A mix of enquiries, presentations, test drives and a few trade sales over the Christmas and New Year period has left me quite short of my best selling stock. To make matters worse, I've priced a few 'perfect stock' cars for dealers over the period, been the best bidder, but for one reason or another they haven't managed to get together with their customer. Good that most have had the courtesy to let me know so I might employ my money elsewhere.
Delivering my Renaultsport Clio V6 255 to Weston Super Mare on the 3rd January and have taken a BMW M3 back in part exchange. It has to be said that this is not a bad way to be making a living, to be driving these pocket supercars around the country. Having said that, I have only been able to price the BMW on description, and often one man's mint condition is not anothers!
In conversation yesterday a local enquirer for a new or nearly new Renault Megane Diesel told me he thought I was missing a trick or two by not promoting my business more locally. Particularly the broker side which in his opinion should be going down a storm with local clientelle who would appreciate my spin on which model and the best deals available - as well as my prices which he was complimentary about. He has been into the local Renault dealer twice as well as the Brighton dealer and come away without the replacement car he wants. He's putting it down to a) overpriced cars and b) apathetic salesman. I can empathise with him. Having spent at least five years in a dealer group 'troubleshooting' role, there's also a lot of mismanagement that's also preventing people like him coming away with a new car.
The same enquirer commented that my website would scare off (for example) your typical middle-aged female buyer, he is alluding to my predeliction towards high performance hatchbacks. Having said that, if you advertise the more run of the mill cars, there are so many of them on the market that you just don't get the calls. At least the stock I cherry pick is often amongst just a half-dozen or so advertised nationally ensuring they sell quickly and for a price that enables me to continue. But I will be taking the comments on board and maybe develop a sister website for the more high performance cars and allow the current site to drift back to more affordable family and utility fodder.
It's New Year's Eve so will be out tonight. Hoping to be developing the business still further in 2007 and wish all those reading this a very happy and successful New Year.
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Thursday, December 21, 2006
A Return To Form...
Been a busy few days in the run-up to Christmas. With car logistics companies now quoting the New Year to move anything it's been a bit of a rush to pay for cars and organise the movements.
Happy to have bought, from the description, a very nice lower mileage 2001 Honda S2000GT in Blue Metallic as well as a very desirable high specification Renault Scenic dCi 120 diesel with lots of factory options. Agreed delivery in the New Year, but if a driver is nearby they will try and get them back to me sooner.
Took the recently acquired 2006 Ford Focus ST2 to Guildford yesterday via the B roads connecting the A24 with the A281. Dropped by Geoff Sizzey (long established Peugeot specialist) on the way to catch up. It's the first ST2 that's come my way and have to say it makes very light work of this kind of journey. The turbocharged 2.5 lite 20v engine, as fitted to Volvo Estates is very responsive, with the inlet and exhaust system tuned to make a rewarding growl when you apply the throttle in the right circumstance. Supportive Recaro seats keep you in place during faster corners. I have to say, it's been a while since I dabbled in fast Fords, but depending upon how this one sells, I might get into a few more. This car certainly feels as well screwed together as the Golf GTI. As they say in the music press, 'a return to form'.
Happy to have bought, from the description, a very nice lower mileage 2001 Honda S2000GT in Blue Metallic as well as a very desirable high specification Renault Scenic dCi 120 diesel with lots of factory options. Agreed delivery in the New Year, but if a driver is nearby they will try and get them back to me sooner.
Took the recently acquired 2006 Ford Focus ST2 to Guildford yesterday via the B roads connecting the A24 with the A281. Dropped by Geoff Sizzey (long established Peugeot specialist) on the way to catch up. It's the first ST2 that's come my way and have to say it makes very light work of this kind of journey. The turbocharged 2.5 lite 20v engine, as fitted to Volvo Estates is very responsive, with the inlet and exhaust system tuned to make a rewarding growl when you apply the throttle in the right circumstance. Supportive Recaro seats keep you in place during faster corners. I have to say, it's been a while since I dabbled in fast Fords, but depending upon how this one sells, I might get into a few more. This car certainly feels as well screwed together as the Golf GTI. As they say in the music press, 'a return to form'.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
A Little Less In Your Face Maybe
Somewhere to post the day-to-day goings on of car dealing for a living - and other stuff of interest. My old blog still exists if it's bookmarked or you know where it is - maybe a good resource, but having been described as 'too commercial' by the keepers of the Interweb I'll try and keep this one a little less in your face barrow boy. "Cars for sale, Cars for sale"!
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