Prices of 111Rs

[CooperS]

Right posted something over in the M forum about a Z4m i'm thinking about buying but i need some advice on how much of a hit i should expect to take to transfer.

Cutting the story short trade are offering £12k for my MY54 plate 48k miles on the clock. Body work is perfect the tyres and MoT are all in excellent nick.

Should i be selling my car privately? Will i get much more than 12k for my troubles? I can only see one other R down below 15k mark so struggling to let it go for such a low amount as i payed 17.990 around 18months ago from Lotus Murray's ( i except that i got warranty etc so paid 1k over the odds)

I'm doing this on Tuesday so some immediate advice would be well received.

Thanks guys.

Tom

[MiniDiva]

I went to view a £14.5k car last weekend with a friend who was going to buy it - turns out it was a bit of a dog with dodgy paintwork and a 30k mile gap in the 'full' service history. He walked on that one, very disappointed of course - there is very little around for that price.

So I think if yours is in great nic, then it will probably get snapped up for £15k. My mate may still be on the look-out...

[CooperS]

Well mine has been fully serviced and worked on by Lotus Murray for the time i've had and before that down in surrey with Bell and Covil. I've had some work done by SLS who have helped me out when i've needed a more flexible service i.e. dropping the car in at 19:30 and worked on things the same evening so i'm not without the car.

Its had a front end spray to counter the chips with film protector being placed on afterwards. Over the last christmas it developed bubbling on the rear clam (top bit where the drain hole is) and i got that resprayed.

Its had a good amount of warranty / good will work completed on it so there isn't much which hasn't been touched which is great for the next owner but has only meant time with the car has been less for me.

All in all i go from thinking one minute that i should hang onto it to thinking its a toy, its in its best shape and its time to move onto something less noisy and more compromising (hence why i've looked at the Z4MC)

Arrhhhh i really don't know what to do...... the Z4MC is silly expensive to run in comparison to a well kept Elise but my 18 month experience has been such a ball ache even if i'm over the hill with repairs and freshening up exercises i don't know whether i'll ever be happy. What i do know is 6k deprecation (not even taking into account repairs) is something i wouldn't of thought i'd of found acceptable.

[simpo555]

Would have thought 13.5K-14.0K nearer the mark, Depends on spec and history. If your talking A-C + Touring then its not a good deal. If 12k is trade in, there only giving you about 10.5k as theres obviously money in the Beemer. You havent mentioned tyres either. But Im no specialist. Sorry to see you're going down this path. Still convinced the Lotus is more fun but each to their own

[CardShark]

Well if you are going to pass it on then you'll defo get a whole lot more selling it privately, that's for sure.
I'm going through pretty much exactly the same dilemma regarding to sell or not. I've got two cars (S2 111s and a 350z) and really need to go down to one, the thing is I *really* don't know which of the two I'd say bye to. One possibility is to sell both and replace with one, and funnily enough a Z4MC is on the shortlist should I go that way...

[CooperS]

CardShark said:

Well if you are going to pass it on then you'll defo get a whole lot more selling it privately, that's for sure.
I'm going through pretty much exactly the same dilemma regarding to sell or not. I've got two cars (S2 111s and a 350z) and really need to go down to one, the thing is I *really* don't know which of the two I'd say bye to. One possibility is to sell both and replace with one, and funnily enough a Z4MC is on the shortlist should I go that way...

Ha.... first thing i did was go to your profile page to make sure you weren't in Edinburgh.

Oh to the other post it hasn't got AC but does have a hard top so i'll hang onto that and make another 600 quid ebaying it i hope.

So 12k is what they are giving me so thats my starting point on negotiations but i'm leaning to trying my hand at getting more by putting it up for a 2 weeks and seeing what i get?

[limpsfield]

CooperS said:

CardShark said:

Well if you are going to pass it on then you'll defo get a whole lot more selling it privately, that's for sure.
I'm going through pretty much exactly the same dilemma regarding to sell or not. I've got two cars (S2 111s and a 350z) and really need to go down to one, the thing is I *really* don't know which of the two I'd say bye to. One possibility is to sell both and replace with one, and funnily enough a Z4MC is on the shortlist should I go that way...

Ha.... first thing i did was go to your profile page to make sure you weren't in Edinburgh.

Oh to the other post it hasn't got AC but does have a hard top so i'll hang onto that and make another 600 quid ebaying it i hope.

So 12k is what they are giving me so thats my starting point on negotiations but i'm leaning to trying my hand at getting more by putting it up for a 2 weeks and seeing what i get?

I would definitely try and sell it privately.

Something of a niche car - you are never going to get a decent price off a dealer. Of course it is not the ideal time of year to be selling but I think you would be mad to not try for a few weeks if it makes you potentially significantly more cash.

Editted to add:

Look on AT -

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/cars/lotus...

okay they are asking prices and doesn't mean they are selling at those prices but letting it go for 12k would be like setting fire to money for me.

Edited by limpsfield on Sunday 20th February 21:31

[The Bandit]

I'm with Simpo, try it at £13995 and see if you get any nibbles.

[CooperS]

limpsfield said:

CooperS said:

CardShark said:

Well if you are going to pass it on then you'll defo get a whole lot more selling it privately, that's for sure.
I'm going through pretty much exactly the same dilemma regarding to sell or not. I've got two cars (S2 111s and a 350z) and really need to go down to one, the thing is I *really* don't know which of the two I'd say bye to. One possibility is to sell both and replace with one, and funnily enough a Z4MC is on the shortlist should I go that way...

Ha.... first thing i did was go to your profile page to make sure you weren't in Edinburgh.

Oh to the other post it hasn't got AC but does have a hard top so i'll hang onto that and make another 600 quid ebaying it i hope.

So 12k is what they are giving me so thats my starting point on negotiations but i'm leaning to trying my hand at getting more by putting it up for a 2 weeks and seeing what i get?

I would definitely try and sell it privately.

Something of a niche car - you are never going to get a decent price off a dealer. Of course it is not the ideal time of year to be selling but I think you would be mad to not try for a few weeks if it makes you potentially significantly more cash.

Editted to add:

Look on AT -

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/cars/lotus...

okay they are asking prices and doesn't mean they are selling at those prices but letting it go for 12k would be like setting fire to money for me.

Edited by limpsfield on Sunday 20th February 21:31

Agreed. Think i'll be working on an ad tomorrow put it up for 14.5 - 15k and see what i get?

Thanks everyone.

[CooperS]

The Bandit said:

I'm with Simpo, try it at £13995 and see if you get any nibbles.

LOL yer now i've never sold a car private becasue with my mini's i had people ask me if i wanted to sell them my cars.

But if i put up at 13.999 surely i'll have to drop atleast 500 notes? Or if i put it up at 14.5 will no one bite? eek

[The Bandit]

CooperS said:

The Bandit said:

I'm with Simpo, try it at £13995 and see if you get any nibbles.

LOL yer now i've never sold a car private becasue with my mini's i had people ask me if i wanted to sell them my cars.

But if i put up at 13.999 surely i'll have to drop atleast 500 notes? Or if i put it up at 14.5 will no one bite? eek

As I've said before, a friend sold his 111R a few months ago, it was an 05 plate with 56k miles on it and in great condition.
He had it up for ages at £14k and eventually got £13,400 for it.
Sadly the mileage puts a lot of people off(no idea why).
At this time of year and with the economy the way it is i'd be well happy with £1500 over trade unless you want to wait until the sun comes out in a few months

[CooperS]

well i'm gutted my insurance will double to £1600 if i decide to make the move........ WTF??!!!!

At those prices its not a move i'm happy to make.

What really gets me though is that because a lady who in her brand new audi with parking sensors and a rear camera decided to ignore both of these devices and smack into my parked car. My insurance has gone up by £350 due to my profile now part of those who have had non fault accidents in which the other party paid out....... so basically i'm one of those people who assess their parking arrangements by how likely i'm going to incur an accident.....

The last girl said that insurance this year has risen by 20% so even then my insurance is likely to be 700 - 800 (not including my rise due to a non fault accident)

FFS....

(Sorry had to rant a bit i'm so hacked off)

[CooperS]

Update, apparently i've been lying to the companies because my accident payments haven't been resolved and so it still shows on the system as a claim i've made....... when were they going to tell me..... anyway a cheque is on its way between the companies.... lol

lets see what it looks like now.

[Boggy]

15.5k All day long, sell in privately

Boggy

[theturbs]

OP - Definitely sell privately if you're in no rush. Good luck

[iand17]

Have you tried Will as he is always looking for Elises and may offer you more than the trade price for no more hassle ?

link to an advert from Will

Otherwise I would have thought advertise around £15, sell for around £14 - £14.5 sounds reasonable if selling now but may take a few weeks or more. If you can, wait until May as demand will pick up. I bought my 111s last year and was watching 111s and 111r prices for most of the year and private sale 111r were very rarely under £16k last year.

[edit : now with a link that should work]

Edited by iand17 on Monday 21st February 23:37

[CooperS]

Thanks guys,

I think where i'm right now is definitely not in a financial position where i can take a offer of 12k so i'll keep my car till May / June and put it up for 15k.

From there i'll see whats out there.

I'm in no rush and although i fall in & out of love with Lotus there's nothing better value to replace it without going for something like a M car.

So anyway thanks guys for all your advice i'm pleased i've not rushed into doing the move and loosing out.

[neil-f]

So your car has also had accident damage, you failed to mention this when asking about the price!!!!

[CooperS]

Yes, it was a small fibreglass job to the passenger wing at the top all of which i've explained to the dealers i've dealt with.

The lady was doing less than 5 mph and just nudged the car however doing that to fibreglass doesn't end well.

Anyway keeping the car for now so going to refresh the carpets and replace the stage 2 exhaust with a Larni Sport to quieten things down and go from there.