is there currently a used market ?
is there currently a used market ?
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hedgefinder

Original Poster:

3,418 posts

192 months

Sunday 16th February 2014
quotequote all
A while ago i sort of inherited another GTR from a family member..
It was getting in the way alittle last summer and in a fit of boredom I shipped it off to SS for a new front end , splitter and a few body mods,wheels rebuilt etc. Due to yet further ongoing building work and a new business opportunity I have started to consider selling it off, it has a race built LS1 but am just not sure if its worth bothering to advertise it considering small block cars being unsold at such low prices currently.
I have another car sitting in storage awaiting completion of my workshop so either way its not really an issue, but i am the sort of person who makes snap decisions and gets bored easily with toys and occasionally regrets some decisions made hastily.. admittedly normally with vintage cars and bikes..

So the question is, not how many people have started building a GTR but how many people have actually bought a used GTR in the last 12 months, I am extremely curious to know the answer?

deadscoob

2,265 posts

282 months

Sunday 16th February 2014
quotequote all
There are some pretty awesome 2nd hand cars available nowadays for similar money that are far more usable and exciting enough for most, 997 gt3, R8,430, Galllardo. I think most people would rather have one of those as a weekend toy, now the prices 2nd are similar to decent spec Ultimas, I think it makes them even harder to shift. Just leaves a small niche of people that really want one.

F.C.

3,899 posts

230 months

Sunday 16th February 2014
quotequote all
hedgefinder said:
A while ago i sort of inherited another GTR from a family member..
It was getting in the way alittle last summer and in a fit of boredom I shipped it off to SS for a new front end , splitter and a few body mods,wheels rebuilt etc. Due to yet further ongoing building work and a new business opportunity I have started to consider selling it off, it has a race built LS1 but am just not sure if its worth bothering to advertise it considering small block cars being unsold at such low prices currently.
I have another car sitting in storage awaiting completion of my workshop so either way its not really an issue, but i am the sort of person who makes snap decisions and gets bored easily with toys and occasionally regrets some decisions made hastily.. admittedly normally with vintage cars and bikes..

So the question is, not how many people have started building a GTR but how many people have actually bought a used GTR in the last 12 months, I am extremely curious to know the answer?
Costs nothing to advertise on here.
These cars sell themselves, so if it's a good one it'll go.

hedgefinder

Original Poster:

3,418 posts

192 months

Sunday 16th February 2014
quotequote all
F.C. said:
Costs nothing to advertise on here.
These cars sell themselves, so if it's a good one it'll go.
hmm, not exactly what I was asking.
I know it wont cost me to advertise,other than my time in terms of timewasters.
I would like to hear from anyone who has bought a used GTR within the last 12 months or perhaps even the last 18 months to get an idea if a market even actually exists as I have seen the same cars adveritised for over 2 years without a genuine verified sale.

Ult-Jim

624 posts

212 months

Sunday 16th February 2014
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I've had my GTR for 15 months now. I believe there has been many private sales. If it is a quality build, built by the current owner, with genuine Factory parts and has been shown some aesthetic and mechanical care / frequent servicing since being built, plus is presented well to potential buyers, it will shift at a good price. I visited a handful of cars in 2012 / 2013 that just looked tired / neglected in the garage, questionable build quality and use of parts, no build photos, second or third owners, unfinished or with questionable use/ engine re-builds / upgrades and with sellers not presenting the car well for sale and not being very knowledgable about the car. I was not interested in that market.

barriejames

902 posts

201 months

Sunday 16th February 2014
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For me I am just about to start a new build. Oddly I probably would not buy a used one even if it would save me a tidy sum. I wanted an all new GTR and for the same money could get a nice 997 turbo/F430 etc but these would all be used and would only buy used if I could be sure the person I was buying from was a perfectionist or it wouldn't be for me.

culminator

612 posts

231 months

Tuesday 18th February 2014
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FWIW, I have looked at the second hand market for Ultimas for quite a while. I'm not seriously hell bent on buying one, but if the right one came along, I would be tempted.

I have completely ruled out SBC engines with Holley carbs and the like, due to the extremely high fuel consumption. Really, who wants a car that struggles to achieve 11MPG these days? That's far too excessive for the majority of enthusiasts now. Therefore, for me anyway, it would have to be an LS engined car or equivalent.

The other thing is that, dare I say it, Ultima's are starting to look a little dated. When I first saw the GTR, nothing had ever moved me so much but now I look at the front end and think it looks a bit erm, dated and "cheap".

In addition, our roads are in such a shocking state, I think I and others have fallen a bit out of love with supercars in general. Perhaps the reason why Porsche sell more SUV's than sports cars these days....

An Ultima at £35k is up against a lot of competition, such as Aston Vantage, Porsche 997, Ferrari 355 (a little bit more)Morgan Aero etc, so it's in exalted company in the classifieds. Potential buyers are also aware that come resale, it wont be easy.

Having said that, an LS engined GTR at a decent price would still interest me.

On the positive side, unlike high end European exotica, Ultima's are not expensive to maintain and that really is a plus side.

Storer

5,024 posts

237 months

Tuesday 18th February 2014
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I would not want to talk values down but if an older SBC engine car is going to sell easily then it needs to be at a value that allows the buyer a bit of leeway to be able to upgrade the engine etc to LS spec.

I would not expect the price drop to pay the cost of the upgrade but I would conversely expect the finished product to achieve a higher value than the SBC cars at present.

I purchased a s/h Ultima but I wanted to rebuild and upgrade. It cost me as much as a new build (mainly because I replaced most components and made a number of expensive modifications).
I suspect a complete replacement LS engine change would cost between £7k and £10k if the rest of the car was not touched.

You can buy a lot of fuel for that.....


Paul

V8Dom

3,547 posts

224 months

Tuesday 18th February 2014
quotequote all
an interesting reply..

i too would like to add a couple of points as i own a sbc engine factory car.

its not the engine that will decide on what car to buy.. its build quality, power and presentation.

lets be honest how many miles do we all do a year?.. i get 20 mpg on the motorway if i did 70 mph or 11 on the main roads with my sbc, and if i did 2000-3000 miles a year, work it out. its not alot really is it??

The insurance is cheap, tax cheapish and maintainance next to nothing, now add all that up against a 997 or 430 or Aston and the GTR will be far cheaper to run even if it did 8 mpg.

Also an Aston or 997, its an everyday car, you will always be in it, and it wont feel special. you will rack up the mileage and service it more often and after a while yuou will be bored as its just soooooooooooooo slow compared to teh Ultima.

Now the ultima , comes out when you want to feel special or go somewhere to be noticed. you will treasure it, polish it , fettle and enjoy it, without the expense of the other brands, and leave every other car behind you when you hit the loud pedal.

The other plus i find living in Cheshire, being a member of supercardriver club, is all the on lookers look at the ultima as its different, extreme and loud, the ferrari or Astons or 997 is just another car, seen alot around here. Ive been invited to alot of events that i would be looked at if i drove another car.




hedgefinder

Original Poster:

3,418 posts

192 months

Wednesday 19th February 2014
quotequote all
well, judging from the responses to this thread virtually all from long term owners or builders it certainly looks like that cars a lifetime keeper.. its worth more to me as a toy rather than put up with the inevitable and persistant ammount of timewasters if i did advertise it.

pilbeam_mp62

955 posts

223 months

Thursday 20th February 2014
quotequote all
I have sold 5 "specialist" cars over the last few years. Three of them were single-seater racing cars, one was a Westfield race car, and also my Ultima. Each of those cars was sold to the first person who made contact with me and then viewed the car. In all cases I priced them to sell. I believe that unrealistically priced exotica attracts timewasters. Then it hangs around without selling, which then gives a negative impression. Plenty of examples of that in PH classifieds.

LS7TANGO

301 posts

222 months

Saturday 22nd February 2014
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So after much thought and deliberation, plus impending immigration to the good ole U S of A, the time has come for me to part ways with the 'Tango' wagonfrown

I'll be placing an advert in the classifieds over the next few days - whilst the car needs a couple of items refreshing it will be offered for sale on an extremely attractive basis for a car that I consider as a high spec/build quality, 730hp Ls7 engined GTR. In addition to the car, the lucky buyer will be able to secure any number of items from my workshop as part of the deal.

For those that don't know her, here she is....




Simon

Edited by LS7TANGO on Saturday 22 February 06:28

pilbeam_mp62

955 posts

223 months

Saturday 22nd February 2014
quotequote all
LS7TANGO said:
I'll be placing an advert in the classifieds over the next few days - whilst the car needs a couple of items refreshing it will be offered for sale on an extremely attractive basis..................
This will be an interesting test of my theory......... smile

highflyer

1,899 posts

248 months

Sunday 23rd February 2014
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That photo should be on the bad parking thread in general gassing wink

Storer

5,024 posts

237 months

Sunday 23rd February 2014
quotequote all
There is a nice yellow 720 2009 GTR with 1500 miles on it advertised in this months Octane magazine for a very reasonable £45K.

BTW. Not known to me.


Paul

V8Dom

3,547 posts

224 months

Sunday 23rd February 2014
quotequote all
LS7TANGO said:
So after much thought and deliberation, plus impending immigration to the good ole U S of A, the time has come for me to part ways with the 'Tango' wagonfrown

I'll be placing an advert in the classifieds over the next few days - whilst the car needs a couple of items refreshing it will be offered for sale on an extremely attractive basis for a car that I consider as a high spec/build quality, 730hp Ls7 engined GTR. In addition to the car, the lucky buyer will be able to secure any number of items from my workshop as part of the deal.

For those that don't know her, here she is....




Simon

Edited by LS7TANGO on Saturday 22 February 06:28
i love that car.. perfect colour combo, and very nice build

LS7TANGO

301 posts

222 months

Tuesday 25th February 2014
quotequote all
Thanks for the kind words Dominic;)

Well the advert is posted......feeling kinda sad at the moment as I never had the opportunity to take my father back to Le Mans for the classic in her (he was there with Team Lotus in 57 & 58). Ho hum life moves on.....

Anyways, I think it's a bargain for someone.....and hopefully they can make the trip!

Simon

pilbeam_mp62

955 posts

223 months

Tuesday 25th February 2014
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Just looked at the advert...

Now, THAT is an absolute bargain for someone - best of luck with the sale and your move to USA.


deadscoob

2,265 posts

282 months

Tuesday 25th February 2014
quotequote all
Yep, that is a bargain.

hedgefinder

Original Poster:

3,418 posts

192 months

Tuesday 25th February 2014
quotequote all
compared to everything else on offer in the classifieds it certainly is a lovely looking machine and a better bang for your buck,
but also brings me back to the thread that ran a short while ago regarding LS engined cars values and the used market with people swearing thee was 50-60k..... so lets hope tango will be inundated with offers OVER 40k .
I was considering selling my LS powered car, I havent advertised it and no one has viewed but after several emails mentioning prices between 20 and 25k for as new cast iron small block cars
I just dont consider it worth even advertising, its high spec, but I wouldnt call it mint as its been actually used so its now going to the body shop in a couple of weeks to have the new SS front end painted... that should relieve the boredom for now...roll on summer! biggrin

  1. edit..now for sale..well at least until the front end is painted..might not be again then we will see if heart rules head!
Edited by hedgefinder on Monday 10th March 17:06