Choice and personal taste

We have for many years sought to find cars for people by researching and assessing current trends and determining the best value for money models that are available.
Often you will find a particular 'trendy' model significantly more expensive than another similar vehicle from another manufacturer simply because one is less popular than the other. 2 or 3 years later and the 'trendy' model is no longer so fashionable and values will often be the same as the initially less popular & cheaper model. Colour can effect the value of a car significantly. Also a set of nice alloy wheels will add to the desirability & price of one car over another, even though both will function exactly the same. Of course we all want to own a car that we feel comfortable in and gives us perhaps that little bit of 'kudos', but being open minded and flexible will certainly be the most cost effective and quickest approach to buying.


Ex Lease and fleet

Our main source of previously owned cars is the UK ex fleet and lease market. It has long been an established way of sourcing good pedigree, well maintained cars that have many tens or even
hundreds of thousands of miles left in them.

The majority of cars returning from contracts will have been maintained rigorously to the manufacturers specifications and will usually come with full documented service histories.
Of course there are good and bad cars in any market so we always strive to hand pick the best car for the budget available. Some refurbishment may be required but usually this is only in the form of valeting, or light paintwork repairs, due to stone chips or light scratches. Generally the higher the mileage the more cosmetic imperfections there will be. These will normally be corrected before delivery unless specified otherwise.

Value for money

The fleet managers who choose company cars usually pick ones which have a known reputation for being reliable day in day out. These cars are an essential working tool for many business's, so time off the road is something to be avoided.
The disposal and renewal of company vehicles is normally on a 6 month to four year cycle and the renewal process is usually triggered by the need to have a modern up-to-date fleet to portray a professional, confidence inspiring image.
Often cars being replaced have been used by office staff and may only have low mileages. Others will have covered higher than average mileage's. These particular cars can be the best value for money as they are usually significantly cheaper than a lower mileage equivalent car. The journeys made will invariably have been on a motorway where modern cars can easily travel well in excess of 250,000 miles if properly cared for. The reason for lack of mechanical wear on cars mainly driven on a motorway is due to the fact that 70% of engine wear occurs in the first mile or so from a cold start-up. A car that has been sat on a motorway for most of it's life, will be running at optimum temperatures, will not be over revved, and will burn off unwanted chemicals and moisture within an engine that can otherwise cause premature wear. Clutches will have little wear due to far less gear changing and stop-start driving. Shock absorbers will have a longer life due to less strenuous cornering forces. Exhausts will last longer because of the lack of un-burnt moisture that creates internal corrosion. Of course regular servicing is vital, but surprisingly, with modern synthetic oils, servicing intervals can be dramatically increased with this type of driving.

Other suppliers

We also look to other sources to locate more unusual or older cars. Specialist trade disposal sales of main dealer part exchanges are one way we find cars older than 4 years.

This is not always as straight forward as it may appear because often an older
privately owned car may lack servicing history and establishing the true mileage can sometimes be more difficult. These require more scrutiny than ex-fleet, so as to be able to verify mileages and mechanical condition etc. In these circumstances we use a dealer facility from HPI that contacts all previous owners and checks against the
national mileage register. If subsequently anything proves to be incorrect we refund the full price. Through experience though, it is possible for us to spot the tell tale signs of a 'clocked' vehicle with a thorough inspection.

The same risks if not greater are present with privately owned cars that are advertised in local papers. This is one area where it is important to emphasise the phrase 'buyer beware'.  There is no legal comeback with a privately bought car so generally we avoid this type of purchase unless we know that the car is from a reputable source with a full service history.

The Process

When you have decided on the make and model that you are looking for, if you send an e-mail or telephone us with the details, we will give you an estimate of our supplied price for that age / make of car. This figure quoted will usually be accurate to within two or three hundred pounds, but be aware that cars can be cheaper at certain times of the year than others. Generally the period from mid January through to April will be the highest. From May to August prices level out, and then increase again from September until mid October. From this point prices slide until just before Christmas when traditionally prices are usually at their lowest. However certain popular models in short supply will always have a high value throughout the year.

There are a number of price guides available to give an approximate indication of
values, but please bear in mind that these can only be used as a guide, because often they do not reflect the true market value.