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This little Saxo is wonderful! One of the more interesting special editions. Local too....

Having owned a few CL500s, I really do lust after the 600 V12 for it's sheer capability of bankrupting even the most wealthy of owners. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-Mercedes-Benz-Cl600-5-8-V12-Pillar-Less-Coupe-Chalze-Don-Blue-Metallic/402757009040?hash=item5dc6303e90:g:qYwAAOSwJ0ZgVUyW

Oh, definitely consider the Irish Wild Atlantic Way, if you haven't done so already. Just the most stunning scenery, fantastic roads and bloody brilliant boozers. If you can manage 5-7 days, it's the perfect amount of time to take it all in. Once it's legal to cross the border of course!

Yeh, the boat is very quiet at the moment. But prices haven't changed. Averaging about £140 one way, though coming back I pick the generally undesirable late sailing because I'm 5 minutes from Belfast port at the other end so don't lose much sleep. It's usually £109. Absolute key! The dread of hitting real speed in an auction car still fills me with anticipation. Wheel bearings hanging out of it!? Limp home mode ready to kick in!? You can get such a story of how a car has lived through it's first minute or so on the road. They must've been great days for all of that fun. Astras, 306s, Escorts!!! Ever had any auction-related disasters? I had a brief few experiences of going to auction as a kid during the 90s. I remember my uncle very naïvely buying a three year old M reg Mondeo only to jump into it to take it home and realising it was an automatic. I'll never forget him looking down at the shifter then yelling, "HOW THE F*CK DO YOU DRIVE AN AUTOMATIC!?". In other news, my little C30 sold this morning. First viewer fell in love with it's poverty charm and left, proud as punch. I've also booked a flight to the midlands on Friday to collect another car I shouldn't have bought but am so excited to try. I've had a few XMs, all incorrectly fuelled and I never really got on with them. I thought I'd missed the boat on trying a cheap V6 XM, so I just had to jump at this.

I agree. I never quite got to experience the good old days of the Auto Trader magazine and a printed Glasses guide, but I’ve learnt a few golden rules to limit the exposure to mongrels. The golden one is - Facebook marketplace is where they ALL live. When I first started working at the auction, Gumtree was a basic, free platform, long before eBay got their greedy mits on it, and it was incredible for buying ANYTHING for £2-300 on the block then advertising it for double the next day and it would be gone in hours. Obviously now, having a business name and a reputation attached, it’s a different story, but those were great days for starting out. Now, I really hate selling anything sub £1k for the reason you just mentioned. I generally keep their ads confined to Auto Trader and marked “p/ex to clear”. It attracts a more educated crowd who know their budget and what to expect. Not broke, entitled, Kyle’s with no credit rating standing outside your front door with their tragic offspring and bitter wife for two hours doing an MOT on a £450 Renault Migraine after you’ve had to show them how to open the bonnet.

Isn't it just. So clinical and soulless.

I just had a lady buy a 2004 V70 off me because she didn't her grandkids and dogs ruining her week-old Tesla. My first experience of one of these. Terrifying.

You would probably be best to replace the battery altogether. They're very sensitive to the wrong battery / small drop in voltage.

^ Sorry to bore you. For those who are interested, the trip was a great success. The Volvo was booked for an MOT on Monday before I left for the ferry the next day, so everything was crossed. Unfortunately the handbrake cable was damaged, and idiot me didn't prepare for that despite a forewarning. Amazingly, the tester managed to bodge it in order to satisfy the brake test and the old girl got herself a new ticket. Emissions were right on the limit, which would explain why this came on on the way back from the MOT I have to say, it ate the 300 mile trek from Birmingham to Cainryan better than a lot of newer cars I've done the same with, andI'd say the run has done it the world of good given that it did just over 1000 miles last year. What an epic place it was to sit for six hours. Back home and it's straight back into business. My local SAAB specialist keeps in close contact with me for if any of his customers are selling or looking to purchase. He asked me to come and take a look at two that had been left with him before being sold. The first was a new model 9-5, unfortunately a diesel. I got the keys and took for it a run with real anticipation, I'd love to get to know one of these things. Unfortunately all I could feel was disappointment, verging on anger, for what happened to SAAB in the end. The interior is a blatant Insignia, with the same cheap switchgear that wears horribly and just looks awful at this stage, and with that clattery Vauxhall diesel engine under the bonnet, it marks a sad end for a brand with such a rich history. The owner was after strong money for it and it just wasn't worth the effort. I did leave with this ridiculously cheap and unloved floppy top 9-3 though... Another "something a little different" came in as well, a Renault Koleos. Anyone remotely interested in these should really consider one. They have a lot of Samsung influence which is great for dependability. They're comfy, well spec'd and the 4WD model is pretty capable. They're also down to very little £££. Engine management light is on. It's 2009 and has done 59k, I'd say it just needs a real good drive. Then it's due MOT and should be ready to go.

Fantastic day all round yesterday. My first taste of a Volvo 960, great to meet Austin-Rover and give this proper beige beast a new home. Did the 120 miles down to Birmingham lovely, let’s hope it does the same for the 300 back to Cairnryan on Tuesday 😍

Correct. A strange group of people uphold extreme values of Sierras, 405s, Omegas and Lexus IS200s on this side of the water! Today should be a good day. I’m currently sat on the Stena, 5 decks above this beauty who is heading for Blackpool this afternoon. I’m then heading across to Huddersfield to a pick up a 26-year-old, beige, land-yacht and hoping that I reach Birmingham for sundown.

I've sold a few. I once paid far too much for a Megane dCi that ended up needing a clutch. It had an NIL plate on it (which for some reason people go nuts for). It ended up paying for the car, plus profit, plus I had great pleasure of personally ridding the world of another Renault diesel. This morning I have three viewers booked in, a few more usually get added on throughout the day - Friday is always the same. Hopefully a few more leave to make space for whatever I buy on the mainland over the next few days 😬

A real honest, clean looking, proper survivor of a Mk1 floppy top Mégane here. Shame it ain't got the 2.0 F4R but still, what a little honey. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Renault-Megane-Coupe-Convertible-1998-Phase-1-only-49000-miles-ONE-OWNER/154366625568

Thanks Cav, I sure will. I'm actually delivering this rather tidy V50 SE Lux to a shiter in Blackpool at the weekend to replace his Rover 75 as a workhorse. I guess you just never know what'll take somebody's fancy. Oh of course, balls of steel that guy. I've gotten used to the odd car coming back for a warranty claim, but I think standing over a Bentley Azure gearbox fr six months is a little different to forking out for a failed wiper motor on a Renault Scenic. Hats off to him! I should finally get around to editing the footage I have reviewing mine in the snow, so I'll hide* the YouTube link from you once it's live 😉 Thank you sir!

It depends what way you look at it. Yes, they can hang round for longer, but very often mine is the only one (or one of a handful) for sale in that guise, so you're not pitching against 20 identical cars all at the same price, as you would be with a TDi Golf. Also, the more "in demand" cars cost more to buy within the trade in the first place. So, they may sit around a little longer, but the profit is good and the pleasure of driving it in the meantime is unparalleled. A strange business model, but it's working, quite well. The Alfa was a £100 trade-in from Dublin! They couldn't shift it down there because of the tax, so were happy with it providing their ride up to Belfast and £100 against their Volvo. Hahahaha what can I say, the stress of getting to the bottom of EML faults and Renault key cards is beginning to take a toll. Ahhhh the BX.... spotted it about Belfast in my uni days, driven by a Deirdre Barlow lookalike. I approached her a few times and last June I took ownership. She had the car from new and it was her daily driver. It is completely original, down to the dealer stickers, spare key with dealer tags, sales brochure and FULL service history. Her husband kept a record. I have it insured on a classic policy, taxed, MOTd, and she gets out 2-3 times a week. Absolutely love the thing. Here's some pornography for you.