Car values and the future

[JohnSlovenia]

Whilst we all go spending money on our cars like expensive women--( if we are lucky,or unlucky),-- what are the best improvements?
In houses you are told to maximize your investment, kitchens and bathrooms are best.
When you look at adverts for M100's what attracts?
Low mileage? New timing belt? Hood replaced? service records? Wishbones? Colour?
Where,financially, are we best to spend our money?
We will still maintain our dream cars irrespective, but ultimately they will move on.
As such the value will be relevant.
It would be nice to think that the value would be of enough significance to ensure their survival.
Whilst we cannot change the mileage of a vehicle, how do we persuade the next generation to venerate the Lotus as we do.
From the preaching- what are the most desirable upgrades?

[addict]

driver makeover from me johnny vagas to james bond ....shaken not strired

[theelanman]

its all up to you.......you put in what you want and get out what you want from the car......
whatever you think the car is worth other will think different.........
just be happy with what you have and the ££ you spend
I have had seveal lotus and spent money to enjoy them........not to make a profit.....
like any classic......you could spend £10k and only get £5k back.......
I think people have these cars generally as a 2nd car and therefore a fun car and as such they get light use....
my M100 has just got to 100k miles.......I have a valuation of £10k......Ive probably spent more than that on the car over the years........its also just got to 20years old....so at 5k miles a year....its not much.....
the whole point at which Im getting is that you should consider it as yours......and as such spend time on enjoying yourself....
not improvement to try to add £££££ to the value of the car

[dapinky]

With a few added thoughts.....

....if you buy the car as an investment (or vertually any car for that matter), you'll be lucky to make money.

They are to enjoy, but i fully appreciate your concerns in the matter, as asked.

My own ethos is to enjoy the car as it is (or should be), spend money as and when it NEEDS it to keep it safe.....

...only then consider what you WANT, and spend according to your budget.

That said, certain expenditure can be said to improve value, whilst others only improve saleability - the trick is to know which is which, and some things appeal to some buyers more than others.

For example, when i bought the blue car, it was nice to know that it had new galvanised rear wishbones/top links, and a recent S2 hood - as far as i was concerned, it was 'worth' a grand to have them, even though they cost a heck of a lot more than that.

It was nice to have a FSH (but not essential to me!), a reasonable stereo, Cat 1 alarm, and a partially replaced interior (seat covers re-built) - but as far as i was concerned, they didn't affect value.

It had new tyres, but they wern't what i wanted, so although worth a mention in the advert (can't blame the seller for my fussiness!), they were actually a retrograde step (still got them if anyone wants tyres with loads of tread, but not one of the generally accepted brands for our cars)....

I have since spent loads on the car, but whether it's improved the value is debatable (i believe some has), but it certainly has improved the 'saleability', but more importantly, it has made the use of the car much nicer - i can get in and know that it will start, run and keep going (safely) to wherever i want to go - and be a better place to sit than when i got it.

These changes (i prefer that to 'uprades') include roll-hoops, Piper exhaust, Samco hoses, wastegate porting, re-built turbo, Switcher chip, radiator, oil cooler, coupled with regular maintenance of the important bits - brakes, oil, other fluids, belts etc.......

....all are needed to keep the car as I want it, may be what the next owner wants, but (probably/possibly/IMHO) do/don't increase the value, but definately make it stand out from the next one for sale at the same price!!!!