what car thread - Lotus Edition

[Beany]

They're a bit....normal these days, too.

What are 996 Turbo prices doing?

[Rich B]

My mate would probably buy your M2 at strong money.

www.wewontbuyanycar.com

strong money = £3k less than carwow!

What’s the details on the M2? And what did the website say? Pm if f you like. I’ll text him. Might just be an automated thing on his website.

I use the same principles at work to be honest, you give me your best price on your bid or fuck off. In my experience, any haggling over condition/etc becomes far more one sided if they’ve already “come up to your price” in the first place.

[Rich B]

Had some good chats today that have given me some more food for thought - there’s a guy who’s selling a K20 Elise on a facebook group. It’s a slightly scruffy example that he’s in the process of refurbishing (he has another one he’s already done too).

he described the conversion as functional, but not done with huge amount of care. his intention is to neaten it all up along with the rest of the car.

But the chat kind of got me thinking - despite how much i’d love a K20 car, i’d probably only really want it if it had been done by someone reputable that i could call up and/or book it in if there was an issue. I don’t have the knowledge or contacts to be diagnosing faults with potentially bodged (or even just odd) issues in the future.

so, i might go to see the car anyway in a few weeks because im nearby, but i think my focus is back on standard format cars with some modifications.

[Shlergen]

There's one on seloc with a duratec @190bhp. Seems very good money.

[Matty]

Had some good chats today that have given me some more food for thought - there’s a guy who’s selling a K20 Elise on a facebook group. It’s a slightly scruffy example that he’s in the process of refurbishing (he has another one he’s already done too).

he described the conversion as functional, but not done with huge amount of care. his intention is to neaten it all up along with the rest of the car.

But the chat kind of got me thinking - despite how much i’d love a K20 car, i’d probably only really want it if it had been done by someone reputable that i could call up and/or book it in if there was an issue. I don’t have the knowledge or contacts to be diagnosing faults with potentially bodged (or even just odd) issues in the future.

so, i might go to see the car anyway in a few weeks because im nearby, but i think my focus is back on standard format cars with some modifications.

Did he do the conversion himself? Who did he buy the kit frim?

[Rich B]

Had some good chats today that have given me some more food for thought - there’s a guy who’s selling a K20 Elise on a facebook group. It’s a slightly scruffy example that he’s in the process of refurbishing (he has another one he’s already done too).

he described the conversion as functional, but not done with huge amount of care. his intention is to neaten it all up along with the rest of the car.

But the chat kind of got me thinking - despite how much i’d love a K20 car, i’d probably only really want it if it had been done by someone reputable that i could call up and/or book it in if there was an issue. I don’t have the knowledge or contacts to be diagnosing faults with potentially bodged (or even just odd) issues in the future.

so, i might go to see the car anyway in a few weeks because im nearby, but i think my focus is back on standard format cars with some modifications.

Did he do the conversion himself? Who did he buy the kit frim?

no, that’s the point i was making really. Too many unknowns for someone like me buying a potentially DIY converted car.

If i had an HPE converted car for example, if i had an issue i’d call up Dan to book it in or he’d maybe have an idea of the fault.

if i had a standard engined car, i had an issue i’d call up my local lotus specialist to book it in or id look online/haynes/etc to maybe get an idea of the fault.

i haven’t got the mechanical knowledge or time to do the riskier one.

[Rich B]

There's one on seloc with a duratec @190bhp. Seems very good money.

after all my typing - that does look pretty interesting at that price.

[Rich B]

There's one on seloc with a duratec @190bhp. Seems very good money.

after all my typing - that does look pretty interesting at that price.

and i have a lotus specialist who does duratec conversions about 10 miles away. i’ve asked more details on it..,,

[Matty]

Had some good chats today that have given me some more food for thought - there’s a guy who’s selling a K20 Elise on a facebook group. It’s a slightly scruffy example that he’s in the process of refurbishing (he has another one he’s already done too).

he described the conversion as functional, but not done with huge amount of care. his intention is to neaten it all up along with the rest of the car.

But the chat kind of got me thinking - despite how much i’d love a K20 car, i’d probably only really want it if it had been done by someone reputable that i could call up and/or book it in if there was an issue. I don’t have the knowledge or contacts to be diagnosing faults with potentially bodged (or even just odd) issues in the future.

so, i might go to see the car anyway in a few weeks because im nearby, but i think my focus is back on standard format cars with some modifications.

Did he do the conversion himself? Who did he buy the kit frim?

no, that’s the point i was making really. Too many unknowns for someone like me buying a potentially DIY converted car.

If i had an HPE converted car for example, if i had an issue i’d call up Dan to book it in or he’d maybe have an idea of the fault.

if i had a standard engined car, i had an issue i’d call up my local lotus specialist to book it in or id look online/haynes/etc to maybe get an idea of the fault.

i haven’t got the mechanical knowledge or time to do the riskier one.

I mean, I'm sure Dan would advise - but one of the guys I was chatting to at Essex the other week had bought his Elise converted by Maidstone (I think?) and Dan had subsiquently adopted and upgraded it.

However, there's also a chance it's a bag of shit and Dan will condemn it

[Rich B]

However, there's also a chance it's a bag of shit and Dan will condemn it

Well that’s what i’d be afraid of! I’d take it to whichever Lotus specialist to fix it and they’d look at me with that “what the fuck have you done here” look!

[dan]

I don't condemn cars generally, I do my best to improve whatever people bring to me, usually by doing twice the work that their budget allows for

I was on my 4th S1 before I started this business so first and foremost i'm an enthusiast rather than your average miserable garage proprietor that thinks everything is shit. If you only went by what the guys at the garage I use for my MOT's say you'd just buy a horse or a bicycle

As soon as you modify anything its going to cause you pain, if you've got an appetite for it then you won't have more fun that in a honda elise, otherwise just buy the best SC toyota car you can afford.

[Sundayjumper]

If i had an HPE converted car for example, if i had an issue i’d call up Dan to book it in or he’d maybe have an idea of the fault.

I refer you back to my post on page 1:

Give Dan a £25k CASH DEPOSIT and tell him to surprise you at Christmas...

[Rich B]

If i had an HPE converted car for example, if i had an issue i’d call up Dan to book it in or he’d maybe have an idea of the fault.

I refer you back to my post on page 1:

Give Dan a £25k CASH DEPOSIT and tell him to surprise you at Christmas...

In all seriousness, i wouldn’t be adverse to this idea!

[Sundayjumper]

It would make a whole lot of sense. You’ll get a fully checked-over car to your spec that’s 100% ready to go with 100% backup.

[Mito Man]

Sounds like a happy ending.

[duncs500]

Paging Tim, timculator required.

[Rich B]

Paging Tim, timculator required.

No need, this idea is literally paying for itself! ….

[240PP]

From what I remember from Dan’s conversions, £25k isn’t going to cut it… happy to be wrong

[Rich B]

From what I remember from Dan’s conversions, £25k isn’t going to cut it… happy to be wrong

Yeah, Dans conversion cost is £15.5+Vat.

[duncs500]

It'd be wise to factor in that if your donor car is cheap, it's probably going to need more doing than just the conversion. Then there's the bits that you don't need, but will probably want...

I had certainly underestimated how much it was going to cost, but I have enjoyed the experience of making it my dream spec. And none of these things happen overnight, so at least you have time to save up for more shiny bits.