help with price..

[Guidedog]

Hi guys,
2001 lotus elise sports tourer 19500 miles on the clock. Very good condition. Problem... No log book. How much does this matter and how much should this effect the price? The car needs two new front tyres as well although the backs are ok I am wondering whether I should replace all four and with what. I am not sure what the rears are at this time but will find out. Also the front right indicator unit contains moisture and needs replacing. Any ideas about cost?

So, cost and type of tyres?
Cost of light unit?
and how much should a lack of log book effect the price?

I will take all this off the £12,500 which I think is a fair price for this car.

I look forward to some help.

guidedog.

[RDH]

Tyres - budget about £100 per corner, the current recommended by Lotus is the AD07 available with a discount through Murray Motor Co, see the SE Offers section here

http://www.scottishelises.com/phpbb/vie ... =13&t=8121

The indicator won't need replaced- mine has had condensation for a couple of years - should only be a replacement seal ( but it hasn't bothered me that much!)

As for the log book - I have no idea! Where has it been serviced? See if the garage can provide evidence of the service history to give you some form of comfort over the mileage etc.

Good luck!
If you're not sure - walk away, there's plenty on the market at the moment around that money!

[craigs135s]

First thing you have to ask is why is there no log book? Have you HPI the car?
Depends on what tyers you want to go with. If the rears are ok leave them until they need changed.

The light unit will be dear if you go to lotus direct. You might pick one up on ebay but still not cheep.

Hope this helps a little.

Cheers
C

[craigs135s]

When you say no log book do you mean V5 or services book?

Cheers
C

[tut]

Are you buying it private or trade? No real excuse for the service booklet not to be supplied in either case, if it has been lost, then there should be invoices to show servicing.

Not the end of the world but beware of cover ups. I am not anal retentive, but I have every invoice from servicing, upgrades, parts bought etc, for my Elises.

Tyres, indicator lights, etc are incidentals except for an indication of how the owner has looked after the car. Tyres are just a bargaining point.

As Rob days, there are loads out there at present that are not selling. I would not buy one unless it was one of the best going and owned by a fanatic that never took it out in the wet, took it to bed with him every night, and had divorced the wife because she had no idea what owning an Elise really means.

tut

[Edin430]

If it has no service history then I'd want a good 1k off the price .... 12.5k for a 2001 reg with no S/H is too expensive IMHO. I'd rather put an extra grand in my budget and get a ST 2003 model or even a cheap 111s etc.

If it has no log book as in V5 then I don't think it matters too much, as long as you have done all the relevant checks to make sure he owns the car and its not stolen!

Make sure you check the history of the car well service receipts etc - I'm the negative one of the group that would say <20k miles in 7 years seems low (which is good), but not even 3k a year would worry me if there wasn't a service history. Sounds stupid but its just me - others will say I'm mad/wrong etc etc - and they may be right as it could have just been really well looked after - and if thats the case then .

Jusy my 2p.

[H8OAG]

The trade values this car at £8,400
Add £1000 - £1500 for a private sale.
I would be more inclined to buy a car with known provenance.........there's plenty around

[ninja]

When you say no log book do you mean V5 or services book?

Cheers
C

lack of service docs not a big problem

lack of V5 really not good.

ninja

[ninja]

without a service history you're going to want a full C service with new belts so as suggested above i'd knock a £500-1000 off the asking price for this. I think from memory Ali charges a little less than 500 notes for this service.

the condensation in the indicator unit will destroy the bulb holder - mine is currently working because i jammed tin foil into the bottom of the bulb holder after the metal in there coroded away. it's expensive to get a new unit so i'm happy with the tin foil blue peter method of fixing but if you want/need a new unit i'd knock a further £500 off for this, although you may be able to get cheaper on ebay.

17000 miles is not bad to be honest, mine has done 42k although admittedly when i bought it 3 years ago it had only done 15k.

I'd offer £11k if it were me, but if it had no V5 i'd run away

ninja

[Guidedog]

hi guys. thanks as usual for all the advice. much appreciated.

So, I have had a really good look at the car. it is in really excellent condition with none of the tell tale signs of misuse. It does appear the 19300 miles are genuine but I have taken your advice and will carry out a check on its history and hopefully this will be confirmed as genuine. I am normally a good judge of character and this fella does appear to be genuine. If there is any jiggery pokery it would likely have happened prior to his ownership. There is a service history on paper but his log book suffered water damage. (he still has it) This is the book containing the service stamps as far as I am aware. He does have service history in receipt form. he has reduced the price taking into consideration the two new tyres and the indicator unit. The current tyres are not illegal and I am assured by my petrol headed pal (who was with me) that they will easily last until the next MOT. He only drew my attention to them becasue of lines/cracks in the wheel. The front right indicator does have moisture and I have negotiated money off for this. I only mention this as my friend told me that this could fail an MOT.

i have had a good look online at all of the cars for sale nationally and I really cant find a 2001 car with this milage for this price. Any later models appear to have 10 - 20,000 more miles on the clock.

The car looks amazing and I do feel a mist decending as far as my clear thinking is concerned which is why it is great to run all this info by you. I will contact Murray Motors for the tyres although it appears that the 10% offer is for Yok's rather than Bridgestones (fitted). Is there a problem with mixing the tyres? If so I really dont mind going with the Bridgestones as I have read good reports.

thx guys... If this is the one please let me know when and where the next meet is so I can bring it along for really close and exagerated scrutiny... I will hang my head in shame and write future posts to newbies telling them not to buy the first one they see.

guidedog.

WOOF

[Paolo]

..you've bought it then????

[ninja]

..you've bought it then????

though process went like this:

that's a nice shiny car!
but there could be something wrong with it.
i can afford it.
it's too good to be true, there must be something wrong.
but it's so nice and shiny

gimme gimme

ninja

[Guidedog]

My head is hung in shame...

I have not handed over the cash as yet but I reckon mentally I am the owner.

I have two weeks before I get my driving license back so you can imagine how shiney it will be by then...

Anyone living anywhere near Roslin is welcome to come round and chat. Car shoud be here next Saturday when documents and cash exchanged.

guidedog

[Paolo]

Congratulations Guidedog!!!

[Shug]

I will contact Murray Motors for the tyres although it appears that the 10% offer is for Yok's rather than Bridgestones (fitted). Is there a problem with mixing the tyres? If so I really dont mind going with the Bridgestones as I have read good reports

Yokos are the replacement for the Bridgies and supposedly better in every respect. Nowt wrong with the Bridgies, but the Yokos are better.