Ocsltd 133 Posted September 9, 2019 22 hours ago, MarkTVS said: selling cars in my younger days was a good way to meet new potential females, I started off with Corsas and small hatches in my earlier twenties and it was a great resource, made sure my customer service was always on point I am now getting married to a girl whom I sold her first car to That must have been one hell of a Corsa?! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stockedup! 63 Posted September 9, 2019 On 9/8/2019 at 9:44 AM, trade vet said: Yes, ‘ Living the dream ‘,be a car retailer. You must be kidding. There's worse ways to make a living TV...…. having said that there are better ways too LOL 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stockedup! 63 Posted September 11, 2019 On 9/7/2019 at 8:35 PM, Casper said: Often wish I did more mechanical training body repair training etc can do the basics but wish i had gained more qualifications , keep saying i might do some but too old now I often tell myself I should have 20 years ago and other days I tell myself i cant do everything myself anyway ..and lucky i have good contacts .. No you can't do everything but with labour rates getting higher it would be nice to be able to do a bit!! On 9/9/2019 at 11:40 AM, Ocsltd said: That must have been one hell of a Corsa?! I think the emphasis was on service LOL Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Casper 272 Posted September 11, 2019 1 hour ago, stockedup! said: No you can't do everything but with labour rates getting higher it would be nice to be able to do a bit!! I think the emphasis was on service LOL I'm able to do a lot of the prep and basics. But being able to do more in depth stuff would have be an advantage .. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark101 536 Posted September 11, 2019 The only thing I would do differently is to have started doing what I do much sooner. I have been fortunate to have seen rapid growth in the last 18 months (since starting again). Imagine where I would have been if I had restarted 10 years ago. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Casper 272 Posted September 11, 2019 (edited) 6 minutes ago, Mark101 said: The only thing I would do differently is to have started doing what I do much sooner. I have been fortunate to have seen rapid growth in the last 18 months (since starting again). Imagine where I would have been if I had restarted 10 years ago. I often ask the same question you mentioned about other dealerships you make a valid point . My only advice would be to anyone to not try to grow to big to soon I've seen that happen to a lot of good company's not only in the Motor Trade keep your good work up all the best . Edited September 11, 2019 by Casper Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SouthernTrader 20 Posted September 11, 2019 I would have kept my 1990 Miami Blue 205 1.9 Gti with 70k on the clock and countless MK2 Golf GTIs. I’d probably be retired by now if I had! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NOACROSS 414 Posted September 11, 2019 (edited) 7 minutes ago, SouthernTrader said: I would have kept my 1990 Miami Blue 205 1.9 Gti with 70k on the clock and countless MK2 Golf GTIs. I’d probably be retired by now if I had! Ha. Good one S.T! You're so right. When we moved house the other month, I quickly looked through some old photo albums (not sure Millenials will know what they are ;0) from when I was VW mad. Countless MK1 and 2 Gti's, Split and Bay Window campers (used to cut these up/break them for the front axels etc), Beetle's. As you say 205 Gti's -giving nothing for the 1.6 ones and not a lot for the 1.9's. In there were also pics of my parent's numerous Granada Ghia Coupes, Capris, early Audis and BMWs etc. Hindsight is wonderful thing.....TV, will have similar stories of even older cars :0) Edited September 11, 2019 by NOACROSS Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ocsltd 133 Posted September 11, 2019 22 minutes ago, SouthernTrader said: I would have kept my 1990 Miami Blue 205 1.9 Gti with 70k on the clock and countless MK2 Golf GTIs. I’d probably be retired by now if I had! Ha, you're not alone! I had a mint 93 K Reg 205 GTi 1.9 in white, 58k miles, perfect history, sold it for £2500, which was strong money for it back then......!! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stockedup! 63 Posted September 12, 2019 22 hours ago, SouthernTrader said: I would have kept my 1990 Miami Blue 205 1.9 Gti with 70k on the clock and countless MK2 Golf GTIs. I’d probably be retired by now if I had! Makes me shudder to think, RS 2000. Mexicos, Cossies, RS Turbos etc had loads of them.... for buttons 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark101 536 Posted September 12, 2019 11 minutes ago, stockedup! said: Makes me shudder to think, RS 2000. Mexicos, Cossies, RS Turbos etc had loads of them.... for buttons My first car MkII Escort cost me £290, that wouldn't buy a wing now. Never forget my Dad making me tell the insurance company that my 1.3 Popular model had a twin choke Webber carb and a K&N Filter. Insurance was £410 (in 1991). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
metcars 397 Posted September 12, 2019 45 minutes ago, stockedup! said: Makes me shudder to think, RS 2000. Mexicos, Cossies, RS Turbos etc had loads of them.... for buttons i enjoy looking at original spec classic cars. sadly a lot of early fords end up as rolling test beds for guys chasing horsepower at the expense of everything else. originality will always win the race! what would i have done different? starting in the 60s would have given me 20yrs of the golden age? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trade vet 702 Posted September 12, 2019 Met an interesting coach builder guy recently who owns several high value classic Mercs.It turned out he previously had an accident repair centre for many years.However it had grown to 40 staff with wall to wall agrovation and he got the opportunity to sell out.He is now doing better than ever after being asked to renovate one car.He has a workshop at home and with his son he now renovates top end classics like Ferrari’s for selected customers.He does not advertise and has 3 years work booked in. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Casper 272 Posted September 12, 2019 50 minutes ago, trade vet said: Met an interesting coach builder guy recently who owns several high value classic Mercs.It turned out he previously had an accident repair centre for many years.However it had grown to 40 staff with wall to wall agrovation and he got the opportunity to sell out.He is now doing better than ever after being asked to renovate one car.He has a workshop at home and with his son he now renovates top end classics like Ferrari’s for selected customers.He does not advertise and has 3 years work booked in. Had a mate do something similar sold his garage and car sales place due to ill health and getting older .. and bought a little cottage with some land and outbuildings and just trades from there now says no staffing issues etc is the best move he made Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stockedup! 63 Posted September 14, 2019 On 9/12/2019 at 10:14 AM, trade vet said: Met an interesting coach builder guy recently who owns several high value classic Mercs.It turned out he previously had an accident repair centre for many years.However it had grown to 40 staff with wall to wall agrovation and he got the opportunity to sell out.He is now doing better than ever after being asked to renovate one car.He has a workshop at home and with his son he now renovates top end classics like Ferrari’s for selected customers.He does not advertise and has 3 years work booked in. Well done to him for having the courage to change what he wasn't happy with, more people should do the same!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Casper 272 Posted September 14, 2019 2 hours ago, stockedup! said: Well done to him for having the courage to change what he wasn't happy with, more people should do the same!! Yes we had a similar discussion a while back that sometimes works not everything and family life is also important as well as your own mental and physical health . there is a local do it all multi skilled trademan around here . He's booked up solid to well over christmas I've had him booked him to a bathroom for a while he doesn't start till early December so guess it tells how good he is at his job .just like it says to me the classic car specialist is Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
