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*Wheeler Dealers: Dream Car* is a spin-off of the Wheeler Dealers franchise that focuses on helping everyday people trade their way up to their ideal vehicle. Instead of restoring cars for profit alone, each episode follows a personal journey, where the team starts with the participant’s current car and gradually upgrades through a series of smart buys, repairs, and sales.
The show is led by Mike Brewer, an expert in sourcing and negotiating deals, and Marc Priestley (also known as “Elvis”), a former McLaren Racing mechanic who handles the technical work and improvements.
Season 1 establishes the format with a mix of nostalgic and ambitious goals, from classic cars like a Land Rover Series IIa and Ford Escort Mk2 to high-value dreams such as a DeLorean DMC-12 and a Nissan Skyline.
Season 2 builds on this with bigger stakes and more emotional stories, including practical goals like an Audi Q7 for a growing family, lifestyle vehicles such as a Volkswagen Campervan, and dream performance cars like a Caterham Seven.
Overall, the series blends car expertise with personal storytelling, showing how smart decisions and mechanical skill can turn an ordinary car into someone’s dream vehicle.
Thank you for supporting our channel
*Wheeler Dealers: Dream Car* is a spin-off of the Wheeler Dealers franchise that focuses on helping everyday people trade their way up to their ideal vehicle. Instead of restoring cars for profit alone, each episode follows a personal journey, where the team starts with the participant’s current car and gradually upgrades through a series of smart buys, repairs, and sales.
The show is led by Mike Brewer, an expert in sourcing and negotiating deals, and Marc Priestley (also known as “Elvis”), a former McLaren Racing mechanic who handles the technical work and improvements.
Season 1 establishes the format with a mix of nostalgic and ambitious goals, from classic cars like a Land Rover Series IIa and Ford Escort Mk2 to high-value dreams such as a DeLorean DMC-12 and a Nissan Skyline.
Season 2 builds on this with bigger stakes and more emotional stories, including practical goals like an Audi Q7 for a growing family, lifestyle vehicles such as a Volkswagen Campervan, and dream performance cars like a Caterham Seven.
Overall, the series blends car expertise with personal storytelling, showing how smart decisions and mechanical skill can turn an ordinary car into someone’s dream vehicle.
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MotorTranscript
00:04I'm Mike Brewer. As a teenager in South London, I discovered a love of motors that's led to a lifetime
00:11of 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
00:20of 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.
00:32She'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
00:45the trade.
00:46You only get one shot of this when they fire it up for the very first time.
00:51The inside track on how to buy modern motors.
00:54So 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 knocked down prices.
01:17Yeah. Come on then.
01:22Across the world, up to a hundred million used motors can change hands every year.
01:27That's hundreds of thousands every day.
01:30It's a big, fast moving market for anyone searching for their dream car.
01:36Me 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.
01:45About £25.
01:47Oh, Tone, that's great.
01:48We know where to find the deals.
01:51Twenty-two and a half, what do you say?
01:55Yes.
01:56And 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.
02:07This how-to guide will give you some valuable tools to help seal a deal on your dream used car.
02:16We'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.
02:25In every price bracket, from tens of pounds to millions.
02:30Well Elvis, as you may well know, one of the best places to get a great car at a decent
02:35price 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?
02:44Even the bit of front of house where the hammer goes down, but also what happens behind the scenes.
02:48Yeah, love it.
02:51This site in Northampton is part of one of the world's biggest auction networks.
02:55The sale stock is released online before each auction.
02:58So we've had a sneak preview.
03:00Today, more than 130 cars will go under the hammer.
03:04Priced from £100 to £50,000.
03:08Don'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.
03:18So 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.
03:52You can't beat looking at the metal.
03:57Take for instance this little Nissan.
03:59Looks okay, doesn't it?
04:00Initially, the first thing that drags your eye is the flat tyre.
04:03Yeah.
04:03And then you start looking around the car and you can notice this car has been painted quite
04:07badly 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 choice.
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.
04:41The global car auction trade's worth billions.
04:44This site alone sells more than 20,000 cars a year, from tired old bangers to cars that
04:50are just a few days old.
04:51If you're considering a bid, it's important to understand how auction houses use grading
04:56scales to assess each car.
04:58Grade one is near perfect.
05:00Five needs major bodywork.
05:03The cars come in, they get this barcode attached to the windscreen with all its details logged
05:08in there.
05:08They go through this automated grading process, and then they go off into this really high-tech,
05:13360-degree photographic studio, before the car then actually heads its way into the auction
05:17route.
05:19The barcode gives each car a unique digital signature, so they can be tracked on-site
05:24and online, where you can find detailed images and specs.
05:28Internet bidding's now a huge part of the auction world.
05:32There's no chance for proper mechanical checks, but always stay close to your target vehicle.
05:37You could pick up valuable information.
05:40This 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
05:48the lane up towards the auction at the end.
05:51So you can hear the engine note.
05:52Really 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.
06:09I've snagged some great deals bidding on auctions around the world.
06:12And one of my favourite places to bag a bargain is Japan,
06:16where secondhand cars have a great track record for reliability and can be cheap.
06:23780,000 yen, it's stocked and there's a boxcar.
06:26I 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,
06:34you could reduce your risk by getting an experienced international buyer
06:38Nice.
06:39to do the bidding for you.
06:41Hey, mate.
06:41Very nice to meet you.
06:42Yeah, nice to meet you.
06:43How are you? I'm good, thanks.
06:44Yeah, excellent.
06:45What a great looking car.
06:46Dylan 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,
06:56so you understand exactly what you're buying.
07:00Now, you said you got the auction report.
07:02Is this the paperwork here?
07:03Yeah, I've got it in the bag.
07:04I see a lot of Japanese imports that are bought at auction
07:07and generally they're very good news
07:09because they are well-careful cars
07:11and they represent really good value for money.
07:13However, if you're going to buy one,
07:15make sure it's got a full auction report.
07:17And if you can't read it, then get it translated
07:19because if you buy a bad one, it can be costly.
07:22And I can see this one's an RA,
07:23which 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
07:41is an absolute pleasure and well worth the wait.
07:54In Northampton, the action's about to start.
07:58And the first thing you need to do as a private buyer
08:01is register with the office,
08:02otherwise, you can't bid.
08:04You are going to need a couple of things with you.
08:06You're going to need ID.
08:07Make sure you're over 18 years of age
08:09and you're going to have to leave a deposit.
08:11Now, the deposit is usually around £500.
08:14If you buy a car, they're not the £500 off.
08:17If you don't, you'll get your £500 back.
08:19But once you've done all that,
08:20just get out there on the floor and get ready.
08:24With a car going through every 60 seconds,
08:26you need to focus.
08:28And here are two rules for newbie auction goers.
08:31Number one.
08:32If you're going to come to an auction,
08:34bring somebody with you who has been before.
08:37Somebody with some mechanical knowledge
08:39would really help to make sure you don't make a mistake here.
08:42Number two.
08:43Set your price and stick to it.
08:46And don't forget, on every car sold at an auction across the world,
08:49there's always going to be a buyer's premium on top.
08:54Here 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
09:14at a bargain price.
09:17Iron up the stock, Rachel?
09:18Yes, hello.
09:19How are you?
09:20Good to see you, I'm Mike.
09:21How are you, how are you?
09:22Hello, good, thank you.
09:24Rachel's already checked through today's auction list
09:26and has narrowed down some target cars.
09:29So we thought we'd give you a hand and maybe cast an eye over the cars.
09:32When's your first one going through?
09:34There's a little Hyundai i20.
09:35In about ten minutes.
09:36Really?
09:37Yeah.
09:37So we need to get in the lanes?
09:38Yeah.
09:38OK, let's go have a look.
09:40Auctions 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
09:53when 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
10:05and could need costly repairs.
10:07It's alright.
10:08That's clean.
10:09Clean.
10:11A quick check for any warning signs on the dash is an absolute must.
10:16Nice, Rachel.
10:17It's nice.
10:18It's a pretty little car, isn't it?
10:20It's perfect.
10:21But this is pretty much all we get.
10:22So you've really got to look out, listen, look for all the signs.
10:26You only get seconds to study a target car.
10:29The supermini 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 £1,200.
10:43£1,200.
10:44The car's straight under the auctioneer's eye and we're off.
10:51Rachel needs to stay super calm to get the car within her maximum budget of £1,200.
11:05At £750, she's in.
11:08But there's competition and auctions move fast.
11:12Put the hammer down.
11:14Come on.
11:18The auction stall in at Rachel's £1,000 bid.
11:22Provisional.
11:23Rachel's got the car.
11:24But it's a provisional sale.
11:26But he's actually going to talk to Rachel now.
11:28This 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 £1,100 on the sheet for it.
11:36So would I pay £1,100?
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 £1,500.
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
12:09cars.
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.
12:25All that really needs doing is the car's got to be painted and put back together.
12:37Dream 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.
12:44But 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.
12:56So me and Elvis are going to show you around the world of classics.
13:00What to buy.
13:02How to restore.
13:04And where to make money from this growing scene.
13:11Classics 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.
13:42To keep a bread and butter classic on the road, you can save a fortune by understanding the basics of
13:48how dealers operate.
13:52I mean, has everything got a fixed price or is there a deal to be had?
13:55There's always a deal to be had.
13:56Is there?
13:57Good.
13:57But it can be like finding a needle in a haystack.
14:01That's what they say, isn't it?
14:02One person's junk is another person's treasure.
14:04If only.
14:06And once you've found your treasure, bear in mind, it can be a time-consuming labour of love to maintain
14:13it.
14:14Hello there.
14:14Hiya.
14:15Is this yours?
14:16Yes.
14:16It's absolutely beautiful.
14:19What a job.
14:20I 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.
14:26Yeah.
14:26Wow.
14:27I 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
14:36these big classic events offer expert help.
14:40After a shaky start almost 60 years ago with a reputation for poor reliability, the Hillman Imp is now popular
14:47with enthusiasts keen to update and upgrade a classic.
14:54Hello there.
14:55Hello.
14:56What exactly are you up to here?
14:58Well, we're changing the springs and the shock is over us.
15:00He wants to lower it down a little bit.
15:02So is that a common thing then, that a classic car like this, the youngsters are kind of looking to
15:05modify it?
15:06When in the club they want to enjoy the car and at the same time modify them to suit themselves
15:11in lower suspension, different angles and different engines as well.
15:17It was the Imp's flexible and easily tuned engine that brought the car success on the international motorsport scene.
15:24These 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
15:3270s.
15:34Prices today can start at around £1,000, so they're good value if they've been well looked after, especially with
15:40an engine upgrade.
15:42What sort of engines are you putting in?
15:44Conversion they're doing is a BMW engine, a motorcycle engine.
15:47Oh really?
15:47Yeah.
15:47OK.
15:48Yeah, a K-series, £1,000.
15:50And is it a relatively simple conversion? I mean, still slots into the same gap?
15:53It's reasonably straightforward.
15:53The benefits of that, presumably, are that you've maintained the look, but you're getting the benefits of a modern unit
15:59with perhaps electronics.
16:01Same with this one here with the disc brakes.
16:03That's another conversion.
16:04There's Fiesta disc brake conversion.
16:06Is that right?
16:06Straightforward.
16:07Yeah, 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
16:15changes to things like suspension or brakes to make it a much more usable daily driver, for example.
16:20The question is, do you want a museum piece or a more modern masterpiece?
16:26If you're a classic novice, auto jumbles are also a great place to compare vehicles from different eras and get
16:33an idea of prices.
16:36Look at this.
16:38Love it.
16:40This Series 1 Lotus Esprit is the car made famous by James Bond in The Spy Who Loved Me.
16:46Love it.
16:54You know, these events always bring out a really eclectic group of cars.
16:58I mean, just look, there's all sorts on display here.
17:00You can quite often find things for sale, too.
17:02You might even get yourself a real bargain.
17:04I 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's one of my all-time favourite cars.
17:21One that myself and Mike have both successfully done up and traded in the past.
17:26You know, sometimes at these events, the car park can be just as interesting as the show itself.
17:30I 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
17:36you really want to get stuck into a classic.
17:40If you're considering a dream classic to buy or flip for a profit, then the VW Beetle is a great
17:46pick.
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.
18:07They were known locally as the VW and the last one came off the production line in 2003, 65 years
18:15after its launch.
18:1821 million were sold worldwide, so there are plenty around to restore and loads of parts are still being made
18:25to keep them on the road.
18:32The prices of Beetles have been rising steadily, but if you buy carefully, there's still money to be made on
18:38a deal.
18:40You must be Paul.
18:41Well, you must be Mike.
18:43I am, how are you, Paul?
18:43Fine, thank you, yourself.
18:44Very good to see you.
18:45I'm a little bit nervous, if I was to be honest with you, about what I'm about to see because,
18:51you know, boxes are parked.
18:52Well, yes.
18:53I'd better have a good look at it, shall I?
18:55Yeah.
18:56Wow.
19:00Well, it's sort of half a car at the moment, isn't it?
19:03It's some bits of a car.
19:05Oh, yeah.
19:06Look at that.
19:06The spare wheel wheel.
19:09Well, 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 got yourself a deal.
19:23Well done, son.
19:26This work in progress may have cost us over £2,000, but with a sensitive and relatively simple restoration, we
19:34could triple our money.
19:40Hey, mate.
19:40Hey, bud.
19:41How 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.
19:58Well, welcome to our 1970 VW Beetle.
20:02I mean, mine was a whole car.
20:03Yes.
20:04Where's the rest of it?
20:05All right, don't panic.
20:06The rest of it's in the back of that.
20:07But 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 maximise the amount of money we can take out of
20:22it.
20:22But have you really got all the bits?
20:24Because there's a lot missing.
20:25OK, well, don't put me under too much pressure.
20:27If there's something missing, I will find it.
20:31So here are some top tips for a classic dream car restoration.
20:37Hubcaps, four of, which is good.
20:40Tip one, calmly assess all the parts and store them carefully for later use.
20:46I'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.
20:53Tip two, save yourself cash by doing body prep work.
21:00Just using a bit of wet and dry, which is essentially very fine sandpaper that's dipped in water,
21:05keeps the dust down, but 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.
21:17Tip 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.
21:30Look at that.
21:31Tip 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,
21:44you can keep values high by trying to refurbish.
21:48So the seat's for the Beetle, but you can see they're really saggy on the inside,
21:53rather than replaced with new.
22:00Lovely.
22:01That's a really nice, quick, cheap fix that's brought the seat kind of back to life.
22:09Moment of truth.
22:11And finally, tip five.
22:14Check and check again when you're putting a car back together.
22:18Oh, hello.
22:20Haha, that's it.
22:22The low tension lead inside the distributor hasn't been reconnected.
22:26So without that, we'll get no spark.
22:29Because the road to a finished restoration rarely runs smooth.
22:34But it's worth all the effort in the end.
22:36Here we go.
22:38To get behind the wheel of your own dream drive.
22:41Yes!
22:43That's such a good feeling.
22:48Awesome.
22:49Oh, my.
22:50Look at that!
22:51Oh!
22:52You're kidding, right?
22:54It's good, isn't it?
22:54No, that's not the same car.
22:57Have you just pulled this out of a showroom?
22:59A sale price of £6,700 means our VW has given us a very healthy profit.
23:10Next, we leave the classics behind and come bang up to date heading behind the scenes of a modern car
23:16dealership.
23:17Nice 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 Ford call.
23:30And Elvis asks the Sal Supremo the tough questions.
23:35Is 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?
23:52If the car of your dreams is a nearly new one with a few miles on the clock,
23:56then a Ford call is a great place to start your quest.
23:59Around half the second-hand cars in the UK are sold by dealers.
24:03But the industry is evolving fast.
24:05So we're off to find out how a cutting-edge dealership works.
24:11Right then, Elvis, we're on our way to a car forecourt so you can see how the pros do it.
24:16And I'm going to give you a peek behind the curtain of a modern car forecourt.
24:21Amazing.
24:21A lot of people think that a car dealership is a shed with some bunting tied off of it,
24:26and cars with prices stuck in the screen.
24:29And there are a few out there but that are sort of dinosaurs.
24:32Today the modern car business has completely changed thanks to the internet.
24:36Very 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.
24:50But there's one question every buyer wants to get the answer to.
24:53So we've come to one of my very own forecourts, where we can go behind the scenes and find out
24:59how to get the best deals.
25:01Ian!
25:01Mike! How are you?
25:03How are you?
25:03How are you doing?
25:03Yeah, not bad at all.
25:04Nice to see you again, you're well?
25:05Good to see you.
25:06Hey Phil and nice to see you.
25:06This is Elvis.
25:07Elvis in Fairgrief, nice to meet you.
25:09Mike's off to see if anyone's in the mood for buying.
25:12Right Elvis, come with me.
25:13Brilliant.
25:13Let's have a look.
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?
25:21There'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?
25:30Well, those days have gone because obviously what we make on each vehicle has shrank a heck of a lot
25:35these 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
25:43get them home.
25:44That could obviously help when negotiating with the customer as well.
25:48So it may be tough to negotiate hard cash discounts from a major dealer running a large operation on tight
25:55margins.
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.
26:06Very 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,
26:23are you?
26:23You're looking for a car for the passenger.
26:24Exactly.
26:26Yeah.
26:26It's all about the passenger comfort, the passenger experience and what they get out of the journey really.
26:32New, this 2018 Audi was over £35,000.
26:37But some new cars can lose up to 40% of their value in the first year.
26:42Today, the forecourt price on this car is just £26,404.
26:49What's that feel like?
26:50It's comfortable.
26:52But can it be had any cheaper?
26:54So now let me give you a little bit of advice because these are premium cars and they run in
26:59dealers at tens of thousands of pounds.
27:01So this is a lot of money sitting on a dealer's forecourt and every month they get devalued.
27:06So a dealer doesn't want these cars sitting around for too long because when they devalue, they don't devalue by
27:11just tens of pounds.
27:12They're hundreds, if not thousands of pounds.
27:14It'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
27:28be looking to shift out stock.
27:29Dealers have a quota that they need to sell a certain amount of cars in a month.
27:33And if it's at the end of the month, you can really get in there and try and drive yourself
27:37a good bargain.
27:38But most dealers today, like this forecourt here, they don't have price boards in the cars.
27:42No, I noticed that.
27:44Yeah, because there's a new thing called dynamic pricing.
27:46So all these cars, their prices may change two or three times a week depending on what's out there at
27:52the 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 and they can claim that their car's got the
28:04lowest price locally or nationally.
28:06So 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.
28:18It's a pleasure, sir.
28:20The 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.
28:33Does every single car that comes through here go through the same process?
28:37Yeah.
28:37Every car gets the same check over just to make sure they're perfect to you.
28:41Can I have a look at your checklist?
28:42Just there.
28:43So there'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.
28:49Every 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
28:57work required.
28:58So that is where the extra money goes, isn't it?
29:00It is, definitely.
29:01It's telling the consumer that the car that they've got from here is correct and all done for them.
29:06Everything inside out?
29:08Inside, outside, yeah.
29:09Mechanical 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.
29:22It's not just premium cars that undergo checks by a dealer.
29:25Small city cars should come with the same peace of mind.
29:30Abby is looking for her first car.
29:32A mum, Sally, wants to ensure she gets a reliable motor and for the right price.
29:37Hello.
29:37I'm Mike.
29:38Hi, I'm Sally.
29:39Sally, very nice to meet you.
29:40Hi, I'm Abby.
29:41Abby, 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,
29:47any of these take your fancy.
29:48Plus some really good advice about what to look for.
29:51Say a car like this.
29:52This is a Ford Fiesta.
29:54Biggest selling car in the UK.
29:56Now this one's relatively new.
29:58I like Fiestas.
29:58You like Fiestas?
29:59It's good.
30:00But what's good about this little Fiesta, for instance, is really good stuff straight off the bat.
30:04It's got parking sensors.
30:06And these cars are really simple to drive.
30:09And 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.
30:20Plus a lot of the parts on Fords are interchangeable with other Fords, light 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.
30:31If you look around the front of it, it's 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.
30:40Kia 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
30:50I can give you.
30:50You 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.
31:04And there's some really easy tips that I can give you.
31:07For instance, this car on the front number plate has got the name of the dealer where this car come
31:13from.
31:13Yes?
31:14And Sally, if you nip to the back of the car, just tell me if it's got the same name
31:18written on the number plate at the back.
31:19OK.
31:21Yeah.
31:21That 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.
31:33OK.
31:33So if you're ever looking at a car, just check.
31:36These late plate cars were on sale for around 10 grand.
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
31:52about 70%.
31:53So 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
32:08you want to get rid of?
32:09And guess what?
32:10OK.
32:10All dealers will have a little parcel of cars at the back that just knock down prices they want to
32:14get rid of their forecourt.
32:15So shall I show you a couple?
32:17Yeah.
32:17Come on then.
32:17These are lovely.
32:20Look at this little section.
32:22It's tacked away.
32:22This is at the back at every car lot.
32:24That, for instance, that may be a bit too big for you, but that's only £1,300 that Kia.
32:29OK.
32:29It's nice.
32:30Yeah, it's good, isn't it?
32:31Yeah, probably a bit big.
32:32But that's much more the kind of car, this one here.
32:37OK, that's interesting.
32:37What's that?
32:38Well, this is a Ford Focus.
32:40Yeah.
32:40It's missing hubcaps.
32:41It's got a dent in the door.
32:43It's a little bit tatty.
32:45But guess what?
32:46£300.
32:48Blimey, that's well below your budget.
32:50So £300, so you could spend a couple of quid putting it on the road.
32:53However, 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.
33:04But 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 maximise their profit potential by only
33:17showing 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 favourite 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.
33:43The 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.
33:53I'm hoping to nip in quick with a cash offer.
34:00Hello, Mike. Nice to see you.
34:02I'm all right. And you, mate. Yeah, nice to see you.
34:04How are you doing?
34:04Very good. What a great looking car.
34:06Beautiful, isn't she?
34:07So you sell this kind of car in the back?
34:09Yeah, exactly.
34:10A Porsche, very nice stuff indeed.
34:11This is the kind of car that you wouldn't put in stock.
34:14You'd just want it gone then.
34:14Exactly.
34:15I'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.
34:22Six and a half grand?
34:23Yeah.
34:24Can you do it for six grand?
34:26Six?
34:27Yes.
34:27Go on then.
34:28It's a top man. Thank you very much.
34:30I'm pleased with that deal. Cracking.
34:31You've got a result of a car there, to be fair.
34:35Enjoy.
34:37Next, 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.
34:54And 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.
35:04How nice is that?
35:18I'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?
35:26Go on.
35:27It's a top man. Thank you very much.
35:29And selling high.
35:31Would you take 8-5?
35:33This car is yours.
35:35Fantastic. Thank you.
35:36Of course, not every deal goes as well as this one. And finding a fault-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.
35:55Thankfully, there are some simple checks anyone can do to avoid a bad buy.
35:59This 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. Effectively controlled by a giant computer underneath
36:18the skin.
36:19So if you want to check for problems with engine or gearbox, often the best place isn't to open the
36:23bonnet.
36:24It's to start right here in the driving seat. Start the engine up and keep a close eye on the
36:28dashboard when you do so.
36:31Just watch how long it takes for those warning lights to disappear. When the engine's running and up to speed,
36:36the 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
36:44can.
36:44But sometimes, just rolling down the window, starting the engine and rolling back and forwards in a small space and
36:49listening 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
37:03and reverse.
37:06You've got to have a good, close inspection of all of the wheels, looking for signs of wear and tear,
37:10little dings, dents and scuffs.
37:13Because 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
37:24suspension.
37:24A big hit to a wheel can travel up through the suspension and lead to costly broken coils or struts
37:30depending on your system.
37:32I'm taking a close look at the front grille too. This one's known as a diamond grille, but actually the
37:37same tip applies to pretty much any front engine vehicle.
37:40Check it carefully for signs of damage. It's right at the front of the car, stones and debris can get
37:45flicked up off the road surface and go straight in here.
37:47And if you do see signs of damage, get yourself a torch, pop the bonnet up and have a little
37:52look down behind.
37:53Because right behind that grille is the radiator. And you need to have a very careful look at that and
37:58look for signs of tiny little leaks.
38:00They'll probably show up like the colour of rust, something like that. But if you do see one, it can
38:05be expensive.
38:05A new radiator for something like this could be around 200 quid.
38:14Always check the service history. It only takes a moment, but it's the story of the car.
38:18And it might tell you some unusual things about the car's past that might put you off wanting to buy
38:22it 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.
38:35When dealing with private sellers in a face-to-face interaction, it's easy sometimes to feel pressurised into having to
38:40make a decision on the spot.
38:42Don't fall into that trap. There 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.
38:51And if anything at all gives you cause for concern, then don't feel afraid to just thank the seller for
38:56his time and politely walk away.
38:58There are only so many checks you can make, but this Merc seems like a really well-maintained motor and
39:05not a bad buy.
39:11Luckily, 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.
39:25Buying.
39:26How much is it?
39:27Three and a half thousand, Mike.
39:28Two and a half grand?
39:29How about meeting halfway?
39:31Three.
39:31You can't tell.
39:33Adding value.
39:34How are we going to make any money out of it?
39:35On the outside, I was thinking we could just do a nice vinyl wrap.
39:39And selling vehicles for a profit to make dreams come true.
39:43Well, there's your keys.
39:44Well done, chaps.
39:45Nice one.
39:47And some of the most exciting dream car trading journeys start with the most ordinary cars.
39:53Like 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.
40:13I mean, it just goes.
40:15A very special VW Golf GTI.
40:18That is your dream car.
40:23Thank you so much.
40:27Oh, my God.
40:29Hello, mate.
40:30You must be Adam.
40:31Hi.
40:31Electrical engineer Adam dreamed of one car.
40:34Because you've chosen a particular dream car.
40:37The server 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 bigger
40:47American caravan.
40:50No way.
40:52I love it.
40:54And I love the profit we made from it.
40:56Putting us in reach of what we hope would be Adam's dream TBR.
41:01Happy?
41:02I'm speechless.
41:03You are speechless, aren't you?
41:04A lot of the lost ones.
41:06We made a dream come true for police officer Deepak with a Porsche Cayenne.
41:11Your dream car.
41:12Wow.
41:13That is beautiful.
41:17There was a Nissan Skyline for aspiring photographer Harlan.
41:21This is your dream car.
41:23Oh, my God.
41:24Oh, you're shaking.
41:25Don't have a heart attack on me.
41:27Whatever you do.
41:28And a legendary DeLorean for hardworking farmer Tom.
41:33This is your dream car.
41:35This is my car.
41:41It's true.
41:42This is surreal.
41:45Thank you so much.
41:46Oh, it's a pleasure, mate.
41:48For ex-paratrooper Tony.
41:50Tony.
41:51Hello, mate.
41:52How are you?
41:52We 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.
42:12Actually, this, Tony, is your dream car.
42:15So, is this really mine?
42:17This is yours.
42:18A 1960s Land Rover.
42:20An 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?
42:29A fast-forward fan who works with him daily but couldn't quite afford his own.
42:34My personal favourite and my dream car, that's a Mark II Escobar.
42:38You can't be surrounded by them all day and not own one.
42:41To up our chances of success, we had some big ideas for a tiny bike.
42:47You take 700 quid for it?
42:49No.
42:49Make it 900 quid, it's yours.
42:51900 pounds?
42:52Nine.
42:53And we finally got the cash together for a stunning Mark II Escobar.
42:58But 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 give us a hug.
43:06Man, you deserve it.
43:07Seriously?
43:08You're a hard-working man and you absolutely deserve it.
43:11You've got me going, Chris.
43:12Yes, it's good.
43:24It's unbelievable.
43:25Thank you so much.
43:28Yes.
43:29He looks right at home, didn't he?
43:32It's just for that moment, isn't it?
43:34Oh, honestly.
43:35Tears.
43:35We got tears, Mike.
43:36That was good.
43:37That was good.
43:37That was good.
43:38That was good.
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