Lotus Carlton for 14.5K?
21 October 2003, 10:36 AM
#1
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my mate is seriously thinking of selling his Escort Cosworth and buying a Lotus Carlton with 39k on the clock for 14.5k.
The reason it is so cheap is because of a Cat3 write off involving sideways motion and a lampost.
However, the vehicle has been professionally restored and looks really good for what it has been through.
What you reckon? Tear his arm off of run till you can run no more?
astraboy.
The reason it is so cheap is because of a Cat3 write off involving sideways motion and a lampost.
However, the vehicle has been professionally restored and looks really good for what it has been through.
What you reckon? Tear his arm off of run till you can run no more?
astraboy.
21 October 2003, 10:53 AM
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That is his main concern.
He will also be keeping it on the street, do these cars go walkies if a young gentlemen from the liverpool area noticed it it or are they okay on the nickability?
astraboy.
He will also be keeping it on the street, do these cars go walkies if a young gentlemen from the liverpool area noticed it it or are they okay on the nickability?
astraboy.
21 October 2003, 11:03 AM
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Agree with Neil, engine parts i.e Head bolts can be impossible to obtain or will cost a fortune but a great car if all goes well.
21 October 2003, 12:35 PM
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I think I know the LC you're talking about.
Has he seen the pre accident pics?
My thoughts...
Was it reshelled? It ought to have been with the sustained damage!
When he's had enough it's going to be real tuff to sell on.
£14.5K is way too much! Should be sub £10K!!
Has he seen the pre accident pics?
My thoughts...
Was it reshelled? It ought to have been with the sustained damage!
When he's had enough it's going to be real tuff to sell on.
£14.5K is way too much! Should be sub £10K!!
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21 October 2003, 01:11 PM
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my mate as a L/C and as just sold his WRX to fund the engine re-build I wouldn't buy one of these unless you can honestly afford to keep it running! also they were one of the easiest cars to steal at one time along with the cosworth. but the scum prefer the better handling scooby and evo...the L/C after all is just a carlton GSi with alot of fiddling by Lotus. so still as the normal alarm with NO immobiliser unless late k-l reg in which case should have the transponder fitted. also be aware vauxhall & Lotus are unable to supply the head bolts for these cars so finding new parts is very hard...
darren
darren
21 October 2003, 01:41 PM
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A good original unmarked example should be easily available for 14k. A rebuilt write off is worth 7.5 - 9 k at best depending on condition.
Keep looking. And he has to understand these are not every day cars. They will respond very badly to stop start commuting.
Tbh, he'd be better off looking at M5's. (And I'm a Carlton owner)
Keep looking. And he has to understand these are not every day cars. They will respond very badly to stop start commuting.
Tbh, he'd be better off looking at M5's. (And I'm a Carlton owner)
21 October 2003, 02:23 PM
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God I hate you lot, Im just looking at changing cars again and you start yet another thread about LCs..... 
Repeat after me, I do NOT want a LC, I do NOT want a LC!!!!
Repeat after me, I do NOT want a LC, I do NOT want a LC!!!!
21 October 2003, 03:33 PM
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the L/C after all is just a carlton GSi with alot of fiddling by Lotus
GM supplied fully built Carlton GSi 24v's to the Lotus factory where they were completely stripped. The rear arches were modified in exactly the same way as you or I would do if we were fitting an LC kit, hence why LC's suffer from rear arch rust to an arguably greater degree than the standard ones.
The interior and other standard parts were then returned to GM to add to parts stock, whilst the rear seats were modified and retrimmed to suit the LC spec.
I was nearly tempted too!!!
21 October 2003, 04:46 PM
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I have to add that if parts are hard to find then leaving the car on the street will be suicidal.
No matter how good the alarm/immobiliser, you'll have to contend with people who don't want to drive it off but steal it for the parts.
I had an old XR2 (not quite the same league I know!) written off because someone needed some bits. Getting access to the engine bay isn't that hard (pop a window, open bonnet) and these ******* did it in full view of loads of flats! Having a fancy alarm or tracker will make no difference then.
A friend wanted to change a Sapphire Cosworth for a LC 5-6 years ago and even then the examples he managed to find were looking rather tatty (trim, switches etc) so I think your friend might find it's an ongoing drain on the wallet that he will regret.
I've never been in one and wish I had experienced the car - but now I fear it's a little too late for all except those with money to burn.
No matter how good the alarm/immobiliser, you'll have to contend with people who don't want to drive it off but steal it for the parts.
I had an old XR2 (not quite the same league I know!) written off because someone needed some bits. Getting access to the engine bay isn't that hard (pop a window, open bonnet) and these ******* did it in full view of loads of flats! Having a fancy alarm or tracker will make no difference then.
A friend wanted to change a Sapphire Cosworth for a LC 5-6 years ago and even then the examples he managed to find were looking rather tatty (trim, switches etc) so I think your friend might find it's an ongoing drain on the wallet that he will regret.
I've never been in one and wish I had experienced the car - but now I fear it's a little too late for all except those with money to burn.
21 October 2003, 10:34 PM
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21 October 2003, 10:51 PM
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The Cat C Lotus Carlton is for sale by me. Must say it does amuse me that some of you think you can buy a damaged repaired (and I mean properly repaired) one for 7.5-9k. Sounds like you need to do some homework. I'm in the salvage game so dont try telling me otherwise. 2 have recently sold for 8 and 8.5k and they were damaged, and not repaired. If any of you are pedantic enough to do some homework on my claim, then one was this one I currently have for sale and the other was number 626.
The fire damaged one on our site is another one that was broken for spares (it was Cat B).
I own a Lotus Carlton myself, and it took me a whole year and 15 cars to find it. Those who think there are decent ones about for 10k are sadly mistaken. And parts are not that difficult to source, you just have to know the right people.
Paul.
The fire damaged one on our site is another one that was broken for spares (it was Cat B).
I own a Lotus Carlton myself, and it took me a whole year and 15 cars to find it. Those who think there are decent ones about for 10k are sadly mistaken. And parts are not that difficult to source, you just have to know the right people.
Paul.
21 October 2003, 11:45 PM
#24
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If your mate can't afford a garage, can he afford to lose the car?
The reason why you don't see Lotus Carltons parked out on the road is because they'd get nicked!
Scoobies and Evos are fine, but a Lotus Carlton is infinetly easier to steal, and a fair bit quicker I might add!
Theres not many Scoobies or Evos that will outrun a Police helicopter is there?
As for the £14.5k for that Lotus Carlton, thats very much on the lower end of the scale for pricing, probably due to the crash its had, so will make buyers nervous. But if its been properly restored, its hard to imagine any corners being cut with regards to ensuring everything works and has been updated (like replacement discs and the like).
As for head bolts being impossible to find, this assumes that a decent quality tooling company couldn't manufacture them for you!
Give the head bolt specs to ANY decent company, and they'll be able to manufacture them exactly to spec. Just because Vauxhall don't make it anymore, doesn't mean its difficult to get.
And to the numpty who described it as a Vauxhall...... as covered many times, its not, its an Opel... or if you want to get pedantic, its a Lotus. It says Lotus on every V5!
Or isn't the Lotus Carlton sufficiently different enough from a GSi 3ooo Carlton?
I still want one
The reason why you don't see Lotus Carltons parked out on the road is because they'd get nicked!
Scoobies and Evos are fine, but a Lotus Carlton is infinetly easier to steal, and a fair bit quicker I might add!
Theres not many Scoobies or Evos that will outrun a Police helicopter is there?
As for the £14.5k for that Lotus Carlton, thats very much on the lower end of the scale for pricing, probably due to the crash its had, so will make buyers nervous. But if its been properly restored, its hard to imagine any corners being cut with regards to ensuring everything works and has been updated (like replacement discs and the like).
As for head bolts being impossible to find, this assumes that a decent quality tooling company couldn't manufacture them for you!
Give the head bolt specs to ANY decent company, and they'll be able to manufacture them exactly to spec. Just because Vauxhall don't make it anymore, doesn't mean its difficult to get.
And to the numpty who described it as a Vauxhall...... as covered many times, its not, its an Opel... or if you want to get pedantic, its a Lotus. It says Lotus on every V5!
Or isn't the Lotus Carlton sufficiently different enough from a GSi 3ooo Carlton?
I still want one
21 October 2003, 11:58 PM
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Well, as a simple example on Autotrader this week, not counting the silver car, the most expensive one on there with 48k and FSH is £17,250. Now, I know these vehicles need to be bought on condition and history rather than price, but that is kind of the point.
A damaged repaired car which has been declared a total loss by the insurers is still a car with a total loss record, no matter how much work has been done to repair it.
Normally cars with a VCAR history will sell for about 2/3 rds of the price of a good condition vehicle with no record.
I know this varies on cars such as the LC because of rarity value, but if I was spending that much money on a 10 - 13 year old car, I would rather get one with a clean history.
I have done salvage repairs myself in the past and I know that quite often the car will leave the repairer in a better state than it was pre - accident. However the history is still there.
A damaged repaired car which has been declared a total loss by the insurers is still a car with a total loss record, no matter how much work has been done to repair it.
Normally cars with a VCAR history will sell for about 2/3 rds of the price of a good condition vehicle with no record.
I know this varies on cars such as the LC because of rarity value, but if I was spending that much money on a 10 - 13 year old car, I would rather get one with a clean history.
I have done salvage repairs myself in the past and I know that quite often the car will leave the repairer in a better state than it was pre - accident. However the history is still there.
22 October 2003, 12:05 AM
#26
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Clicky Lotus Carlton for sale.
It is a minter, despite the painted chargecooler....
[Edited by ustolemyname??stevieturbo - 10/22/2003 12:07:37 AM]
It is a minter, despite the painted chargecooler....
[Edited by ustolemyname??stevieturbo - 10/22/2003 12:07:37 AM]
22 October 2003, 10:50 AM
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CavT is spot on with his post.
Sorry if mine came across a little strong, but Ive got first hand experience of people wanting a rare car like a LC, spending little money on one and then regretting it. I would not have bought this car to sell on if I didnt think it was worth it. You are quite correct in that it will always have the history behind it - but then its been valued with that in mind. The phrase "only worth what someones willing to pay" is never truer for a car like an LC. And if no-one wants to pay what I want for the car, then I will keep hold of it until someone does.
I'll say another thing, I would say this Cat C one I have is in better condition that many of the ones I looked at when searching for my own car. And Im not just saying that - I have had 2 dreamers down to view the car who have liked it but only talking about 10k, and then one of them wasnt serious anyway. Its not a case of being desperate for the money so I will sit on it and wait until a buyer comes along whos willing to part with what I am asking for for it, for what is essentially a very nice example, but for its history.
Paul
Sorry if mine came across a little strong, but Ive got first hand experience of people wanting a rare car like a LC, spending little money on one and then regretting it. I would not have bought this car to sell on if I didnt think it was worth it. You are quite correct in that it will always have the history behind it - but then its been valued with that in mind. The phrase "only worth what someones willing to pay" is never truer for a car like an LC. And if no-one wants to pay what I want for the car, then I will keep hold of it until someone does.
I'll say another thing, I would say this Cat C one I have is in better condition that many of the ones I looked at when searching for my own car. And Im not just saying that - I have had 2 dreamers down to view the car who have liked it but only talking about 10k, and then one of them wasnt serious anyway. Its not a case of being desperate for the money so I will sit on it and wait until a buyer comes along whos willing to part with what I am asking for for it, for what is essentially a very nice example, but for its history.
Paul
22 October 2003, 10:57 AM
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And I can not beleive Mark is selling his LC! Ive seen that car and yes its one of the nicest ones about (although the engine bay is an acquired taste). There is a guy in the ABS club (the one who won the competition Mark came runner up in) whos LC has done best part of 190,000 miles - and its winning beauty contests.....pretty impressive....
Paul
Paul
22 October 2003, 11:18 AM
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I was looking for a LC a few years ago, my advice would be to drive it in the rain before you buy one!!!
I have driven many powerful cars, but a LC and wet road was just plain scarey IMHO!
Dom.
I have driven many powerful cars, but a LC and wet road was just plain scarey IMHO!
Dom.
22 October 2003, 11:39 AM
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My LC never comes out in the wet, for that reason as well at corrosion issues. In fact the previous owner who had it 9 years never had it in the rain either.
Ive driven the Cat C in the wet and yes, not to be recommended.
Paul
Ive driven the Cat C in the wet and yes, not to be recommended.
Paul