Hofmann's auction

Hofmann's auction

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SFTWend

Original Poster:

836 posts

75 months

Sunday 20th September 2020
quotequote all
I see that a new online auction site, Selecting Gear, went live yesterday. They are mostly auctioning ex retail stock from the Hofmann's Lotus dealership and I guess are maybe under common ownership.

I fancy the 400 that will be auctioned soon, which Hofmann's took into stock back in February. Grey wouldn't be my colour choice, although I like the red trim, but I'm thinking if it goes for well below retail money (last advertised for c.£50k I recall) it might be a good purchase.

I appreciate that the Evora is a bit under the radar for some car enthusiasts but, given they appear to depreciate quite slowly, I'd have thought dealer stock would have been snapped up quickly during the post lockdown buying frenzy.

Any views on the 400 link below much appreciated, thanks.

https://hofmanns.co.uk/cars/lotus-evora-400-grey-r...

rootsandculture

129 posts

85 months

Monday 21st September 2020
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SFTWend said:
I see that a new online auction site, Selecting Gear, went live yesterday. They are mostly auctioning ex retail stock from the Hofmann's Lotus dealership and I guess are maybe under common ownership.

I fancy the 400 that will be auctioned soon, which Hofmann's took into stock back in February. Grey wouldn't be my colour choice, although I like the red trim, but I'm thinking if it goes for well below retail money (last advertised for c.£50k I recall) it might be a good purchase.

I appreciate that the Evora is a bit under the radar for some car enthusiasts but, given they appear to depreciate quite slowly, I'd have thought dealer stock would have been snapped up quickly during the post lockdown buying frenzy.

Any views on the 400 link below much appreciated, thanks.

https://hofmanns.co.uk/cars/lotus-evora-400-grey-r...
Yep, I’m keeping an eye on this and spoke to them last week about the car partly attracted by the idea of getting a good price on a low depreciation car. However the thing in my mind with evora 400’s is where the prices are gonna end up mid winter.

There’s one up at 45k at the moment which 3 months ago was an unthinkable price, but it’s not been snapped up.

As you’ve no doubt seen there’s quite a few now just under 50k, they just don’t seem to be moving despite the post lock down frenzy.

SFTWend

Original Poster:

836 posts

75 months

Monday 21st September 2020
quotequote all
I suspect the one we are looking at will have a reserve of at least £45k. The bigger established site Collecting Cars often achieve near retail money for sellers and generally more than a private sale via Autotrader etc would achieve. As Selecting Gear are new I'm hoping for less bidding competition but it sounds like we may be up against each other!

I think 400's are going to fall a long way, just like every other recently manufactured sports car, as we surely enter a global recession. I'm getting impatient though and one has to pull the trigger at some stage. What I would really like is a GT 410 so I'd wait a bit if I was sensible.

As an alternative to the Evora I'm also considering getting back into a Ferrari, maybe a F430. More to purchase and much more to run, but I think will depreciate significantly less long term so overall costs probably similar for both.

rootsandculture

129 posts

85 months

Monday 21st September 2020
quotequote all
SFTWend said:
I suspect the one we are looking at will have a reserve of at least £45k. The bigger established site Collecting Cars often achieve near retail money for sellers and generally more than a private sale via Autotrader etc would achieve. As Selecting Gear are new I'm hoping for less bidding competition but it sounds like we may be up against each other!

I think 400's are going to fall a long way, just like every other recently manufactured sports car, as we surely enter a global recession. I'm getting impatient though and one has to pull the trigger at some stage. What I would really like is a GT 410 so I'd wait a bit if I was sensible.

As an alternative to the Evora I'm also considering getting back into a Ferrari, maybe a F430. More to purchase and much more to run, but I think will depreciate significantly less long term so overall costs probably similar for both.
Yep, I’ve thought all the same things (if you cross out f430 and write 993)

FWIW Can’t see myself bidding on the selecting gears one unless it’s going very cheaply - I also don’t love the grey.

There’s this listed at 46k, has been steadily dropping in asking price for a while. Does the Interior look unusually tatty though?

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/10714528


SFTWend

Original Poster:

836 posts

75 months

Monday 21st September 2020
quotequote all
rootsandculture said:
Yep, I’ve thought all the same things (if you cross out f430 and write 993)

FWIW Can’t see myself bidding on the selecting gears one unless it’s going very cheaply - I also don’t love the grey.

There’s this listed at 46k, has been steadily dropping in asking price for a while. Does the Interior look unusually tatty though?

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/10714528
I'll leave Evora owners to comment on how well interiors wear but strange that passenger seat looks more worn than the drivers. Perhaps the car was mostly driven 2 up.

Leggy

1,019 posts

222 months

Tuesday 22nd September 2020
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Most of these 400’s have been on the market all year. I’d love one, but I like to know that I can shift quickly when/if I fancy a change without loosing a big chunk.
They are very slow sellers, I think because they are priced too high. I don’t think they will hold their values like Elises & Exiges have enjoyed. Evoras have more competition.

BertBert

19,040 posts

211 months

Tuesday 22nd September 2020
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But then am I right in asserting that the Evora has always been an acquired taste and not very popular (sorry!)?

plenty

4,690 posts

186 months

Wednesday 7th October 2020
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The Evora has always occupied this odd no-man’s-land. Too heavy and polished to appeal to many Lotus enthusiasts but lacking the prestige and the visibility among its natural audience, Cayman/911/M/F-type buyers.

the av8er

144 posts

123 months

Wednesday 7th October 2020
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I don't necessarily think it's about price. I think it's more about the competition.
Most savvy buyers will recognise there are other cars available that : a) have potential to appreciate in value, and b) can be shifted more easily when / if necessary.
At the cost of a gt410 there is huge choice !!. Therefore you must either really want one , or be at a price that makes you feel that your getting a great deal.
In a buoyant economy there is less of a problem because people are less focused of their potential loss. This promotes fluid trade, which in turn props up prices.

If you plan on keeping your Evora for some time I advise you buy one. Haggle hard for a depressed price and gamble that the economy will be strong by the time you want to sell. That way your investment should be safe. Remember, ultimately they are in short supply. It's a low volume sports car and when things are good the good ones get snapped up quickly !