bloody wheeler dealers !

[Devil2575]

paulwoof said:

does anybody remember the episode they done with the mk1 mx5? it was mariner blue and they put white enkies on it? and edd repaired some rust on the windscreen pillar.

couple years on and here it is
http://pistonheads.com/sales/3127573.htm

A couple of years on?

More like about 5 or 6.

The MX5 was season 3 and was first aired in about 2005.

Hardly supprising that the car is a little bit more rusty now

[Jgtv]

hora said:

They always SCRAPE a profit. If they factored in all the hassle/costs/etc like in the realworld they would always make a loss.

Isnt the point of it that the majoirty of the jobs carried out are doable by those that are pretty handy with a spanner?
Granted not in the same amount of time, or maybe to the same quality of results but most of the work is to a reasonable DIY standard, that way its the kind of thing you might do yourself, so time cost not really applicable.

[sleep envy]

slippery said:

bluebear said:

No I did not know that. How do you know that

The subject has been covered on here quite comprehensively in previous threads. It would seem a fair few of the cars actually end up on ebay. Apparently Ed is not the person that does the majority of the work, it's the person that often gives Ed 'a hand' on camera. Can't recall his name, might be John. Either way, I still like watching it, because I'm quite fond of modern classics, although Brewer does grate on me in a 'old out yer 'and fella kind of way!

Paul 'the mute' Brackley IIRC

[205alive]

slippery said:

You lot do realise that the people 'buying' the cars at the end are actors, right?

Funny you should say that, a few months back I posted a link to a car advertised on the Car And Classic website for a car which was going to undergo restoration, or had done - think it was a 'nice bit of yank metal' to adopt some sort of Brewerism.

Anyway, the ad was placed by a production company, who happened to produce - yep - wheeler dealers. So it would seem that, in that case at least, genuine buyers were being lined up - think the ad even mentioned a TV series or appearance.

_________

Edited to add:

Here is said ad content:

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C236058

To quote:

"We are selling a 1970 Dodge Charger. The car is currently undergoing a refurbishment for a TV programme.

Year: 1970
Engine: 383 Magnum V8
Mileage: 74350
Price: £24,995 ono

The car is a US import bought in a dry state so it is LHD. Black. Power steering. 4 speed pistol grip manual transmission.

////

////

The bodywork on the car is immaculate and nothing has had to be done to the interior. Underneath it is structurally very sound with none of the rust often found around the suspension mountings on these cars.

The car is in Berkshire. We’re looking to arrange viewers over the coming two weeks. Only serious interested parties please.

If anyone wants further details or to arrange a viewing please email me: [e-mail]. Please note that any potential buyer may be filmed for the television programme."

Go on, I dare ya!

_____________

[Davey S2]

"Old aht yur 'and!! You've just got yourself a cracking motah!"

[Steve in Stoke]

Ever since watching the Fiat 500 episode, I've got a bad itch for one that will need scratching. I've come close twice in the last 18 months or so, as far as having the cash in a current account ready to buy.

And don't forget the WD drinking game - http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[mattdaniels]

They don't ALWAYS make a profit. There have been a few they have not made any money on.

And of course they are not factoring in any labour costs in these restorations.

[TEKNOPUG]

You’d imagine that they already sourced and bought the car before the TV crew turns up and Mike starts test-driving them. Would soon get very expensive if you have to drag a film-crew all over the country looking at 6 dogs before they finally find a car worth buying.

[mercGLowner]

New series is in the Autumn - US cars apparently, hence the Dodge Charger for sale.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheeler_Dealers

[Perd Hapley]

McSam said:

f they sell more than (IIRC) six cars a year, they're traders by default. Their profession doesn't - and can't - matter, otherwise I could keep doing a day job while knocking out a couple of crap cars a week from my house as "private" sales with no comeback!

There's no trader threshold. If you buy a car with the intention of selling it on for a profit, you're trading. You could be trading highly specialist cars, only selling three a year and still be a trader, or you could just change your personal car every month and not be.

But you're correct when you say your day job isn't relevant on your car dealing activities.

[johnpeat]

erm - they say they advertise the cars on 'a popular auction website' so why is it surprising cars end-up on one!?

Practicalities of making a TV program will mean the buying and selling sequences will be shot "after the deed is done" and stuff will happen out-of-order.

I guess they may even use actors if the person selling/buying doesn't want to appear on TV - they may even get researchers to buy/sell cars to avoid the presence of him/the cameras skewing the deal...

TG do this - simply because if RH,JM,JC showed-up you'd take the piss on price, wouldn't you?

[Kevin VRs]

ambuletz said:

the episode with the Lexus LS400. isn't it illegal to retrofit HIDs to a car that doesn't normally use them?

IIRC not if the car has headlamp wash and headlight self-levelling as standard.

[johnpeat]

Perd Hapley said:

There's no trader threshold. If you buy a car with the intention of selling it on for a profit, you're trading. You could be trading highly specialist cars, only selling three a year and still be a trader, or you could just change your personal car every month and not be.

That's true and applies to ANYTHING you sell ofc. - not just cars.

The moment you buy something with the intention of reselling it (hopefully but not necessarily for a profit) you are engaging in trade - and as such you should notify the taxman and do whatever else you need to do to make that formal.

It changes the nature of the transaction with the punter (you become liable for cars which are outstanding on finance and you must offer SoGA cover etc. etc.)

It's obviously common for people to 'duck' this and sell cars from home/family/friends homes using them as the 'owner' to cover the 'ownership' aspect - but one complaint to the wrong person and you're screwed.

Friend of mine who ran a bodyshop handled cars for his dad, mum, 2 sisters and himself/his business - which meant he'd often have a car for sale. Someone who came to see one reported him to the AT for 'trading' which results in a visit from Trading Standards. They looked into his cars for sale - decided he was genuinely selling 'family cars' and left it at that - but the AT Website blocks his postcode for 'Private' sales now (as another mate of mine, who shares that postcode, found out!!!)