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You can usually hear them running when they drive them through. That's about it.
I always get there early to have plenty of time to look around and decide on what, if anything I'm going to bid on.
I go to BCA at Blackbushe which is pretty big and full of traders. The trick is to go for unfashionable stuff which they don't want. You'll get a better car for the money that way.
Despite all the horror stories you might hear, I`ve never bought a bad car. None of them have needed more than minor servicing.
You can open the bonnet and have a nose around during viewing can't you ?
Offset "(Emp) - a little heavy on the hyperbole."
I bought my current car 3 years ago. It was then 7 years old and had done 60k miles. I paid £500 for it. It cost another £200 for servicing and brakes and it's been perfect ever since.
Vans are tricky. Especially if they are late models. Many have done a lot of miles. Traders will pay more for late model stuff with high miles than older stuff with low miles. A little windy windy on the clock and they'll sell it to you for another grand or 2!
I generally look for the slightly odd, unusual or generally unfashionable stuff that the traders don't want.
They are mostly locked but not always. The trick is to be there when they come to start it up or while it is queuing to go through. The drivers will usually open the bonnet so you can have a quick look.
I'm always driving past there but didn't realise they were a big name or anythng ? Are they well known in the trade then ?
Offset "(Emp) - a little heavy on the hyperbole."
Just somethig to keep in mind
In the other hand, aslong as you bide your time and keep your mind open as ti what you want you'll definately pick up a bargain.
Main thing to remember is not to piss off the regulars, or the main guy. If you catch his eye, or,if he looks at you, remember to wave, or nod your head.
You dont want to appear rude.
HTH.
Offset "(Emp) - a little heavy on the hyperbole."
Any van pre power steering is always an interesting drive, in the late eighties I used to drive one of the 1970s Magpie minibuses which was like a work out at the gym. I know people with 25 year old Talbots still going strong. Even, my ten year old tranny isn't as car like as the new ones - van drivers are just too soft these days!
i had an over-enthusiastic friend who bought a ton of body filler for £1k which was listed as a fiat x1/9.
take a torch & a screwdriver (for poking) & your life in your hands.
The fees are rather high though - e.g. - for hammer prices of £500-£999, the fee is £250+vat, £1000 to £1500 it's £300+vat, and then increments of £20 for each £500 in hammer price. So, for example, a van sells for £2900, the fee is £360 and vat is chargeable on the lot, so £2900+£360=£3260 + 20% (£652) = £3912. That's a big hike from the hammer price.
I made a note of a few of the selling prices; @Sambostar
2012 Sprinter 313 LWB, 91k miles, £8200
2013 Sprinter 313 MWB, 88k miles, £9700
2012 Sprinter 313 LWB, 101k miles, £7800
2011 VW T28 102PS, 121k, £7700
2011 Fiat Doblo 1.3, 42k, £4100
2008 Transit Connect T220, 127k, £2000
2012 VW Caddy, 75k, £5400
I have no idea if these are cheap or not (bearing in mind they are hammer prices).
I'm in the market for a sub-£2k small van so almost all of these were out of my league.
I felt more confident about buying without a close inspection as everything looked and sounded sweet - with the exception of one car that was smoking like mad and some poor sod paid £3500 for it online - obviously unaware of its state. That said, it was the only one out of maybe 150 vehicles.
Offset "(Emp) - a little heavy on the hyperbole."
Most dealers/traders dump problem stuff at Auctions.
There are a lot of 'nets' to catch good, used stock before a vehicle even gets to an auction. Good stock would usually have been snapped up.
Tread wisely...
Offset "(Emp) - a little heavy on the hyperbole."
Seat Toledo 2004 model - Bought this in 2005, a year old with 12k on the clock. Was an absolute bargain (£10k), as it was essentially a Leon FR TDI with a boring exterior. 150bhp TDI engine was the most fun I've ever had in a car. Managed to nod off on the backroads of lincolnshire, and drive it into a field (could have been a lot worse) - and the paintwork that it was re-done with was shitty quality, but still managed 120k before finally starting to fall apart (must note that I sold it to my mate for 1k at about 104k and he notoriously rags the bejesus out of cars, so it may have gone longer!)
I must point out that I never actually went to auction as I'm lucky enough to know a guy who provides fleet cars and auction cars for a living. A good mate of my dads - basically give him a budget and a range of options and he picks the best ones that pop up. Both examples were perfect condition....IN the case of the Toledo, I nearly ended up with a Blue Leon, which was a more basic "SE" model...but he said the two toledo's they had were better cars and in better condition - so it ended up between a black and silver Toledo TDI - I wanted the black, but Rupert wasn't happy with an apparent re-spray on the passenger door - so went for the Silver. I love my Lexus, but the Toledo was the best car I've owned.