I think this is where the money is right now!

[@gerardcasey8373]

You are the only used car dealer I would have no hesitation buying from. I wish you were closer to me. Always look forward to your videos.

[@ChopsGarage]

Thanks 👍

[@davidives7204]

Hear Hear

[@wayneo1234]

I’ll 3rd that!

[@harrygiles1098]

Agreed

[@adambradley8645]

Definitely 👍

[@cclark3064]

Putting so much effort in your car prep! You are the gold standard! I see so many cars for sale hardly given more than a wash and hoover out. It's hard to set a good price, but you deserve more!

[@paramedicchrisbookseries]

@chopsgarage are amazing

[@LeeW-SKO]

Love how much care you put into your cars, your standards are amazing. You deserve to do well on the polo & duster. You did the right thing about pure tech Px

[@philwilliams9983]

Sound is rubbish again please sort it

[@ChopsGarage]

I appreciate that!

[@trevorjarvis3021]

You have really turned that Polo around James, looks excellent.😊

[@paulf2529]

The polo looks superb, well worth the effort.

[@ChopsGarage]

Cheers

[@kingsknightuk]

my left ear thanks you for the video lol

[@neilstafford7245]

After running a Peugeot 2008 for more than 10 years, decided it was time for a change. bought a 21 plate Duster from my local Dacia dealer a couple of months ago. So far very happy with it, got all the gadgets I would want, really surprised by the ride and the punchy engine. My bad back really appreciates the height of the drivers seat which is just right for me to slide in and out of without a problem.

[@ChopsGarage]

I think you will stay happy

[@eggy1962]

@@ChopsGaragemy sister is on her second duster after two stepways, she loves her duster, i have driven it really surprised how nippy the 1.3 petrol turbos are.

[@Yesterday23071]

@@eggy1962That 1.3 engine it’s a Mercedes engine . It’s very good one .

[@eggy1962]

@@Yesterday23071 renault /nissan/daimler collab

[@henrykravitz468]

The only people I would buy a car from are you, shifting metal, and The lovely Car Company (Car dealer Pro). Oh, I forgot to add CarUk to that list. I love how you break down all your costs and how much you make. Have a great weekend James.

[@PaulDnb]

Matt at High Peak Autos is one to add to your list. He always massively overspends on preparation

[@henrykravitz468]

@PaulDnb how could I forget Matt. I love his video's

[@williamfence566]

Had an E36 coupe years ago with a sagging headliner. 3 door and a boot so no one wanted to have a go at getting the headliner out without bending it. Eventually I managed to get a boat builder to do it, I still don't know how but it was a brilliant job and he didn't take a window out.

[@CarlosFandango1975]

The fact you still get the time to do the tinkering jobs you like so much shows youve got the balance right for you. Obviously if you put a value on each hour youre working youd steer clear of doing mechanical jobs yourself but thats why you arent a car salesman. Youre a car dealer. Great videos James

[@ChopsGarage]

Think you nailed it cheers bud

[@craigmaughan5633]

Did a European trip in the summer and I was surprised these Dacia's were everywhere especially in France. Cheap and reliable is all that people really want.

[@eggy1962]

Similar to my time with old skoda estelles back in late 80’s early 90’s, all you need is to be able to get from A to B reliably no frills.

[@TommyRogic18]

The Duster would be a fantastic dog car for someone, especially if they do agility training or shows with their propensity for very muddy car parks.

[@fatblokes_ferguson]

I would be confident that if I see buy a car for £2000 but you put the work the work in you did I would be happy for you to make a profit, you seem a honest seller, I would happily buy a car from you

[@TurboTimsWorld]

Got myself lost in Devon this morning and passed CG central gave you a wave (I would have dropped off tea bags, coffee and biscuits but passed slammed the ankers and waved!) I was on a mission, Black cat garage, Black dog village and Black cock inn, never found the Inn but found Jack Russel pub (miss hub nut) But its was closed at when I passed. xx

[@ChopsGarage]

I popped in today too

[@paramedicchrisbookseries]

Love your video's, you do an amazing job.

[@ChopsGarage]

Thank you so much!

[@fatwalletboy2]

Looking at how the Polo came out I would gladly come down and pay you just to machine polish my car !

[@meeeellar]

Chops, all of your recent videos have had the sound predominantly coming through the left channel.

[@ChopsGarage]

I'll check it out

[@1701_FyldeFlyer]

Like I said before, only on this YT channel.

[@jasonbudd2950Jag]

Subbed 👍 great vid fella, TY for sharing

[@ChopsGarage]

Thanks for the sub!

[@BazDeeWren]

All honest cars and fair prices and I love the videos. Shame I’m up in Scotland but hey, never say never. 😊

[@rob_lightbody]

Great video as usual. My pals have an older duster 4x4 and love it. Not sure about the dark headlining in the polo, would annoy me that it doesn't match the handles/pillars etc!

[@ChopsGarage]

It did not before really to be fair

[@roystonvehicles9129]

You've done a really good job on the polo bud, I've got one up for sale as well, I did a shot of my headlining just as a dig at you bud, as well as mentioning rear headrests, ha, ha.

[@ChopsGarage]

Lok

[@bleakyfinder2692]

that car has never failed a MOT. Excellent Score on Vehicle Score 854/1000 Amazing. 5k to 6k worth.

[@ChopsGarage]

I'd not noted that cheers

[@davidquinn5906]

I had a look at a VW Fox once. The car they had for a test drive was a couple of years old and that had a droopy headlining. Not sure I should admit to looking at a Fox...

[@vwgolffancarreviews7111]

And the golf from 2009 has the same problem

[@ChopsGarage]

Bad was sagging that early

[@ricksallotment5923]

Maybe not like pencils but the exposure draws one eye to the dainty structure.

[@Brian-om2hh]

Those Dusters - both 2 and 4 wheel drive - are popular up here in the Lake District, plus there is a Renault dealer in the area, who just began selling Dacia not long back... I could be tempted to take a look at the new Duster when the time comes....

[@alanjackson4646]

I have a Nissan qashqai with that 1.5 dci engine, it has 23,000 on it and has had all 4 injectors replaced at a cost of about £520 inc labour each.

[@roystonvehicles9129]

I did a megane the other day bud, yes those injectors are always going, I paid 226 quid brand factory new from firths diesel at Rotherham, easy enough to fit, if they come out OK that is, scan it first and that'll tell you which injector has gone down, number 4 say is cam belt end, don't replace the wrong one, it's a good engine the 1.5 dci but I've had to do turbos, glow plugs and injectors on ones this year.

[@paulmoore6345]

Polo looking smart now. 👍

[@roystonvehicles9129]

Don't get too down harted mate, just tighten up on things, a lot of your problems are a bit self inflicted. You do really well there I bet you've earnt a load this year, I've known you bang say 6 out without blinking.

[@NotRubensDad]

I might have a 2016 small auto with 30 odd thousand and full main dealer history to get rid of some time soonish. Just can't think who would like one of those. Does need some cosmetics doing though!

[@ChopsGarage]

Lol ,me neither lol 🤣

[@roystonvehicles9129]

At least your selling mate, I've only done 1 in a mth, I've been doing other things, but still only 1 car, had a few little jobs in but basically pretty dire. Got a quasgui up today, gave 4k for it, but it's had a screen and a rebuilt gearbox so even at retail I'll be loosing. Maybe if you could get round all the main dealers and get card cheap enough maybe trade could work. Try some at auction, buy, tidy up and block em? Try your buying service, have to be low bids tho, maybe a transporter taking 2 cars at a time to say bca. I actually tried it years ago but more often than not they didn't sell, might be different now. Anyway keep positive mate, I bet your profits really good this year, even with your warranty nightmares.

[@ChopsGarage]

Bought another 4 today , 2 proper cheapies 2002 pug 306 estate and 2004 Micra , told him they are scrap money. Think was couple people newly qualified for mobility. The Astra needs gearbox and picasso need clutch. But don't want to let another dealer in

[@roystonvehicles9129]

@ChopsGarage great bud, make a wage on them, I like a cheapie, sometimes (often) they're as good as dearer stuff, plus you can say sold as is. Other dealers are snobby about cheapies but in credit crunch days I was 200k in debt, cheap cars bailed me out.

[@TRD1949uk]

I do love how the original Dacia didn’t even bother fitting a diesel rev counter to it 😂 proper cheap motors but have such character

[@ricksallotment5923]

The front mcphersone struts are like pencils on them. Suppose that's OK Chapman wise. Just look so dinky

[@iforwilliams2509]

Dacias were everywhere in Britanny years ago before we saw them on this island

[@Nora-k6e]

Your videos are not just content, they are stories that stay in the heart. Keep inspiring us!🎃🌳🔴

[@thindo]

Still with me 65 reg 1.5dci Dacia logan mcv since 2016 not much has gone wrong with it other than a wheel bearing. Now at 107000 miles on original everything and used everyday... Can't complain on cheap motoring

[@thebigbowler]

Seriously considered one of these, but was dissapointed with the rear leg room for the kids, so went with the Seat Ateca instead.

[@williamstoutjesdijk-ry2oz]

Good choice, buy in a Dacia is buying a death trap.

[@aceace5457]

[@roystonvehicles9129]

On that dull mirror just mask it up and chuck some cheap 1k aresol lacquer on it bud, don't flat it off, just shine it up, take 5 mins.

[@roystonvehicles9129]

Try a winter service advert bud, say 149 quid on a little car, winter check, anti freeze check and re fill, check it with on of those ball things, suck a bit out and refill, easy 100 quid wages, 149 plus vat so your margins safe, I've taken in loads of jobs over the years, any problems it's on them as well, try fixed price diagnostics 49.99, 10 mins with the scanner, get say a cat job in or o2 sensor or maf sensor, get Pete on board I'd rather sell cars as you would but sometimes the margin is slim and your on the hook, I did a mokka service the other day, 130 quid, 60 into bits, so 70 quid wages, everyone's happy. Tbh bud I'll do anything (!)

[@johnpritchard2772]

Hello James, thank you for your honesty with the deductions from your money due to many items such as taxman, other items to keep your business going. Hope the lady customer likes the car enough to buy it after selling her car? Best wishes from Lincolnshire.

[@ChopsGarage]

Cheers mate

[@darrenwilson8042]

Dacia's are where its at for dealers in your market - they are inexpensive - reliable and use tried and tested Renault bits. Have been so impressed with mine over the last 3 years. Anyone looking for a great vfm car that will be reliable at sub £5k can risk it all on a Disco3 or some overpriced Toyota but who knows the market will be going straight to Dacia on Autotrader and in the classifieds

[@ChopsGarage]

Yes perfect cheapies

[@shabba890]

That Duster 4x4 is a perfect sell for our mild british winters. Despite being totally pointless for the poor old Doris who ends up with it.

[@chrismolloy5079]

Dare I say that the Duster has HubNut written all over it rather than prolong the agony of his beloved Berlingo.

[@adrianmassey6673]

Would make much more sense than hemoraging money on that Berlingo, but daresay the Berlingo makes for more content on his channel

[@chrismolloy5079]

@adrianmassey6673 Totally agree ~ but Ian has been thinking Dacia lately and it is sorta French.

[@ghobby6143]

The Polo is ♠️

[@twes5563]

Your audio is to the left not the middle I would adjust it asap.

[@vwgolffancarreviews7111]

Love the video's James

[@ChopsGarage]

Cheers mate

[@harrygiles1098]

Move to kent please lol

[@jonsayce7756]

FYI seems to me your mic is heavily biased towards the left channel.

[@fatwalletboy2]

£275 on the Polo.......thought it ought be nearer double that.

[@tardeliesmagic]

James,how come it's full service history with 2 years missing on the service history stamp book?

[@bazasulli4975]

The one thing I never understood with the duster 4x4 is the strange need to put a crawler ratio for 1st gear. Half the people who buy them don't even realise it is a crawler ratio.

[@paulf2529]

@@bazasulli4975 Hill descent in snow and ice.

[@timhancock6626]

The low first gear is also ideal for launching and recovering boats on slipways. It's a lot cheaper than having a full low ratio box, but it does mean that top gear is too low and this makes it less suitable for motorways than the 2WD Dusters.

[@testingtimes7924]

Thanks for putting the figures up. It's shocking that you take all the risk, by investing your own money, and in this case ended up making the same money as the VAT woman, who takes no risk at all.

[@tubbyj02]

Tax is overstated. Tax is on profit after overheads and warranty etc.

[@ChopsGarage]

Warranty was already deducted so overstated by 40 quid maybe

[@thecodfater3748]

@@ChopsGarage you're not paying 40% on the total taxable amount fella 🤣, you're paying once you exceed threshold and only on the amount above threshold. And why is it 40% anyway? You're taking it all as salary??

[@ChopsGarage]

@thecodfater3748 I'm aware how tax works lol! I know there are lower and higher these hold points. An average of 40 on net is going to be a fair number. As a sole trader there is no salary

[@thecodfater3748]

@@ChopsGarage you clearly have no clue how tax works (or how averages work even). Unless you rake in an insane amount of profit it can't be an average of 40%, since the max rate for sole traders is 45% and that kicks in from profit of 125k.

[@ChopsGarage]

@thecodfater3748 🤣🤣 bless

[@roystonvehicles9129]

Start taking some servicing work in bud, I do, a little petrol car service for say 120 quid, 40 quid in bits, takes 20 mins, it's funny but service customers absolutely trust and love you, while used car buyers are a nightmare, strange.

[@Brianodell-el2ie]

James if your wife doesn’t want the wrangler how much would you want for it as I might be interested

[@ChopsGarage]

Prob about 5995 done

[@smoothmicra]

The old Dacia looks decent value if you want a cheap SUV. Service history is so valuable, should never be underrated. Keep your fancy spec and bling, give me service history.

[@grahamhartless4317]

Hi chops, excuse my ignorance but is the VAT figure of £2.00 correct on the purchase price?

[@ChopsGarage]

That is correct. It's only on the admin fee

[@lesrichards33]

A local dealer has customers sign to say any problems with the vehicle they are about to buy must be addressed with the warranty company and not them. Is this legal? Can you sign away your rights in law?

[@Frog-t9z]

There's a garage round my area he sells cars from£2,000 to £10,000 and he only givess warranty for 28 days so why not do it your self 😅

[@bluefish2303]

Nice Duster but it's had an awful lot done to it...

[@fwof3347]

You might 5ink your money is coming in here , but ole mocha man will take it from you.

[@ChopsGarage]

Lol true

[@jamesgraham6122]

If you were dealing in cars averaging twice or even three times the value, you'd be putting in apx the same time/effort, does the decreased turnover time really offset those low margins ? I suppose that should be a rhetorical question otherwise you'd be dealing in those higher value vehicles ?

[@ChopsGarage]

If you go higher price newer , say a 2018 polo with 40k you would likely only net 800 on 8k car as that's what everyone wants to trade. But you would have less time in it

[@jamesgraham6122]

@@ChopsGarage Yes, ok.. Thanks for that.. :>)

[@roystonvehicles9129]

Try an, as is section bud, say get something in a say a grand, do an advert saying p ex to clear, lay it on the line it's as is, there's loads of people who'll accept a few bits and bobs if it's cheap enough, you simply can't mint everything up on your own, if they're a fussy sort just fob em off, it's better than stacking them up waiting to be minted up, that doesn't happen, then selling them cheap to trade, I'm very guilty of getting half way thru something then putting it to one side for 3 years, when it should have been punted out as it came in, my favourite is doing half paint prep, filling, primer then sticking them to one side, obviously to sell as is, they'll have to be cheap, but a wage is a wage mate. Sometimes 200 quid out of something is better than a grand after moting, painting all the usual stuff.

[@robertgillingwater]

Not enough profit for the input and risk

[@GhostLead65]

Too cheap on the Duster James its at least 4 and half for that all day.Also don,t you have your own dealer stickers for the rear window as that Polo still had the previous in it.

[@mickbowler9111]

Dacia just a no thrills reliable brand, but that engine lacks guts, a pedal car has more power 😂... the newer ones they seemed to address it, as well as addressing the lack of automatics.

[@stepheng8779]

A £3000 car means as much if not more to someone than a £40,000 one does. Be an insult to that customer if you didn't prep the car & treat the sale with the same respect.

[@ChopsGarage]

But you can't prep to the same standard can you. 40k has most likely 4k margin and be couple of years old. You could never bring to sane standard

[@stepheng8779]

​@@ChopsGarageNot the same standard mate but the same care, you were talking same margins, that's different. You said selling it for £400 - £500 less and leaving it, make it that bit nicer & get the extra. You get rewarded for your work & your customer appreciates it more. Plus the car sells quicker.

[@dk100han]

At this price level, the level of prep would double the price of a 3k car to get it to as new standards. Respect to the customer of corse but prep level cannot be achieved.

[@paulf2529]

@stepheng8779 Also a well prepared car will sell quicker.

[@andymccurley1]

@@stepheng8779I take it you run a very successful car dealership?

[@chrishart8548]

The screen is positioned way to low in these and then the controls being even lower. Imagine following sat nav your eyes wouldn't been looking where your going

[@jonathanwhitehead9649]

How many (roughly) cars is that £100 overhead based on, guessing a majority of your overheads are fixed?

[@ChopsGarage]

20

[@roystonvehicles9129]

You've done well on that polo bud, you paid too much, should have been say 14 or 1500 at most with the state it was in, you saw the finished article in your head but to anyone else it looked like scrap. Selling price of near 4k is amazing tbh, on your figures you've put a WW price and your own warranty figure. I've got an 09 polo up and it's only 1695 and no ones ringing (!) I paid 750 bid for it so it's a grand all done, if I make 700 gross I think that's all I can expect on a cheap car. While ever your farming out jobs margin will always be tight tbh, theyre not really that sort of car, your at maybe 1200 gross margin which I thinks pretty good tbh, your not going to get any better on a 2k outlay. You've worked wonders on that polo, I mean doing that headlining was excellent.

[@ChopsGarage]

Cheers buddy. How many miles on that polo then? They fly here

[@roystonvehicles9129]

@ChopsGarage 112k bud, it's just very quiet prior Christmas.

[@Joolz777]

👍👍👍👍👍😎😎😎😎😎

[@Piner5074]

Polo is lovely looking, should’ve held out for £3995 I think though, positive bargain at £3700. Underselling Duster too. £4500 all day long, even at 105k miles

[@ChopsGarage]

I'll check out valuation tool bud

[@mufc7557]

Sound is shocking in your videos.. unwatchable

[@davel9359]

Been bad for the last three or four videos.

[@BillCarrIpswich]

No issues here

[@danielrussell446]

No issues here

[@simonbailey2151]

Yep. This was a bit Dalek-like on the sound at times. Perfectly watchable though. Dunno why you had such a problem with it.

[@IanM18]

You don't watch sound.

[@dennisevers3421]

Last

[@paulprosser1289]

If you’re going to film screens kindly set your frame rate to 50 or 25 fps to avoid strobing an fringing.

[@slave2damachine]

Have you seen the car tax increases for next April , everyone will be getting rid of the big engine cars now , OUCH!!!

[@ChopsGarage]

No not really looked

[@slave2damachine]

@ChopsGarage £30 to £130 , £180 to £360 after that it go's through the roof to max £5000 a year

[@red9zero]

​@@slave2damachineGot a link to this info ?

[@paulmoore6345]

I was going to say that. I have been looking online but can't find anything. All I can find is the rises from the Jeremy Hunt budget earlier this year for next years prices...

[@nickmoore2301]

That tax increase is new cars only for their first year 😊

[@roystonvehicles9129]

It's an original idea mate to take a deposit and let a woman go and sell her car, I think I'd have kept myself open with the car up for sale, they never do as well on the 2nd advert people think somethings wrong, maybe it'll work out tho. Its not something I'd do, 10 mins later you might have someone on it who's good to go, I'd have thought she'll probably just be looking around for a higher p ex price, selling privately is a nightmare, tbh you should have been laying it on thick about the perils of private selling.

[@ChopsGarage]

Can next day as WBAC it. 5 mins down road clutch went on i20 ffs

[@roystonvehicles9129]

@ChopsGarage God mate, bad news, had a ssangyong the other week, clutch just went on that on customer, was consentric slave, that wasn't the full sort tho bud, being a ssangyong a new clutch wasn't available, got the old one rebuilt tho, supplied and fitted 550 quid, which averted disaster.

[@TrevorBuick]

And basically we all now have to pay 40% income tax now, that used to be just for the rich but now is all of us

[@ChopsGarage]

Pretty much

[@davidgardiner4720]

All of us? The median income is still comfortably bellow the 40% threshold. I would be quite happy to pay 40% on earnings above that threshold , I would be measurably better off than I am now.

[@garymorris801]

All credit to you though

[@wayneoriordan6749]

it's on the bone margin james I do mots repairs I stopped selling yrs ago dealing with whining people drove me insane

[@garymorris801]

Mate that’s not a great reward

[@ChopsGarage]

It's the reality of the myth bud the myth being wash em and make 2k