Been to view a 111R

[sy247]

I went to look at a 111R at a Lotus dealer franchise over the weekend.

It is a 2007 car that has done 20K. One owner, full Lotus service history. It has the touring pack and air con. It is up for £21K. I cannot find a similar car for sale anywhere else to compare it to but I think it is priced on the high side. Does anyone have any thoughts please?

[Janitor]

It will naturally be at the higher end of the price scale at a Dealer - it just comes down to how much their 'back up' means to you

From there, it's about the kind of relationship and rapport you strike up with the Dealer. Make them an offer - they can only say no...

[mrdemon]

Ask them for the motorsport remap free as the standare map is st.

[sy247]

Mrdemon - from the Porsche forum I believe :-)

Thanks for the suggestion. Is this the map you are suggesting:

http://www.bell-colvill.co.uk/LotusShop/Details.as...

Simon

[mrdemon]

yes but you can get it cheaper.

or as I say get them to do it free if your buying 2nd hand.

[sy247]

Cheers, that's a good suggestion. I was thinking about getting a remap and panel filter anyway. Not sure about an exhaust. I like the Larini but think it might become tiresome on longer journeys.

[CooperS]

All I would add is that my 111R has now had a number of things done under warrantee but it is a lot old than yours and nearly twice the mileage.

For me it was important but if you can get the same car else where for 2k cheaper you've got that in your back pocket for a rainy day.

My relationship seems to be very good and fortunately (or maybe unfortunately) I’m on a first name bases with the support and sale staff so feel comfortable getting things done around my odd working arrangement.

As I said if I was buying a newer car it possible wouldn’t of been so important but I paid the extra from the dealer to ensure that I didn’t have this worry.

[Boggy]

sy247 said:

Cheers, that's a good suggestion. I was thinking about getting a remap and panel filter anyway. Not sure about an exhaust. I like the Larini but think it might become tiresome on longer journeys.

http://www.strattonmotorcompany.com/stock_lotus.php?template=/stratton/hitlist&model=460&model=460&model=460&dgroup=6368&orderby=price_desc&lang=en&country2=GB&starthit=0#

Is this it? (Blue) Get Guy to throw in a Pipe, Ecu upgrade and the airbox

Boggy

[sy247]

Hi Boggy, yes it is the blue one at Stratton. Guy was very helpful and I am sure we will be able to come to some sort of arrangement. Which pipe and filter would you go with?

I want to buy from a main dealer because I want the security of a years warranty and to buy a car from someone with a reputation to uphold. I had to spend quite a lot of money on my 944 to fix a number of issues after I purchased it privately and repeating the experience doesn't appeal.

Edited by sy247 on Monday 8th February 17:05

[markSTI]

What about this one, lower milage 2006 model with hardtop.

http://www.castlesportscars.co.uk/used-cars/view/2...

I've bought a number of cars off these guys and they are very helpful and professional.

[Fidgits]

wow, compared to what i sold mine for, thats really expensive!

[sy247]

Mark - thanks for the link that's great. I will go and look at that one as well as it is not that far away.

Fdigits - did you sell yours to a dealer or was it a private sale?

Edited by sy247 on Tuesday 9th February 09:32

[Fidgits]

private sale a year ago... 2006 111R with just 6k on the clock...

[sy247]

I know it is always going to be more expensive going to a dealer (epscially a main dealer) but I want the security of a 12 month warranty and minimise the risk of buying a car that is going to have gremlins.

[Fidgits]

mine had 2 1/2 years warranty (Extended Lotus Warranty) - and was a good £5k less than the one your looking at

shop smart

[LivinLaVidaLotus]

Fidgits said:

private sale a year ago... 2006 111R with just 6k on the clock...

World was a different place a year ago, prices have started to go back up a bit since then.

[Fidgits]

not that much

[sy247]

I am not in a desperate rush to buy, but it would be nice to beat the spring / summer rush. I am confident a reasonable discount can be negotiated from the sale price. If this is the case I may well decide to buy. If not, I'll wait and see what comes along...

[markSTI]

Prices have certianly gone back up, last October I bought my 2005 111R from Castle for only 18K with only 8K on the clock. Now they are all around the 21K marque.

[Scotte]

Prices are pretty high at the moment. Cars going abroad, less new cars getting purchased, less trade ins, weak GBP compared to EURO. Not a good time to buy IMO ... but that's just my opinion.

I took a note of these trade prices last year if that helps ...

16/06/2009
111R
Stratstone
Leicester
Ardent Red
No Air con
No Hard top
16373 miles
year 2004
plate04
£15999
Trade Approved

01/01/2009
111R
Brindley Vauhall
Magnetic Blue
Air Con
HARD TOP
20300 miles
2006
ELISE R NEW STYLE DASH /TRIM
plate06
£18999
TRADE SALE

Bearing in mind you can knock off a wee bit too and these are maybe VERY good prices at the time. Certainly the Brindley Vauhall offering was sitting around for months.

Exige prices have jumped too since the low point at the end of 2008 .... great news for existing owners if they can find a buyer

Hope this helps
Scott

Edited by Scotte on Wednesday 10th February 16:30

Edited by Scotte on Wednesday 10th February 16:32