Pinno718
Senior Member
- Location
- Way out West
I like this get stuck in and have a go mentality.
Car D.I.Y.
- Thread starter Drago
- Start date
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I like this get stuck in and have a go mentality.
Pinno718
Senior Member
- Location
- Way out West
^ not sarcasm btw.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Son is trying to make a living at it. He's not good at a 9-5 job with ADHD, doesn't like being down to a timetable. Drives me crazy as he is incredibly messy and in encroaches into 'my' garage/bike storage.
He's doing a part time job at a small garage, but it looks like they are struggling a bit for work, and he helps out a friend with their car wrapping business (unpaid I think). The Aygo should make a good £1k profit, and the Leon probably £3k.
The Leon is a nice car, and he got if for £1.5k (64 plate) and should sell for £4k-5k. He's quite a bit of experience with these VAG petrol engines and it's actually far cheaper to buy a low mileage engine off a scrapped car. It's then relatively straight forward (not for me) to swap the 'dumb' part of the engine. All get's complicated with the ancillaries as many are coded to the ECU, so as long as the mechanical bit can be changed it's all good. Having done a few, he's aware of what get's damaged when engines are removed, so some plastic connectors for various components are snapped on a donor engine as they just cut everything off at the scrap yard. So long as you are careful removing the original engine, you've got all the necessary parts.
He's doing a part time job at a small garage, but it looks like they are struggling a bit for work, and he helps out a friend with their car wrapping business (unpaid I think). The Aygo should make a good £1k profit, and the Leon probably £3k.
The Leon is a nice car, and he got if for £1.5k (64 plate) and should sell for £4k-5k. He's quite a bit of experience with these VAG petrol engines and it's actually far cheaper to buy a low mileage engine off a scrapped car. It's then relatively straight forward (not for me) to swap the 'dumb' part of the engine. All get's complicated with the ancillaries as many are coded to the ECU, so as long as the mechanical bit can be changed it's all good. Having done a few, he's aware of what get's damaged when engines are removed, so some plastic connectors for various components are snapped on a donor engine as they just cut everything off at the scrap yard. So long as you are careful removing the original engine, you've got all the necessary parts.
midlife
Guru
Yep, best not annoy the neighbours, don’t want them to dob you in as they say. Taxman getting more interested in “side hustles” like these. Plus the council can get shirty about what they think is a business from a residential address.
At one time I'd have been willing to do things like that.
Now I can't really be bothered and view working at cars as a waste of good cycling time.
OP
OP
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
I've spent my life DIYing it to save money so now I'm an old giffer I have the spare cash to pay someone else to get on with it.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Don't mind the simple stuff, but looking under my van's bonnet, looks like alien technology. Oil changes are OK !
I'd still be willing to work at a classic car if it interested me and was DIY friendly but I view modern cars in the same way as I view my fridge. If it doesn't work properly, it will go.
Which is why I bought a Toyota. It just works.
There is no actual number of cars sold privately, that changes your status to trader. It whether you are selling them for the purpose of making a profit.
The red flags are sent to the DVLA, V5C changing ownership in quick succession and the lack of miles between MOT periods.
How connected up the revenue and DVLA are I don't know, but I would think they pass information between them.
Better maybe to drive the car for period after making them roadworthy again
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
I'm a chartered accountant. So keeping an eye on my son's business stuff - he has it all recorded. I just don't want any more of these cars here TBH. I have an 'expensive' van parked on the road - it needs to be on the drive, especially when I'm mobile again (I cycle to work). My vehicles are usually recreational. I'm having to use it to do shopping/get to work as I can't operate a manual car with my hip. The van is automatic. My son's been told the van will be at the bottom of the drive once I'm functioning normally.
Jameshow
Veteran
Can he get a small lock up? How about he finds another job. I think he would really fit in with my garage over here. The older main mechanic is openly dyslexic.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
He's looked at small lockups and they are outrageously expensive. We've said he could do with contacting some of the local garages because the one I use is very busy, and they have at least 2-3 week wait.
On another note - the car is running !
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Pinno718
Senior Member
- Location
- Way out West
You will be severely limited tot he scope of work when starting a garage. Some of the diagnostic stuff for example and decent welding equipment - 'cos it's all about MOT work. There's so much money on getting cars prepped for MOT's but you need the equipment.
@fossyant Why doesn't; your son get some formal qualifications and do BTEC or City and Guilds or both (as wot I dids innit)?
You can even do it distance learning. He'll have all the assistance he wants form you and an environment that is conducive and familiar if that's his preference.
https://www.google.com/search?q=Col...AzQuOaAHv2iyBwMzLjm4B-kJ&sclient=gws-wiz-serp
@fossyant Why doesn't; your son get some formal qualifications and do BTEC or City and Guilds or both (as wot I dids innit)?
You can even do it distance learning. He'll have all the assistance he wants form you and an environment that is conducive and familiar if that's his preference.
https://www.google.com/search?q=Col...AzQuOaAHv2iyBwMzLjm4B-kJ&sclient=gws-wiz-serp
Jameshow
Veteran
I think the money's in MOT prep too. But most of it is pretty basic stuff. Most of which can use a good generic OBD2 device.
Brakes, shocks, bushes, gaiters, exhausts are the obvious ones..
Along with servicing, cambelts, clutches?
I wouldn't do much diagnostics as you end up taking lots of money off punters and possibly have nothing to show for it. Point them to a marque specialist or auto electrician.
Not that I know anything except 20 years of bangers!🤣🤣🤣
