Friendly Honda dealers??
Discussion
Does anyone know of a friendly Honda dealer who doesn't snort with laughter when told I may want to trade in my 2001 Elise S2 Sports Tourer against an S2000? Preferably somewhere near London.
Mrs CVP finds the Elise a bit too raw, ride too harsh, a bit scary, boot too small etc. It's been an absolute blast but maybe the time has come to get something more sensibly manic rather than manic manic.
Down at the Boat Show last weekend Honda had brought along their marine engines and also a nice S2000 ('03 model) which both of us liked. I've driven a work colleagues' CTR and simply loved the VTEC experience, so if Mrs CVP loves it too and it addresses her concerns over the Elise we might be changing in the near future.
Have arranged test drives etc but am not overly hopeful on a trade-in price and am resigning myself to selling the Elise privately and then buying the Honda outright.
Am waiting a call back from Nick Whale Honda dealership as I thought they can at least sell the Elise through their Lotus dealership, but some other dealers I have tried are being less than helpful with this matter.
Anyone know of a good dealer I can try?
Cheers
Chris
Mrs CVP finds the Elise a bit too raw, ride too harsh, a bit scary, boot too small etc. It's been an absolute blast but maybe the time has come to get something more sensibly manic rather than manic manic.
Down at the Boat Show last weekend Honda had brought along their marine engines and also a nice S2000 ('03 model) which both of us liked. I've driven a work colleagues' CTR and simply loved the VTEC experience, so if Mrs CVP loves it too and it addresses her concerns over the Elise we might be changing in the near future.
Have arranged test drives etc but am not overly hopeful on a trade-in price and am resigning myself to selling the Elise privately and then buying the Honda outright.
Am waiting a call back from Nick Whale Honda dealership as I thought they can at least sell the Elise through their Lotus dealership, but some other dealers I have tried are being less than helpful with this matter.
Anyone know of a good dealer I can try?
Cheers
Chris
Cheers guys, will give them both a try.
One offer I have had would mean taking a massive drop (25% or so on what I paid last year). Even taking into account the fact that a dealer has to make a margin and may have to fettle the car for sale, it was way under what I was looking for.
Presently talking to the guys at Adrian Blyth about them selling the Lotus for me. I will probably get less than selling privately but they will give the car much more exposure than me and deal with the hassle of tyre kickers, no hopers etc.
Chris
One offer I have had would mean taking a massive drop (25% or so on what I paid last year). Even taking into account the fact that a dealer has to make a margin and may have to fettle the car for sale, it was way under what I was looking for.
Presently talking to the guys at Adrian Blyth about them selling the Lotus for me. I will probably get less than selling privately but they will give the car much more exposure than me and deal with the hassle of tyre kickers, no hopers etc.
Chris
When I bought my ATR the Honda dealer wouldn't lower his price even though I knew that there was a 1500 quid mark up!
I would not try and PX a car through a honda dealer unless it was a honda and less then 3 years old. There are just not interested, unless as you say they have a lotus dealer as part of the chain. I would try selling to a lotus specialist as they are more comfortable buying a car that is well known to them. It is not the best time of year to be selling a convertible! Good Luck.
I would not try and PX a car through a honda dealer unless it was a honda and less then 3 years old. There are just not interested, unless as you say they have a lotus dealer as part of the chain. I would try selling to a lotus specialist as they are more comfortable buying a car that is well known to them. It is not the best time of year to be selling a convertible! Good Luck.
I'd concur with what's been said above. The S2000 is a lovely car and worth the hassle. I think that I was very poorly looked after by my dealer, they are used to selling £10k Grandad cars and not too hot on the additional customer service required to realise someone's dream.
On the plus side, being a Honda, you shouldn't have to go back to the dealer that often.
Also, servicing is around £140 a pop, (a tad lower methinks than Porche, TVR or Lotus would ask), so you should be well on the way to covering any losses you take on the Elise.
Have fun!
Rich
On the plus side, being a Honda, you shouldn't have to go back to the dealer that often.
Also, servicing is around £140 a pop, (a tad lower methinks than Porche, TVR or Lotus would ask), so you should be well on the way to covering any losses you take on the Elise.
Have fun!
Rich
Cheers for the advice fellow PH'ers. We are test driving tomorrow and then will know a clearer picture.
Spoke again to Adrian Blyth and doing a commission type sale through them seems a good way forward, plus Adrian seemed a down to earth and very sensible bloke to speak to. Why can't more dealers have his attitude?
The guy we spoke to from Honda at the Boat Show was a real enthusiast, I've only spoken to one Honda dealer so far that sounds the same. Needless to say we will be visiting him and not some of the others I have spoken to.
It will be a wrench to see the little monster go as I've had the most amazing time and fun with it but at least we are lucky enough to replacing a sports car with another sports car and I'm sure that the VTEC scream will bring just as big a grin to my face as the Lotus does.
Must remember to take some pictures of the little one this weekend. Then when I'm old and sitting by the fire with a large glass of scotch I can reminisce and bore the young'uns with tales of when you could actually not feel like a piriah for saying "I enjoy accelerating, braking, the twisty bits and blatting in general."
Chris
Spoke again to Adrian Blyth and doing a commission type sale through them seems a good way forward, plus Adrian seemed a down to earth and very sensible bloke to speak to. Why can't more dealers have his attitude?
The guy we spoke to from Honda at the Boat Show was a real enthusiast, I've only spoken to one Honda dealer so far that sounds the same. Needless to say we will be visiting him and not some of the others I have spoken to.
It will be a wrench to see the little monster go as I've had the most amazing time and fun with it but at least we are lucky enough to replacing a sports car with another sports car and I'm sure that the VTEC scream will bring just as big a grin to my face as the Lotus does.
Must remember to take some pictures of the little one this weekend. Then when I'm old and sitting by the fire with a large glass of scotch I can reminisce and bore the young'uns with tales of when you could actually not feel like a piriah for saying "I enjoy accelerating, braking, the twisty bits and blatting in general."
Chris
Register and ask the same question here:
www.s2ki.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=25
My dealer was good and gave me £1000 discount on a cash purchase. In Edinburgh though, so no good to you. The S2000 was modified in 2002 and again this year. All the info you need on the above site...
www.s2ki.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=25
My dealer was good and gave me £1000 discount on a cash purchase. In Edinburgh though, so no good to you. The S2000 was modified in 2002 and again this year. All the info you need on the above site...
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