Lotus S2

[italyciccia76]

Hi guys

I hope someone can help and I am posting to the correct place!

Unfortunately I have to sell my lotus due to family reasons, but have no idea what its worth. It was registered in 2001, and had a full service history and is in good condition. It is taxed for another year and fitted with an RAC Trackstar. The car has done just 20,000 miles, and is Lightning Blue in colour.

That said there is a small dent in the back due to an idiot pushing a shoppping trolley into the back which i have been quoted £1000 to fix by Wilsons in Essex. It also requires a C service which would cost £650.

Wilsons offered me £8k after the repair for it.

Can anyone advise what I should expect and whether I would get a better return getting the service and work done before selling privately?

Thanks for you help

Trav

[NathanE]

Probably worth about £12-13k private so I'd definately sort the problem out and do it that way.

£8k is 1996-1998 S1 money! They're having a joke I think.

[italyciccia76]

I thought wilsons were having a laugh ! They might have been having a laugh with the cost of the repair too?

You think its better to get both done rather than to put it on at £13000 and discount it?

thanks for your help - really appreciate it

[sleep envy]

italy meat?

[italyciccia76]

hahahhaahahah - a fellow italian!

Ciccia was my dogs name and i'm proud of my italian heritage - what can i say!

[sleep envy]

there's a few of us about

[ptp170]

I'd tell them where to stick that 8k....

[italyciccia76]

I know !

Do you have any advice for me?

[TonyHetherington]

£8k? That is absolutely ludicrous. Certainly worth more than that.

I'd get yourself a second quote purely to repair it (try FibreGlass Services) and then the service sorted, and it will be worth MUCH more than £8k plus £1k plus £650.

Without doubt. It's not even a maybe. 20k miles too so it's not a high miler by any stretch of the imagination.

[italyciccia76]

Thanks tony

I was really worried it had depreciated so much, but thought it was a joke to be honest. They are also no longer lotus dealers (i wonder why) Do you agree i might get £13k with everything done?

[NathanE]

If the car is otherwise in good nick (not too many scuffs on the interior etc) and the soft top is still in good condition etc etc then yes I'd say start your advertising at £13,500 and see what happens.

[TonyHetherington]

I think £13k is a bit OTT, but it would be over £12k I would imagine - condition depending etc. I must stress I am no authority on this, though my car is up for sale at the moment so did try to get to understand the market a little bit.

Remembeer we are now coming in to winter so the market is nowhere near as buoyant!

[italyciccia76]

no the interior is fine as is the roof, there are a few chips at the front but nothing too bad - incidently can these be repaired?

[TonyHetherington]

A respray's the only decent way of doing them; if you're getting work done it will be worth getting a quote to see how much extra it will cost to have the front done too (below the "bumper" line), but as a one off you'd be looking at a few hundred quid.

[italyciccia76]

ok cool thanks very much for all your help guys i really appreciate it.

I know this is a bit of an impossible question to answer but how long does it normally take to sell, and whats the safest method of payment? Also should I let people take it for a test drive (obviously not on their own) or should I insist on driving them about?

[21TonyK]

italyciccia76 said:

ok cool thanks very much for all your help guys i really appreciate it.

I know this is a bit of an impossible question to answer but how long does it normally take to sell, and whats the safest method of payment? Also should I let people take it for a test drive (obviously not on their own) or should I insist on driving them about?

I don't think anyone can answer the "how long" question. All depends on the car, the price, the market, who wants and how bad they want it. As for payment, whatever it is only release the car once funds have cleared. The old bankers draft etc is not as secure as people think! Before letting people test drive I'd say the 1) have to be insured, 2) have to be accompanied and 3) you have to be happy they are a serious buyer. In the past when buying performance cars I always did the deal first subject to a satisfactory test drive. Unless the numbers stack up pointless driving it any way.

Edited by 21TonyK on Tuesday 18th September 17:40

[miro]

Fully comp insurance too and no driving like a tosser

[noodleman]

If someone's serious about a test drive, they can get a days cover immediately these days.

dayinsure.com for example.

[TonyHetherington]

On my advert for my car I have put "NO TEST DRIVES" (and then a brief explanation why).

It's my pride and joy, and not yet sold.

But, if a genuine person comes up and it's all going well, and he still likes it after I've taken him out etc. etc. then I'm certain I will let them, but I'm very wary

[JTBUSH]

I didnt really test drive mine before I bought it. I just let the lad selling it take me out for a long run, then when we got back, he let me drive it round his housing estate to ensure the thing didnt knock or bang, manouvered at slow speeds ok etc. May have been a bit of trust on my part not to test drive it, but it all turned out ok!