Adverts with "Hardtop available separately"
Discussion
Why do I keep seeing this in adverts for Elise S1's.
An example http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2283897.htm
I quite fancy an Elise but want one with the removable hardtop so why do sellers not include it with the sale if it comes with one. If its colour coded its not like they can use it on another car. Its like selling a car and saying the engine is available separately.
Any ideas? Is it so you see the car and price and get drawn into the advert just to discover that you have to dig deeper to get the whole package?
An example http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2283897.htm
I quite fancy an Elise but want one with the removable hardtop so why do sellers not include it with the sale if it comes with one. If its colour coded its not like they can use it on another car. Its like selling a car and saying the engine is available separately.
Any ideas? Is it so you see the car and price and get drawn into the advert just to discover that you have to dig deeper to get the whole package?
Hardtops readily sell for £500-£600 so why give it away? Hardtops weren't included in the original sale price - they were an option so why give it away. Not every owner wants one (I never had one or saw the need in over 4 years of year round use) so it gives the prospective purchaser the option to buy the car for less without the hardtop. People don't normally give away covers, shower capes etc with the car (reminds me I must sell mine!) so why give away the optional hardtop?
Yep, as said above, they simply hold their value and you're pretty much guaranteed to get your money back on them. I did exactly the same when selling my car, because I didn't want the hard-top to become part of the bartering process. Barter on the car by all means, but the roof is a fixed price, don't muddle it up. I made money on my hard top - the colour of which didn't match the colour of the car - I had a black roof on a silver car and it looked great, I think the guy that bought it had a green car - IMO much nicer than one in the same colour.
Having bought my car this week, I admit to having a hardtop as one of my 'would like-prefer' features. Various reasons, and perhaps all invalid but I'm reassured that I have one. For me the hard top tips the balance on similar priced cars. I also found that someone selling with hard top sold separately, invariably agreed in the end to include the top in their final price. Ill learn from my own experience but despite many peoples replies that hard tops are not necessarily the bees knees, as a first time buyer I can assure you all that I'm happier with than without.
TIPPER said:
Hardtops weren't included in the original sale price - they were an option so why give it away.
Lots of things are not included in the original sale price. My car came with optional alloys and a front spoiler, I wouldn't take them off when I come to sell it. TIPPER said:
Not every owner wants one
However I do get your point about not everyone wanting one.I think it would look better not to mention the hardtop at all and just sell it separately on e-bay or later, than advertise a car making it clear there is one available, but 'I want more cash' for it.
It is a bit like starting the ad with an argument (like the 'NO OFFERS' ads).
Or just add it to the asking price/your final price.
It is a bit like starting the ad with an argument (like the 'NO OFFERS' ads).
Or just add it to the asking price/your final price.
chucklebutty said:
No doubt you're also expecting the hard top storage bag too if the owner happened to buy one?
Why not if its a selling point and they are not buying another Elise. What are they going to do with it?So if you were to buy my car would you expect me to remove the following:
KW shocks & springs
H&R adjustable Anti Roll Bars
E30Zone chip
Twin tube strut brace
Hartge wheels
Black kidney grill
Eyebrows
Becker Mexico Pro head unit
CG Lock
Hartge stripes
Sport interior
All of which were not standard
chucklebutty said:
Maybe the Lotus Owners Club cap thrown in? And the remainder of the members club subscription?
Now your just being obtuse.If you buy a car and add things to it, it increases its saleability. By removing those things that attract people to the car you lowerer its value to those people.
kambites said:
Seems reasonable to me, if they can get more selling the car and hardtop separately, why on earth wouldn't they?
I agree so why not sell the car on its own and flog the roof on ebay. Why post an advert with "Hardtop available separately" if you can easily flog it on Ebay.I think the uniqueness of the hard top is that if looked after it will never lose any value - it is a desirable piece of kit that can simply be sold for it's maximum value any day of the week. It's very unlike most other modifications where removing it simply isn't worthwhile.
It is a temporary fixture, that can be put on or taken off in a jiffy, and when it is off, the standard soft top takes it place - you're not ever leaving the car with a missing piece. And the soft top would always be supplied whether the hard top was taken or not.
Some people will remove their upgraded suspension and put the standard stuff back on to sell their cars, and then maybe sell the upgraded equipment, or transfer into another car. A number of buyers want standard equipment.
When I sold my car, the cost of the car was negotiated, and the hard top was available for an additional set price on top of the negotiated car cost. The guy who bought my car didn't want the hard top, so I flogged it separately. Giving people the option isn't unreasonable!
It is a temporary fixture, that can be put on or taken off in a jiffy, and when it is off, the standard soft top takes it place - you're not ever leaving the car with a missing piece. And the soft top would always be supplied whether the hard top was taken or not.
Some people will remove their upgraded suspension and put the standard stuff back on to sell their cars, and then maybe sell the upgraded equipment, or transfer into another car. A number of buyers want standard equipment.
When I sold my car, the cost of the car was negotiated, and the hard top was available for an additional set price on top of the negotiated car cost. The guy who bought my car didn't want the hard top, so I flogged it separately. Giving people the option isn't unreasonable!
Edited by MiniDiva on Saturday 27th November 18:40
That's more like it - they cost £1600 new (colour coded) and get to a level £6-750 in the 2nd hand market depending on condition. If youget one bundled into the purchase with the car, £500 is possible to save the seller inconveniece of readvertising and storage.
Don't forget to ask for the storage bags and cap...
Don't forget to ask for the storage bags and cap...
Good luck and buy Nautilus Blue, it's 3mph faster per lap...
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