'Lotus History' essential for Elise?

[simon_wade]

Just a quick thread to see what people's consensus is on the 'Full Lotus Service History' - My friend works as a technician at a Mercedes garage and has offered to carry out the cambelt and C service at reduced cost on my 2000 year Elise. All work would be carried out in accordance with Lotus guidelines and although the book would be stamped, it obviously wouldn't be from a Lotus main dealer. Do you think this will have a marked effect on the value and saleability of the car?

[Bonce]

Nope, not at all in my opinion. So long as you can prove it's been regularly and carefully maintained, that's the important thing. Lotus Specialist history is just as good (if not better) as main dealers, but I might be cautious about a non specialist doing the cambelt.

[boggy]

Hi Simon,

I've spoken to various people on these very subject and I came to this conclusion, you have to have your Elise serviced by Lotus for the first 2 - 3 year's in order to validate the warranty. After that I personally am going to send my car to a Lotus specialist, just because they have a flashy showroom and sell new car's it doesn't always mean they have a wealth of experienced mechanics who care about the brand. I'm lucky enough to have a very good local specialist, he's a good friend of my dad it's up to you at the end of the day but just something to bare in mind

Boggy

[Bonce]

Not having a Lotus service history wasn't even questioned when I sold my car. Most people know that specialists are just as good.

[S Works]

Agreed here also - I'd actually prefer to see a specialist's stamp who I know well recommended (e.g. Sinclaires, Bruce @ ragtop etc.) or someone like Miles from Fibreglass Services. In fact, now if I have the choice, I will ONLY have my car touched by Miles or Sinclaires because I trust them.

I'm sure the work done by your mate will be of a high quality (doubt you'd let him near it if not ) so just make sure he ticks all the boxes on the service sheet. In fact, why not get him to get a copy of the service sheet and fill that out with the invoice?

Incidentally, what's he going to charge you for this? Might be almost as cheap to get it done at a specialist after all?

>> Edited by S Works on Tuesday 30th November 13:08

[jfrf]

i think a specialist is fine
not so sure about a mercedes garage

when i traded my elise in the lotus dealer wasnt at all bothered by the specialist stamp as they knew that sinclaire had a good reputation