Things went from bad to worse FAST!

[@PiffyS16]

Eight year old mint looking Golf, new discs & pads, new cambelt & water pump (cheap) new MOT, one new tyre plus I'm guessing a warranty & he walked away because of the cill looking a bit odd paintwise!!!! Total timewaster imo James. I wouldnt waste another breath on worrying about it.

[@broomad]

James - I have been following the A110 for a few years and finally bought a used one two months ago. Fantastic car - the ride is sublime and it handles brilliantly. Faster than my old S550 5.0 Mustang and it does 38 mpg without trying. No issues so far and it feels special every time I drive it. Even my wife likes it which is unheard of 😂. Can be a bit pricey to service as Alpine try to charge premium prices in spite of the fact that the basic underpinnings are from Renault.

[@ChopsGarage]

Thanks you are not helping with me not pulling trigger lok

[@broomad]

@@ChopsGarage Lol

[@CiBi1968]

@@broomad strangely enough the S550 5.0 was the car I originally wanted instead of the Alpine but my Wife persuaded me otherwise and I'm glad she did as I'm totally smitten with the little Aluminium Beast. I have never driven a non S model so can't compare ride quality.... But I like it "Bumpy" 😊

[@broomad]

@@CiBi1968 The S550 was a great car and made me smile every time I drove it, but it is at the other end of the spectrum to the A110. I used to liken it to a brick through a jeweller's window 😂, where the A110 is all about delicacy

[@johnfitton3716]

Love those not seen in person yet ie on road ..

[@cr4igj100]

If they are that picky over an 8 year old golf then you don’t want them to buy it !!

[@johnomi]

I’m surprised the customer noticed at all, they must have a sharp eye

[@chrispenn715]

I love the A110 - especially in blue. Trouble is, they are really holding their price......

[@ChopsGarage]

Good thing if you own one

[@chrispenn715]

​@@ChopsGaragehaha yes but I don't 😂

[@cat1600k]

Buy the A110 - got one earlier this year as a “special” birthday present- great car having come from Elise and Caymans wanted something that was a great combination of the two 👍👍👍

[@ChopsGarage]

You are not helping lol

[@cat1600k]

You won’t regret it lol - just got the life110 geo setup done 😱

[@CiBi1968]

@@cat1600k I test drove a Cayman before I bought the Alpine ... I just didn't gel with it on the test drive . Maybe if it had been the 4.0 then I might have been swayed ...😊

[@richfixescars]

GR86

[@CiBi1968]

Hi James , Glad you liked my Alipne A110S & your little spin in it . I'm sure if you do get one you will LOVE it !

[@ChopsGarage]

It was ace thanks so much again

[@CiBi1968]

You are more than welcome James . You never know I might go out for a quick spin one day and end up 3 hours away back at chops garage .... Maybe you could take Brooke out for a little spin too ...

[@harvo351]

Go the Alpine !! I think they are brilliant !! Good luck with sorting the MG, Golf sill doesn't look very clever sadly . . . Hope it goes quickly as it's all sorted and ready to go . . . Here's to a brighter week ahead !!

[@AndyfromSurrey]

Keep the MR2 and track day it. Cracking cars to drive and loads of fun with Toyota reliability.

[@gerardcasey8373]

I worked for a VW dealer many years ago and the brand new cars coming in off the transporters were marked with scratches and little dings. They were then rectified at the dealer’s bodyshop.

[@ChopsGarage]

Yes I hear this a lot

[@Brian-om2hh]

That's nothing new. I ordered a new Polo back in the 80's, and when it arrived, it needed a scratch on the roof sorted.

[@chrisaris8756]

The auto boxes on those Yaris of that age are dire, they are those dreadful “ manual” boxes that change electronically. My wife had one when they were new and it was really unpleasant to drive

[@ChopsGarage]

Yes ok from 3rd onwards but first 2 gears very drawn out

[@priteshchampaneri5101]

The Alpine A110 is my one my favourite cars, they’re top notch! Renault underpinnings which I really like… 😊 I’ve driven one, just wish I could own one!

[@ChopsGarage]

Couldn't agree more!

[@crparkinson63]

Whats altro? you mention for blacking plastics on mokka roof?

[@kevinmoffatt]

Moral of the tale is no prep done until car inspected/tested and deposit paid.

[@ChopsGarage]

He paid the £160 for belt which was not refundable

[@keithstapleton7805]

The Golf has had work done to the sill, why who knows, but the finish is not up to par. Someone will buy it, it depends on how pick you are as the seller, many would punt it on but if it's had a poor repair that's structural it could bite you. The joys of being a car dealer.

[@DaleSteel]

Chops I love those little Alpines. Ive always been a fan of the clio 182 and RS and these are just a evolution for the older end

[@ChopsGarage]

Ace aren't they

[@DaleSteel]

@ChopsGarage just abit odd ball. I like odd ball. That's why I drive a maserati lol

[@CiBi1968]

@@DaleSteel Me too .... Used to have a Multipla and a BMW C1 scooter ... Think that says it all 😁

[@davewhittles]

you have been busy churning out the videos this week well done

[@devilmahon666]

James anything over 10 years old Stop trying to get Advisory free Mot tests on them. It’s just not financially viable for you. Also I think you might have dodged a bullet that guy not buying the Golf. Hes obviously just being pedantic on a nearly 9 year old car. It’s in great Condition and has been prepped really well.

[@richfixescars]

Have a look at a Toyota GR86 James, they are around £27k now and manual box. Cheaper than an Alpine but just as much fun.

[@paulgray2387]

You can still do the sub 4k work just reduce prep time and stop doing advisory free mot’s on old cars

[@roystonvehicles9129]

Still money in old cheapies bud, just don't go mad on them, bought a 55 place panda, 31k the other day, Jan mot, nothing up with it, sold day one and had a wage out of it, nice people, happy to have it, 995,fsh,low miles, worked well all round, people are deffo less fussy on cheapies, I've just bought a quasgui 4.5k full of trouble, so late ish isn't always better, just have a good look at cheapies before buying, massive market for them, day one sellers, never to be seen again, hopefully anyway.

[@rogermoore52]

Now the golf was an odd one. I was going to say the guy was unhappy with the rear near side door which appears on camera is be slightly off. Could it be the other side is factory and the near side has been repaired ?

[@henrykravitz468]

If you do decide to sell the Fiat 500, a KZbin channel called Valley Auto's sells those cars. Hopefully, you sell a few cars, as you have some good stock.

[@harrygiles1098]

love the alpine, my neighbour has just bought one

[@mattwills87]

Gordon Murray took his apart because he couldn't understand how it was soo good.

[@ChopsGarage]

Did he lok

[@roystonvehicles9129]

That's the problem with classics bud, you can't really go anywhere, I'd run them all the time and you'd just spend all your time fixing them, fun tho it is. I find the best compromise is a Mx5 tbh.

[@carvanplace]

Chops. The Golf is lovely and the guy was probably the sort of customer that you do not want!!! You'll end up getting the car back from them for evey single niggle or problem ! Let him go and buy a brand new one ! Fantastic videos as usual 👌

[@ChopsGarage]

Cheers

[@Robbie-bp3mg]

Just purchased a Tesla for under 10K, high miles but AWD and still holding 300 on a full charge. Then I see your Soul at just under 8K. Doesn't add up. I could scrap the Tesla tomorrow and get 8k for the motor alone.

[@ChopsGarage]

Seems not a lot of money does it for a 2016 car with 40k

[@andywalters7300]

Do the fiat 500 as and when you have time Brooke will be looking to get behind the wheel soon ideal starter car

[@CiBi1968]

It has been a good car for us for 15 years so I see no reason why not

[@ambitiousautos1064]

them Alpina's are superb looking things

[@timhancock6626]

VW discs are dreadful quality. I'm on my third full set on my Octavia 4x4 in 85,000 miles and I've never known anything like it in 50 years of car ownership. It's not just new pad materials either.

[@colinthomas1540]

Worth getting your hands on a paint thickness tester Chops? Here in Dubai, I don’t leave the office without one!

[@roystonvehicles9129]

That's a good idea

[@paultaylor9652]

Sorry to say but that Golf has definitely had work done on that sill, and not up to a decent body shop standard, in the end it's an older car and you get what you pay for.

[@ChopsGarage]

I'm genuinely interested as to what makes you say that. No filler pin holes, not sanding marks, no tape lines or blend marks etc in fact no evidence at all that its had work other than an opinion that the edge is softer that the panel the other side which Im not really convinced it is.

[@graham3282]

Brilliant fantasic as always 🚗 J CG.😀

[@markfoden765]

The real ups and downs of car dealing in this one,so whatever happened to the plan of selling the vw up and working up to something expensive?Good to see you in the chat last night on duels live tiktok👍

[@ChopsGarage]

I need to get on that

[@liamegan4303]

Hi James. Hello from Ireland again, bro. Great Podcast during the week 👏 👌. I've never seen an Alpina before. Lovely Clio, great colour. James, will you please put 'For Sale' signs in the Cars so we know what the cars are Worth? Otherwise, we are just looking at your Vehicles and guessing or Mabey you might tell us. Yes, James, the Parts prices have gone Crazy 🤪 😜. I rechognise that Bronze Ford C-Max from Joe's Garage, lol. It's very clean. Anyway great video again, James. 👌👏👏👏👏🇮🇪

[@ChopsGarage]

No it's my CMax mate, Joe has different one.car prices are on the site mate

[@paulheyes653]

Stick a magnet on it and see if it's metal or filler.

[@ChopsGarage]

I was going to but did not have one about

[@paulheyes653]

@@ChopsGarage reflex silver is a bugger to match, and if they are that picky over a vehicle that age then you don't want them as a customer. That golf looks absolutely mint, it should fly out the door.

[@roystonvehicles9129]

When buying bud, like that sill, especially paying a few grand you need a good look, don't be afraid of being a hard nosed buyer, if it's not right just pass on it, even if it's a subscriber, great guy, blah, blah, your too trusting mate, most of your troubles can all be traced back to not having a good look, even if you look a pain, have a good look and check everything, no buying blind, or just a cursory glance, it's your money, your customers, as you've found will check everything and come back, I know your doing great tho bud.

[@roystonvehicles9129]

You've really got the bit between your teeth bud with that civic and aygo, you just won't give up on them!

[@roystonvehicles9129]

I thank that civic had a reasonable mot when it came in bud, say it was a grand when you bought it, which was too much anyway, you should just have put say 300 quid across it and sold it, trying for 2k takes it to a whole new level and now it's gone on and on, old 05 plate car isn't worth bothering with, you can't always get big margins bud, tbh around here I've have given 500 quid for it and 895'd it, not long ago I actually sold a tidy 06 plate one for 695 (!)

[@derekfleming3095]

Stick a magnet on the sill, you’ll soon find any filler

[@TheMentalblockrock]

That sill on the Golf doesn't look right. Unlikely to be rotted, but probably a dent.

[@darrenmoore7131]

You tube channel Valley Auto's might be interested in that fiat, they specialise in 500's and they have a one they have one they are breaking to fix others

[@anthonymillar6183]

James just spotted Mike brewer is looking for dealers to buy trade in vehicles?? Might be worth looking into

[@ChopsGarage]

Is he now

[@garymorris801]

that alpine is fab as was the video

[@ChopsGarage]

Many thanks

[@NotRubensDad]

On that Golf paint, I clean a Golf of that vintage regularly and I'm afraid I agree with the subscriber that sill isn't original. Not sure what the story is with it, but there is certainly a story.

[@tardeliesmagic]

@4.36 Shouldn't that red dot on the tyre be next to the valve & not on opposite side? Heard a painted dot on the tyre means it's a balancing thing to be beside the tyre valve?

[@ChopsGarage]

Why are you certain the sill isn't original? As I said the paint on lower section is not but I very sure the silly is.

[@NotRubensDad]

I mean the paint rather than the sill itself, sorry, wasn't clear. It's definitely had something done, probably a caved in sill on a high kerb, but not the greatest paint job if it's obvious from here, almost looked like a rectangle of paint on the video, texture looks different, perhaps a trick of the light 👍

[@Finglesham]

use a magnet. I always had one when I looked at oldish cars.

[@jamessykes3965]

⁠@@ChopsGarage How can anyone be certain unless they are standing in front of the car with a magnet, everyone’s an armchair expert. It’s not like a 1 to 2 year old car. Dear oh dear ,some people are so up themselves. Im glad you deal with these kind of people not me. 🙄

[@filipwennergren2712]

Had a mgb gt… love the herirtage but it was shit. Sorry. My landies was shit. Sorry again but now i drive Lexus and Land Cruisers… ❤️🇸🇪

[@ChopsGarage]

Lexus are ace though, completely different proposition though

[@roystonvehicles9129]

2nd hand box on the fiat bud, easy to do, ah the old noisy thrust bearing story, even tho clutch kits come with them, 3 piece clutch kit,you'll have been chatting away mate, trusting the sellers, believing them, ha, ha.

[@CiBi1968]

The 500 was my car and that is what I was told by the garage after I had the clutch replaced after the replacement failed . Why would I not believe them??

[@roystonvehicles9129]

@@CiBi1968 easy to diagnose a noisy box, tbh fiat 500s are renowned for them, sorry if you didn't know and it was a genuine error, thrust bearing is only noisy when you press the clutch, box is noisy when driving and goes quiet between gears.

[@CiBi1968]

@@roystonvehicles9129 I didn't know . And if it ever happens to our Abarth 595 Competizione then I will be aware . As they say it's only an easy question if you know the answer 😉Thanks

[@roystonvehicles9129]

@@CiBi1968 OK bud

[@Frog-t9z]

Why don't you do like some garages and only MOT if they have less then 6 months when they are that old prep what needs but why go overboard on the older stuff price it appropriately and at least you would get some profit just warranty it for 30 days it a older car spend the time on the newer cars and give the better warranty!!

[@roystonvehicles9129]

Magnet bud on that sill, if you dare...

[@roystonvehicles9129]

Unfortunately you can see that sill is filled bud, so had a smack.

[@jimmyquinn9639]

Another good video James 🚗🚙🚘👏👏👏👍👍

[@ChopsGarage]

Thanks 👍

[@dannycrooks8462]

Stop trying to do advisory free mots on the older cars it doesn't matter at that price point

[@keithhooper6123]

I get advisories year after year,in my Piaggio Porter truck,and it still keeps on going.

[@davidwainwright2816]

Agree 👍

[@ChopsGarage]

Yes prob right

[@davewhittles]

ive had advisories on my old car last 3 MOT i never bother getting them fixed its still passed everytime

[@jonathonedwards6741]

True but if an advisory fails as a dealer supplied car, it could turn on you quickly. Say there’s an advisory for tires and a customer aquaplanes off it could swing back hard. Yes they probably should know about the advisory but going advisory free gives a greater chance of a happy customer

[@vwgolffancarreviews7111]

Love the video's James and I love a VW golf that will sell quite quickly

[@ChopsGarage]

Cheers mate

[@tonywatson1412]

Who,d have thought it ,, fiat 500 gearbox 😮

[@roystonvehicles9129]

Start paying for the upgrade hpi check bud, a lot of cars are hpi clear but when you pay for a salvage check they've been thru Co part or similar, co part cats them, but ins company doesn't report them to hpi or dvla, say on that golf could have been (most likely) hit on that sill area, on a salvage check there's photos, it's a loophole the salvage industry is exploiting, when your spending a few grand, what's a tenner? Do it just before you transfer it. If I were you buying subscribers cars, or any write a check list and stick to it, go for a good drive, I know you want to make it any easy transaction for the customer but your getting caught out, check for pending codes, body, lay down look underneath, check everything, not great finding out afterwards it's got holey sills, noisy boxes, had a smack on the sill area, lights been turned off, all that and more. If a cars not right don't be afraid to turn it away, your money, your business bud.

[@roystonvehicles9129]

Trans am going thru anglia car auction bud this mth, guide 22k

[@conradsmith7752]

Who's Gordon Murray?

[@timhancock6626]

F1 and road car designer. Google him !

[@gwengo4167]

Absolutely nothing wrong with that sill. People who buy a second hand motor need to realise it’s not a brand new car

[@danmoney9932]

But why buy one that has quite probably had a whack there when there are 100s of others out there for the same price that haven't?

[@muffindell]

You need to get rid of all the unreliable toys and buy something that works every time when you need it

[@GhostLead65]

Hi James what sort of money will the Yaris be going for please? We went to look at one local to us but it had 120K so didn,t buy it.

[@ChopsGarage]

For this miles retail seems to be £4495 to £4995 , I hope, depending on MOT to do £3995

[@GhostLead65]

@@ChopsGarage lol ok thanks.

[@hoggmotorsport]

Dude... Would it not be beneficial to employ someone part time to help with the mechanical prep 🤔

[@ChopsGarage]

Hi bud. I do have Pete come in few days

[@roystonvehicles9129]

​@@ChopsGaragefull time guy essential for you bud, everything in house, paint, vallet, mechanical work, pre mot, stop all those pesky fails, I pre mot mine so it's a one hit wonder, looks bad fails and multiple tests, up on ramp, good check over, maybe an old mot tester?

[@redpill3145]

Get a Alpine A110 rally

[@paramedicchrisbookseries]

Our son misplaced my summerhouse key today!

[@ChopsGarage]

Oh dear lol

[@mikes747]

FFS! Its an 8 year old golf! Any car of that age is most likely going to have some sort of paint correction! Sounds like you dodged a bullet there mate! Another person expecting perfection from an older used car!

[@NotRubensDad]

Yaris is that terrible automated manual box. I've driven that diesel with that box and it is ok once it's up through the first few gears but pulling away can be, er, fun. Very best of luck with that one!

[@ChopsGarage]

Yes dim witted in first couple gears

[@NotRubensDad]

@@ChopsGarage They are horrible round town and if you want to pull out onto a roundabout, that kind of thing. Engine is lovely mind you, just with a manual box!

[@tardeliesmagic]

Agree with those MMT box's

[@NotRubensDad]

@@tardeliesmagic The CVT that replaced it on the 2012 Yaris onwards is in a different league.

[@johnfitton3716]

Dont know how you do it chops .. 1 man band buisness with amount you turn over

[@roystonvehicles9129]

I chucked my keys in the wash bucket, took hours to find.

[@philh3409]

Don't you just love customers that want a brand new 8 year old car for less than Autotrader retail🙄? Soundsvlikevyou might've dodged a bullet though, as he'd probably have lived with you for the first 6 months!

[@roystonvehicles9129]

Most are like that tbh, anything over a grand and they want as new, I find you've got to suspend reality when your selling cars.

[@danmoney9932]

A few chips here and there or wear on the Interior are one thing but quite possibly having had a whack in a somewhat structural area is a bit different imo. Why would he buy this one if he can find one without similar damage for the same price? Id actually be happier to see the sill was knocked in slightly and left as it was so you can tell exactly what happened (assuming something like that did happen)

[@roystonvehicles9129]

@@danmoney9932 yes bud, obviously filler is not really on in a structural area, needs looking at tbh.

[@TRD1949uk]

You can 100% see that VW has had work as the crease in sill is different. I reckon customer is fair enough to walk away if he didn’t want a car that looks to have had a dented in sill that’s been repaired. If he wanted a clean unrepaired car fair enough walking away.

[@Lizzard-t]

You must sometimes wonder what life would be like without customers.possibly wonderful. But as you have said in the past yourself about catergrised cars verses uncatergerised cars . And that no one knows that the car they are buying may of had body repairs without informing there insurance company. That golf may well of had a tap in the cill and been repaired without anyone knowing. But at least now its ready to go to its hopefully soon new owner .

[@ChopsGarage]

Yes I guess you need to remind yourself if they were not customers there would not be margins