AUCTION FEVER

Whether you're already a Bus owner or are in the market to buy one, seeing what price vans are making at auction is always a fascinating pastime. It gives you a gauge of the 'real' market value of certain models, and although there's risks involved in buying at auction (there's usually very little comeback if you subsequently find something wrong), there's also the opportunity of picking up a bit of a bargain.

The key is to do as much detective work beforehand, read through the item description, pour over the photos and be sure to have a good look around the vehicle 'in the flesh' before it goes under the hammer. If you attend the actual sale, then you'll also get to hear it start and trundle to the rostrum which means you'll be able to see if there's any smoke or nasty noises. Another