Low mileage?

[AndyD]

I must admit to being a little 'OCD' when it comes to my cars!

I aim to find a car with the criteria of: lowest mileage/low ownership/full service history/condition, etc. More often than not, finding such cars can be difficult but when the right one comes along you have to expect to pay a higher price than that of an equivalent model that does not tick all the boxes.

I believe this is backed up by adverts you see for any make of cars; the low mileage, low ownership cars always attract a higher premium. I'm not saying this is the correct way of buying a car, it's just the way I like them. There is nothing wrong in buying a higher mileage car to use and enjoy. It's a case of 'each to their own'. I do believe though that if you do own a low mileage car, you are less likely to want to use it so in fairness you are missing out on driving the car. I have a 1988/F plate 205 GTi with a genuine 5,700 miles from new. Yes, it's very unique to own such a car however, I don't want to put many miles on it as that takes away it's uniqueness. I've owned GTi's since 1996 so have used them as an everyday car and therefore know what it's like to run one regular. My '52 plate Vee has 24k on the clock. Again, it was the right car with the right mileage that I was looking for. I don't use it often but when I do I get the enjoyment out of it.

We all buy cars for different reasons, there is no right or wrong in owning a low or high mileage car. Let's just enjoy them for what they are. I'll stop now..!

 

[Ali]

An old chum has a '67 Lotus Elan with 880,000 miles on the clock, and it's in near perfect condition. OK, it has been restored a few times! He put 820,000 of those miles on the car over the past 45 years, and still uses it everyday.

I also have a '67 Lotus Elan with 52,000 miles on the clock, and I have done 12,000 of those in a few less years.

The two cars are worth the same sort of money, but guess who has had the most fun out of his Elan?

I'm definitely using my Vees.

Mark

We have a 71 Elan Sprint with 28k on the clock! beat that! (Fully restored after been found built into a barn 3 years ago!)

 

[Alpineandy]

Craig, a low miler definitely should command a higher price (sub condition) but not the difference that it now appears to be. 2 cars look the same (both properly serviced etc) but one's lower mileage then it should cost more but at the moment people buy on mileage over condition and pay a 'dumb tax' for the privilege.
Your G/Box comment is true but it's a mass produced gearbox that has been known to wear out as low as 20k but also been known to see 200k in other cars. Even if you bought the car from your best mate and had known the car from new, you can still have problems with it.
The price difference at the moment is unfortunately a consequence of the present attitude of disposable life (cars, TVs, Smart Phones etc), the I want new and I want it now because it's new belief that advertisers have sold the younger population.
Similarly the trend is for the softer Ph2 because it's newer and a bit more usable but on older performance cars the original is always the one people want. The price difference between the Ph1 and Ph2 will undoubtedly reverse in the next 10-15 years but the 'want new' attitude won't really understand that until the car officially becomes a classic.

 

[Williams]

I think the gap between the ph1 and ph2 will continue to close, but both cars deserve merit on their own characteristics personally. 'Better' is quite subjective, especially when it come down to the over look of a car and styling. But 'improvements' far less so. We don't see ph2 cars being 'upgraded' to ph1 spec so much as ph1 cars being fitted with ph2 parts. The only swap that comes to mind is the fitting of a single mass fly wheel. To me, a lower mileage, but used car would be my preference if buying now, as a generality. There's always the exception though :salut:

 

[MarkK]

We have a 71 Elan Sprint with 28k on the clock! beat that! (Fully restored after been found built into a barn 3 years ago!)

There are a few low miles Elans around Ali, but not many, and most are in the USA. One surfaced about 5 years back that had been supplied at a 'kit', but never assembled! Unfortunately it had deteriorated in storage, and the last I heard it was undergoing a full restoration, with zero miles on the clock!

Do you go on Lotus Elan.net? It would be great to hear about the find and restoration, and there are a few owners in Scotland who use the site.

http://www.lotuselan.net/

And have you got in touch with Tim Wilkes who runs the Elan Sprint register? He would love to hear about the car if not....

http://www.lotuselansprint.com/

Tim and I run the Elan section of Club lotus, and we're always interested to find out about another Elan.

Mark

 

[GW200]

At the moment I personally think anything sub 40k is low mileage for a Vee.

The beginning or this year there was a small possibility that I could have bought the car now owned by craigy990, however he got there before me
This car was very attractive to me due to it's low milage and 1 owner from new. However craigy990 bought it.
I then managed to scrape together enough pennies to buy Steves lovely LY car. Even though my car has more miles (36k ish I think) and owners, the history and condition was the main selling point for me.

I've recently fallen in love with the Ph1's looks. I'm also well aware the Ph1's, Mk1's, Series 1's etc are normally worth more eventually than their successors. With that in mind, I've just bought one with 31k mile Ph1, which I'm going to stick away and get out a few times a year for blast, an MOT and a check over.

 

[craigy990]

Ok this could go on and on but we ALL have an opinion ! I'm 45 this year been driving since I was 17 - my philosophy was ALWAYS if I can afford it - it's low milage and low owners but fsh! It's how I've always been - my phase 1 I had a couple of years ago - I spent 3 k on it I saw it ( low miles 39k) was on ebay I bought it for 7.5k but I couldn't get answer from seller about owners - I bought it with 7 owners I only found that out by looking at log book when i met him but when I saw it I just had 2 have it !!! My bug bear was Tom ? (High end dealer ) had a 9.500 mile one owner up 4 sale at 10.500 but I couldn't afford it ! But in the end my old vee cost me 10.5 k anyway ! It needed the belts etc done plus more ! Some were at my request at Scotts ! What I'm trying to say is that being the vee is such a rare beast we all want as best example that is available at the time if we can't wait to own one - so ANY VEE UP FOR SALE IS WORTH WHAT ANYONE IS ABLE TO AFFORD IF THEY REALLY WANT ONE ! I think I got mine at a nice price all be it MORE than I could realistically afford but it was exactly what I wanted ! I'm now skint ! But I look at it and think it's worth it ! I just drink less ! Lol

 

[Tatelyle]

I only brought mine as cat d because of the low mileage 23500, if it was 50000 plus I wouldn't have looked at it, best investment I have made recently.

 

[craigy990]

Fair play Paul - I think with this type of car most people would like or prefer the lower milage example - also with good solid service history ! I certainly would pay a premium oh I did ! Lol.

 

[Tatelyle]

I didn't pay a premium, I got a steal surprising what people take when cash is king, really luckily could have gone horribly wrong, never even saw it or test drove it before I had paid deposit. Thinking back crazy.

 

[craigy990]

Wow ! As long as it's safe !!! I would want photos of repair and before and after pickies though ! I would presume u have these!

 

[Tatelyle]

No, I knew I could strip it for what I paid so didn't matter, and love it now, and drive it every day, and money can't pay for the ride and feeling you get when you drive them everyday, you quickly learn the limits. Great fun. 3500 miles since September 14 and counting, worth every penny.

 

[craigy990]

Again - fair play - if you happy! ! That's all that matters ! With the day I've had my vee may well have to go up for sale I've had enough of being walked over time and time again if I give any thought of throwing my job in my car has to go - all my reserves are in it ! Tomorrow is another day - I just hope it's better !! but I don't no if it goes t-t's up my vee HAS 2 go I'm so sad at mo - milage ???? Perhaps we should ask are we as owners happy ? Ah balls ! I will sign up with Salvation Army ! They would treat me as I would treat others! I still love mine - but I am on a fine string - it can break

 

[Tatelyle]

I think you and me are the only ones up now I work nights so no problems. But remember it's just a car, sell it, regroup and buy another later. Life's too short to worry about anything at all...

 

[craigy990]

I will see how it goes Paul. REALLY would break my heart if it has to go

 

[ColinG]

Sad to hear you may have to sell Craig, I can relate to the Vee being your "savings" as I'm pretty similar. Thankfully self employed and with steady income so I know it's not going anywhere in a hurry but I agree with Paul, as much as we love them other stuff has to come first sometimes.

Best of luck with your work situation

 

[WONGY]

I paid just 6k gbp for my mint 11k miles v6 in 2007 over here in Hong Kong because no one likes Renault

Now 38k miles and still mint condition with service history it's obviously increased in value

 

[craigy990]

Kind words [smilie=thanks.gif]

 

[roma]

Well mines not low mileage !!! With 82,000 on the clock and rising. Dont know were they come from as it spends most of its life in the garage.But i don't care,I bought it to use, And not as an investment,! ,Saying that i should still get back what i paid for it 10 years ago,And i don't see it for sale in my life time, Love it way to much. What else can you buy for this sort of money, That gets the attention it brings were ever you go, Park next to a Lambo and you still get comments !!.

 

[craigy990]

That's true Tony - it does and this is why it's such a lovely treasured car by all of us if I can afford to keep mine by god and all his helpers I will [cmilie=iconcheers.gif]
I'm still shaking when I drive it - I've had loads of cars but the vee just does something to me when I sit in it - wow [smilie=yay.gif]