Where Did you buy your car???
Discussion
Realy im just wondering how many people bought private, how many from independant dealers and how many from Lotus main Dealers. There are pros and cons with each and I am trying to decide where to spend my hard earned £££ and it would be interesting to hear what others have done and any experiences 
M
M
You'll get a reply with every combination I reckon!
From my experience I bought new as I wanted to do it at least once (and probably won't again) and at the time was inexperienced with sports cars and worried about it being thrashed by a previous owner. Once you've been on a few forums you realise that there are things to look out for and there are always people putting their P&Js up for sale.
Plus I intended to keep it for a while so depreciation wasn't a massive issue. Having decided what to do I then started to raise the deposit and set a date for buying. Still ended up buying 6 months early
A few months before buying I started a leisurely tour of local dealers - started at Bell & Colvill, then Motorway Sports cars and Wilsons (both no longer franchises) and did a bit of fact finding - both of the car and dealer networks. Then a couple of months later started the test drives. First a VX220 N/A at a local Vauxhall dealer, then a 111R at Castle Lotus at their open day after they got the franchise. Finally bit the bullet and booked a test drive at B&C (my preferred dealer choice - got the best treatment of all the dealers, Scott was more than happy to have a chat - Wilsons left me standing around for 15 minutes after saying they'd be with me in a minute so I walked out!). Drove an old S (120 Bhp K) and a 111S before plumping for the latter. One of the new colours was Nightfall Blue, they had a couple of these in the showroom and they looked stunning - so that was the colour choice sorted!
Picked it up a couple of months later and haven't looked back
From my experience I bought new as I wanted to do it at least once (and probably won't again) and at the time was inexperienced with sports cars and worried about it being thrashed by a previous owner. Once you've been on a few forums you realise that there are things to look out for and there are always people putting their P&Js up for sale.
Plus I intended to keep it for a while so depreciation wasn't a massive issue. Having decided what to do I then started to raise the deposit and set a date for buying. Still ended up buying 6 months early
A few months before buying I started a leisurely tour of local dealers - started at Bell & Colvill, then Motorway Sports cars and Wilsons (both no longer franchises) and did a bit of fact finding - both of the car and dealer networks. Then a couple of months later started the test drives. First a VX220 N/A at a local Vauxhall dealer, then a 111R at Castle Lotus at their open day after they got the franchise. Finally bit the bullet and booked a test drive at B&C (my preferred dealer choice - got the best treatment of all the dealers, Scott was more than happy to have a chat - Wilsons left me standing around for 15 minutes after saying they'd be with me in a minute so I walked out!). Drove an old S (120 Bhp K) and a 111S before plumping for the latter. One of the new colours was Nightfall Blue, they had a couple of these in the showroom and they looked stunning - so that was the colour choice sorted!
Picked it up a couple of months later and haven't looked back
I've never bought from or sold to a dealer. I don't see the point. You pay a premium for a warranty which they may or may not honour. Even if they do the work may not be carried out properly. I rather take my chances with private sales, trust my gut instincts and save the money. Haven't bought a dud yet 
miro said:
Realy im just wondering how many people bought private, how many from independant dealers and how many from Lotus main Dealers. There are pros and cons with each and I am trying to decide where to spend my hard earned £££ and it would be interesting to hear what others have done and any experiences
M
I buy all (joke really as on second Lotus in 2 months) my Lotus` from Christopher Neils. Found them to be excellent in every respect.M
I've never bought new (the main advantage seems to be that you get a warranty, but a hell of a lot would have to go wrong before the cost of work done under warranty outweighed the depreciation that you'll suffer).
I've never bought a used car from a dealer either (by definition, they have to sell cars for more than they paid for them. You can find an equally good car privately and avoid the dealer mark up).
Private sales are my preferred choice - there's no warranty to fall back but that just encourages me to make damn sure the car's a good 'un before handing over any money.
I've never bought a used car from a dealer either (by definition, they have to sell cars for more than they paid for them. You can find an equally good car privately and avoid the dealer mark up).
Private sales are my preferred choice - there's no warranty to fall back but that just encourages me to make damn sure the car's a good 'un before handing over any money.
1st Lotus,
(Lightning Yellow) Elise S1 (2nd hand P reg) Brought from NTC Car's of Dartford (Norman is a friend of the family) Very good service.
Wrote off driving to Blockbuster Video in welling
after 8 month's of ownership
2nd Lotus
(Ardent Red) Elise 111R (New 54) Brought from Stratton's of Norfolk (Andy and Guy Munday, Guy's a top bloke and loves the brand A1) Sold onto Wilson's after 1 year 2 month's.
3rd Lotus
(Saffron Yellow) Elise 111R (New 55) Brought from Wilson's (Ben & Steve are both top bloke's and are a asset to Lotus but the rest of them at Wilson's were a complete shower. Sold onto Lipscomb's after 2 year's.
4th Lotus
(Artic Silver) Exige S (Demonstrator 07) Brought from Lipscomb's. Have been dealing with this dealer now for about 16 month's and all I can say is they are fantastic, Paul, Matthew, Adrian & Mark can not do enough for you. Love the brand and have invested heavily in the brand and it's customer's as you all know, This is the dealer I think that set's the bench mark all lotus dealer's should follow their example A1
Just to finish off we will continue to buy Lotus for as long as they stay in business (Also as long as we can afford to)
Boggy's
(Lightning Yellow) Elise S1 (2nd hand P reg) Brought from NTC Car's of Dartford (Norman is a friend of the family) Very good service.
Wrote off driving to Blockbuster Video in welling
after 8 month's of ownership2nd Lotus
(Ardent Red) Elise 111R (New 54) Brought from Stratton's of Norfolk (Andy and Guy Munday, Guy's a top bloke and loves the brand A1) Sold onto Wilson's after 1 year 2 month's.
3rd Lotus
(Saffron Yellow) Elise 111R (New 55) Brought from Wilson's (Ben & Steve are both top bloke's and are a asset to Lotus but the rest of them at Wilson's were a complete shower. Sold onto Lipscomb's after 2 year's.
4th Lotus
(Artic Silver) Exige S (Demonstrator 07) Brought from Lipscomb's. Have been dealing with this dealer now for about 16 month's and all I can say is they are fantastic, Paul, Matthew, Adrian & Mark can not do enough for you. Love the brand and have invested heavily in the brand and it's customer's as you all know, This is the dealer I think that set's the bench mark all lotus dealer's should follow their example A1
Just to finish off we will continue to buy Lotus for as long as they stay in business (Also as long as we can afford to)
Boggy's
Edited by Boggy on Friday 31st August 09:36
Mine was a part ex at Marshall's in Peterborough. They're main dealers for just about everything boring around here.
The salesman tried to show me the engine in the front of the car!!!!!!!!!!!!
On the flipside, their ignorance caused them to sell at basic book value despite the car having Victories, hard top etc etc.
The salesman tried to show me the engine in the front of the car!!!!!!!!!!!!
On the flipside, their ignorance caused them to sell at basic book value despite the car having Victories, hard top etc etc.
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