Wheelerdealer1 91 Posted August 28, 2014 Just being a bit nosy really, my own background is IT, I did my degree in computing, I've then been teaching the same for the last 7-8 years, but I've moved into a position to get my self into the trade due to my passion for cars I was initially working my day Job mon-fri then on sat and sun was working for a big car dealer in my area I was doing the weekends mainly to stay around cars, I didn't really need that income, and I enjoyed every second of it, getting behind the wheel of most new cars, sports and prestige etc, great times ! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
c_cars 56 Posted August 28, 2014 Started washing cars at the age of 16 at a local used site while doing A Levels in college, got more and more interested in what was going on and then became an apprentice salesman on weekends. From there I skipped my plan of university and came straight into the trade, never to leave since.. Have pretty much always sold used, including at a main dealer and had a stint of self employed trading but went back to a full time sales manager job about a year ago. Don't think Id ever want to do anything else now to be honest! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
James Baggott 227 Posted August 28, 2014 Great idea for a Forum topic! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
countryman 13 Posted August 28, 2014 Ha Ha - that's a funny one ... I was an Estate Agent up until the property market crashed in 1989 - I never know whether I moved up or down the social scale! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tom 164 Posted August 28, 2014 A Farmer! Went to agricultural college as well, but moved to the motor trade because I love cars too much! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wheelerdealer1 91 Posted August 29, 2014 Ha ha that's great ! Well it's nice to see we came into the business with a passion, it was scary a few years back packing in the FT job with a decent wage but all in all I wouldn't have it any other way. Can't wait to hear the stories from other members Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CJ Underhill 34 Posted September 1, 2014 I think i was always going to end up in the Motor trade Growing up as the son of a master tech, whos owned his own garage for 20+ years, i dont think i really had much choice. I was always into cars and engines since i can remember. Once i left school i went to work for a independant inspection company, where i started my training to be a vehicle inspector, doing de fleets, ex rental and auction cars. I gained a good knowledge of the auction trade working at and for auction sites. I got made redundant just as the credit crunch hit, very much last in.. first out. Took a job sweeping floors, washing cars and parts collecting/delivery for a garage, while i was looking for another job. A salesman left and i temp filled in to cover.. realised i was pretty good and enjoyed it. 4 years later im now the sales manager. Pot luck i guess 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wheelerdealer1 91 Posted September 1, 2014 Thanks for taking the time to post it CJ, it's funny how petrol is in the genes sometimes and is actually passed on sometimes, I too have my elder relatives to thank, all petrolheads either in the trade or just plain enthusiasts Moral of your story CJ , hard works pays and never give up Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CJ Underhill 34 Posted September 2, 2014 You couldn't be more correct Wheelerdealer. The strange thing was, once i left school i really wanted to get into vehicle sales. I'd spent most of my youth reading about cars, learning facts and figures etc, but nowhere would employ me for "lack of experience". I must of applied to every sales centre in the county. So i actually gave up trying and took the job elsewhere. Its also strange how the weird choice of A levels i took. I picked random subjects that appealed, where most people were taking the courses needed to get onto a uni course, and nobody could understand why i'd picked them. Again, turns out i use and rely on most of them in the job today. Media, Law & Politics, Philosophy, Business, Economics & Accounting Funny how things have a way of working themselves out 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gavin@Rousdon 137 Posted September 2, 2014 I was more born into it then being driven by a great love of cars. My Dad ran his business from a workshop at our home, he got me a pair of overalls when I was about 5 years old and within 5 mins I had fallen down the pit, the warning signs were there already that I wasn't cut out to be a mechanic !! Despite cars being all around me since birth I was more interested in school forming a love of 'Maths', basicly I was good and quick with numbers (but did enjoy getting taken to the RAC rally each year!!!). Then I must of been about 9 years old and Dad for some reason took me to a salvage auction (I don't Health and Safety would allow 9 years olds there now). It was here I was introduced to a small book called 'Glass's Guide' which was like number porn to me !! I was taught how to price up repairs, paint etc on the damaged cars, work out what it could be sold for etc etc From then on I would beg to be taken and I was fairly good at getting my prices right, cars and damage were more straight forward back then, no airbags etc etc. From repairing salvage he moved onto selling a few non damaged car so its was off to ADT Auctions (Now BCA), same result, Glass's Guides and me working out figures, prices etc and getting in fairly near to the sale price. So with this love of auctions and buying cars I knew there was only one job for me.......I wanted to be an accountant !!! I never made it as an accountant, my Dad bought a garage/petrol station in Devon when I was 16, I gave up days at school to help him run it, getting paid £30 a week for 60 hours work!! He then tried to teach me to be a mechanic ignoring all the warning signs over my 17 years that it wasn't for me. I was left handed for a start so did everything 'the wrong way round'. To call it a disaster would be an understatement. I ended up in Australia and New Zealand just to get away from him !!!! The only good thing was that I sold a few cars off the forecourt and learnt how to run a business. Once I returned to England I got a job for a Hyundai dealership then a big used car dealer in Bournemouth which gave me the best education in selling cars I could. Time moved on and I rented the forecourt at Dad's garage and started my own business then a year later took the workshop off him. That was 11 years ago and I've not looked back. For me its the buying and running a business rather then cars and the selling!!! Still think I would have been a good accountant !!!! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wheelerdealer1 91 Posted September 4, 2014 Thanks for posting Gavin, I love working on the oily bits but I couldn't do it for a living, I'm to slow for starters! My MG midget is now on its third year off road ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
James Baggott 227 Posted September 5, 2014 Great story Gavin. Know the feeling about moving to Oz... I just never got on the plane! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wheelerdealer1 91 Posted September 6, 2014 What's the deal with car prices out there in OZ, is it a tax thing that pushes the prices up so high? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gavin@Rousdon 137 Posted September 6, 2014 No idea why prices were so high out there, I drove an Ice Cream van (got sacked!!) Cleaned Lamp Posts (best job in the world!!) and did building (broke my foot!!). I do remember seen an Nissan Almera (Pulsar) SALOON on a forecourt about 3-4 years old and worked out it was something like £10k in English money!! I'm sure you could buy one new over here for the same money!! This is back in 2000 and there seemed to be lots of old cars out there (driven badly). Same with New Zealand when I went back about 3 years ago, old stuff we trade for £300 makes about £1500 over there. Saying that, look at the prices in Spain and they are the same for old used cars. I'm guessing we are a car buying nation so that drives 2nd hand values down a bit. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeteRoll80 3 Posted September 11, 2014 Hey I'm Pete, I'm new here... Before I started to be a Manufacturer I learned mechatronics in a german fork-lift company (my Dad is german and has international business). But I wanted to go back to London and make my hobby to profession... to handle with vehicle never gets boring for me! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wheelerdealer1 91 Posted September 11, 2014 It's the same in the USA Gavin, run of the mill stuff is priced sky high, and the traders get much better margins out there to boot Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wheelerdealer1 91 Posted September 11, 2014 Pete that's fascinating, what sort of cars do you produce ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeteRoll80 3 Posted September 12, 2014 Hey Wheelerdealer1, we are producing the MINI for BMW Group. I'm in the factory at MINI Plant Oxford Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wheelerdealer1 91 Posted September 12, 2014 That's sounds great, so any chance of a factory tour 😜 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
metcars 397 Posted September 14, 2014 I worked as a compositor in the printing industry until Rupert Murdoch'new technology' put an end to it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeteRoll80 3 Posted September 15, 2014 That's sounds great, so any chance of a factory tour If my boss agrees Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wheelerdealer1 91 Posted September 15, 2014 I thought you were the boss man Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeteRoll80 3 Posted September 15, 2014 I wish it were so just simply manufacturing what cars are you dealing? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wheelerdealer1 91 Posted September 15, 2014 Just run of the mill stuff but ultimately I would like to deal in classic cars only, that's where my real passion is these days, we can all dream ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
