Wheeler Dealers

I was really disappointed to hear that Edd had left the show. But I've been hooked on the show for years, and decided to watch the past 2 seasons with Ant as the new mechanic. To be honest, I think Ant has a strong personality of his own, and brings his own talents and spin to the show. It's still a great show and worth watching. I do miss Edd, and I enjoyed him for years on this show. I was going to pout and boycott the show when he left. But I'm glad I stuck with the show and gave Ant a chance.

Wheeler dealers is a British motoring show where an used car, that needs a bit of care and love, is bought and mended or sometimes more thoroughly restored and sold afterward, hopefully with a profit. Seems like there are tons of similar shows out there, right? Answer is yes, there certainly are but Wheeler Dealers have some simple touches that makes it stand out the rest.

First of all the cars featured are all somehow special, often referred as modern classics. In this show you will not see any hyper cars and outrageously expensive classics, like Ferrari F40 or rare Talbots. What you are going to find are cars affordable nowadays by most average persons. Cars range from few hundred quid worth Austin Mini to more (but not stupidly) expensive sport cars, like BMW 8. series and Lamborghini Urraco. Earlier episodes had really small budgets but have grown as the series has progressed.

The best part is the way that the work is presented. The emphasis is actually on mending and rebuilding, instead of ridiculous drama that many American shows (American Chopper, Running West Coast Customs etc) sadly feature. The process is pretty detailed and some interesting technical characteristics of each car can be seen. You can actually learn thing or two about the mechanics by watching the show. For me, this is the key point which makes Wheeler Dealers an absolute classic.

The show is presented by Mike Brewer - the dealer and Edd China - the mechanic. Mike buys and sells the cars and tracks down some parts needed and gives some consumer advice while Edd takes care of the car and wonderfully explains everything he does.

Wheeler dealers is not very popular show and is mostly known by real car enthusiasts. As being one myself, I can't really speak for "regular" people but it really is presented in a fun manner, not in Top Gear's way, but even so I think almost anyone is able to enjoy it.

So if you have even a little interest about the technical side of cars, the show is highly recommended. A must for enthusiasts!

I have watched nearly every season of this show and thoroughly enjoy it. I tire of Mike quickly, but I know he plays a necessary role and Edd is following up with some fine wrenching of his own. He really shines when explaining the detail of his work. I wish Edd's portion of the show might be extended for another 20 minutes to further explain his technique and ideas. As a shady-tree mechanic, this is the part of the show I find fascinating.

Learning about the variety of automobiles they bring through is a fun and fulfilling experience, but my one jab is that Mike needs to let Edd drive the cars he repairs.

First of all, I must say that this program works mainly because of the personas in it:

Mike Brewer is top boy salt-of-the-earth car dealer of the Frank Butcher variety. It's fun to watch him search and negotiate the purchase of a car and you can see that he is really holding back the greasy negotiation skills that most forecourt dealers have.

Edd China is the uber-tall and genial mechanic, who you can imagine came to this through pottering on dad's old E Type in their summer house in Anglesey - he is not your average grease monkey.

Together they create TV magic by taking old but classic well made cars and then bringing them to life and selling it on for a nominal"profit".

Don't expect to learn anything here - I have watched most of the Brewer/China partnership programs and I still don't have a clue what to look for if I were to buy a "smoker" to renovate.

However, this program is not really of that variety - in my mind, it is about realising the value and craftsmanship that went into making some of the better vehicles in the past - and celebrating it by giving them some TLC in China's workshop. I'd say this is true recycling (as opposed to putting all your rubbish in a plastic box, eventually bound for a landfill)

Of course some episodes will interest you more than others but on the whole, there is enough honesty, good intentions and humour to make it worth your while.

Warning: watching Edd and Mike will be much to the chagrin of everyone else who tries to watch their favourite programs on telly in your household. I certainly get a few withering looks when I try and watch it. Enjoy at your peril.

Like everything US TV execs get their mitts on they've managed to neuter a great show into an okay show. I think this show was the creation of Mike Brewer but as most people seem to agree Edd was the reason to watch. I applaud his decision to stand up to Disney and leave when the real car repair portion of the show was being relegated to being an afterthought.

Ant seems like a nice guy and a great mechanic he's just not Edd China and that is the difference. I also read many of the other reviews and as others have so wisely pointed out the "profit" angle is ridiculous. Edd's labour charges would easily amount to thousands of dollars on each project. Brewer can't be serious about that word profit. The cars are being sold at a ridiculously cheap price for all that work.

Anyways please Disney ( Velocity) come to your senses and bring back Edd . Let him have the creative control over a series dealing with auto restoration.