Which Lotus dealer near London

[kazino]

I am looking in the market for a new/used car and I would like to see what Lotus has to offer. It seems there are no dealers based in London and the nearest to me (I am in NW London) appears to be Silverstone, Bishops Stortford and the one in Surrey. There are all about an hour away so I would like to know which would be the best one to head over to and stop me from buying another Porsche.

[Zippee]

Castle are very good, I bought my TVR from them and my best mate has used them for work on his Elise.
Give them a call first (they do get a lot of timewasters), speak to Ben (sales guy - Llooney on PH) and tell him what you're after and when you'll be coming so he can make some time to show you round/talk cars.

[Stephanie Plum]

If you're looking at a used car, then check out what they have in stock before heading off - agree with the previous poster about making an appt - well worth doing. Castle and B&C are both very good.

[limpsfield]

B&C always have a good level of stock and are my local dealer.

However, don't be afraid of buying private. I do think these tend to be enthusiast-owned and reasonably pampered cars.

Good luck with your search.

[kazino]

Apreciated, will give him a call.

[kazino]

If someone who is willing to take me as a passenger around for a spin to show me what the car is capable of then that would help. Any takers...

[limpsfield]

kazino said:

If someone who is willing to take me as a passenger around for a spin to show me what the car is capable of then that would help. Any takers...

I would be more than happy to do it - bit pushed the next ten days or so but I am sure we could sort something out.

As you are coming from a boxster you might want to read this

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[kazino]

Thanks for the offer Limpsfield, I would love to take you up on it.

[Stu_00]

kazino said:

I am looking in the market for a new/used car and I would like to see what Lotus has to offer. It seems there are no dealers based in London and the nearest to me (I am in NW London) appears to be Silverstone, Bishops Stortford and the one in Surrey. There are all about an hour away so I would like to know which would be the best one to head over to and stop me from buying another Porsche.

Lipscomb in Maidstone very good too.

What are you looking at ?

[simpo555]

Stu_00 said:

kazino said:

I am looking in the market for a new/used car and I would like to see what Lotus has to offer. It seems there are no dealers based in London and the nearest to me (I am in NW London) appears to be Silverstone, Bishops Stortford and the one in Surrey. There are all about an hour away so I would like to know which would be the best one to head over to and stop me from buying another Porsche.

Lipscomb in Maidstone very good too.

What are you looking at ?

Agree with Lipscomb being very friendly-helpful. At the same time, they have a nice 'mark up' on their cars so can afford to be nice. If there is implied critisism here, it is in no way directed at Lipscomb who I repeat were very good but more at other dealers where the salesman in my experience have shown themselves to be only interested at best if theres a 'sale' and at worst, downright ignorant. Personally I'd buy privately (best prices for buyer and seller). Once you have a FSH, not necessarily with Lotus but with specialist dealers, no accident history and a 'genuine' seller youll save yourself £2/3,000 which to my way of thinking makes the deal more than worth it.

[EK993]

Another vote for Lipscomb - they were extremely helpful and friendly when I visited.

[kazino]

It will be my second time with such hardcore car (had a look at buying a TVR when purchasing the Boxster, it was fantastic but it caught fire and the second car the electronics friend themselves which put me off) so I would need to be directed towards what I need, of course just from figures I would want a supercharged elise, but it might be a bit too hardcore, I'm hoping to be shown what the cars are all about and it seems they have a lot of different variants in stock too.

[Pum]

I'm in NW London (Harrow), and went to B&C to check out a variety of 2nd hand Elises. They were very helpful and had a good selection. There's a place in Barnet (not far - can't remember their name or how I found them, but they're on the high street) that had about half a dozen nice 2nd hand Elises too.

You can check out my SC Honda Elise, if that's the kind of thing you're looking for. There happen to be several Honda Elise for sale right now. Mine's pretty hardcore - hard suspension, no comforts, no sound deadening, motorsport seats.