B&C 160 v Sport 160

woody · Post by **woody** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 5:28 pm

Swap you for my 160, two mars bars and the spare set of bald advans I have?

DDtB · Post by **DDtB** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 5:51 pm

jj wrote:
DDtB wrote:
jj wrote: In Scotland ?
Nope.... somewhere sunnier and closer to a certain famous Mouse's House. But there are bargains to be had in Scotland too. I also know of someone who got about 35% off the price if a new build flat in Leith which will be ready for the market in a week or so. Builders/Developers are always keen to shift the last few flats in a development.

T`was why I asked, as I have got one completing this month in Glasgow which looks to have done OK ( I reserved it last october) but would have been amazed at that sort of return in Scotchland.

Yeah... the person I know was lucky... it was for a property reserved over 2 years ago but the original reservee cancelled and the person I know was able to reserve it at the 2 year old price.... right place at the right time and all that

Wonder if any franchisers are doing super special SE deals these days..... They're normally soooo expensive it's normally only Porsche driving types that can afford them...

gorrie · Post by **gorrie** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 6:18 pm

Awww feck... so many differing views.

Woody... how did you know my weakness was mars bars.

Think I've probably decided (after reading your views), not to bother with S1, for now. Not convinced I'd feel quite so attached to one. Also, elise trading in winter is probably not the smartest thing to do anyway as pointed out. Not only are the prices lower, but I guess there is less choice when buying another.

Maybe holding off until next year is the way to go, see how the property market is holding up (just read that some places down south have dropped 6%)... maybe find out a bit more on the Ali/SLS upgrade in case it is a serious alternative to getting an Exige... and, viola no need for upgrade fund.

Of course... this was all just hypothetical anyway... right.

DDtB · Post by **DDtB** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 6:35 pm

You could always see if there are any S1 owners out there who would be up for a car swap for a weekend to see how much you would actually really love one.

woody · Post by **woody** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 7:05 pm

DDtB wrote:You could always see if there are any S1 owners out there who would be up for a car swap for a weekend to see how much you would actually really love one.

I can swap any weekend and my car guarantees the genuine S1 experience*

*It's mostly in bits in the kitchen & spare room

robin · Post by **robin** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 9:48 pm

Property is a tricky investment and I suspect the boom times have gone - you can still make money doing it, but you'll need to do your research and put some effort into the process too.

Trading from S2 135R to Sport 160 is a total waste of time; no quicker in standard form that an S2 135R. If you just want more power, you can have 160 BHP without all the lumps and bumps; weight wise there's nothing much in it and the 135R already has nice seats and wheels ...

As a track&road car almost any elise is better than almost any other car, and I don't think that you will actually enjoy the Toyota engine variants much more; a s/c will make for entertainment for a while, but once the novelty wears off, driving from A-to-B on the road really isn't going to any much more fun than in the 135R.

So save your cash to invest in some carefully researched opportunity and enjoy the fact that you have one of the better elise variants already (also one of the best depreciation curves!).

Cheers,
Robin

Victor Meldrew · Post by **Victor Meldrew** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 10:03 pm

S1 135 gets my vote obviously

ExigeKen · Post by **ExigeKen** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 9:07 am

Andy

I have no idea how you will be able to make any decision after that thread (loads of good honest opionions there) other than if you had loads of money you could buy loads of Lotus variants and enjoy them all for slightly different reasons and buy loads of property in different places and see which ones do well for you. Mean while back in teh real world, surely it is just the old fashioned "you take your choice and pay your money".

Lets be honest Lotus cars are just the best fun ever even with their foibles.

By the way you are welcome to have a shot at my Exige anytime to see if you like it or not.

I hope that what ever decision you make will feel good for you, I'm sure it will though.

ryallm · Post by **ryallm** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 9:47 am

In Edinburgh at least I don't think BTL stacks up financially at the moment. I have 2 BTL flats in Edinburgh, but I wouldn't buy another just now because rents have not kept pace with property prices in recent years. The price gap between flats needing a lot of renovation work and those in a state to rent out straight away seems to have narrowed considerably too, so I am not sure buying a flat to do it up is worth the hassle either any more (I have done it twice).

So, simple decision, forget buying another property, blow the money on an Exige, with the new 255 upgrade naturally

Or just keep the 135R which has to be one of the best all round cars Lotus ever made.

Mark

Scotty C · Post by **Scotty C** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 9:47 am

jj wrote:
DDtB wrote:
jj wrote: In Scotland ?
Nope.... somewhere sunnier and closer to a certain famous Mouse's House. But there are bargains to be had in Scotland too. I also know of someone who got about 35% off the price if a new build flat in Leith which will be ready for the market in a week or so. Builders/Developers are always keen to shift the last few flats in a development.

T`was why I asked, as I have got one completing this month in Glasgow which looks to have done OK ( I reserved it last october) but would have been amazed at that sort of return in Scotchland.

2 years ago I had my name down for a house in ABZ 196,000. I would have had to sell everything I had (inc 340r) and live life a bit slower then i do now, so I did not put the deposit down (5K). They are now finished and one was up for sale a few weeks back offers OVER 300k.

That would have been a profit = 360 CS

How gutted am I.

Scotty C

tuscan_thunder · Post by **tuscan_thunder** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 9:57 am

Scotty C wrote:
2 years ago I had my name down for a house in ABZ 196,000. I would have had to sell everything I had (inc 340r) and live life a bit slower then i do now, so I did not put the deposit down (5K). They are now finished and one was up for sale a few weeks back offers OVER 300k.

That would have been a profit = 360 CS

How gutted am I.

Scotty C

that's fate though really isn't it - you could've sold the car, not had any fun and prices could have dropped in which case you'd be more 'gutted' than you are now.

Post by ed » Thu Nov 01, 2007 10:09 am

If i had money to invest now it would not be in rented property. As mark states the rents arent up to it, in the UK atleast, and imho i cant see double figure house price growth for a few years to come. I believe the market will stagnate and there is a high chance of a significant downward movement of average house prices. However the prospect of lower interest rates to come obviously reduces this.

cheers

Scotty C · Post by **Scotty C** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 11:07 am

tuscan_thunder wrote:
Scotty C wrote:
2 years ago I had my name down for a house in ABZ 196,000. I would have had to sell everything I had (inc 340r) and live life a bit slower then i do now, so I did not put the deposit down (5K). They are now finished and one was up for sale a few weeks back offers OVER 300k.

That would have been a profit = 360 CS

How gutted am I.

Scotty C
that's fate though really isn't it - you could've sold the car, not had any fun and prices could have dropped in which case you'd be more 'gutted' than you are now.

Exactly, invest in life you'll never go wrong. I might regret saying that in 30 years, if I last that long

Lazydonkey · Post by **Lazydonkey** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 11:14 am

Guy i bought my flat off made £6k in 2 years when he bought off plans. Would be fair to say he wasn't best pleased as he was hoping for £20k.

I'd always look at property as a safe investment in that you arne't going to lose out of it, but with that safety also comes the fact you are unlikely to make a mint. You gotta take risks to make big money as my old man always says.

Re. the car i've thought about changing mine loadsa times but I can really relate to what Robin is saying - is one varient of an elise chassis really going to be much different from the one you've got?

PhilA · Post by **PhilA** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 11:20 am

id bit ur arm off to have ur 135r, especially in yellow.
always wanted a 160 too.
can see ur pondering

if u can afford it now, then get it?
as long as u still have some property, u wouldnt be loosing out.

b2l isnt a short term thing.
8, never mind 12, years is a long time to rule out the fun ur after.

grab it while u can - whatever "it" is and makes u happy