Just throwin' it out there
Author
Discussion

Night Runner

Original Poster:

12,423 posts

217 months

Monday 10th January 2011
quotequote all
I'm purely testing the water at the moment.

If you had the opportunity to buy a mk1, (mechanically sound, good general condition, highly detailed etc). Would you be put off if someone had bought one, checked it over, serviced it & cleaned it up etc to sell?

I prefer the term enthusiast to dealer! (fully aware of any tax/trading implications etc).

Only asking as I love mk1s, they are easy to work on, cheap to buy etc.

ApexJimi

27,187 posts

266 months

Monday 10th January 2011
quotequote all
You mean an enthusiast buying 5's, fixing them up, and moving them on?

If so, I can think of at least two chaps off the top of my head who do just that. Nothing wrong with it as long as you know what you're doing and the cars are good 'uns.

Night Runner

Original Poster:

12,423 posts

217 months

Monday 10th January 2011
quotequote all
You've got it in one.

For example I've seen a 1.8i, good colour/wheels, v good miles for age, hard top. All for £900.

I'd buy it, service/drive it etc, flog the hard top and look to sell the car for say £1200 - which looks like a v good price.

Make myself a bit of cash and keep another good condition '5 on the road.

ApexJimi

27,187 posts

266 months

Monday 10th January 2011
quotequote all
Yup, don't see why not.

Go for it yes

tuttle

3,427 posts

260 months

Tuesday 11th January 2011
quotequote all
Sure why not indeed.
My advice, & only my opinion. Be straight about it with buyers though. There are so many private sale 'traders' who have only had the car a few weeks & are "selling it for me sister guv" This only serves to make buyers suspicious. I have walked from several sound looking cars because the seller appeared to be...well full of ste.

ApexJimi

27,187 posts

266 months

Tuesday 11th January 2011
quotequote all
Tuttle makes a good point - be transparent with your potential buyers.

It should work out well in the end - you get the enjoyment of driving and fettling the car, and the new owner gets a nice car at a decent price.

Well....that's the theory smile

Gizmo!

18,150 posts

232 months

Tuesday 11th January 2011
quotequote all
Only things you need to be careful of are (income) tax and insurance.

If you're flipping cars at, say, one a month, you'll be needing motor trader insurance; I think most insurers draw the line at 6 per year before they start smelling a rat, maybe less.

And if I were you I'd keep a close record of exactly what you've bought and sold each car for along with your expenditure (parts, polish, etc). If you're making a profit HMRC will be interested, same as any other business venture.

The one that you've found, great, sounds a good idea. But are there really that many cheap MX5s around that you'll be able to do it often?