- 4/20/2025
Category
🚗
MotorTranscript
00:00We've all got a dream car.
00:07For most, it remains out of reach.
00:12I'm hoping you can help.
00:14So, I'm taking on the ultimate training challenge to make motoring dreams come true.
00:19The next time you see me, I promise I'm going to be in your dream car.
00:23Here's how. I meet car lovers who hand over their daily drive.
00:27And this is my starting point. That's brilliant.
00:30And whatever cash they can spare.
00:32But she's given us this car on a grand.
00:34Through a series of car trades.
00:36Got a deal. Well done, yeah.
00:38And money-making deals. That's the car. Let's go in a bid.
00:41I'll trade up until I've got enough money to buy the car they've always wanted.
00:46You look happy. Oh, yes.
00:48I'll draw on years of experience and share my tricks of the trade.
00:52This car has already increased in value just by moving it geographically.
00:56Helping me in the workshop is my mate Elvis, an ex-Formula One mechanic.
01:02Such a good feeling.
01:04Working together, the pressure's on for us to deliver the dream car.
01:08Thank you so much.
01:10This might even change my life.
01:13This time, can we keep our core with aircon troubles?
01:17The air conditioning doesn't work.
01:19It can go way up through the roof in terms of cost.
01:21As we try to deliver a Porsche for police officer Deepak.
01:25It's fast, it's classy, but it's a proper practical family car.
01:29Along the way, I track down one of my favourite sports cars.
01:32And they are little intoxicating beasts that just grab you.
01:37And tackle one of our biggest transformations ever.
01:40We own it now. We've got no choice. Just got to do it.
01:44Let's get cracking.
01:46Today I'm on my way to the south coast of England.
01:58Nice little seaside town called Worthing.
02:01Off to meet a policeman.
02:03He's called Deepak.
02:04I had a lovely chat with him on the phone.
02:06He wants me to help him achieve his automotive dream.
02:09Because this fella, well he wants something rather tasty.
02:12He wants a Porsche Cayenne. What a motor.
02:24I'm a massive petrol head.
02:25Whenever I get time for myself,
02:27I'm constantly looking online about cars, going to car shows.
02:31I've always been a huge fan of Porsches.
02:34That badge represents class, performance.
02:37My dream car is Porsche's 4x4, the Cayenne.
02:40It's got the sports car look.
02:42It's fast.
02:43It's classy.
02:44But it's a proper practical family car.
02:49Everyone knows that Porsches are the makers of stunning sports cars.
02:53Famous for their small rear engine coupes.
02:56But in 2002, they broke new ground with the Cayenne.
03:00Their first luxury SUV.
03:02With petrol, diesel and recently hybrid engines,
03:06the five-seater became the car maker's bestseller
03:09in major markets like the USA and China.
03:13The 2011 second generation model,
03:15with its smooth lines and distinctive Porsche headlights,
03:18is the one that I really want for Deepak.
03:21You must be Deepak.
03:22Yeah, that's me, Mike.
03:23How are you?
03:24Nice to meet you.
03:25Yeah, very good to meet you too.
03:26This is a nice spot.
03:27Yeah.
03:28I do every day.
03:29This cafe.
03:30Watch all the kite surfers.
03:31What a nice place to come and wind down.
03:33And I can understand why you want to wind down
03:35before you start working.
03:36Oh, yeah, definitely.
03:37Because you're a busy man, aren't you?
03:38Yeah, very busy.
03:39So tell us about life as a policeman.
03:40It must be tough.
03:41It's a tough job.
03:42But I enjoy it every minute.
03:43Work six days a week.
03:45Yeah, it must be hard.
03:46And you're a family man as well, aren't you?
03:48Yes.
03:49I've got a nine-year-old son, Ashton.
03:50Nice.
03:51And I've got a two-month-old baby.
03:52Congratulations.
03:53So you've got this growing family.
03:55Yes.
03:56One hour's a godsend.
03:57Yep.
03:58But you're a car nut as well.
03:59Yeah, I love my car.
04:01Yeah.
04:02So you want to cross that boundary between what is a sports car
04:05and something bigger?
04:06Something bigger, something practical for me as a family.
04:09I do like Porsche Cayenne.
04:10Yeah, I like it.
04:11That's a really good choice.
04:12Right now, for me to get you a Porsche Cayenne,
04:15I'm going to need a really good starting point.
04:18My car is parked outside.
04:19Why don't you come and check with me?
04:21I'd love to.
04:22Yeah, let's go and have a look.
04:23So there's plenty of cars in this car park.
04:29Which one's yours, then?
04:30Right here.
04:32Ah, the Duke.
04:35Yeah.
04:36I like these.
04:37So it's a 15 plate.
04:38Yes, it is.
04:39Very nice.
04:40Is it open?
04:41Yes, it's open.
04:42Ah, this is a good one.
04:43It's got the double-stitched leather,
04:45leather steering wheel.
04:46It's got a sat-nav?
04:47Yes, it's got a sat-nav.
04:48What's the mileage?
04:49$25,000.
04:50Actually, I'm a little bit surprised.
04:51This is not a bad starting point.
04:53So in the back...
04:54Ah, right.
04:55There's your problem.
04:56That's my problem, as you can see.
04:57I do not have any space here.
04:59I struggle every day when I put my child seat down there.
05:03Not enough space for us.
05:05Especially for me with my long legs.
05:07That's not...
05:08It's tight.
05:09I think the worst place is to start, but I'm going to need some assistance.
05:12Are you going to throw anything in with the car?
05:14As you can understand, I've just got a new family right now here.
05:17And I tried to say around a couple of hundred.
05:20£200?
05:21£200.
05:22I know that even £200 must be tough for you.
05:24But I'm determined to get the car of your dreams.
05:27So, yeah, leave it with me.
05:28Give me the keys and I'll be in touch and I'll let you know how I get on.
05:32Nice one, Deepak.
05:33Thank you so much.
05:34This crossover SUV has done under 10,000 miles a year,
05:39making it a desirable used car worth around £7,000.
05:42But I'll need twice that to buy a Porsche.
05:45And with thousands of jukes on the market, it could be slow to sell.
05:51What I've got in my favour is the fact that it does look smart.
05:54It is black and it is the Tecna package.
05:56And that's what people are looking for when they're buying these cars.
06:00But to sell a newish car, it has to be 100% perfect.
06:03And Deepak's isn't.
06:05One thing that I have noticed, rather frustratingly,
06:08the air conditioning isn't working.
06:11The dials and gauges work.
06:13It's just pumping out warm air rather than chilly cold air.
06:16If Elvis can't do it in a workshop,
06:18then maybe we can send it out and get it gassed up.
06:21Because when somebody buys one of these cars,
06:23they just want everything working.
06:25Finally, you've brought me a car that's not falling apart.
06:41This is a 2015 Nissan Duke.
06:44It's a good one. It's a diesel Tecna,
06:46which means it's got the satellite navigation,
06:48leather interior, leather steering wheel,
06:50the big alloys on it.
06:51Yeah, and it looks right.
06:52It belongs to a lovely police officer called Deepak.
06:56He's a beat-bobby.
06:57He's got a growing family.
06:59He wants a bit more space.
07:00He would like us to turn this beautiful little SUV
07:04into a slightly larger SUV
07:06that's got a famous Stuttgart badge on the front of it.
07:09Porsche?
07:10Yeah, he'd like a Cayenne.
07:12Well, I mean, nice choice.
07:15It is a good choice, isn't it?
07:16I can see why he'd want to do that.
07:18I mean, lovely car, the Porsche Cayenne,
07:20but they're quite a bit of cash, mate.
07:21They are a bit of cash, yeah.
07:22Has he chucked in a massive lump sum with it?
07:25Yeah, he's given us £200.
07:28The cost of a Cayenne could be £14, £15, even £16 grand.
07:32Nissan Duke's a great place to start trading from,
07:34but it better be 100% OK,
07:36because we've only got £200 in cash to spend on it.
07:39The air conditioning doesn't work.
07:41It's a real nuisance,
07:43because if somebody comes to buy a car like this,
07:45there's lots of them out there on the market.
07:47It's quite competitive.
07:48They just want everything to function.
07:50Yeah, yeah.
07:51Well, as you well know,
07:52the trouble with air conditioning is
07:53it could be a nice simple fix like recharging the system.
07:56We can definitely do that within the £200,
07:58but it could be something far more serious
08:00that needs some kind of mechanical parts,
08:02and that can go way up through the roof in terms of cost.
08:05We need a qualified engineer to tackle the air conditioning
08:11because of the dangerous hydrofluorocarbon gas in the system
08:14that can cause dizziness, nausea and worse if inhaled.
08:17So I've booked a specialist called Jay to come and check out the Duke
08:20and assess the damage.
08:21So first of all, we'll do a couple of diagnostic tests,
08:24see what's happening and how it's been,
08:26and then we'll go from there.
08:27Jay can assess the refrigerant gas in the system.
08:31I'm going to check all the pressures,
08:33make sure there's gas in there.
08:36If there's any leaks, it will say not to fill.
08:39Well, all right, give us a worst-case scenario then,
08:42because if it is something like the compressor,
08:44how much are we talking?
08:45If it's a compressor, you could be looking up to £400,
08:48plus all the other bits and bobs,
08:50so fingers crossed and hope it's not.
08:52Definitely, because that is more money than we've got.
08:55And a fault like that could put an end to our dream car journey.
09:00Next, can Elvis keep his cool?
09:04Turn your air conditioning on.
09:06Yeah, it's on.
09:08As I take a huge gamble on an unexpected motor.
09:12Is it worth two and a half grand?
09:14Did I just say that?
09:16We're helping police officer Deepak step up from his current car.
09:29There's no space for me, no space for my child seat.
09:31It is pretty tight.
09:32To something much more eye-catching.
09:35A Porsche?
09:36Yeah, it's like a KM.
09:37To get that journey underway,
09:39we need to get the temperature plunging in his old car,
09:42a Nissan Duke.
09:46OK, so moment of truth.
09:55Brilliant.
09:56The readings on those dials mean we could be looking at a leak-free system.
09:59If the system then works under pressure,
10:01we'll just need a quick refill of gas.
10:03So when are we going to know if it's actually all right to go on?
10:06Well, if you'd like to try it, you can jump in and try it now.
10:08Fire it up?
10:09Fire it up and see how cold she gets.
10:10I'm on it.
10:11Starting the car and firing up the system will give it a proper test under pressure.
10:16Turn your air conditioning on.
10:17Yeah, it's on.
10:18Yes, you beauty!
10:19It's already nice and cold.
10:20Well, in the end, it was a simple re-gas,
10:21just putting more refrigerant into the system,
10:22and now it works brilliantly.
10:23Which is great news, because it only costs us 65 quid.
10:26Way, way less than it would have been if we'd had to replace
10:27any of those more expensive components.
10:29The Duke is a mainstream mass-market car.
10:30So I put it on the biggest car sales website in the UK.
10:32I pitched it at 7,000 to undercut other similar cars and get it sold.
10:37And it's gone.
10:38Within a week, I managed to sell a new car.
10:40And it's gone.
10:41Within a week, I managed to sell it a new car,
10:42and a new car.
10:43It's pretty cold.
10:44It's cold.
10:45Well, in the end it was a simple re-gas,
10:46just putting more refrigerant into the system,
10:47and now it works brilliantly.
10:48Which is great news, because it only costs us 65 quid.
10:50Way, way less than it would have been
10:51if we'd had to replace any of those more expensive components.
10:54The Duke is a mainstream mass-market car,
10:56so I put it on the biggest car sales website in the UK.
10:58I pitched it at 7,000 to undercut other similar cars
10:59In a week, I managed to sell it to a chap
11:01who was desperate to trade up from his old Punto,
11:03and wanted something good-looking, reliable, and low mileage.
11:07Deepak's Duke was the perfect fit.
11:10Hello mate, how you doing?
11:11Hello buddy.
11:12I see the Duke's gone this morning.
11:15Empty spaces.
11:16That's exactly what we need.
11:18Yeah, I sold it.
11:19It was all gassed up, so it was easy to sell.
11:20Yeah, cool.
11:21Is that an air conditioning joke?
11:26This is a good amount of cash to go hunting with.
11:28I keep searches running 24-7 on trading websites for cars I've had big successes with in the past.
11:36And one of them has just grown up a desirable sports car for just £6,500.
11:42I'm on my way to go and see a car I know really well because I've had a few of them through my hands.
11:48And it's one of my all-time favourite cars.
11:51It's the Honda S2000.
11:53And it belongs to a dealer who's based down in Kent.
11:56He's taken it in party exchange and he simply doesn't want to keep it in stock.
12:00And he wants it off of his lot.
12:02And that's where I come in.
12:04Dealers often have Partex older cars that don't match their normal late plate stock.
12:10They need the space.
12:11So I know I can drive a hard bargain.
12:16How you doing, Mike? Nice to see you.
12:17I'm all right. And you, mate. Yeah, nice to see you.
12:19How you doing?
12:20Very good.
12:21Just walking up the driveway and I caught this sitting there.
12:23What a great looking car.
12:24Beautiful, isn't she?
12:25So you sell this kind of car in the back round, Range Rovers, a Porsche, very nice stuff indeed.
12:30This is the kind of car that you wouldn't put in stock, you'd just want it gone then.
12:33Exactly.
12:34I'm just looking to kind of sell it, sell it on quick, really.
12:35All right, no worries.
12:36Well, listen, it's definitely up my street and I'll be very keen on getting it out there and seeing what it drives like.
12:42So will I, because I hope you come back with some money in your pocket.
12:49Oh, yes.
12:55They are little intoxicating beasts that just grab you.
13:09And it all comes from that fantastic VTEC engine.
13:13It's got two sets of cams in it.
13:15And once you get to about 5,000 RPM around now.
13:19And here's the second set of cams.
13:21And then that happens!
13:230-60 comes up in six seconds.
13:32Top speed 150 miles an hour.
13:34240 horsepower.
13:36And Ross is asking just six and a half grand.
13:38All of that for six and a half grand.
13:40What I love about this one, though, is the way it's presented.
13:44Black paint work is all in good order.
13:46It doesn't need a blade of paint on it.
13:48If I can get it to six grand, that's my target price.
13:51I know there's a profit in it for me.
14:04Oh, Mike, what do you think?
14:05Oh, I loved it.
14:06Yeah.
14:07Talk about put a smile on your face.
14:09So I want it.
14:10How much is it?
14:11I think the lowest I could probably go on it is about six and a half.
14:14Six and a half grand?
14:15Yeah.
14:16Can you do it for six grand?
14:17Six?
14:18Yes.
14:19Go on then.
14:20It's top, man.
14:21Thank you very much.
14:22I'm pleased with that deal.
14:23Cracking.
14:24I love a car there, to be fair.
14:25Yeah, I am.
14:26Enjoy.
14:34Don't tell Ross this, but if I could, I would have given him a kiss at the end.
14:38Six grand.
14:39Six thousand pounds gets me a Honda S2000 and a very, very decent car with nothing to do to it.
14:46I'm so pleased with that deal.
14:48And this is going to be such a great car for me to flip.
14:54So thankfully I've got it for the right price.
14:56Now let's make some money out of it.
14:58Black interior, paint and wheels mean this triple black Honda will make an eye-catching ad.
15:04From my trading experience, I know prices are on the rise.
15:07So I'm putting it up on a high performance fan website for nine grand.
15:11A few days later, Rory asked a view.
15:18How are you doing?
15:19You must be Rory.
15:20Yes.
15:21Hi, Mike.
15:22Nice to meet you.
15:23Very nice to meet you too.
15:24There she is, Rory, the Honda S2000.
15:27Absolutely beautiful.
15:29I love the colour.
15:30The colours are brilliant because it's triple black.
15:33So black carpets, black seats, black paintwork.
15:35It comes with the added benefits of a detachable hard top as well.
15:39All finished in black in exceptional condition.
15:42It's a grim day, but I know my best chance of selling this car is getting Rory into the driver's seat and out on the road.
15:50There's the kept.
16:01Whoa!
16:02I tell you, it's a different experience from the passenger seat than it is sitting there.
16:08That gets your heart pumping, that does.
16:10It does.
16:11It's about to leave my chest, I think.
16:18A great sales technique on a fun car like this is to get the potential buyer to describe how they feel.
16:23Because it makes them focus on the positives of the driving experience.
16:27Now you're behind the wheel of this car, how are you feeling about it?
16:30Yeah, I'm feeling great right now.
16:32I mean, the steering wheel is quite small, but it makes for great handling and the engine just is wonderful.
16:42With those upbeat thoughts in mind, I go in and negotiate while Rory is still in the driving seat.
16:47Do you think you like the car enough to buy it?
16:53I think so, at the right price.
16:55At the right price.
16:56Well, listen, I've advertised it out there for £9,000 and that's got the phone ringing.
17:01Do you want to make me an offer?
17:04Well, I was looking at less than £9,000.
17:06Quite a bit less at first.
17:09Would you take £8,500?
17:12£8,500.
17:13Keep your bum in that chair, keep your hands on that wheel.
17:16This car is yours.
17:18Fantastic, thank you.
17:19Congratulations.
17:20Well done.
17:21Thank you very much.
17:25With over £9,500 in the dream car fund, this trading journey is going well.
17:30But now, I really want to kick it up again.
17:38Well, it's the weekend, but if you're a trader like me, it's just another working day.
17:42I've had a call from a guy who's offered me a Mercedes van.
17:46Not really my bag.
17:47Usually, I would hang up the phone, but he said that this one is a race service van.
17:53Motorsport teams like Porsche always had race service vans which match the livery of their cars and are racked out with tools and tyres.
18:02Today, classic racing is huge across the world and teams owned by privateers like to have a classic service van too.
18:09So prices are on the rise and I'm excited to see this Mercedes at the workshop.
18:16Are you Paul?
18:17I am.
18:18Paul, how are you?
18:19I'm Mike.
18:20Nice to meet you.
18:21Nice to see you.
18:22You all right?
18:23This is not what I was expecting when I come round the corner.
18:26I was expecting a nice, shiny race service van branded up and looking lovely.
18:32I missed my breakfast for this, for this and it's Sunday.
18:36It was going to be a fry up.
18:38It looks like a central eating van.
18:40What can you tell me about it then?
18:42What makes it good?
18:43It's a late 99, it's the five-cylinder engine, standard five-speed box, goes like a train, will go all day.
18:52It's towed our rally car all over the country, Ireland, Europe, everywhere.
18:57Does it need any kind of MOT?
18:59Is it legal to drive on the road?
19:01It is road legal.
19:02It is classed under an HGV.
19:04Right.
19:05But can still be driven on a standard car licence.
19:08So has it got an MOT for an HGV?
19:10It has.
19:11And that's good news, isn't it?
19:12Yeah.
19:13Because it's a stringent MOT.
19:14But it means that you can tow behind this another trailer with your race cars in it.
19:18That's right.
19:19But it's a bit of a mess.
19:21Can I look inside?
19:22By all means.
19:24Ah.
19:25OK, well this sort of makes sense.
19:27It's got a work bench in here and a vice.
19:29All bespoke racking?
19:30All bespoke racking.
19:32It's got a tool chest as well.
19:33Fitted tool chest.
19:34All the tools, do they come with it as well?
19:36All the tools will come with it.
19:37They're all surplus to my requirements.
19:39It's got a generator.
19:40Fully working generator.
19:42Petal generator.
19:43That's a tire rack at the back.
19:44It is.
19:45Well the exterior is awful.
19:47But the interior, well that sort of piqued my interest.
19:50Because there's a tool rack in there.
19:52It's full of tools which is quite nice.
19:54There's a generator.
19:55He says that works.
19:56Maybe I could sell that stuff for a profit.
19:58Right.
19:59It's just going to need a lot of work.
20:00How much is it?
20:01We're looking for three and a half thousand Mike.
20:04Two and a half grand?
20:06How about meeting halfway?
20:08Three.
20:09I'm just going to shake your hand for that.
20:11You've got a deal.
20:12Three grand.
20:14So it looks like I might have just bought myself a scrappy old race van.
20:18My idea is to transform it.
20:20I'm going to put some bold colours on it.
20:22Change its inside by smarting it all up.
20:25Make it look shiny on the outside.
20:27But at over two metres wide and almost seven metres long, it's a huge challenge to transform.
20:34Next, I introduce Elvis to the van.
20:39How are we going to generate money out of this?
20:41This is a proper old battered van.
20:44And I planned some cosmetic surgery on a broken nose.
20:48The only problem I've got with the car, Phil, is that nose comb.
20:51Okay, that's fair.
21:00I've just bought a ropey white Mercedes van.
21:03I'm just going to shake your hand for that.
21:05You've got a deal.
21:06I'm trying to trade it up so police officer Deepak can get behind the wheel of his dream Porsche Cayenne.
21:12Well, listen, I'm determined to get the car of your dreams.
21:16First, I need to persuade Elvis to transform it inside and out.
21:21What are we going to do with it?
21:22How are we going to make any money out of it?
21:23Well, we're just going to pull all of the interior out and we're going to clean all that up, obviously.
21:28And then on the outside, I was thinking we could just do a nice wrap.
21:32Like a vinyl wrap.
21:33Well, I do like the idea of this nod back to my history.
21:37My career started out in stuff like this.
21:39We were living in them at race weekends, you know.
21:41So I totally get the idea behind it.
21:43It will have some value to somebody, but it's just a bit of a wreck right now.
21:47It's hard to envisage it, isn't it, when it looks like this.
21:50Well, this is going to be a game of two halves, the outside and the inside.
21:53While I'm revamping all the internal racking, Mike's trying to track down a wrap company who can handle a big van.
22:03It was simple to unscrew the metal racking from the back of the van.
22:06It's had a rough life, so first I rub it down with an abrasive pad.
22:11Once the surface is more even, I'll finish it off with some fine 600 grit paper.
22:18Next up is a respray.
22:23I'm using a compressor and air gun to spray the primer on.
22:30You could do it with rattle cans, but it would take a lot longer.
22:35I'm leaving it to dry overnight.
22:44Mike's been in touch, and it's good news.
22:46He's found a company that specialises in wrapping.
22:48That's the process where large sheets of vinyl are laid onto the paintwork.
22:51So hopefully it's going to really transform our van.
22:58Next morning, I'm on the way to Essex.
23:00Wrapping's a good option, because our van would need days and days of prep
23:04for a respray, but vinyl offers a fast turnaround
23:07and the chance to add design details.
23:09I'm meeting the boss, Mark, to discuss colour and finish.
23:14We've been talking about colour.
23:15I mean, we want to keep it neutral, because we're trying to broaden the market.
23:18We looked at greys, and I kind of thought something nice and shiny
23:22is going to give it a much more modern look.
23:24The only thing is, with gloss, it does show all the imperfections in the van.
23:28So I suggest probably wearing on the side of a mat.
23:32Oh, that is nice, yeah.
23:33And maybe because the top of the vehicle is in good condition,
23:37we can put a gloss black up there to complement the grey.
23:40Yeah, I like that.
23:41Nice little two-tone effect going on.
23:43And then once the wrap's on, I want to put a couple of stripes on it.
23:46So now I'm thinking red and yellow is a little nod to the German van, the Mercedes.
23:50But other than that, I'm quite happy for you to come up with something.
23:53Leave that to me.
23:54I'll go and come up with some designs for you.
23:56No problem at all.
23:57I think a contemporary two-colour stripe over a charcoal grey base will really make this van stand out in any race pit lane.
24:04Now this wrap process is not cheap.
24:06It's going to need about 24 metres of grey, seven metres of the gloss black for the roof,
24:11and about five metres for the colourful stripes.
24:13And we've been quoted £3,000.
24:15That's a huge chunk of cash.
24:17What, you want me to stick it?
24:20A wrap is basically vinyl sheeting with a strong adhesive on the back.
24:25The skill is choosing where to lose the joins between the panels,
24:28tackling hard-to-reach areas and the quality of the finish you get on the surface.
24:35The trick is to keep it taut.
24:38Lay the vinyl as flat as possible.
24:40And so it doesn't matter about little creases like this?
24:43No, we can pull them all out, just work them.
24:46So it does come off more than once?
24:48Oh, definitely, yes.
24:49Applying a bit of heat makes it flexible.
24:52Then use your hand or a plastic scraper to make sure it fits in all the recesses cleanly.
24:59Well, these guys really know what they're doing.
25:01It's been a proper eye-opener for me.
25:03Handling these enormous bits of sticky vinyl is not easy,
25:06and especially not to get the level of finish that they're achieving.
25:09The wrap's going to take three days,
25:11so I leave the experts to finish off because I've got painting to do back at the workshop.
25:16The racking's ready for its top coat.
25:20I've chosen Signal Red to match the red stripe we'll have on the outside.
25:25Well, that's one rack done, and it looks really, really good.
25:28But it's only just one rack. I've got another four to go.
25:31This van's big, man. I mean, really big.
25:34The racking will have a hard life at the racetrack, so I'm giving every section two coats.
25:40It's all about quality.
25:46Next morning, and the wrapped van is back.
25:49Oh, my goodness. What a transformation.
25:51They've done an incredible job.
25:53The charcoal grey looks brilliant, but it also makes the van look ten years younger.
25:56And the accents, the stripes, have done a brilliant job.
25:59They've really set it off a treat. I absolutely love it.
26:01With the racking dry, I need to carefully bolt it all into the back
26:05and reassemble all the useful shelving, which I've painted black.
26:10And one of the really important things about going racing
26:12is having everything you need to hand and organise.
26:14So all of this racking should give loads of space for spare parts, tools.
26:19No way. Seriously. And there you are. That can't be the same van.
26:28What a transformation, eh?
26:30Well, it's super clean on the outside, but it was pretty ropey on the inside.
26:33What's that like?
26:34Have a look.
26:36Oh, look at that.
26:38Oh, Elvis, that is fantastic.
26:40It's clean, it's simple, it's fresh.
26:42It's practical, it's got everything you need, but also it just looks great.
26:45It's going to look great in any motorsport paddock.
26:46I'm really happy with it, honestly.
26:48I think he likes it.
26:49In fact, I know he likes it.
26:50I can already see the pound signs rolling up in Mike's eyes.
26:57So I've been thinking about what events I should take it to
27:00so I can put it on sale.
27:02Then it dawned on me I've been visiting the oldest motorsport event
27:06in England for many years.
27:08It's called the Bexhill 100.
27:09So I thought, what a better place to take our van,
27:12park it up with a couple of the sale signs
27:14and see if I can attract the motorsport enthusiasts.
27:17The Bexhill 100 attracts tens of thousands of people,
27:22so that means a lot of exposure for the Mercedes van.
27:28Hello, sir. How are you doing?
27:29I'm very well, yes, not bad at all.
27:31My race-prepared van.
27:33Fully fitted workshop, mobile workshop in the back,
27:36generator, tall cabinets.
27:38A few people have taken a look, but I'm struggling to make a sale.
27:43Anyway, nice to see you.
27:45Yeah, nice to see you too, yeah. Lovely.
27:48Well, it's always a good idea to put your vehicles for sale,
27:51in my case, the van, under people's noses.
27:53I've had plenty of interest, but nobody's come through with an offer just yet.
27:58In the end, all my sales leads melted away.
28:02And the next day, the van is back at the workshop.
28:05Well, the car trade is often strange and full of surprises,
28:09and here's a weird one.
28:11I had a phone call from a woman from Zimbabwe, who's in the UK.
28:15She's seen the ad for our Mercedes and wants to buy it.
28:18She's going to export it to Africa and convert it for use as a minibus.
28:23The buyer wants the van for six and a half grand, but not what's inside.
28:28So, I've sold the large toolkit, rack-in generator,
28:31and other parts to a contact in the motorsport world for two grand.
28:35Now, it's on to the next deal.
28:38Here's a good tip for anyone.
28:40Always keep in touch with people that you do good business with.
28:44Because I know a dealer in the northeast of England called Phil,
28:48and he's a good man.
28:49He's just called me and said that he's got a very nice BMW 840
28:53that he's taken in and he just wants to shift.
28:56Now, I'm a massive fan of these modern classics,
28:59and at ten and a half grand, I think it's worth jumping in the disco
29:02and taking a look.
29:04The BMW I'm off to view has not been prepared for sale,
29:07which takes a few days if you paint the brake calipers
29:10and detail the cars to perfection like Phil.
29:13So, there's some room for negotiation there.
29:16And straight away, I spot something else I can use to my advantage.
29:20Nose cone damage.
29:22Ah, Phil!
29:23Mike, how you doing?
29:24How are you?
29:25Good to see you. You're looking well.
29:26Good to see you again. You too, you too.
29:27Yeah?
29:28So, I'm glad you called me on this one.
29:29That looks great.
29:30I love the colour.
29:31Is it all right to look inside?
29:32Yeah, yeah. It's all over, Mike.
29:33God, these Germans, they love their technology, don't they?
29:36What's the engine like?
29:37Really good.
29:38Yeah, is it strong?
29:39Yeah, very strong.
29:40And there it is.
29:41Monstrous BMW V8.
29:43The only thing I did notice was right here at the front,
29:47I can see that this has had a little bit of a bump
29:50and that's cracked the grille and it's not these loose.
29:53Look, they look a bit of a mess, don't they?
29:54Yeah, that's right, yeah.
29:55See, we took it in part exchange.
29:57It's just come in, Mike.
29:58So, I'll tell you what I'll do, have a drive in the car,
30:01come back, tell me what you think and let's talk.
30:07This big old bad Beamer could be a potential money pit.
30:11If anything goes wrong in one of these cars,
30:13it could be rather expensive.
30:15So, I just want to make sure that this car is happy where it is.
30:18I'm going to listen out for any clunks, rattles or groans
30:21and at the moment, it's nice and silent.
30:27The only problem is I couldn't advertise it
30:31with that cracked nose at the front
30:33and the kidney grille hanging out.
30:34I'd have to get that repair done.
30:36Phil's asking ten and a half grand for it.
30:39That's not bad for one of these cars.
30:41But I've got a funny feeling
30:42it'd be willing to give me a bit of money off
30:44just so I can fix that.
30:46I reckon this high-performance coupe
30:49is also worth a lot more down south.
30:51Perhaps it could sell for 14 grand
30:54if it's perfect and the service history checks out.
30:56But right now, I'm focused on a buying price.
30:59Well, that drives just like a BMW 840 should do.
31:04It's very nice.
31:05I'll just have a quick look through this service history.
31:08It's fantastic, isn't it?
31:09It's really good, isn't it?
31:10It's just been serviced at BMW as well.
31:12The only problem I've got with the car, Phil,
31:14is that nose cone because that's got to come off to be repaired.
31:16Well, to help you with the nose cone,
31:18if I can do 10 grand straight, Mike.
31:20You're a top man.
31:21It's lovely doing business with you.
31:22Cheers, thank you.
31:23Perfect.
31:25I'm enjoying the 4.4 litre V8 engine.
31:280 to 62 miles an hour comes up in 6.8 seconds.
31:32But fuel consumption is around 21 miles to the gallon.
31:35So I'm driving steady.
31:38I'm totally relaxed behind the wheel with this car.
31:40Even after driving it for hours,
31:42heading south back to the workshop.
31:44And the closer I get to Elvis,
31:46it's got me thinking about repairing that nose cone.
31:48I know that that's got to be right
31:51before we get the car advertised and get it sold.
31:54I love these, mate.
32:03I'm so pleased you do.
32:04Oh, look at that.
32:06Do you know, I've just done 250 miles in that car
32:09and it hasn't broken a sweat and nor have I.
32:11I feel absolutely wonderful.
32:13It's such a comfortable car to be driving in.
32:16What do we pay for it?
32:17We gave 10 grand for it,
32:19which I don't think is too bad.
32:21No doubt you've noticed something already.
32:23I did.
32:24Yeah, I mean, it's 10 grand for a reason
32:27because that, although it looks like a really simple
32:30little break in the front of that plastic,
32:32to fix it properly means the whole front end coming off.
32:35It needs to be reinforced behind it, properly repaired,
32:38and then have something done to the paintwork.
32:40So it's not a quick job.
32:43Nice car.
32:44Shame about the face though.
32:45And that's the first thing any potential buyer
32:47is going to look at.
32:48So the pressure's really on to do a great job
32:50and an invisible fix.
32:51First thing I need to do is assess the damage
32:53and then call the body shop to get it booked in.
32:59So I've got to get the entire front end off
33:01to have it repaired.
33:02But, of course, there's always more to it than it looks.
33:05So I've got to take out things like the lights and the grills
33:08and then find all the fixings.
33:09And I've got to do that quite carefully
33:11because I don't want to break anything.
33:12It's quite an old car.
33:14I'm trying to find replacement bits, particularly at short notice.
33:17Probably won't be very easy.
33:18It's like a jigsaw puzzle in reverse.
33:21But the actual front end is only held in by a few screws
33:24and is made of lightweight plastics.
33:26The BMW has a nasty secret.
33:35There's evidence of a previous poor repair,
33:37so the nose may now be weakened.
33:39It'll need a strengthening plate
33:41and some careful attention to detail
33:43to bring it back to life,
33:44which could cost us more cash.
33:46Next, I track down a decent car for Deepak,
33:52but meet a tough negotiator.
33:54So it comes down to the price.
33:56Can it come down a bit further?
33:58To be honest, this is the cheapest one in the UK.
34:10We're on a trading journey
34:11to help deliver Deepak his dream Porsche.
34:14My dream car is the Porsche car.
34:16Our latest trade needed face-saving surgery.
34:20To fix it properly means the whole front end coming off.
34:23Elvis stripped the front end off the BMW.
34:26Now it's time to find out whether the nose job worked.
34:30They've done a really nice job there.
34:32They've bonded and, of course, repainted on the front end
34:35and behind they've put a nice little cut strengthening plate
34:39that's going to reinforce it
34:41and hopefully stop it breaking again.
34:43So I'm really happy with that.
34:44It did cost 240 quid.
34:46Either way, though, it's done.
34:47I'm happy.
34:48I'm going to get it on.
34:52Because there's delicate, fresh paint on the bodywork,
34:54it's a two-man job to refit.
34:56Beautiful.
34:57Lovely.
34:58Thanks, mate.
34:59Cheers.
35:00I've cleaned up the front grill and reset the fixings which had come loose.
35:07I always prefer to keep original parts if possible.
35:10And, of course, it saves vital cash.
35:13Well, it looks great.
35:14I know it was only a very small crack, but the impact that it had on the look at the front
35:26end of this car was enormous.
35:28Now that it's fixed, though, it looks awesome.
35:30Mike's asked me to give the car a full detail, too, because he's got a sales plan.
35:41Well, Elvis has got the BMW all smartened up.
35:43It looks very, very nice indeed.
35:45So I've jumped in it and I'm driving to the south coast of England to a car club meeting.
35:52Car shows are one of the top places to sell.
35:55Buyers like the fact that they can compare different cars.
35:58Sellers know it's often a knowledgeable crowd who pay more for the right car.
36:11They're lovely, aren't they?
36:12They are lovely.
36:13Yes, I think it's a great engine.
36:15Plus, right, you're going to love this.
36:17You ready?
36:18Full service history.
36:20Everything works inside the car.
36:25It's been a tough eight hours.
36:27But over the years, I've learnt that a sale doesn't always happen on the day.
36:31Sadly, I'm driving the Beamer home myself.
36:34Well, I haven't got a sale on the BMW, but I feel kind of optimistic.
36:37I've had a lot of people giving me really nice compliments about the car,
36:41saying that they like the colour, they like the wheels.
36:44And a lot of them have taken my number.
36:46So you never know.
36:47I've just got to wait for the phone to ring.
36:52I've had a lot of success in the past with these cars.
36:55And sure enough, within a few weeks, I've secured a deposit from a fan of this Munich legend.
37:02It's great news.
37:03I'm almost out to see the car go.
37:05Finally, I can focus on a Cayenne.
37:14I found one at just under 16 grand at a dealer's.
37:18Sounds like a good deal.
37:20But then I know the trade and I know bargains aren't always what they're cracked up to be.
37:27So I'm going to go and see the car with my eyes open.
37:29But for now, I'm going to keep my wallet shut.
37:33Here's a tip.
37:34If you've found a car which is just outside of your budget,
37:37then keep a close eye on the ad.
37:39Because dealers often do change their prices.
37:42This one recently dropped by a grand.
37:48You must be Andy.
37:49That's me, mate.
37:50Andy, how are you, Mike?
37:51Mike, nice to meet you.
37:52Nice to meet you too.
37:53So you're here to see the Porsche today, right?
37:54Yeah, Porsche Cayenne.
37:55Yeah, Porsche just at the back.
37:56Lovely.
37:59Looks sharp, doesn't it, sitting there?
38:00No, she's a lovely little motorist, to be fair.
38:03So, tell me about it.
38:04Well, she's a one-owner car.
38:05It's owned by a company, so they've well looked after it.
38:08It's got full Porsche service history.
38:10Nice.
38:11So, all right to look inside?
38:12Of course.
38:14Wow.
38:15Look at that interior.
38:16That's proper Porsche, isn't it?
38:18Multi-function steering wheel, satellite navigation.
38:21Oh, it's got everything, this car, in it?
38:22Yeah, she's fully loaded.
38:24What's it drive like, though?
38:25That's for you to find out.
38:26You don't mind if I take for a drive?
38:27Of course.
38:28All right, I won't be too long.
38:30Lovely.
38:40Porsche is all about the driving experience,
38:42and when you put your foot down in this car, it goes.
38:49And it's a long way from a Nissan Duke.
38:51This is a proper family experience, because with this car, it's got heated seats, not only in the front, but in the rear as well.
38:59Now, this Cayenne may have done 100,000 miles, but the truth is, on a car like this, that's over-engineered, that's not a lot.
39:08This car will travel for hundreds of thousands of miles.
39:11A real indication of wear and tear on a car is not the mileage on the clock, it's how the car has been used in that time, and whether it's been cared for.
39:20And I get the feeling that this car has been lovingly cared for.
39:24Now, Andy is asking £15,780 for this car, and I know it represents really good value for money.
39:33So, although Andy is going to be reluctant to give me any money off, I'm still going to go back and try.
39:40I know margins are very tight in the used car market right now, so chances are slim, but if you don't ask, you don't get.
39:48Well, I'll tell you what, that drives so nice.
39:52You can see this car has been really well cared for.
39:55You've got it up for £15,780. Can it come down a bit further?
40:00It is the cheapest in the UK. It costs more to buy these at auction than it is on the forecourt today.
40:05Yeah, I've stood down the auctions, and I've seen these actually sell for more money with less respect than this.
40:10So, it comes with a warranty, doesn't it?
40:13Of course, yeah, three months warranty with this vehicle.
40:16Good. And you've done a pre-delivery inspection?
40:18Yeah, it's been inspected, PDI checked as well.
40:20So, £15,780 is the lowest your go, then?
40:23So, what's the final price on this car here?
40:25Well, listen, it's got the warranty, it's got everything I need. Yeah, I'll have it. Thank you very much.
40:31Congratulations.
40:32I'm very, very happy with that. Diesels aren't great news at the moment for dealers because of the emissions problems of the past few years.
40:44But if you do a lot of miles on motorways, then they're still a great engine, and there are bargains out there to be had.
40:50And with a pre-sales cheque signed off by the dealer, there's nothing for Elvis to do to this 2011 luxury SUV.
41:03So, we're just going to deliver it as soon as possible.
41:16We've chosen a well-known meet-up place for car lovers as a rendezvous.
41:23The car park is full of amazing motors, when we pull up in a special parking place to show off the Porsche.
41:32Deepak is waiting nervously.
41:34There he is.
41:37Deepak!
41:38How are you?
41:39Nice to see you.
41:40Good to see you again.
41:41This is Elvis.
41:42He's the one who does all the work.
41:43Nice to see you.
41:44Good to see you, Deepak.
41:45How are you?
41:46You excited?
41:47Very excited.
41:48You are?
41:49Yes, I am.
41:50I think you're not as excited as us.
41:51We've got something nice to show you outside.
41:52Come and have a look.
41:53So, just keep looking at the grass.
41:55You don't need to look up yet.
41:56No.
41:57I'm not.
41:58I'm just looking down the way.
41:59So, you wanted a Porsche Cayenne.
42:01Yes, I did.
42:02You gave us a Nissan Juke.
42:04I did.
42:05OK.
42:06Yeah.
42:07Well, we've worked so hard, we've turned it into your dream car.
42:11Wow.
42:12That is beautiful.
42:14That is beautiful.
42:16That's exactly what I hoped you were going to say.
42:19Thank you so much.
42:21Really?
42:22Thank you so much.
42:23It's a pleasure, Deepak.
42:24It's an absolute pleasure.
42:26It's a pleasure and we are delighted with it.
42:28And this one happens to be full of every single option.
42:31Which includes a full leather perforated heated seat interior.
42:36Wow.
42:37And for your baby that you need to put in a child seat.
42:40Wow.
42:41Now you've got...
42:42So much space.
42:43Luxurious space.
42:44You look happy, Deepak.
42:45Oh, yes.
42:46Very happy.
42:47What's it going to mean to you, sticking your family in that?
42:49I'll be so happy.
42:50My family is going to be so excited, travelling in a Porsche.
42:53It's everything for us.
42:54It means a lot for us.
42:55It means a lot.
42:56It means a lot.
42:57Thank you so much.
42:58Kids are going to be happy.
42:59My son is going to be over the moon.
43:00He's going to be over the moon.
43:02Well, Deepak, we worked tirelessly hard to do this for you.
43:05And this is your dream car.
43:07Thank you so much.
43:08It's an absolute pleasure, buddy.
43:10Absolute pleasure.
43:11Enjoy it.
43:12Enjoy it, Deepak.
43:13Thank you once again.
43:14Go and have a sit inside it.
43:15Go on.
43:16Well done, Elvis.
43:18Well done.
43:19I think he's very happy.
43:20Look at that.
43:21He is so happy.
43:23He is so happy.
43:24I just love this bit, because all the hard work and everything, it just pales into insignificance
43:29when you get to this moment.
43:30None of it matters anymore, because it was all about that.
43:33Fantastic.
43:44Bye.
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