Scottish Elises

Since when did selling a Lotus become such hard work?

I have had my car up for sale for about a week – with plenty of interest, all bar one from Germany, Holland & France. I am not apposed to selling the car abroad, but not 100% sure about the ins and outs, and the whole thought leaves me slightly nervous. Do people from Europe really just turn on a flight, whit a holdall full of cash, and buy a car they have never seen? I know that I would never do this, and I am guessing most people in the UK wouldn’t either. I would certainly want to look at a couple first, before deciding.

I have also had a couple of dodgy emails stating that they will buy the car, pay a deposit in to my account, and a shipping agent would turn up and pay me the rest. I have read elsewhere about this type of scam, so it goes without saying that I have not replied.

I have also received a text from a guy in the Isle of Man asking if I would drive it over, and he will pay me £13,000 cash, to which I have not replied. He has not emailed or called, just a text - something does not ring true.

What happened to the good old fashioned way of viewing a car, going for a test drive, then bartering on the price!?

Has anyone got on experiences of selling a Lotus recently, or have any experience from selling abroad?

I would be grateful for any advice.

Many thanks.

Hi

Have bought and sold a few to Europe

pm/phone me if you want advice on the vagaries of the motor trade

Iain

I called Pure Lotus today as they had a 340R advertised, but he sold it the same day. He said as far as he knows there is not one available in the country, and his last three went to Europe.

He has now decided that he will only sell his Lotus's to UK buyers from now on to keep them in the country.

tut

ps Paul, not considering selling your 340R in the near future are you?

Friend of mine was selling his 911 SC recently.

A boy from Sweden phoned him and told him he would meet him at Edinburgh airport with the cash, he duly turned up handed over 12.5K in cash and drove it back to Sweden....didn't even test drive!

My 340R went to Holland in January, all done by photos, money was fully in my account as much as a couple of weeks before it was collected. The buyer didnt even come to collect it, he sent over a Lotus specialist (he even paid the guy to do it).

I had to filter out the nonsense enquiries, but the phone calls are the only ones worth entertaining. Forget the "drive it to Hull and I will meet you there" crap. If they want the car they will come to you for it.

To put things into perspective, the guy who bought mine could only find 1x LHD 340R in Holland and it was 44,000Euros. He could buy mine, rebuild it from the chassis up, and convert to LHD and still be thousands of Euros better off.

Pure Lotus have been advertising a 340 for ages. Its been sold ages ago but they use it to drum up business.....

ed wrote:Pure Lotus have been advertising a 340 for ages. Its been sold ages ago but they use it to drum up business.....

Was gonna add that too Ed, Its been on for at least a year, from before I bought mine. Used to be 19995.

Nobber.

He kept me on his mobile for twelve minutes and I am on Pay as U Go.

tut

Hi,

Sent you a PM regarding sale

Thanks
David

If that was for me David, I have not received a pm.

tut

Sorry Tut PM sent to Austin regarding the Elise.