135R Value?

[Maxf]

I'm leaning towards picking one of these up for sunny days and track days. I'll save a heck of a lot of cash over an Exige, which will make me a little less prescious about it spending the vast majority of its time in my garage.

How much am I looking at? From memory these ran from 2002-2004 and I'd prefer a later one if I could (probably in yellow) with a sensible mileage.

There are two in the classifieds - a low mileage one at £17k(!), which seems very expensive, and a 54k miler at £14k, which is a bit more sensible but still toppy given the mileage and liklihood of a needing suspension refresh at some point soon.

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1169737.htm

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1325845.htm

Any opinions on values? I assume now is a great time to be buying a sunnier version of a sunny car and maybe making some cheeky offers?

How are Christopher Neil thought of?

[S Works]

At 13k that would make a great car. Call them and ask if either have had HGF, and if so, what was done about it. For the CN car you at least have the benefit of their 12 mth warranty, but check that it specifically includes that, if not, it's probably not worth the paper it's written on.

At 53k I'd want to have seen new suspension, a steering rack refurb or replacement, full brakes changed, possible twice and the latter being recently (i.e. within 10k miles/1yr) and I'd be looking for rheostat replacements and radiator replacements, clutch etc. Likely also to want to check the exhaust system, and whether or not its had ball joints/track rod ends etc. done.

Any/all of those could be due at short notice, leaving you with considerable expense in the next 2 years.

[Mr Sea]

Maxf said:

I'm leaning towards picking one of these up for sunny days and track days. I'll save a heck of a lot of cash over an Exige, which will make me a little less prescious about it spending the vast majority of its time in my garage.

How much am I looking at? From memory these ran from 2002-2004 and I'd prefer a later one if I could (probably in yellow) with a sensible mileage.

There are two in the classifieds - a low mileage one at £17k(!), which seems very expensive, and a 54k miler at £14k, which is a bit more sensible but still toppy given the mileage and liklihood of a needing suspension refresh at some point soon.

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1169737.htm

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1325845.htm

Any opinions on values? I assume now is a great time to be buying a sunnier version of a sunny car and maybe making some cheeky offers?

How are Christopher Neil thought of?

Will Fernhurst offer a 12 month warranty?, I 'd rather buy an older car with less miles than I would a newer car with more miles and since there is only a year in the two and the mileage gap is big, I’d have the Fernhurst car but, I used to keep my eye on the values of TVR's and always thought Fernhurst wanted 10 15% more than others, so I wouldn’t buy from them, that’s just me though.

Make an offer and get things thrown in with the offer, full MOT, 12 not 6 Months Tax and 12 months warranty, they know you have a choice. I like the look of the Fernhurst car but I would never pay that much for it, I'd look at others.
Best of luck.

[village idiot]

yellow ones didn't suffer the same hgf issues as the silver or blue ones.


strange but true!

[SonicHedgeHog]

If you were looking for a car mainly for track days would it not make sense to buy a standard S2 Elise or even a 111S and add some trackday bits? Surely a 135R is no more than a performance upgrade and some fancy suspension? Standing by for serious correction.

[Dift]

I agree with above... if its for trackdays I would look at buying a modified one.

For that cash you can have a sorted car with nitrons/ohlins and engine mods.

For ~16k your looking at honda converted cars with lots of toys.

I'd look at "modified" cars if its just a trackday weekend car...

Mines modified and I use it everyday on the M25. Get the right one, and it will last and last.

[Yee haa!]

17k is high but 135R prices seem to be holding up very well so it's not a bad investment either. Upgraded bits as standard - 135 engine, LSS, OZ alloys, should be 48's or 888's on. Added bonus of colour coordinated grills (which do look good over the standard matt black ones), seats, plaque etc etc... As s-works points out history a must - new rad & possible head gasket. Check to see if it's been on track - usual stone chips etc.. I'd look to pay 13.5-15k for an unmoddified one now. Chris Neils are fine, my local dealer in fact.

[Yee haa!]

Felt I should add that 54k miler is bound to need suspension soon, mines just coming up for replacement now, on about 34k.

[MilnerR]

Maxf said:

How are Christopher Neil thought of?

I bought my s2 and my impreza (new) off them and i couldn't fault the service. The impreza was brand new so I was protected anyway. The S2 was on 02 plate with 22k on the clock. Prior to me picking it up CN did a full service including 2 new tyres and new shocks. I had a slight issue with the engine missing, I took it in and one of their guys looked at it, diagnosed a loose lead and fixed it in about 10 mins.

[crackthatoff]

sold mine about 4 months back, 2004 9000k bought it 3 years ago for £16000 sold it with 28k on the clock and got 13700 cash for it !

HTH

[Park'O]

Theres a black 135R forsale on Autotrader, it's up for £11,500, done 55k!

To behonest, like the chaps mention above, theres not much performance given between the model in question and the 111S/R.

If you really want a serious trackday tool at exige pace, then the sport 190 is ideal! But try finding one!

[Yee haa!]

black 135R? makanosensa. only did silver/blue/yellow to best of my knowledge

[Yee haa!]

crackthatoff said:

sold mine about 4 months back, 2004 9000k bought it 3 years ago for £16000 sold it with 28k on the clock and got 13700 cash for it !

HTH

that's great value for money

[Maxf]

Thanks for the info guys.

I'm not super keen on buying something then modifying it as I've been stung in the past trying to sell it on - so I'd sooner stay 'factory' if possible. Saying that I'd buy an eRise S2 at the right money.

I think the black one is just a sports race with a 135 kit or something - rather than a 'proper' 135R, the interior and wheels are wrong.

[braddersm3]

the black elise on autotrader is a sport tourer with the 135 sport upgrade from lotus,not a 135R but a useful upgrade imo.

[S Works]

Maxf said:

Thanks for the info guys.

I'm not super keen on buying something then modifying it as I've been stung in the past trying to sell it on - so I'd sooner stay 'factory' if possible. Saying that I'd buy an eRise S2 at the right money.

I think the black one is just a sports race with a 135 kit or something - rather than a 'proper' 135R, the interior and wheels are wrong.

Regarding modifications, anything you do to it which improves matters will not lose value. For instance, putting Nitron or Ohlins adjustable suspension will improve it's value vs. an OEM speccar. Putting better brake pads, discs etc. will do the same. Only when you get into modifications of the engine do some get put off. Most sensible buyers will do their homework and recognise a car that has been sympathetically modified to get the best from it.

As mentioned before, the 135 engine upgrade was available from Lotus. It doesn't benefit from the c/r gearbox (which the 135R had), nor the Lotus Sport suspension, OZ wheels and the other cosmetics.

[crackthatoff]

Yee haa! said:

crackthatoff said:

sold mine about 4 months back, 2004 9000k bought it 3 years ago for £16000 sold it with 28k on the clock and got 13700 cash for it !

HTH

that's great value for money

found a shoe box full of receipts today larini, ali rad, 3 sets of yokos, tracker etc etc not looking that good now lol.
enjoyed every minute. We are 12 weeks today so telling every one now about the little crackthatoff, now the 'worry' period is over and just bought a house so it may be a while till I get a katana 111R but I'll keep filling in my 6 numbers every week

[MilnerR]

crackthatoff said:

enjoyed every minute. We are 12 weeks today so telling every one now about the little crackthatoff, now the 'worry' period is over

Congrats, our little lad was 1 on saturday, you haven't started the worry period yet, trust me

[Lawrence5]

Carpets are wrong on the blue one @ £17k.....


54k on the clock it'll be stonechipped too - mines really bad @ 45k !

[griffter]

I passed one up that was in VGC at Paul Matty's just over a year ago. 17k miles from memory. However we couldn't agree on a deal and it later sold to someone else. Asking price had dropped from £15995 to £14995. It later appeared for sale privately, I think priced at £13995. So perhaps that gives a good idea from first hand experience. It seems 135R values are steady(ish) but the market is small.