Something Extra For Your Lotus

[simonbuk]

Looking for something extra for your Lotus to hang on the garage wall ? -

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/top ... &t=1884425

[Rambo]

Plenty of other places I'd rather spend £170 on. Looks expensive for what it is ie a key ring, a pen and a certificate. Unless you're a total anorak like Geof

The V5 and previous owner history will do me thanks. Might be useful for the likes of TB10 John, Justin and the Speckster though

[esprit888]

I have to agree with Rambo, i have purchased several in the past as at 55 pounds it was worthwhile, especially if the year/colour/model/trim of lotus, whatever the model you had was unique. But only lotus could take something that was easily accessible and had a genuine value at a reasonable cost, and then go ahead and more than triple the cost so it comes with stuff you don't need (a key ring! a pen! and a bookmark) put it in a box and now its worth, in my case, quadruple the price, and no longer available unless you order it through a dealer! So at $350 + CDN dollars including shipping i doubt i will be ordering any more.

[robertverhey]

Yes all a bit disappointing.....I doubt this was Andy Graham’s doing, doesn’t seem his style. A board room decision I suspect, let’s milk the owners....is the bottom line that bad I wonder? Oh well, the market will speak. Just glad I got mine last year.

[Simon_P]

A board room decision I suspect, let’s milk the owners...

Which wouldn't be so bad if, like other manufacturers, Lotus had it as part of a "car for life" scheme and supported the older models with things like parts.

i have purchased several in the past as at 55 pounds it was worthwhile,

I can remember when you wrote to the archivist and he wrote you a nice letter back. I can't remember if you had to include an SAE

[Denny]

They may still have the option certificate only?
Has anyone asked?

[esprit888]

I believe Andy Graham responded to that question in an earlier reply to a member, I was also told that you can no longer apply for one directly from Lotus but must apply from your nearest dealer and that it now comes in the newer more expensive format. I am hoping that this will be re-evaluated for those that only want the basic production info and don’t need a pen, bookmark and key ring, but won’t hold my breath. There could be many factors as to why it was changed, both good and bad.Perhaps they were so busy providing COPs that they thought it would be a nice gesture to offer more, or perhaps this higher price is needed to keep the archives details to owners in existence. Either way it just feels like a money grab and it will push enthusiasts away from the marque (IMHO)

[wayne]

Looking at the old price, I could be tempted... Looking at the new price, I would never be interested.

[TorqueHorse]

I'm not gonna lie, I would think this is cool for a present. Is it a gimmicky money grab? Sure, but you have to keep in perspective where the average price point is for current models and how they want the value of the brand to be perceived (old and new). The optimist could see this price increase as adding upmarket value to the car you already have. The pessimist could see this as paying Lotus so dealers can find the true aficionados and steer them into a newer model.
I'll take it as a nice to have...as a present from someone else

[wayne]

I'm not gonna lie, I would think this is cool for a present. Is it a gimmicky money grab? Sure, but you have to keep in perspective where the average price point is for current models and how they want the value of the brand to be perceived (old and new). The optimist could see this price increase as adding upmarket value to the car you already have. The pessimist could see this as paying Lotus so dealers can find the true aficionados and steer them into a newer model.
I'll take it as a nice to have...as a present from someone else

I don;t have a spare £170 to pay for a box and a bookmark that I would never use. Even if i did, I would never buy it at this price. You must have some very rich family members that would be willing to spend £170 on something like this for a birthday present on a good month our families birthday presents are about £20.
I come from a poor working class family.

[Rambo]

The optimist could see this price increase as adding upmarket value to the car you already have

TH - I can assure you this will never add value to your car, unless it is a rare PP, development car, IB, mule etc.....

You'd be far better spending your £170 hard earned cash buying some of Wayne's rebuild kits or putting it towards one of ESM's excellent chips. Or even putting the cost towards a decent front/rear brake upgrade that potentually could add value

[Simon_P]

Wayne, whilst I don't spend more than about twenty quid on birthday presents unless it's something special, I can appreciate that others may choose to. I don't think it is a reflection of anyone's circumstance.

I baulked when they were 35 quid, wouldn't have paid 50; there were plenty here that did. Perhaps I'm just tight, but like Rambo... I work out what else I could buy for the money. To that end I have a universal measure/test for small extravagancies. That is how many bottles of champagne I could buy for the money.

[dapinky]

Whilst I wouldn't buy one, or even have any reason to want to own one, I can see that there must be a marketing value to it, otherwise it wouldn't happen.

Bear in mind that "we" are towards the bargain basement level of Lotus ownership, but for someone who is apending many thousands of pounds on a good second hand, or new Lotus, what is the extra cost really?

As others have said, to buy one for a car which is not worth a lot is one thing, but if yours is worth £50-100K, then why not?

There is no reason to get one for my car - about the only thing which would appear on the certificate which bears any resemblance to the car in my garage is the VIN number!

Oh, and that £170 will insure it for another year of driving.... far better than having a bookmark.

[TorqueHorse]

Not trying to impugn anyone's circumstance; I don't have anyone that would spend that on a gift for me either (wouldn't it be nice). To put it in perspective though, aren't we talking about a piece of paper that just regurgitates information that is mostly already available anyway? The whole thing seems in the realm of irrational, disposable income, regardless of price point.

You'd be far better spending your £170 hard earned cash buying some of Wayne's rebuild kits or putting it towards one of ESM's excellent chips. Or even putting the cost towards a decent front/rear brake upgrade that potentually could add value

I wasn't suggesting it raise the actual value of an individual car, just that the 'up-valuing' of the program (may) reflect a raise in the value of the brand as a whole; like auction prices trending up over time would have an impact on your car's value, kind of thing. Trying to find some kind of silver lining in it. And yes, I plan on putting those things on my wishlist first

[Rambo]

Whilst I wouldn't buy one, or even have any reason to want to own one, I can see that there must be a marketing value to it, otherwise it wouldn't happen.

Bear in mind that "we" are towards the bargain basement level of Lotus ownership, but for someone who is apending many thousands of pounds on a good second hand, or new Lotus, what is the extra cost really?

As others have said, to buy one for a car which is not worth a lot is one thing, but if yours is worth £50-100K, then why not?

There is no reason to get one for my car - about the only thing which would appear on the certificate which bears any resemblance to the car in my garage is the VIN number!

Oh, and that £170 will insure it for another year of driving.... far better than having a bookmark.

And that £170 has, in the past, paid for good weekends at Donington, Hethel, Castle Combe, Silverstone etc... with beers and currries with likeminded friends which is hard to replace and quantify in a certificate.

The Lotus ball point pen will run out and the keyring will be mislaid but the great memories will remain

[GeoffSmith]

I wonder how much these collectors' items are worth now?

[Rambo]

If that pen touched the hallowed hands of MJK it could be worth upwards of double its real worth

So, about £1.98

But to the owner of a Merlot coloured car it could be priceless. Trouble is Trevor would probably T-cut it

[lotusles]

The optimist could see this price increase as adding upmarket value to the car you already have

TH - I can assure you this will never add value to your car, unless it is a rare PP, development car, IB, mule etc.....

You'd be far better spending your £170 hard earned cash buying some of Wayne's rebuild kits or putting it towards one of ESM's excellent chips. Or even putting the cost towards a decent front/rear brake upgrade that potentually could add value

That's if the ESM man responds to your mails of course

[Brit-Car-Nut]

Are you trying to reach Alan?

[lotusles]

Are you trying to reach Alan?

Yes but only for two years, even registered on his site, but gave up and found an alternative that does everything including turbo upgrades