Hello, my name is Eamonn Blaney and I am the founder of CarScout.ie and although I have been passionate about cars since I was about 10 years of age, I am still enthralled with everything to do with them. Over the years I have accumulated an encyclopaedic knowledge of everything automotive which started with Top Trumps (!), then hundreds of books and literally thousand's of motor magazines, which I have read over the years.
Indeed, when I was only 13 years of age I had a highly commended exhibit in the Aer Lingus Young scientist exhibition with my exhibit which was based around a cutaway of a car engine! Around the same time, while living in Donegal, I had the opportunity to see the famous Billy Coleman absolutely 'flat' in a Lancia Stratus during the Donegal International Rally and the sound of that wailing Ferrari V6 engine has never left me. While studying for a diploma in Motor Industry Management, I was Chairman of the Student Society of the Irish Motor Industry (affiliated to the SIMI). and had the honour of holding this position for the three years I was in DIT, Bolton Street. After graduating I opened Prestige Car Care (off Leeson Street), and took a lease on a petrol station on Moss Street in Dublin.
After that, like so many people around the late 80's, due to the massive downturn in the economy (sound familiar?) I left for London and fortunately took up a position as a new and used car salesman, which was a real eye opener as to what actually went on in the motor trade. While there (Lionheart Motor Company, London) I observed how a skilful salesman could sell a car to someone regardless of whether it was suitable for them or not. Or getting the customer to spend far more than they could afford to pay, by using totally confusing finance products. These top salesmen might as well have been selling PVC windows as all that mattered to them was the sale, not the customer. They prided themselves on their ability to 'turn' the customer. 'Get them in, get their money and get them out, fast'. This did not sit well with me. The fact is, buying a car should be good experience as few things will bring you as much pleasure as buying (not being sold) the right car, at the right price. Every time you get in to drive your car, you just feel good! Since leaving Lionheart, apart from a couple of years spent as the business development manager for a Dublin-based plc, I have been active in the trade.
After moving to Donegal from London around 1991, I took the local bank up on their new 'Motor Loan' offer, and bought a rally car! I then spent three years as Chairman of the Donegal Motor Club (Ireland's largest) while simultaneously competing in rallies. I campaigned a Group A Vauxhall Nova for a number of years and built the car myself, including engine and gearbox rebuilds as required. We were pretty successful, having notched up over twenty, First in Class wins and took the Border Championship in 1995. Around that time I was also running a motor service centre, petrol station and buying and selling cars.
What prompted me to start a CarScout.ie was the continuous requests I received from friends and family in relation to disposing of their existing car or purchasing another one. Finding, appraising and valuing second-hand cars is something I have always enjoyed and consequently was always happy to help out. I am passionate about people and passionate about cars and CarScout.ie was a way I could combine the two. In recent times though, it was becoming fairly obvious that unless I was going to do this full time that there simply would not be enough time in the day to satisfy all the requests I had. After completing my Masters in Business Administration from Trinity College Dublin in late 2008 I finally decided to go ahead and thankfully, I have been busier than ever! So whether you are buying, selling or both please give me a call or drop me an email and we can discuss how I can help you. I would be delighted to do so.
