So who’s Frank Butcher?
This site is your source for car advice from someone who was on the other side of the desk. Not telling you.
What I will tell you is this: I spent the better part of my working life in the UK motor trade. Showrooms, forecourts, auction houses, finance offices. I’ve sold everything from a battered Vauxhall Nova to a nearly-new Range Rover. I’ve done the training courses, hit the targets, worn the lanyard, and sat through more Monday morning sales meetings than I care to remember.
I was good at it. That’s not a boast — it’s relevant. Because being good at selling cars means understanding exactly how buyers think, what makes them hesitate, what makes them sign, and where they consistently leave money on the table.
At some point, I decided that knowledge was more useful on this side of the desk.
Why this site exists
Car buying is one of the biggest financial decisions most people make — second only to buying a house. And yet most buyers walk into a dealership knowing almost nothing about how the process actually works.
That’s not their fault. Nobody teaches you this stuff. The industry certainly doesn’t volunteer it.
So Car Confessions exists to level the playing field. No agenda, no dealer kickbacks, no sponsored content dressed up as advice. Just the things I wish someone had told me — and more importantly, the things I never told customers — written plainly and, where possible, with a bit of humour. Because car buying is stressful enough without the advice being boring as well.
Car Advice: What you’ll find here
Honest buying guides — what to look for, what to avoid, and what questions to ask that dealers really don’t enjoy.
Finance explained — PCP, HP, lease, and why the monthly payment is almost never the number that matters.
Dealer tactics decoded — the scripts, the pressure points, and how to stay calm when someone tells you “this one won’t be here tomorrow.”
Straight talking recommendations — the cars I’d actually consider, the ones I’d walk away from, and why.
A note on trust
Everything on this site is written from genuine experience in the motor trade. Where I recommend products or services — like vehicle history checks or insurance comparison tools — I may earn a small commission if you use them. This never affects what I recommend. I’d rather lose the commission than send you somewhere I wouldn’t go myself.
If you ever think I’ve got something wrong, or you’ve got a forecourt horror story that deserves an airing, get in touch. The comments are open and the inbox is always on.
Frank Butcher. Probably not his real name.
Thinking of buying a used car? Start here:
- I sold cars for years. Here’s what I’d actually buy and why.
- “I’ll just check with my manager.” And 9 other lines dealers use on you.
Whether you’re buying your first car or your fifteenth, the used car market can feel like a minefield. Prices vary wildly, private sellers can be economical with the truth, and dealerships have entire departments dedicated to maximising what you spend. Good car advice is hard to come by — most sources either have something to sell or something to hide.
That’s where Confessions of a Used Car Salesman comes in. I’ve been on the forecourt side of the desk. I know exactly which questions make salespeople sweat, which finance products carry the fattest commissions, and which cars look great on paper but fall apart in reality. My job now is to share that knowledge freely, so you can make better decisions with your money.
For further context on the used car market, the Citizens Advice Bureau offers useful guidance on your consumer rights when buying a used vehicle.