week to get them at £25?:lol:

    :P

    It's a different world in certain areas past London. I wouldn't ever choose to leave where i'm from but did look properly at a nice gravelled 40 car forecourt near where my missus is from, Peterborough area. Could've bought the freehold outright for the same as two years rent and rates on one of our current places. Absolutely crazy.

  16. Posted

    You won't find an indie around where we are doing MOTs for less than £40 and labour is £50/60 upwards + VAT. I don't really mind the hourly if it's to someone capable.

    It's all a bit meaningless IMO because living costs/operating costs vary so much around the UK, screen prices vary to a lesser degree but a £2995 Corsa in Birmingham can still be £3495 in the South East.

     

    • Like 1

  18. Posted

    15 hours ago, tradex said:

     FiAT haven't really handled Alfa that well truth be told, sales are a fraction of what they were. 

    The biggest shame is that the group are killing the JEEP brand, the real gem in that lot. 

    With the German stuff becoming so mass market they could have really made so much more of Alfa, despite the crap build you used to see loads of them on the roads, same with Cherokees. 

  21. Posted

    4 hours ago, awc1000 said:

    yep usual suspects, anyone want to list their favourite winners??

    Favourites for profit are just any retailable swapper.

    We're a forecourt so work very much to cater for the local demographic (otherwise we'd be inside an anonymous unit). Right colour DS3s, Merivas with the suicide doors and any small/med petrol auto do particularly well for us. DS3's and those Merivas are probably the kiss of death for most of you i'd imagine. 

  23. Posted · Edited by grant8064

    VAG TFSI are the only engines we avoid. The high oil burning Mazda/Ford stuff and nightmare 1.6 PSA engined Minis and 207s we stock but probably one in four causes grief...still profitable enough to stock. 

    Stock anything supermarkety really but not much German, not much 4x4 and very very little Prestige or sporty stuff if possible...more to avoid a certain demographic of punter than the cars themselves.

    Forgot to add we don't really do much diesel.

    • Like 1