Buying a car in America is a tricky business.

Ric Gianino, "senior" (his quote marks) sales associate at Country Hill Motors is keen to sell us a vehicle. He shows us a Nissan, a Saturn and an awesome, retro, 1987 Jaguar. Unfortunately for Ric, none of them work properly. In fact he can't even get the Jag to start. This, my friends, is the seedier side of the American car industry.

We very nearly make a deal with Eric at Jay Wolfe motors, who wants to sell us a 1997 Acura - the upmarket Honda brand. Only one owner, pretty clean service history, black, sleek - a pretty pimp ride. It's on the forecourt for $5,700. We go in with a punchy offer of $4,000. Eric wants $4,800. No deal, unfortunately.

Joe's got cancer. Joe's mate, who's built a house in the middle of nowhere, somewhere in Kansas, wants to sell his MG, which has only done 20 miles in the last 20 years. So, he gives it to Joe to put on the front lawn of his apartment block, so as to get better attention from passers by.
Is any of the money from the sale going to help Joe pay for his cancer drugs? Who knows, but Joe, who's pouring liquid food down a tube directly into his stomach doesn't look as if he's going to live long enough to see the MG sold anyway. Thank God for the NHS.