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Here is the story I promised a few days ago when we chatted about the cheap old p/x Micra... I have a very close friend and for many years I've supplied her cars, she went through a divorce years ago and gradually moved away from big gas guzzling BMWs to small cheap automatic Jap superminis. The Micra in question was owned since 2013, she did over 45K miles in it with little maintenance, it still drove well but had to go, looked a mess and needed some TLC or a replacement. She rang me a month ago to talk replacement and her boyfriend (of 6 years) must've overheard the call. She set me a budget of around £2-£2.5K and a deadline of 30 Sept "because the tax and insurance expire then"... We also agreed a p/x valuation for her Micra. Her boyfriend then called me secretly a few days later to say that he wanted to surprise her and that he would pay for a newer, better small automatic, up to £8.5K. My discretion, whatever I choose. I worked my magic and with a bit of auction luck got a white 2013 Polo 1.4 (not TSI!) auto, 20K miles for just under Cap Clean, price to them was £7500 including the old Micra in chop. I went all out on the prep including new branded tyres knowing her obsession over driving in the rain, Bluetooth for her phone, paintless dent repairs etc etc etc. And included free delivery to them in West London as her insurance would've lapsed for the p/x car during that weekend. I turned up early on Sunday morning 30 Sept with the Autoglymed Polo and as soon as she walked outside the house and saw me, my grin, the shiny white car and her boyfriend's even bigger grin she went ballistic, mainly towards the boyfriend! "This isn't a £2K car, I am a grown up, I can buy my own car, You know I hate surprises, Why are you going behind my back meddling in my deals with Nick, I told you I wanted something cheap, How much is this Polo, I'll pay for it myself, I am independent etc etc etc" Do you remember Will Smith in Hitch (2005) after his disaster date: "I saw that going differently, in my mind..." My thoughts, exactly. It was a surreal scene with me standing there on the street with my trade plates not sure if I am going back 30 miles in the Micra, the Polo that I had just spent 2 whole days prepping or a UBER... She gradually mellowed to the idea and took it for a spin, after much discussion in the house (an hour at least) we decided that we'll tax the VW with DD, she'll have a longer drive in it and decide the next day what she wants to do. Needless to say I hadn't collected any money for the car yet and had an unpleasant Sunday fully anticipating my deal to be reversed and the overprepped Polo to hit the open market on Tuesday. Luckily for me I got the call by her boyfriend that she's seen sense and loves the VW and keeping it. "I'll transfer the money over to you as soon as I can mate, probably on WED". Got them yesterday pm (THU). This deal has the distinction of being my first deal where I got my part ex money with profit BEFORE I even got paid for the retail car as that Micra sold on AT within 90 minutes of being listed. So be careful with FREE NATIONWIDE DELIVERY where the car is bought as a surprise...