Auto Trader

Stuart Milne caught up with Jason to shoot the breeze about second hand Jags, selling cars and the anti-terrorist squad.

Jason Dawe greets me with a beaming smile and a handshake that could throttle a grizzly. It's hard to believe he's just spent the last five hours in an exhausting meeting pinning down the details of his British Motor Show appearance.

You'd think he'd just stepped off the plane from a relaxing holiday.

"I love cars; my wife loves cars, and so do my two daughters; so I can't get away from them," said the former Top Gear presenter.

The self-confessed used car addict will be back on our screens next month with the second series of Used Car Roadshow, the UK's only show for used car buyers.

But unlike some of television's motoring experts, Jason is determined to keep his feet on the ground - and keep his day job. "I still trade cars, so it's a nice blend", he said. "I want to keep my hand in, as well as doing my other work."

So how come it took a serious car crash to put Jason on the path to television stardom?

"I wrote off my Triumph Spitfire after nine days," said the larger than life star. "I decided I was going to get a job where they give you cars for free."

Jason started selling Volvos 20 years ago, rising to chief car salesman at one of the country's best known luxury car dealerships.

"I remember sitting at my desk, next to a £80,000 Mercedes SL500," said Jason. "It cost more than my first house!"

But Jason was working an 80 hour week, his family life was suffering and he wasn't seeing nearly enough of his two daughters, Livvy and Poppy.

He decided to try his hand at training car salesmen, but quickly felt he was losing touch with cars.

One evening in 2001, he noticed an advert for a resident used car expert on Top Gear.

He applied for the job that evening.

"We shot a video, which was a complete joke to be honest", said Jason. "I was sitting in a car, talking on the phone, while eating a burger and drinking; but it worked."

A fortnight later, Jason got a call from Top Gear's producer inviting him in for a chat with Clarkson. He shook hands with the producer, and Jason's on-screen future was sealed.

Jason proved a hit and a string of television and newspaper appearances followed.

So what of Clarkson? "He's exactly as he is on the screen; opinionated, hardworking and very, very bright."

Jason stayed at Top Gear for one series, until the format transformed into the testosterone-filled burnout-fest that it is today.

Jason is like your car loving mate down the pub who's always ready to give you some advice. And he's getting ready for his next instalment of fun on Men & Motors.

The second series of Used Car Roadshow will be beaming into our living rooms next month. Jason and Penny Mallory will be travelling all over the country meeting second-hand car devotees.

"We'll be speaking to used car addicts, people that run cars for free and we've got a section called Teenage Kicks, where we'll be looking at our childhood dream cars."

So what was Jason's own Teenage Kick?

A Ferrari? A Porsche? No, it was a Triumph Vitesse that Jason lusted over. The hot version of the Triumph Herald was the car to have at the time; complete with a 6-cylinder engine and huge fins on the back.

Jason's had his fair share of pups too.

"My worst company car was a red diesel Montego estate I had in the early nineties. I was supposed to get a new demonstrator when I sold it, but there was no chance of that. It broke down outside the Houses of Parliament, and I went off to find a phonebox.

"When I came back, there were police all around, about to blow it up; they thought there was a bomb in it!"

But he admits he only has himself to blame for the Mini Studio he ran. "It was a horrible limited edition. I was at the gym and met this woman and asked her out for a drink. As we walked out to the car park, she headed to this lovely MR2, while all I had was this dodgy Mini." Jason muses for a moment. "It was so embarrassing!"

So what's the best used bargain around right now?

"I reckon it's the old shape Jag XJ (94-03 model). It's great value and the XJ8 is fantastic, with a great engine and gearbox. You can pick one up for about £3,000 now.

As we're about to leave, he offers one piece of advice that, despite being a self-proclaimed used car anorak had never occurred to me.

"You must drive several different cars before you settle on one. They all drive differently, even though they may look identical; and you need to be able to compare to spot a good one from one that drives like a dog."

Which is exactly what I did when I bought my '94 Toyota MR2 a few weeks ago - thanks for the tip, Jason!

Jason's Used Car Roadshow hits our screens on May 29th. His website, usedcarroadshow.co.uk has all the info, including how you can play a part.

• You can meet Jason in the flesh at Auto Trader's stand at the British International Motor Show, which runs from July 18 to 30.