Wrong time to buy an Exige S or Elise SC??
Discussion
After waiting almost five months, my current car is on the verge of being sold. I should be happy. However, I'm frustrated to see so little choice in my price band. I'm looking for an Exige S 220 under 30000 miles in white, chrome orange, green or with an interesting stiped combination. Was hoping to find a car in the 21K/24K price range. Don't quite know why but I feel it has to have an 'in yer face' colour. I'd probably even consider a more 'neutral colour' if the car was right even if my heart is set on one of the more 'louder' variants. Has to have service history, although not necessarily by Lotus. A couple of months ago there were four or five to consider. Now they're all 27K/30K Added to this the exchange rate is weaker now from over here in France which makes the cars even more expensive. I'm scanning the classifieds on a daily basis so don't need links to any adds on Pistonheads or Autotrader. Should anyone have any other leads feel free to drop me a line.
Should I not find an Exige, I would consider an Elise SC. Similar criteria for price and mileage. Must have air con and hard top. I know there are around four currently advertised. The silver one looks good value at 22K, with everything I would want except the 'lilac interior' Again any leads would be appreciated. I also like the chrome orange at JCT but at 25K without a H-Top I find it expensive. They offered to fund a Top for the same price as I can't contemplate taking up the guarantee, but I still find it 'overpriced'
Finally theres a Mark 3 'R' in chrome orange, again at JCT, but having already owned an R I feel the need to bide my time so as to finally get the car I really want. I really thought that at this time of year it would have been a little bit easier. Who knows, perhaps I just have to wait until tomorrow!!!
Should I not find an Exige, I would consider an Elise SC. Similar criteria for price and mileage. Must have air con and hard top. I know there are around four currently advertised. The silver one looks good value at 22K, with everything I would want except the 'lilac interior' Again any leads would be appreciated. I also like the chrome orange at JCT but at 25K without a H-Top I find it expensive. They offered to fund a Top for the same price as I can't contemplate taking up the guarantee, but I still find it 'overpriced'
Finally theres a Mark 3 'R' in chrome orange, again at JCT, but having already owned an R I feel the need to bide my time so as to finally get the car I really want. I really thought that at this time of year it would have been a little bit easier. Who knows, perhaps I just have to wait until tomorrow!!!
Patience is needed.
I had the same problem a couple of months ago.
But waiting paid off looked at a couple and got a type 25 SC. Trouble is roads are filthy so it's tucked up in the garage and I'm desperate to take it for a blast!
They are scarce at this time of the year and there just aren't a lot around anyway.
Best of luck.
I had the same problem a couple of months ago.
But waiting paid off looked at a couple and got a type 25 SC. Trouble is roads are filthy so it's tucked up in the garage and I'm desperate to take it for a blast!
They are scarce at this time of the year and there just aren't a lot around anyway.
Best of luck.
Patience is a virtue and I have it in abundance. It has to be like this because the stupid f..k.r that promised to buy my car has disappeared off the face of the earth
. Particularly frustrating as I've been offered two wonderful cars and can't make a move on either of them
. I find it more than strange that here in France it took me around six weeks to sell a right hand drive Lotus Elise R in the middle of winter. Meanwhile, my Audi A3 convertible has been up for sale for the best part of 5 months with far less interest being shown in the car. I'm somewhat perplexed and even surprised because I would have thought it would have been the other way round. Just goes to show.
. Particularly frustrating as I've been offered two wonderful cars and can't make a move on either of them. I find it more than strange that here in France it took me around six weeks to sell a right hand drive Lotus Elise R in the middle of winter. Meanwhile, my Audi A3 convertible has been up for sale for the best part of 5 months with far less interest being shown in the car. I'm somewhat perplexed and even surprised because I would have thought it would have been the other way round. Just goes to show. I'm sort of in the same boat as you. I put my Elise (Converted to Exige) S2 Supercharged/Chargecooled Link-up Honda up for sale about 2 months ago (at top money as in no rush to sell) But apart from a few chancers and a bit of interest from Europe, nothing materialised.
So I'll just leave it till the spring and advertise again as there should be more interest then.
So I'll just leave it till the spring and advertise again as there should be more interest then.
Buying season starts March April , most sellers know they get a better price in summer. You will see more on the market from then on as some trade up to the V6 too.
Chatting to a dealer over the years:
2012 - 1.8 NA Exige selling for £20k now - for cars that were £34k at list price in 2005....that's a residual of 59% over 7 years.
2011 - Nice low mileage 190s will still fetch £20k in main dealers, S's that are as nice will fetch £23k-24k to maintain the £3-4k differential between NA and S (same applies for private NA vs S at £17/18k and £21/22k).... Lack of supply of Exiges - no new ones for 12 months mind - and the fact the new car is more expensive will keep things as they are.....
Personally been tracking Exige prices since 2004 having purchased my first in 2007. S2 prices wont change much.
Scott
Chatting to a dealer over the years:
2012 - 1.8 NA Exige selling for £20k now - for cars that were £34k at list price in 2005....that's a residual of 59% over 7 years.
2011 - Nice low mileage 190s will still fetch £20k in main dealers, S's that are as nice will fetch £23k-24k to maintain the £3-4k differential between NA and S (same applies for private NA vs S at £17/18k and £21/22k).... Lack of supply of Exiges - no new ones for 12 months mind - and the fact the new car is more expensive will keep things as they are.....
Personally been tracking Exige prices since 2004 having purchased my first in 2007. S2 prices wont change much.
Scott
I bought my Elise R in the winter of 2010. Had lots of choice and prices were negotiable. I got £2000 off the sticker price. I suppose I was expecting the same this time around. Prices have remained firm. Even stranger to see that 2006-7 cars are fetching the same money as in 2010, with 30k on the clock. Mine had 6K at the time. I'm still getting offers from potential sellers but no UK cars have hit the button yet.
Here in France the market can best be described as moribund. Prices are not so good so in some respects thats an advantage. I have currently two Exiges to consider. Firstly, a 2008 Exige with perf pack in silver. The second being a 240 Cup in yellow. The CUP makes me go WOW but doesn't have air con. The owner finally excepted my offer, only to tell me the car isn't available until March. I don't really want to wait. The silver car looks nice, is correctly priced but I can't quite make the final push. However, if nothing comes up soon, Ill probably cave in and say yes.
There is a third option which is the car advertised on Pistonheads by Pro Builds. Offering a LHD car resprayed to any colour. If anyone has any thoughts on this one or knows anything about the company. It's obviously been crash damaged. In LHD, its cheaper than cars over here. However it will always be a damaged/repaired car aswell as being a converted LHD so potentially a more difficult car to resell. To give people an idea its around £2k more than the silver RHD car I'm looking at. A LHD would be more convenient although not essential. I just imagine it in Pearl White or Chrome Orange which makes my mouth water. However, despite all the potential advantages the big downside is concerns of a repaired car which cools down the urge. Nevertheless, surely not all repaired cars are to be avoided like the plague.
Here in France the market can best be described as moribund. Prices are not so good so in some respects thats an advantage. I have currently two Exiges to consider. Firstly, a 2008 Exige with perf pack in silver. The second being a 240 Cup in yellow. The CUP makes me go WOW but doesn't have air con. The owner finally excepted my offer, only to tell me the car isn't available until March. I don't really want to wait. The silver car looks nice, is correctly priced but I can't quite make the final push. However, if nothing comes up soon, Ill probably cave in and say yes.
There is a third option which is the car advertised on Pistonheads by Pro Builds. Offering a LHD car resprayed to any colour. If anyone has any thoughts on this one or knows anything about the company. It's obviously been crash damaged. In LHD, its cheaper than cars over here. However it will always be a damaged/repaired car aswell as being a converted LHD so potentially a more difficult car to resell. To give people an idea its around £2k more than the silver RHD car I'm looking at. A LHD would be more convenient although not essential. I just imagine it in Pearl White or Chrome Orange which makes my mouth water. However, despite all the potential advantages the big downside is concerns of a repaired car which cools down the urge. Nevertheless, surely not all repaired cars are to be avoided like the plague.
simpo555 said:
I bought my Elise R in the winter of 2010. Had lots of choice and prices were negotiable. I got £2000 off the sticker price. I suppose I was expecting the same this time around. Prices have remained firm. Even stranger to see that 2006-7 cars are fetching the same money as in 2010, with 30k on the clock. Mine had 6K at the time. I'm still getting offers from potential sellers but no UK cars have hit the button yet.
Here in France the market can best be described as moribund. Prices are not so good so in some respects thats an advantage. I have currently two Exiges to consider. Firstly, a 2008 Exige with perf pack in silver. The second being a 240 Cup in yellow. The CUP makes me go WOW but doesn't have air con. The owner finally excepted my offer, only to tell me the car isn't available until March. I don't really want to wait. The silver car looks nice, is correctly priced but I can't quite make the final push. However, if nothing comes up soon, Ill probably cave in and say yes.
There is a third option which is the car advertised on Pistonheads by Pro Builds. Offering a LHD car resprayed to any colour. If anyone has any thoughts on this one or knows anything about the company. It's obviously been crash damaged. In LHD, its cheaper than cars over here. However it will always be a damaged/repaired car aswell as being a converted LHD so potentially a more difficult car to resell. To give people an idea its around £2k more than the silver RHD car I'm looking at. A LHD would be more convenient although not essential. I just imagine it in Pearl White or Chrome Orange which makes my mouth water. However, despite all the potential advantages the big downside is concerns of a repaired car which cools down the urge. Nevertheless, surely not all repaired cars are to be avoided like the plague.
1. How long do you intend keeping the car?Here in France the market can best be described as moribund. Prices are not so good so in some respects thats an advantage. I have currently two Exiges to consider. Firstly, a 2008 Exige with perf pack in silver. The second being a 240 Cup in yellow. The CUP makes me go WOW but doesn't have air con. The owner finally excepted my offer, only to tell me the car isn't available until March. I don't really want to wait. The silver car looks nice, is correctly priced but I can't quite make the final push. However, if nothing comes up soon, Ill probably cave in and say yes.
There is a third option which is the car advertised on Pistonheads by Pro Builds. Offering a LHD car resprayed to any colour. If anyone has any thoughts on this one or knows anything about the company. It's obviously been crash damaged. In LHD, its cheaper than cars over here. However it will always be a damaged/repaired car aswell as being a converted LHD so potentially a more difficult car to resell. To give people an idea its around £2k more than the silver RHD car I'm looking at. A LHD would be more convenient although not essential. I just imagine it in Pearl White or Chrome Orange which makes my mouth water. However, despite all the potential advantages the big downside is concerns of a repaired car which cools down the urge. Nevertheless, surely not all repaired cars are to be avoided like the plague.
2. Are you planning on leaving the car standard during your ownership?
Its + £2K compared to a RHD car in France. Its around £5K less than its LHD equivalent. In France its the other way round with RHD cars being more difficult to resell. All this being said, I still have doubts myself despite all the reassurances given about the car. But it remains tempting in some respects. Choice of colour, LHD, headlamps changed for Europe, no scratches/chips, new wheels and tyres and apparently a new chassis.
Leggy said:
Patience is needed.
I had the same problem a couple of months ago.
But waiting paid off looked at a couple and got a type 25 SC. Trouble is roads are filthy so it's tucked up in the garage and I'm desperate to take it for a blast!
They are scarce at this time of the year and there just aren't a lot around anyway.
Best of luck.
I think you bought my SC, although it now has a different reg number. It was a great car and I rather regret selling it now. Suspension set up is not standard Lotus - had Steve Guglielmi set up for 'fast road' use. It does not understeer - just grips and grips and grip.I had the same problem a couple of months ago.
But waiting paid off looked at a couple and got a type 25 SC. Trouble is roads are filthy so it's tucked up in the garage and I'm desperate to take it for a blast!
They are scarce at this time of the year and there just aren't a lot around anyway.
Best of luck.
Enjoy . . . .
T25UFO said:
Leggy said:
Patience is needed.
I had the same problem a couple of months ago.
But waiting paid off looked at a couple and got a type 25 SC. Trouble is roads are filthy so it's tucked up in the garage and I'm desperate to take it for a blast!
They are scarce at this time of the year and there just aren't a lot around anyway.
Best of luck.
I think you bought my SC, although it now has a different reg number. It was a great car and I rather regret selling it now. Suspension set up is not standard Lotus - had Steve Guglielmi set up for 'fast road' use. It does not understeer - just grips and grips and grip.I had the same problem a couple of months ago.
But waiting paid off looked at a couple and got a type 25 SC. Trouble is roads are filthy so it's tucked up in the garage and I'm desperate to take it for a blast!
They are scarce at this time of the year and there just aren't a lot around anyway.
Best of luck.
Enjoy . . . .
Would be good to know more about the car.
More than two months later and there are even fewer cars. Still a sellers market. Fortunately I've got mine now. Fortunately nothing has become available that makes me think 'if only'. Strangely enough I don't see a flood of cars coming onto the market now that we're getting near to springtime, so prices are set to stay very firm. Cant say the same for other 'higher brand' cars, for example those beginning with a P.
I've got my car and I love it. Still keep an eye on the ads. A new ad has just been posted. Have to ask myself who's kidding who. A 2006 S at £29950, surely thats way over the top even for cars in demand. They go privately for around £23.5k, without even talking trade in prices which I should imagine are around the £22k mark. There are dealer cars 2008/9 at this price
simpo555 said:
I've got my car and I love it. Still keep an eye on the ads. A new ad has just been posted. Have to ask myself who's kidding who. A 2006 S at £29950, surely thats way over the top even for cars in demand. They go privately for around £23.5k, without even talking trade in prices which I should imagine are around the £22k mark. There are dealer cars 2008/9 at this price
Brilliant news. I've been after a MY08 Chrome Orange car with less than 20k miles for under £30k for nearly a year and i still can't find any. Must have full Lotus history from new without exception and a warranty. Have you got any links?Edited by Candellara on Saturday 8th March 19:52
Edited by Candellara on Saturday 8th March 20:06
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