Working on Saturday: A Day in the Life of a Car Collector

The Perks of Working on a Saturday

Working on Saturday has its advantages. I did it for selfish reasons. I wanted the day off yesterday to watch the Trophy parade in Liverpool. Unfortunately, that turned sour at the end. But the scenes when the buses were on the Strand? Incredible!

Back to normal duties today. Fitting a few jobs into the day proved difficult, but I managed to get things done.

The Journey Begins

First up, I had to head to Aylesbury railway station. I caught a quick train to Great Missenden to collect a BMW 320i from a private seller. This car was bought by Listers BMW in King's Lynn. The seller was simply looking to offload one of his cars as he was retired and no longer needed two.

The car was in great condition. A quick phone call to Listers to approve payment soon had me heading back to Aylesbury. I left the car safely at home for delivery tomorrow.

At home, I called a local, cheap, and very reliable taxi service—ABC Taxis. I highly recommend them! I was off to collect a 2024 Toyota Yaris Cross from another private individual in Aylesbury. This one was for delivery to an independent dealer in Harrow, North London.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

Arriving at the address to collect the Yaris, the heavens opened. This was the first rain we’d had for ages, and boy, did it rain! Trying to photograph a car and complete a good appraisal in such heavy rain? Nearly impossible! ☔

Once I finally got the appraisal done, I had to wait for payment from the customer—or rather, his friend who was handing the car over to me. The owner had recently moved to the USA, hence the sale.

Now, it was time to drive to Harrow and deliver this Toyota. Unfortunately, the rain meant that people couldn’t drive. This journey was full of hold-ups and delays. What should have been a 48-minute drive turned into a 90-minute slog.

Delivering the Toyota

When I arrived at the used car dealership, it looked like a well-run operation. The reception area was busy and very helpful. I did my delivery appraisal in the rain—again! They kindly allowed me to wait for my Uber in reception to shelter from the downpour. Thank you, Grimsdyke Service Station!

Next on my agenda was a collection from Blackbushe auctions near Fleet in Hampshire. Getting there on foot is a bit of a challenge. So, from the dealership in Harrow, I took an Uber to the nearest underground station. Then it was off to Waterloo and the train to Fleet.

Stanmore underground is on the Jubilee line, which is perfect because it goes directly to Waterloo.

On the underground, I booked my train ticket and made it just in time for the next leg of the journey.

The Auction Experience

At the auction by Blackbushe Airport, which used to be called RAF Hartford Bridge during the war, I was reminded of how things have changed. One of my customers asked me to collect a BMW X5 from the BCA auction here. It’s headed to a BMW dealer in North London, another branch of Group 1. This American company has taken over quite a few prestigious brand sites here.

I’m sure they do well as a business, but they’ve taken the heart and soul out of the industry. You can’t be an entrepreneur anymore.

Being at BCA Blackbushe is another reminder of the soulless business we’re in. This place used to be crowded, vibrant, and full of characters. There was even a great café for breakfast before the sales started! Four lanes of packed auctions selling nearly new cars, fleet vehicles, ex-rentals, commercials, and bangers—all prices from £200 to £100,000.

Sure, there were shady characters, auctioneers included, but it was a place to learn the business and enjoy it. Now, there are no live auctions. You can collect or drop off a car, but you need to book a slot. All auctions are online now.

The auction company BCA is owned by the same company that owns Cinch, We Buy Any Car, Marshalls Motor Group, and probably a lot more. Thousands of cars come and go, making just a few pounds each.

Putting a car into the auction for sale? It’ll cost you over £300 minimum. Buying one? It’ll cost you even more. The game has changed.

The Return Journey

Eventually, I got the BMW X5 I came for, completed my appraisal, and headed back to North London.

I arrived back in London around 5 PM after battling through horrendous traffic. I dropped off the car and grabbed an Uber to Elstree and Borehamwood station.

I didn’t have much time today to look at the journey. From the station, I had to go to Farringdon and change to the underground to Marylebone. Farringdon is just one stop east of King’s Cross, so I was travelling from North West (ish) London to Central East (ish) London and then west on the underground to Marylebone—all during rush hour.

Anyway, I didn’t get home until after eight-thirty. Closer to nine, actually, by the time I walked from the station.

When I started today and the heavens opened, I knew the whole day would be a challenge. And it was.

But hey, tomorrow is another day to enjoy. I hope I will!