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ello John, got a used motor?
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Nondering how easy it might be to buy a recent Daf 95XF, we thoL tveici call on a well-known truck dealer north of Bristol. Well, we fou
Dne all right, but it had just been sold. So we got to talking...
lean, three to four-year-old Daf 95XF tractive units? You must be joking they're like gold dust," says Rothdean director John Jones.
He handles the used truck side of the business and is always on the lookout for highspec X.Fs with Space or SuperSpace cabs with low mileage and high-horsepower drivelines. "They're a really good tool," he adds is why there's not too many of them ab just now."
Daf XFs hold high residuals and are known as a real driver's motor, and the have been properly cared for arc hard but extremely easy to sell on, especiall] they've been entrusted to just one driv These are usually outstanding, Jones adds: in fact. some drivers will even give them a final spit and polish, before bidding farewell.
A top-nick.three-year-old 6x2 with Super Space Cab would probably sell on for £33,000plus and a similar 4x2 would be around £3.000 less than that, says Jones. "if it were a four-year old, you'd be looking at somewhere around the £27-Q8.000 mark."
When such top-spec tractors do arrive. they're not parked in Roth dean's yard for long.They usually turn up in just ones or twos. but Jones does occasionally take in larger numbers, where fleet replacements are involved. "We often visit auctions and occasionally buy," he stresses."But we also visit to keep abreast of how the market is moving."
Repeat buyers
Rothdean is situated on the edge of the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire in a former Lister engine factory at Cinderford. It may sound like rural extremis hut, thanks to the nearby M5 motorway it doesn't take long for truckbuying clients to reach them.
"We have some great repeat buyers who prefer to just come in and check our stock over," says Jones. 'And we also do a great deal of business over the phone. often with people that we've known a long time, hut never met."
Rothdean's interests are quite varied. spanning UK, EC and foreign trade. Although it is perhaps better known for building tippers, curtainsiders and tanker trailers,it also converts chassis for a range of purposes and runs a sizeable leasing fleet too.
But the used commercials sector is a lucrative one that chips in a sizeable part of the group's annual Om turnover. its 2002 tally being more than 700 used trucks and trailers.
Rothdean prefers to deal in the more popular three to four-year olds. from Da f, MAN,Mercedes-Benz,Scania and Volvo, hut it takes in fairly recent ERFs as well.
The majority either originate from small operators or hatches from large fleets wanting to update with the very latest models.
Reduced pollution Those big high-spec 4x2 and 6x2 artics which qualify for lower road tax because they have RPC (reduced pollution certification) are always popular, but if a vehicle passes Jones's initial 10-point check and looks good too, the chances are that it is in good condition and hell take it.
Most potential buyers want high power, low mileage and big cabs like the SuperSpace or Globetrotter.The cleaner they are inside, the easier they are to sell.
Jones will always investigate their service histories and then look around them, in the daylight. Colour is important; certain shades such as whites and pale colours are easy to sell on. but Jones checks them closely for signs of a recent respray.
The tyre equipment is always regarded critically because its condition reveals how well the vehicle has been driven. Naturally. Jones prefers them to come in with good original tyres but he stresses that they'd be renewed if necessary "We pay particular attention to their mid-lift or drive axle air suspension and always check that the lift/lower functions properly." he says. "An unmarked wind deflection kit,a well serviced sliding fifth wheel and ultralarge fuel tanks are also extremely important points."•