Air con+Private sales
Discussion
Hot potatoe no 1
After 6 months of ownership I still havent used the air con. Roof off every time. However, off on holiday shortly and with two sports sacks to put in the boot I've got no place to put the soft top. Is this the only time air con becomes useful. Despite this, even though it doesnt make sense, still dont think I'd be keen on buying a car without air con. The point being, why do we chase after air con as a must have when its used perhaps once a year?
Hot potatoe number 2.
With a potential bill for £1200 after 6 months of ownership, its easier to understand the monopoly traders have on the market. To make sense the price of a private sale needs to be at least £2000 less than garage prices, if not more, which probably takes us into trade price figures at best to be realistic. So the vicious circle continues as I guess from watching adds that around 80% cars are sold by dealers. This represents a 'hidden cost' as it becomes 'buy expensive, sell cheap'. I've seen lots of v. nice cars selling privately that sooner or later get bought by dealers, readvertised and then sold.
After 6 months of ownership I still havent used the air con. Roof off every time. However, off on holiday shortly and with two sports sacks to put in the boot I've got no place to put the soft top. Is this the only time air con becomes useful. Despite this, even though it doesnt make sense, still dont think I'd be keen on buying a car without air con. The point being, why do we chase after air con as a must have when its used perhaps once a year?
Hot potatoe number 2.
With a potential bill for £1200 after 6 months of ownership, its easier to understand the monopoly traders have on the market. To make sense the price of a private sale needs to be at least £2000 less than garage prices, if not more, which probably takes us into trade price figures at best to be realistic. So the vicious circle continues as I guess from watching adds that around 80% cars are sold by dealers. This represents a 'hidden cost' as it becomes 'buy expensive, sell cheap'. I've seen lots of v. nice cars selling privately that sooner or later get bought by dealers, readvertised and then sold.
Edited by simpo555 on Sunday 3rd July 07:00
Edited by simpo555 on Monday 4th July 21:00
I honestly don't understand how everyone insists ac is invaluable. I use my elise year round over 14000 miles a year, I work night shifts and have to leave my car near an airfield where it really does get covered in ice and needs de-icing before I can go home. But I still can't see the problem, if I put the engine on, and heater on full whilst scraping the windows it easily keeps itself clear after about 2 minutes of running.
Don't get me wrong I can see why people want ac, I just don't see why most suggest you NEED it.
Then again the majority is often there for a reason!
Don't get me wrong I can see why people want ac, I just don't see why most suggest you NEED it.
Then again the majority is often there for a reason!
When I was looking for mine aircon was on my list - when I found the one I wanted it didn't have it, but everything else was right so I bought it.
After three years I don't regret it. Granted, mine isn't a daily driver but if it is warm the roof is off - if it's cold that heater gets warm very quickly. I have never had an issue with major fogging up of the windscreen.
Saying all that, mine has been up for a sale for a week and half of the questions so far have been "does it have aircon". I suppose as people get used it in other cars it becomes the default option they feel they must have on everything.
After three years I don't regret it. Granted, mine isn't a daily driver but if it is warm the roof is off - if it's cold that heater gets warm very quickly. I have never had an issue with major fogging up of the windscreen.
Saying all that, mine has been up for a sale for a week and half of the questions so far have been "does it have aircon". I suppose as people get used it in other cars it becomes the default option they feel they must have on everything.
Returning to the garage or private sale issue. There are two adds on AutoTrader. A 2010 R 5K + ac+HT at 23500. Already reduced from original asking but not finding a buyer. Still perhaps £1K overpriced but who knows. Then theres a 2008 R 5K,+HT (No air con)at £24775 which to me seems about £4K over the odds. Both private sellers. I'd consider either one if I was in the market but would end up buying from a garage because for the same money or LESS theres a guarantee. Why do people so obviously over value their cars or am I missing something. I must add that I follow the adverts on a more than regular basis, partly out of curiosity and partly to keep an eye on the value of my own car. What is bemusing is to see private sellers asking garage prices or am I wrong. Then, having not being able to sell their cars, they give in and sell them to a dealer. Is this the reality. Or worse, do cars in this price bracket ONLY get sold by dealers so when the time comes to sell my car I've got no real option
I very rarely even use the normal fan, I find that air comes out of the vents even without the fan on, and if I need more air in the cabin I either remove the roof or wind down a window. Even with this I have never had it foo warm and as my post above I use it most days sometimes in a suit.
I've got a round trip of more than 1500 miles with two bags in the boot Cant store the soft top so if it gets 28°C or more Im either going to sweat like a pig and lose a few pounds or turn on the air con. I think I know the answer already. In addition, I'm travelling with my 8 Yr old son. For everyday use air con isnt necessary but there are occasions when it becomes a serious pain in the butt if its not available. Which explains why it becomes an option most people wish to have, despite minimal use.
I have mine in the south of Spain at the moment, without AC, and its not a problem. We are getting 40C here often enough. I think if I was sitting in traffic it could be an issue because there is a lot of heat soak from the engine, but I never sit in traffic.
There was a thread on the spanish Lotus form and most people agreed it was a nice to have rather than a need to have option.
There was a thread on the spanish Lotus form and most people agreed it was a nice to have rather than a need to have option.
simpo555 said:
Hot potatoe no 1
After 6 months of ownership I still havent used the air con. Roof off every time. However, off on holiday shortly and with two sports sacks to put in the boot I've got no place to put the soft top. Is this the only time air con becomes useful. Despite this, even though it doesnt make sense, still dont think I'd be keen on buying a car without air con. The point being, why do we chase after air con as a must have when its used perhaps once a year?
Very much depends how you use your car. If you do go off on hols in it, then IMO you need aircon. Not least because the cr*p Italian ventilation system in the Elise does not work right and with the heater fully off the cold air coming in is still 10C above the outside temperature. Imagine a hot wet day with an outside temp of 30C becoming an inside of 40C - maybe not an issue in the UK but certainly is abroad. So for me the aircon is a necessity - just in case.After 6 months of ownership I still havent used the air con. Roof off every time. However, off on holiday shortly and with two sports sacks to put in the boot I've got no place to put the soft top. Is this the only time air con becomes useful. Despite this, even though it doesnt make sense, still dont think I'd be keen on buying a car without air con. The point being, why do we chase after air con as a must have when its used perhaps once a year?
simpo555 said:
Hot potatoe number 2.
With a potential bill for £1200 after 6 months of ownership, its easier to understand the monopoly traders have on the market. To make sense the price of a private sale needs to be at least £2000 less than garage prices, if not more, which probably takes us into trade price figures at best to be realistic. So the vicious circle continues as I guess from watching adds that around 80% cars are sold by dealers. This represents a 'hidden cost' as it becomes 'buy expensive, sell cheap'. I've seen lots of v. nice cars selling privately that sooner or later get bought by dealers, readvertised and then sold.
Whats your £1200 bill for? I wouldnt expect that sort of bill on any modern car. But of course you pay less buying privately than you do buying from the trade. Problem is the idiots who look at trade prices then advertise privately at the same level.With a potential bill for £1200 after 6 months of ownership, its easier to understand the monopoly traders have on the market. To make sense the price of a private sale needs to be at least £2000 less than garage prices, if not more, which probably takes us into trade price figures at best to be realistic. So the vicious circle continues as I guess from watching adds that around 80% cars are sold by dealers. This represents a 'hidden cost' as it becomes 'buy expensive, sell cheap'. I've seen lots of v. nice cars selling privately that sooner or later get bought by dealers, readvertised and then sold.
I find the air-con invaluable in the winter. Without it the windscreen just steams up on short journeys, even with the blower on full (before the useless frigging resistor pack breaks down) on hot.
At least an Elise is small enough to be able to reach all the windows with a cloth from the driver's seat
At least an Elise is small enough to be able to reach all the windows with a cloth from the driver's seat
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