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MotorTranscript
00:00I'm Mike Brewer. As a teenager in South London, I discovered a love of motors that's led to a lifetime of dealing cars.
00:12You got yourself a deal. Well done son.
00:14And together with my ex-Formula 1 mechanic Elvis, we've been helping other car lovers get hold of the vehicles of their dreams.
00:21This might even change my life.
00:23It's been an incredible challenge, as owners hand over their daily drives.
00:28And this is my starting point, that's brilliant.
00:31And any spare cash.
00:33She's given us this car on a grand.
00:34To allow me and Elvis to trade up to the car they've always wanted.
00:38Got a deal. Well done, yeah.
00:40And if you want to get closer to your own dream drive, we're going to show you the tricks of the trade.
00:46You only get one shot at this when they fire it up for the very first time.
00:52The inside track on how to buy modern motors.
00:55So the best time to buy them is really when there's a plate change.
00:58What to look out for if you've got a passion for dream car classics.
01:02Just charming. I love it. I absolutely love it.
01:06And we go behind the scenes of a forecourt.
01:08There is still a little bit of room for manoeuvring.
01:11To find out where there's a deal to be done.
01:13All dealers will have a little parcel of cars at the back that are just knock down prices.
01:17Yeah. Come on then.
01:22Across the world, up to 100 million used motors can change hands every year.
01:28That's hundreds of thousands every day.
01:31It's a big, fast moving market for anyone searching for their dream car.
01:35Me and Elvis, we've traded everything from a tuk-tuk.
01:40It could be worth a couple of grand, you know.
01:42To a Bentley.
01:43I'm after the best offer you can for the car.
01:4525 grand for it.
01:47Oh, Tone, that's great.
01:48We know where to find the deals.
01:5022 and a half, what do you say?
01:53Yes.
01:54And how to add value.
01:58Remember the old classic rally style spotlights?
02:00Absolutely love it.
02:01So whether you're searching for a six month old hybrid.
02:04There's so much stuff here.
02:05Or a 40 year old classic.
02:07Love it.
02:08This how to guide will give you some valuable tools to help seal a deal on your dream used car.
02:17We're starting with the inside track on buying at auction.
02:20More than a million cars a year are bought and sold in auction houses in the UK alone.
02:26In every price bracket, from tens of pounds to millions.
02:31Well Elvis, as you may well know, one of the best places to get a great car at a decent price would be the car auctions.
02:37But it can be scary daunting places if you've never been before.
02:40It would be really nice to actually show exactly how that whole process works.
02:44Do you know what I mean?
02:45Even the bit of front of house where the hammer goes down, but also what happens behind the scenes.
02:48Yeah, love it.
02:49This site in Northampton is part of one of the world's biggest auction networks.
02:56The sales stock is released online before each auction.
02:59So we've had a sneak preview.
03:01Today, more than 130 cars will go under the hammer.
03:04Priced from 100 to 50,000 pounds.
03:08I don't know about you, mate, but I'm really excited about today.
03:11This is my wheelhouse.
03:14It's good, isn't it?
03:15Traders here are looking to buy good value stock so they can build a profit margin when they resell.
03:22Auction prices can be up to 20% less than on a dealer's forecourt.
03:27So you can snag a bargain if you're a bold private buyer and you follow the rules.
03:33Found anything tempting?
03:34Yeah, there are quite a few nice things.
03:36I mean, there's a load of sort of solid city cars.
03:38There's a bit of something for everybody, really.
03:40Motorway haulers, there's even some dream cars here.
03:42A few Porsches, drop-top Bentley I even saw.
03:45Doors open to the public before 9am for pre-auction inspections.
03:50My advice is to get here early.
03:53You can't beat looking at the metal.
03:57Take, for instance, this little Nissan.
03:59Looks OK, doesn't it?
04:00Initially, the first thing that drags your eye is the flat tyre.
04:03Yeah.
04:04And then you start looking around the car and you can notice this car has been painted quite badly on this door and the rear door and across the bonnet.
04:10And if you see a car like this at auction, you really have to tune into it.
04:14And if it's not right for you, turn around and walk away.
04:17Because there's loads of other choices.
04:19There's too many warning signs, aren't there, as well?
04:21I mean, this is a similar sort of story.
04:22On the face of it, really nice, solid German car.
04:25But just look at the boot lid.
04:26That, to me, says that's a boot from another vehicle.
04:29Because look at the tail light.
04:30It's very dull.
04:31Don't match the ones that are on there.
04:32The shut lines are not perfect.
04:34And if there's questions like that popping up, keep on walking.
04:37Keep on going.
04:38Yeah, there's plenty of choice.
04:39The global car auction trades worth billions.
04:44This site alone sells more than 20,000 cars a year, from tired old bangers to cars that are just a few days old.
04:51If you're considering a bid, it's important to understand how auction houses use grading scales to assess each car.
04:57Grade one is near perfect.
05:00Five needs major body work.
05:03The cars come in.
05:04They get this barcode attached to the windscreen with all its details logged in there.
05:08They go through this automated grading process.
05:11And then they go off into this really high-tech, 360-degree photographic studio,
05:15before the car then actually heads its way into the auction room.
05:18The barcode gives each car a unique digital signature, so they can be tracked on-site and online,
05:25where you can find detailed images and specs.
05:28Internet bidding is now a huge part of the auction world.
05:31There's no chance for proper mechanical checks, but always stay close to your target vehicle.
05:37You could pick up valuable information.
05:39This is the moment where the pressure's really on.
05:42You've got to seize the moment as a buyer.
05:44It's the only opportunity you get to see the car as it rolls in and along what they call the lane,
05:49up towards the auction at the end.
05:51So you can hear the engine note, really listen to make sure there's no nasty sounds.
05:54You get to see it move, check things like the tyres.
05:57Make sure, basically, there's no horror stories waiting for you once the hammer goes down.
06:02If you don't find your dream car straight away, you could look at stock further afield.
06:07I've snagged some great deals bidding on auctions around the world.
06:13And one of my favourite places to back a bargain is Japan, where second-hand cars have a great track record for reliability and can be cheap.
06:22780,000 yen it stopped and there's a boxcar. I think I bought that car. That's fantastic.
06:28I'm now the proud owner of a little Daihatsu Tanto.
06:31If buying a car thousands of miles away sounds daunting, you could reduce your risk by getting an experienced international buyer to do the bidding for you.
06:40Hey, mate.
06:41Very nice to meet you.
06:42Nice to meet you.
06:43How are you?
06:44I'm good, thanks.
06:45Excellent.
06:46What a great-looking car.
06:47Dylan has just bought this Nissan Skyline from a Japanese auction.
06:50It's a dream car steal at seven grand.
06:53But there are still some simple rules you need to follow, so you understand exactly what you're buying.
06:59Now, you said you've got the auction report. Is this the paperwork here?
07:03Yeah, I've got it in the bag.
07:05I see a lot of Japanese imports that are bought at auction and generally they're very good news because they are well-careful cars and they represent really good value for money.
07:13However, if you're going to buy one, make sure it's got a full auction report.
07:17And if you can't read it, then get it translated. Because if you buy a bad one, it can be costly.
07:22And I can see this one's an RA, which means it's had a little bit of minor body damage in the past.
07:26But clearly, wherever that was, it's been done well.
07:35It can take up to ten weeks to ship a car from Asia to Europe.
07:39But getting behind the wheel of this iconic R33 is an absolute pleasure and well worth the wait.
07:45In Northampton, the action's about to start.
07:58And the first thing you need to do as a private buyer is register with the office, otherwise you can't bid.
08:04You are going to need a couple of things with you. You're going to need ID. Make sure you're over 18 years of age.
08:09And you're going to have to leave a deposit. Now, the deposit is usually around £500.
08:14If you buy a car, they knock the £500 off. If you don't, you'll get your £500 back.
08:19But once you've done all that, just get out there on the floor and get ready.
08:23With a car going through every 60 seconds, you need to focus. And here are two rules for newbie auction goers.
08:32Number one. If you're going to come to an auction, bring somebody with you who has been before.
08:37Somebody with some mechanical knowledge would really help to make sure you don't make a mistake here.
08:42Number two. Set your price and stick to it.
08:46And don't forget, on every car sold at an auction across the world, there's always going to be a buyer's premium on top.
08:55Here in Northampton, the buyer's premium is an additional 5%.
08:58So if your hammer price is £1,000, the total cost will be £1,050.
09:05Just be weary of it before you raise your hand on that bid.
09:10Rachel Foulkes has come to the auction to find a small city runabout at a bargain price.
09:17Iron up the stock, Rachel.
09:19Yes, hello.
09:20How are you? Good to see you, I'm Mike. How are you?
09:22Hello, good, thank you.
09:23Rachel's already checked through today's auction list and has narrowed down some target cars.
09:29So we thought we'd give you a hand and maybe cast an eye over the cars. When's your first one going through?
09:34There's a little Hyundai i20 in about ten minutes.
09:36Really? Yeah.
09:37So we need to get in the lanes. Okay, let's go have a look.
09:39Auctions can be intense and there's no set timetable for each sale.
09:44A crucial time for learning about your target car is when it's first started up.
09:49I just want to see the exhaust because you only get one shot at this when they fire it up for the very first time to have a proper look.
09:55Yeah, go for it.
09:57Just make sure there's no blue smoke or anything horrible coming out the back.
10:00Blue smoke from the exhaust means the engine's burning oil and could need costly repairs.
10:07It's alright. That's clean. Clean.
10:10A quick check for any warning signs on the dash is an absolute must.
10:16Nice, Rachel. It's nice.
10:19It's a pretty little car isn't it? It's perfect.
10:21But this is pretty much all we get so you've really got to look out, listen, look for all the signs.
10:26You only get seconds to study your target car. The super mini that Rachel hopes will soon be hers is already heading off to auction.
10:34So Rachel, what we never spoke about here was what the target price is for this one.
10:38So the target price on this is going to be £1200.
10:43£1200.
10:44The car's straight under the auctioneer's eye and we're off.
10:49Rachel needs to stay super calm to get the car within her maximum budget of £1200.
11:06At £750, she's in.
11:09But there's competition and auctions move fast.
11:13Put the hammer down. Come on.
11:15The auction stall in at Rachel's £1000 bid.
11:21Rachel's got the car, but it's a provisional sale.
11:26But he's actually going to talk to Rachel now. This is good.
11:29It means the seller has set a minimum price for the car.
11:32And it's offered to Rachel for that amount.
11:35He said he's got £1100 on the sheet for it, so would I pay £1100?
11:38I said yes.
11:39Yay!
11:41Well done.
11:42So provisional means that it didn't quite meet his target price.
11:45But he just said to you, if you give another £100 for it, the car's down to you.
11:49Well done.
11:50What a result.
11:51A smart city runabout for just over a grand.
11:54On the open market, it might have cost £1500.
11:57A discount like that seems well worth anyone's effort.
12:03Next, we leave the auction behind as we go back in time to delve into the world of classic dream cars.
12:11These events always bring out a really eclectic group of cars.
12:14I mean, just look, there's all sorts on display here.
12:17And we head to the workshop to give you a hands-on restoration guide.
12:23I love these.
12:24It's a good, solid little car.
12:26But all that really needs doing is the car's got to be painted and put back together.
12:38Dream cars come in all shapes and sizes.
12:40Look at the size of the thing.
12:41It's like driving a stately home on wheels.
12:44It is.
12:45But over 8 million people in the UK say a classic car is their ultimate garage goal.
12:51Now that is what you call a dream car.
12:57So me and Elvis are going to show you around the world of classics.
13:00What to buy.
13:02How to restore.
13:03And where to make money from this growing scene.
13:07Classics are often defined as collectible cars over 20 years old.
13:15A million are registered in the UK making the industry worth five and a half billion pounds a year.
13:20Keeping a dream classic on the road can be a big challenge.
13:23But if you want to save money, a good tip is to visit an auto jumble.
13:27Where you can learn lots and buy good value cars and parts.
13:31They take place across the globe.
13:33This UK jumbles in the west country town of Shepton Mallet.
13:43To keep a bread and butter classic on the road, you can save a fortune by understanding the basics of how dealers operate.
13:52I mean, has everything got a fixed price or is there a deal to be had?
13:56There's always a deal to be had.
13:57Is there? Good.
13:58But it can be like finding a needle in a haystack.
14:01That's what they say, isn't it? One person's junk is another person's treasure.
14:04If only.
14:07And once you've found your treasure, bear in mind, it can be a time-consuming labour of love to maintain it.
14:14Hello there.
14:15Hiya.
14:16Is this yours?
14:17Yes.
14:18It's absolutely beautiful.
14:20What a job. I mean, how long did that take you?
14:21Ten years.
14:22No way.
14:23From the day I started to the day I finished, it was ten years.
14:26Is that right?
14:27Wow.
14:28I mean, it's just incredible.
14:31And if you want to improve your mechanical skills to fix up or add value to a car, many of these big classic events offer expert help.
14:41After a shaky start almost 60 years ago with a reputation for poor reliability, the Hillman Imp is now popular with enthusiasts keen to update and upgrade a classic.
14:51Hello there.
14:52Hello.
14:53Hello.
14:54What exactly are you up to here?
14:56Well, we're changing the springs and the shock is over us. He wants to lower it down a little bit.
15:01So is that a common thing then, that a classic car like this, the youngsters are kind of looking to modify it?
15:06Well, but in the club they want to enjoy the car and at the same time modify them to suit themselves in lower suspension, different angles and different engines as well.
15:14It was the Imp's flexible and easily tuned engine that brought the car success on the international motorsport scene.
15:23These are competing in Finland.
15:25The four-seater rear-engined Imp was a rival to the Mini and production ran throughout the 60s and early 70s.
15:34Prices today can start at around £1,000, so they're good value if they've been well looked after, especially with an engine upgrade.
15:41And what sort of engines are you putting in?
15:44Conversion they're doing is a BMW engine, a motorcycle engine.
15:47Oh really?
15:48Yeah.
15:49Okay.
15:50Yeah.
15:51A K-Series 1000.
15:52And is it a relatively simple conversion? I mean, still slots into the same...
15:53It's really straightforward.
15:54Yeah.
15:55The benefits of that presumably are that you've maintained the look, but you're getting the benefits of a modern unit with perhaps electronics...
16:01That's right.
16:02The same with this one here with the disc brakes. That's another conversion. There's Fiesta disc brake conversion.
16:06Is that right?
16:07Straightforward.
16:08Yeah, just an adapter plate on that and it works very well.
16:10Some people like to keep their cars as close to factory fresh as possible, whereas other people like to make changes to things like suspension or brakes...
16:18To make it much more usable daily driver, for example.
16:21The question is, do you want a museum piece or a more modern masterpiece?
16:27If you're a classic novice, auto jumbles are also a great place to compare vehicles from different eras and get an idea of prices.
16:36Look at this.
16:39Love it.
16:40This Series 1 Lotus Esprit is the car made famous by James Bond in The Spy Who Loved Me.
16:47Love it.
16:48You know these events always bring out a really eclectic group of cars. I mean, just look, there's all sorts on display here.
17:00You can quite often find things for sale too. You might even get yourself a real bargain. I mean, look at this old Triumph.
17:05If you're in for a project that doesn't involve a complete restoration, that might not be a bad starting point.
17:12And if you're tempted to take on a restoration, make sure you choose a project that's within your scope.
17:18Hiding in the car park is one of my all-time favourite cars. One that myself and Mike have both successfully done up and traded in the past.
17:26Sometimes at these events, the car park can be just as interesting as the show itself. I mean, look at that old Beetle over there.
17:32I used to have one of those as my first ever car because they make great first-time projects if you really want to get stuck into a classic.
17:38If you're considering a dream classic to buy or flip for a profit, then the VW Beetle is a great pick.
17:47When production began in 1938, this curvy car with its air-cooled rear-engine design seemed destined for failure.
17:55But it was cheap to buy and its unique looks connected with a global audience.
18:01By the 1960s, VW had to open a huge factory in Mexico to keep up with demand.
18:08They were known locally as the VW and the last one came off the production line in 2003, 65 years after its launch.
18:1821 million were sold worldwide, so there are plenty around to restore and loads of parts are still being made to keep them on the road.
18:27The prices of Beetles have been rising steadily, but if you buy carefully, there's still money to be made on a deal.
18:40You must be Paul.
18:42Well, you must be Mike.
18:43I am. How are you, Paul?
18:44Fine. Thank you, yourself.
18:45Very good to see you.
18:46I'm a little bit nervous, if I was to be honest with you, about what I'm about to see because, you know, boxes are parts.
18:52Well, yes.
18:53I'd better have a good look at it, shall I?
18:54Yeah.
18:56Wow.
18:59Well, it's sort of half a car at the moment, isn't it?
19:02Yes.
19:03It's some bits of a car.
19:04Oh, yeah.
19:05Look at that.
19:06The spare wheel wheel.
19:07Yeah, the weak area on these is this spare wheel wheel down the front.
19:11It's quite a job, isn't it?
19:12There's no engine in it.
19:13There's no body panels on it.
19:14There's no interior finishings, really.
19:17It's a big project, quite a gamble.
19:20What's the best you'd take for it?
19:22Two and a half.
19:23You've got yourself a deal.
19:24Well done, son.
19:26This work in progress may have cost us over £2,000,
19:30but with a sensitive and relatively simple restoration,
19:34we could triple our money.
19:40Hey, mate.
19:41How are you doing?
19:42Yeah, very good.
19:43Good to see you.
19:44Yes, Mike.
19:45I love these.
19:46First car I ever bought.
19:47VW Beetle.
19:48Fantastic.
19:49So, you know them intimately.
19:50No doubt you worked on yours.
19:51Oh, I was taking it apart, putting it back together every five minutes.
19:54I was 17 years old, but most importantly, I fell in love with them.
19:57Good.
19:58Right.
19:59Well, welcome to our 1970 VW Beetle.
20:02I mean, mine was a whole car.
20:04Yes.
20:05Where's the rest of it?
20:06All right, don't panic.
20:07The rest of it's in the back of that.
20:08But it's a good, solid little car.
20:09Look at that.
20:10No rust whatsoever all the way around the car.
20:13All that really needs doing is the car's got to be painted and put back together.
20:17And if we get this right, we can really, really maximize the amount of money we can take out of it.
20:23But have you really got all the bits?
20:24Because there's a lot missing.
20:25OK.
20:26Well, don't put me under too much pressure.
20:28If there's something missing, I will find it.
20:31So, here are some top tips for a classic dream car restoration.
20:36Hubcaps, four of, which is good.
20:40Tip one, calmly assess all the parts and store them carefully for later use.
20:45I'm going to make a note of everything we have got.
20:49And then from that, I should be able to work out what we haven't got.
20:52Tip two, save yourself cash by doing body prep work.
20:57Just using a bit of wet and dry, which is essentially very fine sandpaper that's dipped in water, keeps the dust down and still takes the high spots off any of this body work.
21:10Rubbing down is hard work, but if a body shop is charging £50 an hour, the savings soon rack up.
21:16Tip three, always let a professional do difficult jobs like a respray.
21:22You'll get a better finish and the car will be worth more in the end.
21:27Look at that.
21:29Tip four is originality.
21:33Authentic colours like this signal orange attract more buyers and bigger money.
21:40And if you manage to source original parts, but they're looking a little bit tired, you can keep values high by trying to refurbish.
21:49So, the seats of the Beetle, you can see they're really saggy on the inside, rather than replaced with new.
21:59Lovely.
22:01That's a really nice, quick, cheap fix that's brought the seat kind of back to life.
22:10Moment of truth.
22:12And finally, tip five.
22:15Check and check again when you're putting a car back together.
22:19Oh, hello.
22:21Haha, that's it.
22:23The low tension lead inside the distributor hasn't been reconnected.
22:26So, without that, we'll get no spark.
22:30Because the road to a finished restoration rarely runs smooth.
22:34But it's worth all the effort in the end.
22:37Here we go.
22:39To get behind the wheel of your own dream drive.
22:41Yes!
22:44That's such a good feeling.
22:48Awesome.
22:49Oh, my.
22:50Look at that!
22:52Oh!
22:53You're kidding, right?
22:54It's good, isn't it?
22:55No!
22:56That's not the same car!
22:57Have you just pulled this out of a showroom?
23:00A sale price of £6,700 means our VW has given us a very healthy profit.
23:11Next, we leave the classics behind and come bang up to date heading behind the scenes of a modern car dealership.
23:16Nice to see you again.
23:19Where I help a first-time buyer find the perfect car.
23:22You have to turn yourself into a CSI crime investigator when you're looking at a car.
23:28Even if you're looking at a shiny car on a new forecourt.
23:31And Elvis asks the Sal Supremo the tough questions.
23:34Is it realistic that a customer can come in expecting to get a bit of money knocked off?
23:40Or are those days kind of gone?
23:41If the car of your dreams is a nearly new one with a few miles on the clock, then a forecourt is a great place to start your quest.
24:00Around half the second-hand cars in the UK are sold by dealers, but the industry is evolving fast.
24:06So we're off to find out how a cutting-edge dealership works.
24:12Right then, Elvis, we're on our way to a car forecourt so you can see how the pros do it.
24:17And I'm going to give you a peek behind the curtain of a modern car forecourt.
24:21Amazing.
24:23A lot of people think that a car dealership is a shed with some bunting tied off of it and cars with prices stuck in the screen.
24:30And there are a few out there, but now the sort of dinosaurs.
24:33Today, the modern car business has completely changed thanks to the internet.
24:37Very interesting.
24:38Over the last decade, the car trade has become dominated by large dealer networks doing business online.
24:45With easy access to service histories, high quality images and videos of target cars.
24:51But there's one question every buyer wants to get the answer to.
24:54So we've come to one of my very own forecourts, where we can go behind the scenes and find out how to get the best deals.
25:00Ian!
25:01Mike!
25:02How are you?
25:03How are you?
25:04How are you doing?
25:05Yeah, not bad at all.
25:06Nice to see you again.
25:07You're well?
25:08Hey Phil, nice to see you.
25:09This is Elvis.
25:10Elvis in February, nice to meet you.
25:11Mike's off to see if anyone's in the mood for buying.
25:12Right Elvis, come with me.
25:13Brilliant.
25:14I'm off to find out what sort of deals are on offer.
25:17So roughly what would you say is the sort of margin that you end up putting on top of cars?
25:21It's probably about a 10 or 15% margin in the vehicle where we price the car.
25:26Is it realistic that a customer can come in expecting to get a bit of money knocked off or are those days kind of gone?
25:31Well those days have gone because obviously what we make on each vehicle has shrank a heck of a lot these days.
25:36But there is still a little bit of room for manoeuvring.
25:39We might be able to throw maybe, I don't know, a set of mats or maybe add some fuel to get them home.
25:44That could obviously help when negotiating with the customer as well.
25:47So it may be tough to negotiate hard cash discounts from a major dealer running a large operation on tight margins.
25:56But there are still a few ways of getting a good deal.
25:59Russell is a buyer trying to get his hands on a nearly new Audi A6.
26:05Nice to meet you.
26:06Mike, very nice to meet you.
26:07So tell us a little bit about yourself.
26:09I've got an executive taxi business in Chelmsford and I'm looking for something to add to my fleet of vehicles.
26:16So a fleet owner, which means that when you're buying a car, you're not looking for a car for you, are you?
26:23You're looking for a car for the passenger.
26:25Exactly.
26:26Yeah, it's all about the passenger comfort, the passenger experience and what they get out of the journey really.
26:33New, this 2018 Audi was over £35,000.
26:38But some new cars can lose up to 40% of their value in the first year.
26:43Today, the forecourt price on this car is just £26,404.
26:50What's that feel like?
26:51It's comfortable.
26:52But can it be had any cheaper?
26:54Yeah.
26:55So now let me give you a little bit of advice because these are premium cars and they run in dealers at tens of thousands of pounds.
27:02So this is a lot of money sitting on a dealer's forecourt and every month they get devalued.
27:07So a dealer doesn't want these cars sitting around for too long because when they devalue, they don't devalue by just tens of pounds.
27:13They're hundreds, if not thousands of pounds.
27:15It's really good to choose the time you're going to go and buy one.
27:17So the best time is really when there's a plate change.
27:20So that's in the spring and in the autumn.
27:22It's good to get into the dealership just after that number plate change or even look just before because they'll be looking to shift out stock.
27:29Dealers have a quota that they need to sell certain amount of cars in the month.
27:33And if it's at the end of the month, you can really get in there and try and drive yourself a good bargain.
27:38But most dealers today, like this forecourt here, they don't have price boards in the cars.
27:43No, I noticed that.
27:44Yeah, because there's a new thing called dynamic pricing.
27:47So all these cars, their prices may change two or three times a week depending on what's out there at the moment.
27:53Dynamic pricing relies on an algorithm that analyses current car values.
27:58It means dealers are continually changing their prices on the forecourt
28:02and they can claim that their car's got the lowest price locally or nationally.
28:07So make sure you understand exactly how a dealer is comparing prices.
28:11Always check online yourself to see how much similar cars are being advertised for.
28:16Thanks ever so much for your advice.
28:18I appreciate your help.
28:19It's a pleasure, sir.
28:21The Audi Russell's looking at is just over a year old and a premium saloon.
28:25And if you're paying thousands for a late plate car, then you expect it to be perfect.
28:30So modern dealers have to get their stock looking just right.
28:34Does every single car that comes through here go through the same process?
28:37Yeah.
28:38Every car gets the same check over just to make sure they're perfect for you.
28:41Can I have a look at your checklist?
28:42Just there.
28:43There's a lot of stuff on here.
28:44Yeah.
28:45Literally going through checking that lights work, electric windows work, every single thing.
28:49Everything.
28:50Every part of the car, every switch, any defects will sort out for you.
28:53Depending on what's needed, you could have a minimum of an hour up to a few hours depending on the work required.
28:58So that is where the extra money goes, isn't it?
29:00It is, definitely.
29:01It's doing this stuff.
29:02Telling the consumer that the car that they've got from here is correct and all done for them.
29:07Everything inside out, mechanical bodywork.
29:09Inside, outside, yeah.
29:10Mechanical and bodywork.
29:11Any bodywork issues, we'll send into our body shop to sort out.
29:14Well, like this, because you've got a bit of damage on the front of that one.
29:17It's going to have to be pristine because obviously that's our main goal.
29:20That's what we want to achieve.
29:21It's not just premium cars that undergo checks by a dealer.
29:26Small city cars should come with the same peace of mind.
29:30Abby is looking for her first car and mum Sally wants to ensure she gets a reliable motor and for the right price.
29:37Hello.
29:38I'm Mike.
29:39Hi, I'm Sally.
29:40Sally, very nice to meet you.
29:41Hi, I'm Abby.
29:42Abby, very nice to meet you too.
29:43So let me just show you around some of the cars that we've got here and see if, you know, any of these take your fancy.
29:48Plus some really good advice about what to look for.
29:51Say a car like this.
29:53This is a Ford Fiesta.
29:54Biggest selling car in the UK.
29:56Now this one's relatively new.
29:58I like Fiestas.
29:59You like Fiestas?
30:00It's good.
30:01But what's good about this little Fiesta, for instance, is really good stuff straight off the bat.
30:05It's got parking sensors.
30:07And these cars are really simple to drive.
30:10And being that this is a Ford, there's almost a Ford garage at the end of every street.
30:15So if a part you need for a car, it's going to be really easy.
30:21Plus a lot of the parts on Fords are interchangeable with other Fords.
30:24Light bulbs, for instance.
30:25Then we move on to cars that are, I think, in some respects, a little bit better.
30:29Because this is the new Nissan Micra.
30:31This is good.
30:32If you look around the front of it, very funky in its design and shape.
30:36And it's the same when you look at the car next to it, which is this lovely little Kia Picanto.
30:41Kia have made massive headways into the car market.
30:44They're really popular cars.
30:45But if you're going to go and buy any of these cars, there's some little tips and bits of advice I can give you.
30:51You have to turn yourself into a CSI crime investigator when you're looking at a car.
30:57Even if you're looking at a shiny car on a new forecourt.
31:00Because cars can suffer all kinds of damage, even in transit, before they get to a forecourt.
31:05And there's some really easy tips that I can give you.
31:08For instance, this car on the front number plate has got the name of the dealer where this car come from.
31:14Yes?
31:15And Sally, if you nip to the back of the car, just tell me if it's got the same name written on the number plate at the back.
31:21Yeah.
31:22That tells me that both front and rear number plates match on this car.
31:26Now if this car had been involved in any kind of accident, the chances are it wouldn't be repaired there.
31:31They would have changed the plates at where it was repaired.
31:34So if you're ever looking at a car, just check.
31:36These late plate cars are on sale for around £10,000.
31:39But if your budget's a bit tighter, there may be other deals on offer if you know where to look.
31:45Did you know that every car forecourt, the chances of a car dealer taking a car in part exchange is about 70%.
31:54So every car that we sell, we might take something older in part exchange.
31:58Now those cars, they get passed on to the auction or back into the motor trade.
32:02But there is nothing in the law to stop you asking any dealer, have you got anything in part exchange you want to get rid of?
32:09And guess what?
32:10Okay.
32:11All dealers will have a little parcel of cars at the back that are just not them prices.
32:14They want to get rid of their forecourts.
32:16So shall I show you a couple?
32:17Yeah.
32:18Come on then.
32:19These are lovely.
32:20Look at this little section.
32:22It's tucked away.
32:23This is at the back of every car lot.
32:24It's tucked away.
32:25That, for instance, that may be a bit too big for you, but that's only £1,300 that Kia.
32:29Okay.
32:30It's nice.
32:31But that's much more the kind of car, this one here.
32:38Well, this is a Ford Focus.
32:40Yeah.
32:41It's missing hubcaps.
32:42It's got a dent in the door.
32:44It's a little bit tatty.
32:45But guess what?
32:46£300.
32:47Blimey, that's well below your budget.
32:50So £300, so you could spend a couple of quid putting it on the road.
32:54However, you are buying what you see.
32:57This is it.
32:58You're just buying a piece of old car.
33:00It's an older car though, that's the thing.
33:01That looks like it's been in a few battles in its time.
33:05But there is a bargain to be had.
33:07It's not just large dealers that keep these less glamorous cars hidden away.
33:12Smaller operators are often short of space, so maximize their profit potential by only showing their highest value motors with the biggest margins.
33:21I'm off to see a car that a dealer doesn't want to display.
33:25So I'm hoping there could be a bargain to be had.
33:28I'm on my way to go and see one of my all-time favorite cars.
33:32It's the Honda S2000.
33:34And it belongs to a dealer who's based down in Kent.
33:37He's taken it in party exchange and he simply doesn't want to keep it in stock.
33:41And that's where I come in.
33:42The S2000 is 15 years old, so it doesn't sit well alongside the dealer's other stock.
33:49He wants to sell it fast, which could be a useful negotiating tool for me.
33:54I'm hoping to nip in quick with a cash offer.
34:01Hey there, Mike. Nice to see you.
34:02I'm all right. And you, mate. Yeah, nice to see you.
34:04How are you doing? Very good.
34:05What a great looking car. Beautiful, isn't she?
34:07So you sell this kind of car in the back, we're on Range Rovers, a Porsche, very nice stuff indeed.
34:12This is the kind of car that you wouldn't put in stock, you'd just want it gone there.
34:15Exactly. I'm just looking to kind of sell it on quick, really.
34:18So I want it. How much is it?
34:20I think the lowest I could probably go on it is about six and a half.
34:23Six and a half grand?
34:24Yeah.
34:25Can you do it for six grand?
34:26Six?
34:27Yes.
34:28Go on then.
34:29It's a top man. Thank you very much.
34:30I'm pleased with that deal. Cracking.
34:32You've got a result of a car there, to be fair.
34:35Enjoy.
34:36Next, Elvis has the inside track on how to avoid car purchase disasters when buying privately.
34:45Behind that grill is the radiator. And you need to look for signs of tiny little leaks.
34:50They'll probably show up like the colour of rust. It can be expensive.
34:55And we celebrate some of our best trades that have helped make some incredible car dreams come true.
35:01Because we've got special permission, you can actually touch it. How nice is that?
35:07I've been a car dealer for over 35 years and I've pulled off some great dream car trades.
35:24Buying low.
35:25Can you do it for six grand?
35:26What?
35:27It's a top man. Thank you very much.
35:29And selling high.
35:31Would you take eight-five?
35:33This car is yours.
35:35Fantastic. Thank you.
35:36Of course, not every deal goes as well as this one. And finding a thought-free car is almost impossible.
35:43If you buy from a large dealer, they should fix or flag any issues with charges built into the price.
35:49But if you're buying privately, the term buyer beware couldn't be more important.
35:54Thankfully, there are some simple checks anyone can do to avoid a bad buy.
36:00This is a 2017 Mercedes C-Class Coupe AMG line. A dream car for many.
36:06It's on sale for just under 19 grand and I want to make sure it's worth the money.
36:12Most modern cars being sold privately will be a bit like this one.
36:16Effectively controlled by a giant computer underneath the skin.
36:19So if you want to check for problems with engine or gearbox, often the best place isn't to open the bonnet.
36:24It's to start right here in the driving seat.
36:26Start the engine up and keep a close eye on the dashboard when you do so.
36:31Just watch how long it takes for those warning lights to disappear.
36:34When the engine's running and up to speed, the dashboard should be totally clear.
36:40Obviously, the best thing to do when buying a car is to give it a full test drive when you can.
36:44But sometimes, just rolling down the window, starting the engine and rolling back and forwards in a small space and listening while you do it can tell you an awful lot.
36:53Listen out for a clean sound as you engage the gears.
36:56Make sure there are no clunks or squeaks from the engine, clutch, brakes or suspension as you switch between drive and reverse.
37:03You've got to have a good, close inspection of all of the wheels, looking for signs of wear and tear, little dings, dents and scuffs.
37:12Because not only does it look bad, it can be costly to repair, probably around £90 to repair each one.
37:18And on top of that, more serious cases can be signs of further damage further up the system on the suspension.
37:24A big hit to a wheel can travel up through the suspension and lead to costly broken coils or struts depending on your system.
37:32I'm taking a close look at the front grille too.
37:34This one's known as a diamond grille but actually the same tip applies to pretty much any front engine vehicle.
37:40Check it carefully for signs of damage.
37:42It's right at the front of the car, stones and debris can get flicked up off the road surface and go straight in here.
37:47If you do see signs of damage, get yourself a torch, pop the bonnet up and have a little look down behind.
37:53Because right behind that grille is the radiator.
37:56And you need to have a very careful look at that and look for signs of tiny little leaks.
38:00They'll probably show up like the colour of rust, something like that.
38:03But if you do see one, it can be expensive.
38:06A new radiator for something like this could be around £200.
38:09Always check the service history.
38:16It only takes a moment but it's the story of the car and it might tell you some unusual things about the car's past
38:21that might put you off wanting to buy it today.
38:23I always say keep an eye out for repeated visits to the garage to fix the same problem.
38:27It's often a red flag for me because maybe it suggests a deeper issue that perhaps hasn't yet been resolved.
38:32When dealing with private sellers in a face-to-face interaction, it's easy sometimes to feel pressurised into having to make a decision on the spot.
38:42Don't fall into that trap.
38:43There are millions of cars out there.
38:45Almost certainly there'll be another one in a similar spec for a similar price nearby.
38:49So don't make the decision to buy it until you're 100% happy.
38:52And if anything at all gives you cause for concern, then don't feel afraid to just thank the seller for his time and politely walk away.
38:59There are only so many checks you can make, but this Merc seems like a really well-maintained motor and not a bad buy.
39:12Luckily, me and Elvis have found more good cars than bad.
39:15And turning daily run-arounds into dream cars is an absolute privilege.
39:20Over the past few months, we've put our efforts and skills to the ultimate test.
39:25Buy-in.
39:26How much is it?
39:27Three and a half thousand, Mike.
39:29Two and a half grand?
39:30How about meeting halfway?
39:31Three.
39:32You can't tell.
39:33Adding value.
39:34How are we going to make any money out of it?
39:36On the outside, I was thinking we could just do a nice vinyl wrap.
39:40And selling vehicles for a profit to make dreams come true.
39:44Well, there's your keys.
39:45Well done, chaps.
39:46Nice one.
39:47And some of the most exciting dream car trading journeys start with the most ordinary cars.
39:54Like a slightly unloved Fiesta owned by teaching assistant Jess.
40:00But after turning a Fiat Doblo into a micro camper and a massive profit.
40:06Look at that.
40:08Oh, yes, Elvis.
40:10We managed to trade Jess up to this.
40:13What a car.
40:14I mean, it just goes.
40:15A very special VW Golf GTI.
40:18That is your dream car.
40:25Thank you so much.
40:28Oh, my God.
40:29Hello, mate.
40:30You must be Adam.
40:31Hi.
40:32Electrical engineer Adam dreamed of one car.
40:35Because you've chosen a particular dream car.
40:37The Cerber itself.
40:38What a car.
40:39It's just something else.
40:41Buck traded his pickup truck into a dream drive meant taking a big gamble on an even
40:47bigger American caravan.
40:50No way.
40:52I love it.
40:54And I love the profit we made from it.
40:57Putting us in reach of what we hoped would be Adam's dream TBR.
41:01Happy?
41:02I'm speechless.
41:03You are speechless, aren't you?
41:05Not of the lost ones.
41:07We made a dream come true for police officer Deepak with a Porsche Cayenne.
41:12Your dream car.
41:13Wow.
41:14That is beautiful.
41:15There was a Nissan Skyline for aspiring photographer Harlan.
41:21This is your dream car.
41:24Oh, my God.
41:25Oh, you're shaking.
41:26Don't have a heart attack on me.
41:27Whatever you do.
41:29And a legendary DeLorean for hardworking farmer Tom.
41:33This is your dream car.
41:36This is my car.
41:40It's true.
41:42This is surreal.
41:44Thank you so much.
41:46It's a pleasure, mate.
41:48For ex-paratrooper Tony.
41:50Tony.
41:51Hello, mate.
41:52How are you?
41:53We started with a £1,000 Mini.
41:55That is fantastic.
41:57And converting a rotten old horse box into a profit nearly finished Elvis off.
42:02I don't even think any of this is repairable.
42:06But hard graft and clever training got us to this.
42:09Actually, this, Tony, is your dream car.
42:15So, is this really mine?
42:17This is yours.
42:18A 1960s Land Rover, an off-road icon.
42:22He's a happy boy, isn't he?
42:23He is very happy.
42:24And one of my all-time favourite dream cars was for Chris.
42:28How are you?
42:29How are you, Mike?
42:30A fast Ford fan who works with them daily but couldn't quite afford his own.
42:35My personal favourite and my dream car, that's a Mark II Escort.
42:39You can't be surrounded by them all day and not own one.
42:42To up our chances of success, we had some big ideas for a tiny bike.
42:47You take £700 for it?
42:49No.
42:50Make it £900, it's yours.
42:52£900.
42:53Goodness me.
42:54And we finally got the cash together for a stunning Mark II Escort.
42:59But would it be Chris's dream car?
43:02Are they tears of joy, Chris?
43:03Yeah, they are.
43:04They are tears of joy.
43:05Come and give us a hug.
43:06Man, you deserve it.
43:08Seriously, you're a hard-working man and you absolutely deserve it.
43:11You've got me going, Chris.
43:12They are tears of joy, don't you?
43:24It's unbelievable.
43:25Thank you so much.
43:29Yes.
43:30He looks right at home, doesn't he?
43:32It's just for that moment, isn't it?
43:34Oh, honestly.
43:35Tears.
43:36We've got tears, Mark.
43:37That was good.
43:38Thank you so much.