Ex Silverstone S2 Exiges
Discussion
I'd like to get some opinion on the effect on value of cars which have been leased to Silverstone and used solely on track (they are not registered) of say 5000 miles of pretty hard track driving.
If we take a datum of £20k for a typical 2006 06 car, what is a car which has been used as above, then doen another 5k miles on the road worth?
Bear in mind that despite only having 10k miles, it'll have some rough looking brake disks, no documentation, and no service history to support servicing beyond a stamp at say 700 miles and 5000 miles when servcied by the factory. It may have had a few interim oil changes, but there is no proof.
Its also got an interior with a fair bit of marking to the exposed chassis parts in the footwells (footrest of pass side is particualrly bad) and the seats are worn on the bolsters more like a car which has done 40k miles.
So £20k for a good car - £15k for a car like this?
Constructive comments please.
If we take a datum of £20k for a typical 2006 06 car, what is a car which has been used as above, then doen another 5k miles on the road worth?
Bear in mind that despite only having 10k miles, it'll have some rough looking brake disks, no documentation, and no service history to support servicing beyond a stamp at say 700 miles and 5000 miles when servcied by the factory. It may have had a few interim oil changes, but there is no proof.
Its also got an interior with a fair bit of marking to the exposed chassis parts in the footwells (footrest of pass side is particualrly bad) and the seats are worn on the bolsters more like a car which has done 40k miles.
So £20k for a good car - £15k for a car like this?
Constructive comments please.
Drove an Exige S as part of the Ferrari experience at Silverstone the other weekend. The cars are no way near to being stressed. The instructor tells you to change gear early in the rev range and its all about being smooth rather than going flat out.
I drive more enthusiastically in my Elise on an early morning blat than I did in the Exige. Opportunity missed maybe??
One big BUT though. As part of the experience you get a couple of flying laps with an instructor. Different car but am sure they swop cars around. This car was properly sideways nearly everywhere, full use of all the revs up to the limiter and very VERY late on the brakes. You could feel the ABS kicking in. He was giving the car serious stick and it was hilarious.
In summary?? Avoid. (Apologies for the rambling!!)
I drive more enthusiastically in my Elise on an early morning blat than I did in the Exige. Opportunity missed maybe??
One big BUT though. As part of the experience you get a couple of flying laps with an instructor. Different car but am sure they swop cars around. This car was properly sideways nearly everywhere, full use of all the revs up to the limiter and very VERY late on the brakes. You could feel the ABS kicking in. He was giving the car serious stick and it was hilarious.
In summary?? Avoid. (Apologies for the rambling!!)
I'd do a search on here and on SELOC as this topic comes up every 4-6 months or so. I think the general consensus is that they are over-priced because AFAIK Lotus won't honour any warranty on them - and that tells you all you need to know, along with looking at the vids on Yourtube of how they are treated. As ever though, do your own research. Personally, I'd not touch one.
I'm not saying they are bad, I'm saying what is teh difference in the value of a privately owned and sometimes tracked car compared to a corporate run 100% trackday car, driven on the limit for a good proportion of its time, with people getiing in and out of it every 3 miles?
The value cannot be the same, so what is teh differentiation?
Aftermarket waranties are also, not like a manufacturers warranty.
The value cannot be the same, so what is teh differentiation?
Aftermarket waranties are also, not like a manufacturers warranty.
When I worked at Lotus and we gave them Elises to use they were told to maintain them so they could be returned in a saleable state. Without slandering anyone - I wouldn't have bought them....
The Toyota engine is expensive if it needs replacing and it doesn't go in other cars like the old K used to. Would worry me....
The Toyota engine is expensive if it needs replacing and it doesn't go in other cars like the old K used to. Would worry me....
JeremyK said:
But surely it's what they are made to do?
I'm looking at getting an ex-Lotus track car, an Exige S, which will come with warranty (not Lotus). Surely its not that bad an idea?
I don't think so, they are made as road cars, period.I'm looking at getting an ex-Lotus track car, an Exige S, which will come with warranty (not Lotus). Surely its not that bad an idea?
as said, the fact they Lotus have walked away from *any* warrentee really says it all.
Scuffers said:
JeremyK said:
But surely it's what they are made to do?
I'm looking at getting an ex-Lotus track car, an Exige S, which will come with warranty (not Lotus). Surely its not that bad an idea?
I don't think so, they are made as road cars, period.I'm looking at getting an ex-Lotus track car, an Exige S, which will come with warranty (not Lotus). Surely its not that bad an idea?
as said, the fact they Lotus have walked away from *any* warrentee really says it all.
JeremyK said:
Scuffers said:
JeremyK said:
But surely it's what they are made to do?
I'm looking at getting an ex-Lotus track car, an Exige S, which will come with warranty (not Lotus). Surely its not that bad an idea?
I don't think so, they are made as road cars, period.I'm looking at getting an ex-Lotus track car, an Exige S, which will come with warranty (not Lotus). Surely its not that bad an idea?
as said, the fact they Lotus have walked away from *any* warrentee really says it all.
Scuffers said:
JeremyK said:
Well, it's 4ish k under list. It has been maintained by Lotus Motorsport and they are respraying the front clam, putting on new brake discs etc.
OK, put it this way, if the car was a CAT C and had been properly repaired, what value would you put on it?
Still might go for it though
Edited by JeremyK on Friday 3rd April 11:21
I think if its really cheap then fair enough... but like scuffers says its worth a lot less than a normally used car which spends most of its life on the road..be interesting to see how many toe links the cars been through.
Really though theres a few cars for sale and probably quite a few with huge opportunities to knock £ off if you go in with cash. If it was me i would buy something else for a few quid more.
Really though theres a few cars for sale and probably quite a few with huge opportunities to knock £ off if you go in with cash. If it was me i would buy something else for a few quid more.
Edited by TOENHEEL on Friday 3rd April 14:46
tig6 said:
One big BUT though. As part of the experience you get a couple of flying laps with an instructor. Different car but am sure they swop cars around. This car was properly sideways nearly everywhere, full use of all the revs up to the limiter and very VERY late on the brakes. You could feel the ABS kicking in. He was giving the car serious stick and it was hilarious.
LOL - I did the same experience and the guy that took me out for the flying lap really knew how to make the car work. He was really throwing it around, and I had a massive smile on my face. Made me look like I was driving miss daisy.I'd definitely not buy that car (red IIRC). Had a shufty around their garages though and the upside is that their cars are very well maintained by the look of things (at the time the garage was full of Caterhams, 360's, Exiges and a couple of 2-11's)
bloody hell thats cheap..considering the new one looks pants i think compared to the current model
Arnie, good luck in the search for an Exige... Go for a Honda'd Exige, not an S2 though 
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