With plenty of used cars on the market it’s a brave seller that is prepared to lose a sale for the sake of a few hundred pounds, so even the cheapest car in the classifieds can be bought for less than advertised if you know what to say and how to say it.

Read how to drive the best bargain

I was recently asked by my 5 year old son Charlie ‘what’s your favourite month daddy?’ Slightly confused by the question, but confronted with his unblinking stare I thought hard and answered quickly. ‘August!’ I said, adding ‘because you, Charlie, are on school holiday which means we can spend more time together’. Feeling slightly smug with my beautifully crafted response I was quickly deflated by Charlie who, ignoring my answer, declared his to be ‘July, because it’s my birthday and I get lots of presents’.

Read Why Jason Dawe loves September

As a kid, I’d never even heard the name ‘Stig’ ... well except late one night when I walked in on Mum and Dad watching a movie about a half naked plumber who’d popped around to help a housewife. I was asked to leave and never found out how it ended. I had no idea that this name would change my future life a lot more than the housewife’s, although she did look happy at the time.

Read More about The Original Stig

The web is stiff with everything you need to know about used cars. Tons of stuff on individual models, how they drive, what goes wrong, and how long they last. Just tap that make and model into Google and, in seconds, you’ll be presented with dozens of pages full with the innermost secrets of your chosen motor. There was a time, not so long ago, when only the dealers and car makers knew faults, problems, recalls and common component failures. But now, thanks to thousands of forums, buying sites and online car mags, you can find out all you need to know, warts and all, in a heartbeat.