Dealer’s Diary

London Pride?

► Most traders with a national profile know all about the regional differences in stock availability and desirability. Some use it to make a profit, though that isn’t always as easy as it may seem.

If, though, you’re interested in particular types of car, it’s often well worth looking outside your immediate area. Of course, the way in which BCA have switched to online sales, with cars from a number of sites offered in the same sale has drawn people’s attention to what’s available at sites other than the ones they’re used to visiting.

For example, BCA Enfield (aka ‘London North’) can be a real treasure-trove of low ownership and well-maintained older cars, including premium/luxury brands. Their catchment area includes Outer London and the posh suburbs, where many relatively wealthy people will, even if they have no interest in cars, choose something of quality – Mercedes, Lexus, Audi or whatever.

Then, because they aren’t interested in cars, they’re no more interested in updating their car regularly than they are in, say, buying a new fridge or gas cooker every five years. Consequently, they keep the same car for ten, fifteen or even 20 years – and it’s also not that unusual for them to carry on having said car serviced by the supplying dealer, either.

Their catchment area includes Outer London and the posh suburbs, where many relatively wealthy people will, even if they