I have always avoided being in the Motor Trade....
Discussion
.....Because it seems to a certain extent, to kill peoples passion for anything other than, the right specced new cars.
A couple of examples:
I see an old XJ40 and i like it, hey, i have even owned one, not because of budget restraints, but because I liked it.
My brother who works in the trade, sees 'old' 'no profit' 's
t'.
A friend of mine whom I used to work with adored e36 M3 evo convertibles when we were in our early 20's.... One of those would have been his dream car. He works for a RR dealership now and strapped himself up big time for 5 years on a base spec new 3 series he'll never actually own. When the money he put down on a deposit could have, bought, insured and ran for a year a great condition E36 M3 Cab.... “I don’t like them anymore”, “they are to old, and aren’t worth anything” was his response why I scratched my head at why he'd never owned one of his dream cars outright, when having the means to do so, only needs to use it occasionally and has no wife or kids).
Ok, so i am sure if you worked at a specialist, custom type outfit, it would help, but new car salesman would not be my choice of job, as a car enthusiast.
A couple of examples:
I see an old XJ40 and i like it, hey, i have even owned one, not because of budget restraints, but because I liked it.
My brother who works in the trade, sees 'old' 'no profit' 's
t'.A friend of mine whom I used to work with adored e36 M3 evo convertibles when we were in our early 20's.... One of those would have been his dream car. He works for a RR dealership now and strapped himself up big time for 5 years on a base spec new 3 series he'll never actually own. When the money he put down on a deposit could have, bought, insured and ran for a year a great condition E36 M3 Cab.... “I don’t like them anymore”, “they are to old, and aren’t worth anything” was his response why I scratched my head at why he'd never owned one of his dream cars outright, when having the means to do so, only needs to use it occasionally and has no wife or kids).
Ok, so i am sure if you worked at a specialist, custom type outfit, it would help, but new car salesman would not be my choice of job, as a car enthusiast.
See I would disagree with the above, and say if anything the opposite was true for myself.
I'm in the trade myself selling new/nearly new Vauxhalls, and if anything I prefer the older cars than the newer ones. Mainly down to the fact that I see/drive/sell brand new cars all day everyday, older cars are something a bit different imo. Ive been there and done the buying brand new car after brand new car thing and with the company car being changed on a regular basis theres no 'thrill' as such to getting the keys to a brand new car anymore. Older cars are generally a bit retro, and totally different to drive from newer stuff.
I'm in the trade myself selling new/nearly new Vauxhalls, and if anything I prefer the older cars than the newer ones. Mainly down to the fact that I see/drive/sell brand new cars all day everyday, older cars are something a bit different imo. Ive been there and done the buying brand new car after brand new car thing and with the company car being changed on a regular basis theres no 'thrill' as such to getting the keys to a brand new car anymore. Older cars are generally a bit retro, and totally different to drive from newer stuff.
I can see exactly where you are coming from.
I have a friend who has always owned older cars, 306 GTi6 and a Celica GT-Four were probably some of his best and he sold his celica when he started working as a salesman for nissan as he got a company car.
Now we were in the pub a while ago and I mentioned I have been looking at BMW 330's and X-types and he started waffling on about why would I want something that old as it would be riddled with problems and I could get a brand new car for £xx from him and wouldnt cost as much in the long run.
With the exception of the GTR and the cube for obvious hideously good reasons I cannot think of a single new nissan that I would like.
I have a friend who has always owned older cars, 306 GTi6 and a Celica GT-Four were probably some of his best and he sold his celica when he started working as a salesman for nissan as he got a company car.
Now we were in the pub a while ago and I mentioned I have been looking at BMW 330's and X-types and he started waffling on about why would I want something that old as it would be riddled with problems and I could get a brand new car for £xx from him and wouldnt cost as much in the long run.
With the exception of the GTR and the cube for obvious hideously good reasons I cannot think of a single new nissan that I would like.
AudiSport said:
There's no thrill in a brand new car...? Are you sure? Or are you just talking about Vauxhals?
A new M3 would be interesting - maybe a Subaru STi or even the new Jag couple - all of which I would love a go in!
New cars in general, being in and out of them all day soon takes the shine off, and looking at new cars I more look at profit/depreciation etc. etc. now rather than something to get excited about. I also find a lot of new cars are a bit soul-less for my tastes. A new M3 would be interesting - maybe a Subaru STi or even the new Jag couple - all of which I would love a go in!
For example,:
I get far more excited looking at this:
than I do this:
My biggest issue with being "in the trade" was my enthusiasm died. Granted it took a few years to happen but these days the though of doing cars for a living 9 till 5, then in the evenings and weekends as a hobby just doesn't appeal. I always wondered how people could come in from work and then spend hours building something epic in the shed... now I know. Variety. Maybe I should have been a butcher or a road sweeper or something.
IrrElephant said:
I still love older cars.
Anything that comes in PX that's a bit different (Honda Type R's, Subaru Foresters, E36 M3 within the last fee months) I'll leave my brand new company car at work and drive that instead.
I think it depends on how much of a petrolhead you are deep down.
This. Anything that comes in PX that's a bit different (Honda Type R's, Subaru Foresters, E36 M3 within the last fee months) I'll leave my brand new company car at work and drive that instead.
I think it depends on how much of a petrolhead you are deep down.
Had loads of my own old cars, as well as company demos. Love cars and bikes as much as I did when I was 13.
To me this is a dream job. Then again working for Alfa probably helps
I just bought myself an Escort Cosworth, dream car and all that.
What working in the trade does do however, is make you want to change your car all the time, and you also become complacant about new cars, because you are in them all day.
Yeah, i'm not knocking new cars, I'm just saying that i also love the old ones to, I think an e34 5-series is a great car, and i'd love an Xj-S convertible. I'm thinking of selling my XJ8 for a Series III XJ12 or even a Silver Shadow II and buying a MK1 MX-5.
My fear is that if i had been in the trade for 10 years I wouldnt see the merits or feel good factors in OWNING any of those cars....
My fear is that if i had been in the trade for 10 years I wouldnt see the merits or feel good factors in OWNING any of those cars....
I've been in the trade for about 10 years now. Not tired of it and love my cars & things with engines like I did as a kid. It's what you make of it.
Older used cars are the best value for money imo. I'll buy a brand new car for my retirement and keep it until I die.
A mate just spent £1800 on a MK2 MR2 turbo with 300BHP. It's very fast has anti-lag (flames) amongst other things and is probably quicker than my scoob, if it could get the grip. You can get old M-power BMW's for a few grand. He was looking at a clica GT-4 all livered up from Sega rally for a couple of grand.
Loads of big engined petrol cars out there for naff-all if you look. Much better fun than new cars. New cars are luvly don't get me wrong but I'm a bit blasé with them so couldn't part with all that money for one when I could have a garage full of oldies for the same.
Older used cars are the best value for money imo. I'll buy a brand new car for my retirement and keep it until I die.
A mate just spent £1800 on a MK2 MR2 turbo with 300BHP. It's very fast has anti-lag (flames) amongst other things and is probably quicker than my scoob, if it could get the grip. You can get old M-power BMW's for a few grand. He was looking at a clica GT-4 all livered up from Sega rally for a couple of grand.
Loads of big engined petrol cars out there for naff-all if you look. Much better fun than new cars. New cars are luvly don't get me wrong but I'm a bit blasé with them so couldn't part with all that money for one when I could have a garage full of oldies for the same.
I'm in the trade and I love pretty much everything! I'm always checking out what PX's everyone has taken back, its all interesting in some sort of way!
I drove a new 1.25 Picanto for a few weeks not long ago and I loved that, it weighs about as much as a sock and it sticks to the road like glue! On the other hand, I had a go in a Focus RS a few weeks ago (had to beg for 3 days to be let loose in it!) and fk me, that thing is immense!! Talk about a morale booster!!
Whether I'll always be in the trade or not, I'll always love cars, my enthusiasm will never wain!
I drove a new 1.25 Picanto for a few weeks not long ago and I loved that, it weighs about as much as a sock and it sticks to the road like glue! On the other hand, I had a go in a Focus RS a few weeks ago (had to beg for 3 days to be let loose in it!) and f
k me, that thing is immense!! Talk about a morale booster!!Whether I'll always be in the trade or not, I'll always love cars, my enthusiasm will never wain!
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