grant8064

Had a terrible start to Jan with nothing but issues with sold cars but finally turning the corner. Helps that we've done one yesterday and one today...both 5k hatches on finance with another in the pipeline!

Stocked up in November/December knowing January would be mental as usual. Running a bit low on stock but refuse to pay much above book money...come March/April any of those above book money purchases will look silly expensive if they're still on a forecourt.

Well that was a long day of abuse taking and threats! Turns out its blown the turbo...hence the EML. I'm no mechanic but surely the car should have given some warning it was gonna go with a lack of power or noise or something? I'd done loads of test drives in it and not once had it skipped a beat but try explaining to the buyer that we're not really dodgy car salesmen and genuinely wouldn't have sold it if we had known... One new turbo ordered, i'll collect it from his home on Friday and all being well it'll be back by Monday in fine fettle. All for £1995

Hope we get to keep it. Got a call off the guy we took it in from and the A class he bought has apparently flashed up an EML on the way home...typically didn't do it on the four test drives i've been on in it!

Not worth the hassle in my opinion. If they want to sell it and it's the right money i'll buy it direct and retail it myself. Whatever the law says if the car is a wrong-un I know i'll be footing any bills and it's my reputation on the line so I want the same margin in the car as I would from something from the block. If they're happy to take trade money for it then it's simpler to just buy it outright and save the daily phonecalls from the owner asking how it's doing. If they don't want trade money then they need to be selling it themselves privately and taking all the risks and time associated with that.

Been back since the 27th. Quiet first few days but done two Hyundai diesels and an old A class diesel...and they say diesels are dead! Taken in a oh so nice old Fabia auto in chop and bought a couple off walk ins...starting to enjoy car sales again after Decembers boredom

Conversely to most of you guys we seem to do better with value basic ish spec 60 plate and newer Astra & Focus estates but I think that's because, locally, it's only the older generation buying estates. Younger punters and families are much more into suv type stuff and hatches.

Been back in since the 28th....why i'm not sure. Seen a few messers but nothing sold

Happy Christmas all...make the most of it before we do it all again next year!

I love how cheap those seat belts and clasps look...think Maranello have been nicking bits of the Panda production line!

It's oh so quiet. Had a couple of stellar phone enquiries though: Any 7 seat diesels in? Yep. Must be auto though? Yep. LHD too? Whhhaaaattttt? Or do I fancy driving a £600 part ex auto 80 miles for a test drive in central London? He did try to sweeten the deal with a Proton in part ex against the part ex

Either that or he was just a total dud. We shall see because it's still going to be £2295

Strange isn't it how different sites and different approaches work out...at least we're not fighting over the same stock this way! i'll leave all the candy green Adams with heated leather to you

To stick to what the people want. All the Vauxhall/Ford five door, sensible mileage, sensible colour, sensible spec, sensible engine stuff has sold, been bought again, sold again and so on. The yellow DS3, weird spec Volvos, and zero tax 1.2 eco diesel stuff is still sitting on the gravel.

Struggled massively with a 60 plate 30k FSH one. Took 6 months to sell despite being the cheapest 60 plate under 50k in the country. Took a crap finance deal on it with a massive reduction just so I didn't have to look at it anymore. Customer doesn't seem to particularly like it either...hasn't had a wash in months. Thought the car would suit a scummy mummy but crap seats to get kids in and out of kills the school run car aspect massively. We then thought old people might like it being a 'sensible' estate mini but it was always too low. If you find the right target punter for yours let me know the demographic! (nice spec and black can't hurt it's chances...be interested how you get on) One appointment turned up today. 07 Hyundai, 30k, FSH, new cambelt, electric everything, minter than a grade A 65 reg...(whilst it's an 07 Hyundai it really is a lovely, proper car) £2295 Guy travels hours to see it...agrees it is mint, everything does work, the history is lovely, it does have brand new tyres and cambelt, the spare is new and unused and it does drive like a 30k car should. ...needs to go see two others first though before deciding over the xmas period

Done two yesterday but it's been dead otherwise...broken even for the month though so that's all that matters. Been buying a fair few which has been good...fair few people in need of a bit of xmas money!

My personal car (Saab 900) is on 205,000 now. Never really get any super high mileage stuff in chop but i'm looking forward to seeing what some of you have taken in

People stocking up for December/Jan maybe? Having a December to forget so far. Four sold and all four have developed faults that weren't present before handover. Makes you love cars this job!

Had a cracking November but dead so far for December...as expected. One retail cheap Polo TDi Cat C. Taking the opportunity to stock up for the new year.

We've sold a few and they've always gone pretty quickly regardless of badge or colour...not tried a yellow one yet and not keen to either. One thing I never get is why people buy them? I know they're economical and cheap on tax but they have to be my least favourite thing to stock...horrid little things. Even moving them around the forecourt is a task I dread. Cheap i10 or Picanto for me any day of the week!

Sounds like some of you are not having the best of months...hopefully it'll pick up for you! October was a poor one for us but this month is going well for sales. Got a Range sold that I expect will be an issue (one of those kind of customers) but otherwise all good.

Agreed...it's been hammering down all day and i've struggled to keep up with the walk ons. Tomorrow it'll probably be blazing sunshine and i'll see no one!

Two more yesterday; cheap 06 Panda and a 63 Bmax Turning into a good month given the weather...makes up for a slow October

Two today, a nice 05 Volvo Saloon we pulled decent money out of after buying privately and a RR Sport with all the toys that sold within 5 days. Think we're on 6 for the month which is decent given how dead everyone seems to be round our way

We only stock 3 year or older vehicles but do price check against Autotrader. Usually we try and be amongst the cheapest within a 30 mile radius but that excludes the car supermarkets who are unbeatable on price usually. Part of our reasoning with customers for this is that we offer genuine service from two friendly local guys rather than commission based selling by a 'sales exec ' in a warehouse who tries too hard to sell you GAP, paint protection etc. Have a problem with your car in a week and YES we will help sort it out...will he whilst he's out chasing sales? I also remind them that sometimes those CRAZILY cheap cars don't actually exist...you drive all that way for that 62 plate low mileage Astra to be told it just sold when you arrive but they have a similar one in but it's 'a little bit more money'. Cheapest isn't always best and when you're making a big purchase I think most people would rather pay for decent service. As for values...we use Glass's just because it's there. Always buy below book unless it's a decent bit of stock or we think it books wrong and then just pay what we think it is worth.