Esprit prices increasing?

[dictys]

It seem to me that that SE and earler stevens shape Esprit are beginning to increase in value.

Whether this is the dealers just increasing their prices due the end of the Esprit era, who knows. But seems the Esprit have increased 1k-2k over what they were selling for 6-8 months ago.

[Skerd]

A used car dealership friend of mine just ran a 1988 through the auction. It did $ 21,300. Keep in mind this is wholesale. Had 36,000 miles.

[MadMaxx]

Wow.. that's pretty good. My 88 has 27K miles on it and I'm going through every system with a fine-tooth comb to bring it back up looking brand new.

Wonder what she is worth now... {EG}

James

[cnh1990]

That is interesting as the market is driven from the top. It is the price of the new V8 and their depreciation the drives the prices of the older cars down. I really don't see the prices going up until several years after the stop of production. The SE's and older have stabilized prices and they are almost on a flat line. niether going up or down a lot. The newer models continue to depreciate and will settle to whatever the going price is going to be for them in 4-5 years or so. Just like most cars.

Calvin

[paul c]

Not sure of stevens shape,but here in the UK the
N/A and early turbo G-cars seem to be dropping. If you spend the money making your car minty,it WILL sell,
The buyers are there,but not ready to part with much more than 6-8k.
It seems you need to spend 3K on cosmetics to inrease the value of a 8k g-car by only a thousand?.

Am gutted at the price of some S3's,but it won't make me lower mine. Veiwing is all.

There are some real nails out there,the prices of these dogs should not be used to figure an average.
Please.

PAUL C

[solar]

in the us the prices are going up for premium cars

[PatHeald]

www.paulmattysportscars.co.uk/content/products/cardetail.asp?s_id=297

Paul Matty seems to think that prices are on the up for mint G-Cars.

But I guess he would say that....

[paul c]

Yeah,would be a different story if you tried to use a G-car as part exchange...

Magic beans anyone?

[yardelli]

After 10 years of Esprit ownership ('G' HC Turbo) I would say that during that period, going to loads of shows, track-days, Club events etc., I have only seen about 8-10 cars that I would ever have considered buying? As has been previously said, there is alot of rough Esprits around now..............I think the moral of the story is...........If you want a good one you have got to pay for it.......Its worth it though!

[madmike]

I don't know what the market is doing, and I always advocate putting money into your car, but I would disagree a bit with the statement that mint cars sell.

In fact I'd probably say that as a rule, putting money into an Esprit to sell it is a bad return on investment. 99 out of 100 buyers out there expect to get your mint car for average price...because they pretty much can. Last year, when I needed to sell, I didn't get one offer even close to reasonable. Perhaps things have changed since. And yes, mine is a pretty good example of an SE before you ask

All I'm saying is, though I think and hope eventually prices rise, we definately aren't out of the woods yet.

The wild card...I shudder to think how prices will be affected when a lot of owners start trading in their Esprits for Elises.

Mike

[solar]

i dont really picture the esprit owner as a prime elise candidate... Two totally different beasts.

[cnh1990]

As a general rule, mint cars are easier to sell in the general range or they do get a little more than the average price. You can hang on for years trying to get a premium price. Cars are not really a good investment. It is a car, so buy it to drive and enjoy it, and if you get a decent sale price when you get out you are lucky. One will never get out what one puts in, even those that claim they do do not account for their own labor. There is always a price to be paid for entertainment value.
Calvin

[paul c]

Spot on that Calvin,covered it all there.
The hard thing for me is that the funds for my next Esprit,come largely from the sale of my current one.
Will be raw if i sell low and then watch prices rise as i search for the next one...

That said,low values,high values,running costs, practicality,reliabiltiy,insurance and her...

Will not stop me going and getting another.

(Did not stop me buying this one)

PAUL C

[madmike]

solar said:

i dont really picture the esprit owner as a prime elise candidate... Two totally different beasts.

Perhaps you should have seen all the Esprit owners drooling over the Elise at LOG. Or the hype amongst Esprit owners each time the Elise makes a stop at the local dealership for test drives.

Make no mistake, there are lots of Esprit owners who can't wait until the Elise shows up. Mant will buy as a second car, but I'm sure a lot of trade-ins, and I mean a lot, will hit the dealers.

Mike

[benfell100]

Lets face it chaps, this has got to be a good thing. If Lotus can get big sales in the US, it means times will be rosier for the company and there will be more money to fund future projects like... the '05 Esprit upgrade !!! They put it on hold recently, why? well I bet its cos they haven't the money up front to commit yet and are working on the federal Elise. One thing at a time for a small company as they don't have the resources of, say, Porsche or BMW. Big sales of the Elise mean full coffers and then spending power on the new Esprit project. Watch them flock to the showrooms when that beasty arrives for test drives!!!!!
Dom

drooling already

[cnh1990]

Make no mistake the Elise does handle well. Lotus owners for the most part like all types of cars. The Elise is for a lack of better words Spartan. Diamond plate floors. a rudimentary dash and instruments. It is not like the carpeted leather interior of an Esprit. Not that the interior is anything to brag about. But it should be noted that my Esprit SE is the only Lotus out of 4 that I have owned that has kept me dry and in comfort with reasonable interior sound levels.
Calvin

[solar]

god call benfell. Healthy elise sales could mean the esprit stays alive and evolves!