How long to sell an Elan ?

[DJW]

OK, I know the phrase "how longs a piece of string" comes to mind , but I'm struggling to get my head around how long some of the cars take to sell on here...or still haven't sold months later.

To put it in context, I change my cars every 2-6 months and usually sell them quickly by pricing them sensibly. 1-2 weeks is the norm to complete a sale.

So my dilemma comes down to buying a M100 that will sell on quickly in the future. Not looking to make money on a car, but at the same time not looking to take a bath.

So question is, do these cars take a long time to sell due to a small market; are they mileage sensitive ; are sellers asking too much for the car ?

Would love to buy a car off a member of this forum early next year, as I would feel confident I'm buying a straight honest car, and ideally sell it on again within the community.

All advice greatly appreciated

Cheers Dave

[Rambo]

I sold mine in 35 minutes in April this year. You missed a cracker

[DJW]

Bugger Good to hear though

Noticed your location. One of the scariest drives of my life getting over there, with coaches coming the opposite way ! Nice food in the pub though

[chipp]

Hello Dave, welcome.
Saw your post on TLF the other day. I think you'll find that it's an itch that is definitely worth scratching.
Most peoples experience of Elan ownership is positive due to the shear fun of driving the thing.
As a serial Lotus owner I'm sure you'll be hooked too.
With regards to your question I don't think this site is the place where most owners start their search.
As myself they probably start by looking through the usual mainstream places then find this site at a later date.
I don't think you are ever likely to sell an Elan over night as it seems to be a niche motor in a larger niche sector.
Put it on Ebay or PH and it should not hang around to long.
I have mine listed on here and nowhere else as I am still enjoying it to much.
Put it out there and i'm sure I will get lots more interest and probably a sale.
I have had a couple of very interested serious buyers but would not drop my price enough for them.
I have seen a couple go for around the figure I am asking and it is a rising market.
I'm sure you'll find one to suit your needs a budget but don't be surprised if you decide not to part with it as quickly as you intend.

chipp

[Artaban]

If like me and the car needs something fixed I won't sell it until its done. Then when its running perfectly and ideal for sale I don't want to sell it. Mine is for sale on here as well but I haven't bothered to advertise it anywhere else though it briefly went on PH for a week some months ago. Its the car I've owned longer than any other. I usually get bored quite quickly but somehow it kept my interest.

Suggest you buy one in the Autumn/Winter and sell again in the Spring/Summer when everyone is looking for a soft top. I know thats not always possible but its probably the best way to get good value.
Andy

[Rambo]

I don't think you are ever likely to sell an Elan over night as it seems to be a niche motor in a larger niche sector.

But I did just that Chipp

Stuck it on LEC at 7 minutes past midnight on 1st April and 35 minutes later had my 1st offer. By the time I woke up I had been offered the full asking price and the money was transferred into my bank account by mid afternoon

viewtopic.php?f=49&t=25124

[chipp]

I was aware of your speedy sale but lets be honest you are a phenomenom.

chipp

[DJW]

Thanks for advice guys .

Hoping to find a car that keeps my interest for longer than the norm. Record stands at two and half weeks for a Jag F Type

I'm still enjoying my current Evora after 5 months, so can't see that going anywhere soon, so something like an Elan would be a nice stable mate for sunny days. Would also like an Elan +2' at some point, but trying to find a straight, clean car for a fair price seems hard work

Damn you Lotus for producing such good cars

Dave

[DJW]

I don't think you are ever likely to sell an Elan over night as it seems to be a niche motor in a larger niche sector.

But I did just that Chipp

Stuck it on LEC at 7 minutes past midnight on 1st April and 35 minutes later had my 1st offer. By the time I woke up I had been offered the full asking price and the money was transferred into my bank account by mid afternoon

viewtopic.php?f=49&t=25124

Hey I would have bought your car at that price, with list of works done, as a very fair price.

[Artaban]

Best of luck finding a +2 for reasonable money, they all appear to be over £20k if they have been looked after/restored. Having owned one for about 5 years its a totally different ownership experience. Yes it has the Lotus habit of falling apart in the garage while no one is looking but the things you take for granted in a modern car you can't in a +2. If I was going to go for another Lotus after the M100 it would be the +2s 130 I had. I think its the only car I've owned before that I'd buy again. However for the money I might just build myself an Ultima Revolution and see how quickly I can tot up 12 points.

[DJW]

Funnily enough I tried building an Ultima, but got bored after 50hrs effort

[DJW]

Would love to hear more about your ownership of Elan +2 , as love the look of cars and the feel from sitting inside , but have never been out in one. Always worried I have rose tinted glasses syndrome when looking at classics.

[Rambo]

I was aware of your speedy sale but lets be honest you are a phenomenom.

chipp

To keep the record straight, although I sold it quickly, SimonR found it wasn't the car for him and punted it on 4 weeks later

Lots of detailing, new leather clad seats etc....

I wish I still had Rambo though. After 13.5 years I was still in love

[lotusflasherman]

I change my cars every 2-6 months and usually sell them quickly by pricing them sensibly. 1-2 weeks is the norm to complete a sale.

I prefer 'long term relationships' to your 'one night stands' but it works for me as I'm polygamous, as far as cars go ... Much to the annoyance of my wife, I seldom sell cars but it doesn't stop me buying more...
I also believe in "better the devil you know" so after a couple of years of ownership I know exactly the state of my cars and their respective performance capability.
M100 is a 'rock solid' performer so you certainly need to add one to your 'fleet'.

Acquired an Elan Plus 2S last summer with "some issues" - headlamps don't come up and non-standard paint but for £8k, couldn't resist it and it leaves a lot of 'wriggle room'. It's the car for my retirement as Classic Car Insurance is £80 and it's exempt from Road Tax. Still think it's the most beautiful car ever made, though the T14 Elite runs it close!

M100 has lots more power (even more with a chip), fat tyres and will significantly outperform a Plus2 or 'baby Elan' so if you want 'top down. wind in your hair' motoring an M100 is by far the cheapest option. Those that hang around a long time are overpriced... owners pay somebody to put on upgrades (that often don't do much) and think the value of their pride and joy has increased by the amount of the bill. Somebody posted a 'One of the last SE's" at more than 3 times the price I paid for my SE, that was actually later than his, and mine had under 1/2 the mileage so his hung around for a while. There are some 'good un's" posted here at a realistic price form time to time so keep looking and wish you Good Luck...

[Rambo]

I was aware of your speedy sale but lets be honest you are a phenomenom.

chipp

To keep the record straight, although I sold it quickly, SimonR found it wasn't the car for him and punted it on 4 weeks later

Lots of detailing, new leather clad seats etc....

I wish I still had Rambo though. After 13.5 years I was still in love

And it got through its annual MOT a few days ago with no problems, other than a few rusty advisories, so somebody is looking after Rambo well

[John_W]

You're stalking your old car?


Time to accept things and move on, Mark.

[lotusflasherman]

You're stalking your old car?


Time to accept things and move on, Mark.

That's what happens when you're still in love .... " I wish I still had Rambo though. After 13.5 years I was still in love "

[Rambo]

You're stalking your old car?


Time to accept things and move on, Mark.

That's what happens when you're still in love .... " I wish I still had Rambo though. After 13.5 years I was still in love "

Sad isn't it ? My red Elan was my first real Lotus (I'm not counting my Jim Clark Skalextric cars or all the other Corgi/Dinky Lotus models I had crammed aboard my Ecurie Ecosse transporter !) so I won't forget it

I can still remember the 1st night I picked up Rambo. I left the warmth of my bed at 0300 to spend a couple of hours polishing and stroking the paintwork before creeping back into bed beside my other true love

Sad but true

[John_W]

This is getting weirder and weirder.
You need
Time for a treatment, then a

[HJ2]

I volunteer to help with the part!
Edit: AND the part as well, but that was obvious