A&Q about Lotus
Q:
The car has started to appreciate in value and I think is still steadily going up. A lot of the folks who dreamed of owning one 16 years ago when they were young boys are starting to become of age with the money to buy. I think someone in Fchat made a comment about how they would rather spend 330K on an F40 rather than on a F430 spyder. I would, too!
A:
I asked my friend to get his boss's opinion of the elise. His reply was "its a great car with incredible handling" that is coming from a guy that owns a F40, enzo, 512 TR, Daytona, Ford GT, 550 Berlinetta, Viper, NSX, AMG hammer, etc., etc.
It is cool to see someone who appreciates all cars even if they can afford anything.
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you lucky bastard!!! thanks for the post!
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So you actually RODE in it, you never drove it.......
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I was never a big fan of the F40, but I do appreciate the performance numbers it can produce. Back when it was introduced, nothing could touch it. I guess I wasn't much for the styling. That wing looks like somebody was trying to play a joke on Ferrari owners...
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oddly enough the car on the bottom is probably worth more than the car above it !
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F40 is in my opinion a bad looking car. Not horrible, just not at all good. An elise easily outclasses it on looks alone. Enzo however is in contention for best looking car ever made imo. The new 599's are gorgeous too.
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Originally Posted by joe13531
If you can buy a 500k car cash, why are you worried about resale? Why, why why!
Because the F40 is an automotive icon and a legend and therefore a sizeable investement guaranteed to outgrow your 401k, house, stock etc.
The Elise is not.
Even though the Elise is so cheap, it's still a waste (for me) to drive it in traffic.
I'd much rather drive it on the weekends for recreation or at the track.
But that's just me.
Either way, my Elise is not a garage queen, she's just used for special occasions.
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Originally Posted by JediMindGamez
I have no idea what the F40 sold for when it was new, but I would think that it would have started to apreciate.
I think they sold for about $440k new. Value peaked in the late 80's/early 90's. Today they go for 300-360k.
Awesome cars. And the Elise does not get anywhere near the attention those bad boys get.
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Originally Posted by Andrikos
Because the F40 is an automotive icon and a legend and therefore a sizeable investement guaranteed to outgrow your 401k, house, stock etc.
The Elise is not.
Even though the Elise is so cheap, it's still a waste (for me) to drive it in traffic.
I'd much rather drive it on the weekends for recreation or at the track.
But that's just me.
Either way, my Elise is not a garage queen, she's just used for special occasions.
No, most common investments will outpace any car, including an F40, which has been a little cheaper every year for the past ten years. You can get a decent one for in the $300k's now, whereas an aggressive 401(k) should double every 7 years or so (and housing appreciation over the last 16 years has been amazing).
A:
Originally Posted by Andrikos
Even though the Elise is so cheap, it's still a waste (for me) to drive it in traffic.
I'd much rather drive it on the weekends for recreation or at the track.
Big +1 on that point.
I never understand why people think that cars that only run a few thousand miles a year are being neglected. A ferrari that runs 1000 track/canyon/twistie miles is much better used than one that sits in traffic for 95% of it's 10,000mile/year commute, imho.
My 2nd cars rarely see over 2K miles per year, but, trust me, those are some good miles.
A:
Originally Posted by BrianK
Big +1 on that point.
I never understand why people think that cars that only run a few thousand miles a year are being neglected. A ferrari that runs 1000 track/canyon/twistie miles is much better used than one that sits in traffic for 95% of it's 10,000mile/year commute, imho.
My 2nd cars rarely see over 2K miles per year, but, trust me, those are some good miles.
+1
Additionally, monetary value aside, if my Lotus (or a rare Ferrari) got totaled, I could not just walk into a dealership and replace it, so why risk the additional exposure for very little additional pleasure during a commute or errands. I only tend to use my car on weekends when I can really enjoy it. ( I do get the itch all week long though)
Just to note, here in LA, I practically see Ferraris/ Lambos every day as commuter vehicles. I've seen Ferraris parked at Home Depot and the local Supermarket. So not every one is a garage queen, but unfortunately, most of these people are driving them around the city just to be seen in it, which is worse in my book
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Originally Posted by BrianK
Big +1 on that point.
I never understand why people think that cars that only run a few thousand miles a year are being neglected. A ferrari that runs 1000 track/canyon/twistie miles is much better used than one that sits in traffic for 95% of it's 10,000mile/year commute, imho.
My 2nd cars rarely see over 2K miles per year, but, trust me, those are some good miles.
100% correct.
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Originally Posted by Slag
I think they sold for about $440k new. Value peaked in the late 80's/early 90's. Today they go for 300-360k.
Awesome cars. And the Elise does not get anywhere near the attention those bad boys get.
List price was $500k, but according to Ferrari owners not many sold anywhere near that cheap. There was one reported sale over $1.5Mil, with many others in the $1M range or high six fuigures. I looked briefly at them last year, and your price estimate is consistent with what I found, too, for a used one that was driven but in nice condition. If only they were cheap, or a good investment, I could justify buying one...
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F40 a legend?? When it was produced, it was an automotive joke, styling-wise. I believe it was shortly after Enzo's death and they said he would roll over in his grave at the pretend boy-racer, over-the-top, naca-ducted ugly duckling.
The F50, is the real gem. Everything the F40 wanted to be.
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Car guys are car guys. Over the years I have owned drivers crusers, and the weekend. show car. My Daytona is a Strawberry Farms concours show winner,I also have taken the car to Willow for a track day. The point is that my Exige is a car that I can drive with out cost concern. Ferrari's were a lot of fun to drive when the sale value was 10K, not 300k or more. I think we all contribute to the car hobby, some owners focus on the show, others would prefer the track componant.
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Originally Posted by Notorious L.R.G.
F40 a legend?? When it was produced, it was an automotive joke, styling-wise. I believe it was shortly after Enzo's death and they said he would roll over in his grave at the pretend boy-racer, over-the-top, naca-ducted ugly duckling.
The F50, is the real gem. Everything the F40 wanted to be.
Couldn't disagree more.....
A:
Originally Posted by jhnmdahl
List price was $500k, but according to Ferrari owners not many sold anywhere near that cheap. There was one reported sale over $1.5Mil, with many others in the $1M range or high six fuigures. I looked briefly at them last year, and your price estimate is consistent with what I found, too, for a used one that was driven but in nice condition. If only they were cheap, or a good investment, I could justify buying one...
Probably depends on the year, but I remember seeing an F40 in Montery Historics with the original window sticker & it was about $440k. Per this site, it was $425k.
Edit - Just found a pic - The internet rules.
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Originally Posted by joe13531
Well that is the sad thing about most Ferrari owners. Most are not real driving enthusiasts and have a garage queen to fuel an already sizable ego. I would drive that F40 into the ground. Maybe crash it a couple times doing fast laps around a track, then sell whatever was left when I grew tired of it and buy something else. The garage queen thing drives me nuts! If you can buy a 500k car cash, why are you worried about resale? Why, why why!
You THINK you would. So did I when I bought my Ferrari Testarossa. There is a little thought that creeps into your mind when you are "hanging it out" in your Ferrari, and it goes like this...........
Just cost me $11,000 for the tune up, then $6,000 for repairs, then $1500 for the last time it died. If the engine blows it's going to cost me $50,000...
think I'll just go home and take the Range Rover out for a ride.... or, HEY, I KNOW, I'LL TRADE IT FOR A LOTUS ELISE, AND DRIVE IT FLAT OUT ON STAGE ROAD HEADING FOR THE OCEAN, AND NOT WORRY AT ALL!!!!!
Oh, wait, that wasn't you I was thinking of......... that was me.
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Originally Posted by Notorious L.R.G.
F40 a legend?? When it was produced, it was an automotive joke, styling-wise. I believe it was shortly after Enzo's death and they said he would roll over in his grave at the pretend boy-racer, over-the-top, naca-ducted ugly duckling.
The F50, is the real gem. Everything the F40 wanted to be.
Actually, I think the F40 was the last car that Enzo was around for. He was about 90 and was VERY involved with its production. Wikipedia (I love that site) confirms that. So, the chances of him rolling over in his grave are slim. He wasn't trying to build an everyday driver for average folks. He was trying to build the ultimate supercar for its time.