Don't get your Elise serviced in Cape Town!
Discussion
I'm an Elise ('06 111R, 29,000km) owner in South Africa, and thought you might be amused/horrified to hear that Lotus Cape Town wanted to charge me nearly GBP900 for a service!
Amongst other things they wanted GBP240 for 4 new spark plugs (Denso SK20R11 Iridium Plug), GBP120 for an air filter, and GBP50 for an oil filter!
After I stopped crying (alternately in amusement and anger) I asked how parts could possibly be so expensive (even with import costs, duty and a mark-up). Got a stock response stating its very expensive for companies to import parts etc into SA. Not convinced; a 400% premium over UK prices is difficult to swallow - as a Brit who's been down here for 5 years I can't quite get to grips with just how expensive cars are!
Thankfully, being aware of a thing called the internet, I sourced the parts online for under GBP100 for the lot! They're currently winging their way to Cape Town and will be fitted (by Lotus) next week!
This isn't the first time I've had problems with their costs (I was once quoted GBP1,100 for brake pads), but thought it about time to share it here!
Looking forward to the folks visiting in April, although don't know how to break the news that they've got to fit 2 rear tyres in their luggage...
Amongst other things they wanted GBP240 for 4 new spark plugs (Denso SK20R11 Iridium Plug), GBP120 for an air filter, and GBP50 for an oil filter!
After I stopped crying (alternately in amusement and anger) I asked how parts could possibly be so expensive (even with import costs, duty and a mark-up). Got a stock response stating its very expensive for companies to import parts etc into SA. Not convinced; a 400% premium over UK prices is difficult to swallow - as a Brit who's been down here for 5 years I can't quite get to grips with just how expensive cars are!
Thankfully, being aware of a thing called the internet, I sourced the parts online for under GBP100 for the lot! They're currently winging their way to Cape Town and will be fitted (by Lotus) next week!
This isn't the first time I've had problems with their costs (I was once quoted GBP1,100 for brake pads), but thought it about time to share it here!
Looking forward to the folks visiting in April, although don't know how to break the news that they've got to fit 2 rear tyres in their luggage...
Although I haven't had my S1 serviced by the only Lotus dealer in Denmark, I'm pretty shure it will be quite expensive. I source my parts from EliseParts and use a mechanic that I trust. Small stuff I try to do myself - including spark plugs and brake pads.
As for car prices I think we can match South Africa. I found Lotus Elise 1,8, 111SC from 2010 with 3000 miles on the clock. This particular car costs GBP 98.000 due to horrific Danish car taxes (pay for three - get one)
As for car prices I think we can match South Africa. I found Lotus Elise 1,8, 111SC from 2010 with 3000 miles on the clock. This particular car costs GBP 98.000 due to horrific Danish car taxes (pay for three - get one)
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