MP Auto Group

MP Auto Group: performance and specialist cars in Shrewsbury

MP Auto Group is a used car dealer based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, focused on sports and performance models. Its stock is built around BMW M cars, hot hatches and what the company describes as the occasional supercar, with each vehicle bought individually rather than in bulk. The dealership presents itself as buying "one car at a time" and states that cars are hand-picked, prepared in house and priced honestly.

The business operates from Unit C5 Greenwood Court in Shrewsbury, and the site also refers to Unit C4 and C5 as its premises. The operation is deliberately small: the company describes itself as a tight-knit team and stresses that every car passes through its own hands rather than a third party's before reaching the forecourt.

Stock profile: from hot hatch to supercar

The catalogue shown on the site spans a range of performance-oriented models, mostly petrol and automatic, with a few manual cars. Makes represented in the listings include Audi, BMW, Land Rover, MINI and Toyota. Examples displayed at the time of writing included:

• BMW 1 Series M140i and M135i, and BMW 2 Series M240i
• BMW M2 Competition and BMW M4 Competition
• Audi S1 Competition quattro
• MINI John Cooper Works Hatch
• Toyota GR Yaris
• Land Rover Range Rover Sport SVR

Listed mileages in the sample ranged from around 27,000 to 89,000 miles, with model years from 2016 to 2023. The site also keeps a "previously sold" section covering M cars, hot hatches and the odd supercar, presented as a record of the kind of vehicles the dealership handles.

The five-step preparation process

Every car is said to go through the same five checks before it is offered for sale, and nothing reaches the forecourt until all five are signed off:

• Sourcing: cars are chosen individually on history, specification and condition, and rejected if they would not pass the dealership's own inspection.
• Pre-delivery inspection: a full mechanical and structural check, with any faults corrected before advertising.
• Maintenance check: service history verified, fluids and consumables brought up to date, and a fresh service where one is due.
• Full valet: a machine clean inside and out.
• Paintwork enhancement: machine polishing to reduce swirls and correct the finish, with Ceramic Guard available as an additional coating.

Aftercare: warranty, Ceramic Guard and detailing

Beyond the sale, MP Auto Group offers aftercare services that are available whether or not the car was bought from the dealership. These include Autoguard premium warranty cover, with levels chosen to suit the car and how it is used; Ceramic Guard, a hard protective coating applied over corrected paint; and detailing, covering machine polishing and full interior work, which can be booked on its own.

The team behind the cars

The site names three people in the business. Max Podmore is Sales & Marketing Director and owner, sources every car that comes in, and is the name most customer reviews are addressed to. Lawrence Hamblin is Preparations Manager and runs the five-step process each car goes through. Matthew Downes is Head Detailer, responsible for machine polishing, Ceramic Guard and the finer finishing work on the stock.

Selling and part-exchange

The dealership also buys cars and accepts part-exchange. Owners can submit a registration for a free valuation, and the site states that the figure is the same whether the car is sold outright or traded against something on the forecourt.

Customer feedback

The reviews published on the site describe purchases of a Porsche 718 Cayman GT4, a Mercedes-AMG C63, a BMW M140i and an Abarth, among others, and several sales to customers selling their own cars. Recurring themes in those accounts are the preparation of the vehicles, communication during the process, help with paperwork and private plates, and after-sales follow-up. One reviewer mentions that the dealership arranged new tyres, a 111-point inspection at Porsche Centre Chester and a Porsche Approved Warranty for a Cayman GT4. These are individual customer accounts rather than an aggregate rating.