Discussion
Following on form my thread on the main forum, I think I am going for an S1, having not gone for one 3 months ago... DOH!
Anyway I have about 14 - 15K, I have seen a few adverts in dealers and I was wondering what other people's advice experience is. My Clio Cup is a fair chunk of the cash I have, if I can off load it privately I'll be able to go for a private sale otherwise I'll try and off load in the deal. As far as dealers are concerned I have seen one S1 on the Paul Matty site - any experience? Another dealer 'performance time' in Brum has two in range - never heard of them they came up on a trader search, I have also been to adrian Blyth - I was impressed and if they get anything in the right price range I'd go back there. Can anyone suggest reasonable dealers anywhere else?
Also, trackers... My insurance company wants one, is his normal? Assuming it is (I suspect not) does anyone have any suggestions of where to go and not get fleeced!!!
Twit
Anyway I have about 14 - 15K, I have seen a few adverts in dealers and I was wondering what other people's advice experience is. My Clio Cup is a fair chunk of the cash I have, if I can off load it privately I'll be able to go for a private sale otherwise I'll try and off load in the deal. As far as dealers are concerned I have seen one S1 on the Paul Matty site - any experience? Another dealer 'performance time' in Brum has two in range - never heard of them they came up on a trader search, I have also been to adrian Blyth - I was impressed and if they get anything in the right price range I'd go back there. Can anyone suggest reasonable dealers anywhere else?
Also, trackers... My insurance company wants one, is his normal? Assuming it is (I suspect not) does anyone have any suggestions of where to go and not get fleeced!!!
Twit
First of all - Good Choice!
Paul Matty are enthusiasts who have been in the trade for years. Steve Cropley from Autocar got his car there so that speaks volumes!
Adrian Blyth have been doing TVR's for ages and the occasional Porsche/Lotus stuff. I reccomended a friend (OGGS) to him for a TVR and he seems to be very happy. Adrian Blyth have a reputation to uphold so I don't think you'd go to far wrong there.
Performance Time? Never heard of them but if they are'nt specialists don't go near them. Elises are easy cars to look after but that doesn't mean they can't be wrecked or that is is that easy to spot a wreck. Because of the Elises excellent abilites its very hard to spot a car that is only 90% handling or power wise. Plus people like Paul Matty and Adrian Blyth will underwrite the cars themselves instead of using insurance warranties (which are essentially crap!).
The trade in should'nt be a problem as they will just phone around local dealers and see who offers what but obviously you'll get more if you sell private.
Good Luck! Oh and feel free to drop me a mail if you need any help.
>> Edited by alunr on Tuesday 11th March 18:58
Paul Matty are enthusiasts who have been in the trade for years. Steve Cropley from Autocar got his car there so that speaks volumes!
Adrian Blyth have been doing TVR's for ages and the occasional Porsche/Lotus stuff. I reccomended a friend (OGGS) to him for a TVR and he seems to be very happy. Adrian Blyth have a reputation to uphold so I don't think you'd go to far wrong there.
Performance Time? Never heard of them but if they are'nt specialists don't go near them. Elises are easy cars to look after but that doesn't mean they can't be wrecked or that is is that easy to spot a wreck. Because of the Elises excellent abilites its very hard to spot a car that is only 90% handling or power wise. Plus people like Paul Matty and Adrian Blyth will underwrite the cars themselves instead of using insurance warranties (which are essentially crap!).
The trade in should'nt be a problem as they will just phone around local dealers and see who offers what but obviously you'll get more if you sell private.
Good Luck! Oh and feel free to drop me a mail if you need any help.
>> Edited by alunr on Tuesday 11th March 18:58
nah only Tesco want a tracker.
Try Esteem & elepehant too. They don't require...
Also not convinced there is much point buying from a dealer. I'd see if there are any known cars being sold on the britishcarsbbs (search for it on google). You should be alright. Mostly warranties aren't worth the paper they are written on...
Cheers Alun! I'm going to try and call Paul Matty tomorrow with a view to getting Friday off and going to look. If nothing else it should provide a good baseline. The one they have on their site is well in budget and 13.5 and is my favorite colour etc but it is an older car. I'll probably ask more advice!!
Dan - I agree with what you are suggesting but to go private I have to sell my car which will probably be OK. Also, as i use my careach day for work if I sell one and don't find one pretty quickly work will be interesting!
On the tracker front, any suggestions? I have no idea of costs really but in theory I don't mind paying is first, it is a reasonable cost and second, it delivers something if it is needed... I was interested to find out that the Cup and the Elise cost the same insurance wise!
Twit
Dan - I agree with what you are suggesting but to go private I have to sell my car which will probably be OK. Also, as i use my careach day for work if I sell one and don't find one pretty quickly work will be interesting!
On the tracker front, any suggestions? I have no idea of costs really but in theory I don't mind paying is first, it is a reasonable cost and second, it delivers something if it is needed... I was interested to find out that the Cup and the Elise cost the same insurance wise!
Twit
Buying secondhand is always a bit of a lottery. With a Lotus as with any other car (esp sports) you get what you pay for. I looked at 12 dealer and private cars before buying private - dealer warranties are of pretty limited value. Condition is everything, dealer stamps are pretty worthless too IMHO - would never, ever risk a main lotus dealer servicing my lil' beaut..
FWIW Paul Matty is OK..
FWIW Paul Matty is OK..
I was talking to a number of people about the Tracker situation at the Lotus Show on Saturday and it appears to be working its way through the Direct Line chain pretty quickly (Direct Line, Natwest, Tescos + others).
Most people I talked to that had S2's had been asked for trackers but S1's was'nt as unanimous.
Obviously this is'nt a scientific sample!
Most people I talked to that had S2's had been asked for trackers but S1's was'nt as unanimous.
Obviously this is'nt a scientific sample!
clanger said: Buying secondhand is always a bit of a lottery. With a Lotus as with any other car (esp sports) you get what you pay for. I looked at 12 dealer and private cars before buying private - dealer warranties are of pretty limited value. Condition is everything, dealer stamps are pretty worthless too IMHO - would never, ever risk a main lotus dealer servicing my lil' beaut..
FWIW Paul Matty is OK..
Dealer warranties are pretty limited but... If you find you have bought a Chassis damaged lump then you've got comeback - a private seller can just stick two fingers up with "Sold as seen" tattooed across them.
Paul Matty is well respected and would'nt purposely sell you a lemon. But it can happen even from the best dealers.
Just had the same problem renewing my insurance, trackers are in flavour.
Try this website, it does all the work for you and has turned up with the goods, £200 less than my original company. [/url]www.confused.com
With the money saved I went and bought some more toys...........I'll never have any money !!
SVG
Try this website, it does all the work for you and has turned up with the goods, £200 less than my original company. [/url]www.confused.com
With the money saved I went and bought some more toys...........I'll never have any money !!
SVG
Agreed.
If my car gets stolen, it will doubtless have been ragged and abused and will also be recorded as stolen on future HPI checks.
So I wouldn't ever want to see it again. Give me my money to get a replacement please.
What I'm saying is, Tracker isn't for me. It's not hard to get cheaper insurance from companies who don't demand it anyway, so sod 'em.
If my car gets stolen, it will doubtless have been ragged and abused and will also be recorded as stolen on future HPI checks.
So I wouldn't ever want to see it again. Give me my money to get a replacement please.
What I'm saying is, Tracker isn't for me. It's not hard to get cheaper insurance from companies who don't demand it anyway, so sod 'em.
alunr said: I was talking to a number of people about the Tracker situation at the Lotus Show on Saturday and it appears to be working its way through the Direct Line chain pretty quickly (Direct Line, Natwest, Tescos + others).
Most people I talked to that had S2's had been asked for trackers but S1's was'nt as unanimous.
Obviously this is'nt a scientific sample!
all of the named above are Royal bank of scotland group or RBS j/v's so no surprises that they all want the tracker. My impression is that direct line are very mainstream and don't want the high risk business on sports cars or in dodgy areas. I went through peart insurance who were cheaper than the direct line quote even including a tracker and staff discount.
cheers
tupolev
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