Mike Brewer has helped a motorist save almost £500 (Image: Discovery)
star Mike Brewer has helped a motorist save almost £500 on a second-hand used car.
The presenter of the restoration series knocked hundreds off the cost of a Hyundai i20 by
Although auctions , savvy road users can often snag a bargain.
Mike and co-host Marc Priestley went along to an auction to meet Rachel, a second-hand buyer, to offer tips on how to
It quickly became clear Rachel wanted to secure a small city runabout at a budget price.
Wheeler Dealers’ hosts found the discounted Hyundai at auction (Image: Getty)
After looking through the auction list of models on sale, Rachel identified some target cars, with one of her top picks.
Wheeler Dealers presenter Marc Priestley said: “Auctions can be intense and there is no set timetable for each sale. A crucial time for learning about your target car is when it’s first started up.
“You’ve really got to look out, listen and look for all the signs. You only get a second to study your target car.”
As well as thoroughly inspecting the bodywork, Marc revealed two simple checks motorists heading to auctions should consider.
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Waiting for the engine to start up could be crucial with any blue smoke from the exhaust indicating a major problem which could cost hundreds to fix.
Meanwhile, looking for any warning lights on the dashboard is crucial as these may be hidden by sellers looking for a sale.
Rachel had set a maximum budget of £1,200 but became the highest bidder at just £1,000.
However, it quickly became apparent the sale was only provisional as the auction had not met the vehicle’s minimum price set by the seller.
It emerged this was just £100 more with Rachel agreeing to a sale at £1,100 and securing the keys.
Mike suggested it was a great buy with the model likely to cost hundreds of pounds more elsewhere.
He said: “What a result. A smart city runabout for just over £1,000. On the open market it might have cost £1,500. A discount like that seems well worth anyone’s effort.”