Bit of advice on UK Sports Cars please

[Daniel 265]

I'm selling the esprit, but before I do, it needs a new exhaust manifold (cracked as they do).

I've been in touch with Paul Clugston from UK Sports Cars who has suggested he sorts the manifold out, and take the car to sell from his premises on a commission basis.

This interests me for 2 reasons:

1. I'm a very busy man, I've little time to sort the exhaust out.

2. I keep the car in special storage 25 miles away, and it's not cheap.

I would very much appreciate any comments any of you may have relating to UK Sports Cars.

Thanks in advance.

Dan

[Bibs 11,167]

I've never, ever heard a good word about them and as such have never had any contact with them myself. Personally, from experience I'd call Richard Monkton at Sportomotive who is a great guy and will offer something along the same lines. Give him a call on 01722 410077

[Daniel 265]

thanks bibs, will give him a jingle

[Simon350S 192]

Not delt with them myself...

From what i've heard from many members on here it would not be advisable, the quality of workmanship is more than a little questionable from what I've heard, I was recomended to stay away from them and any cars they may have worked on....

As far as commision sales go.... I'm guessing they'll price it high and take a fair old chunk from you for the privelidge... having it priced high will mean it'll be on the market for a much longer time...

Best advertise it on LEW and pistonheads, anyone serious will look there first, you wont have the dodgy dealer mark up, and they wont have ruined the cars reputation by getting their grubby mits on it first!!!!

If you need to sell it fast then advertise it for the price they've quoted minus their commision, they'll only tell you to drop the price in the long run cause its not shifted then you'll lose even more money on her!!!!

Post a price in here, never know someone may well be interested.... even with the cracked manifold...!!!

Last time an Esprit was posted up here for the trade in price it sold within a couple of days from what I recall...

Simon

Edited February 13, 2007 by Simon350S

[Advantage 910]

I'd second Bib's comment.

[paul&paula 0]

I wouldn't touch Paul Clugson with yours........

[Paul C 15]

RE: UKSC

(also an anagram that...)

Funny you bring them up.

Was sat in the chinese take-away sunday night and flicking

through a sept '03 copy of Classic Cars, and what should i see?

My SE, In a UK Sportscars ad.

The PO of my car bought it from them. This alone was reason for me

to fork out for a full inspection prior to buying, even though the guy only

had it four months and unforseen life issues meant he had to sell.

The manifold on my SE had cracked and had been welded up to stop it

blowing. I wonder how they were going to 'sort' yours for sale? Can't say it

was them of course, but if it wasn't then they sold it in that state.

Rewind back to 1999 when there were no internet forums and i bought my

first Esprit from them, safe in the knowledge that as a Club Lotus approved

dealer that the 'little bit extra' i was paying was money well spent. It came

with a three month warranty, and advise about oil consumption that meant

what i considered to be 'normal topping up' was duly carried out until it got

worse and worse and needed an engine rebuild at six months becuse it was

actually a cracked piston. That (and the 'consumable' clutch that went in the

second month) meant within six months i'd spent enough money fixing my

dealer sourced car to buy any of the cars in the private ads...

Find someone with a happy story there, then use them.

[Daniel 265]

Thanks for the advice there duckies...........

PNM Engineering have quoted around

[Advantage 910]

You don't need to take the engine out to fit a new manifold on an S4! Go and have a rummage on the techy page, hang on... click me, click me!

If you're phoning up Sportomotive, give the guys on the oily side of the building a call too. (01722 410893 speak to Cos or Dave)

[Bibs 11,167]

I've spoken to Richard to confirm that he'll so a sale or return and he'd love to hear from you

[obione 74]

Ah, UK Sportscars...

That the place I got mine from, I reckon I got lucky. The ONLY thing I asked them to do before I parted with my money was to re-do the roof lining. They did a pretty good job, and off I drove. This was in cold December. The sun came out in May, the roof got nice and hot, and buy buy roof lining.

Git!

So much for the Club Lotus aproved Lotus specialist...

No, I would not recomend them.

[lrg_machine 6]

Thanks for the advice there duckies...........

PNM Engineering have quoted around

Edited February 13, 2007 by lrg_machine

[Jonathan 13]

Do yoursef a HUGE favour and steer well clear - dunno how it's possible to have such a bad reputation and be in business (perhaps their car sales prices reflect this ?) but I've heard so many negatives and very few positives.

[Backmarker 6]

Pete Musgroves figure of

[mdw 275]

It doesnt help that Club Lotus keep selling him the back page of the magazine. I guess thats where most of the fresh victims come from. He has no better reputation on the Excels sites.

[s4simon 153]

Dealer Rating for UKSC is currently 1.3 / 5 on the Southrun Lotus Cars Website.

Lotus Dealer / Workshop Ratings

[paul&paula 0]

1.3 /5 is too generous by at least two marks.

Edited February 14, 2007 by paul&paula

[Kato 0]

Keep well away from UKSC. Nothing but very bad stories about them. Visited them myself and was told to leave as I was asking too many questions about an SE I was looking at. The guy who bought it a few months later had not end of trouble and ended up spending a fortune getting it fix. So much so, that he had a website about it.

We should really speak to ClubLotus about getting them kicked of the Club Mag. Doesn't to anyone any favours.

[Evil_Dr_Fish 1]

Dan - Gutted you're having to sell

Get a quote on a manifold job from Geoff at Esprit Engineering (01725 514449) He's usually VERY competitive.

UKSC....

*cough* Who?!

A little story.

I am drawing no conclusions and expressing no opinions - I shall leave you to do so yourself. This is a mere factual statement of events.

We had a friend here (Ed Teece) had an S4s there on SoR.

We had another friend here who was shopping for one and went all the way to their dealership, only to be told it had gone (despite having *arranged* to view it.)

In his arrangements with UKSC he told them that we/he knew the PO.

A few days later it was up for sale there again.

Make of it what you will.

[Paul C 15]

Keep well away from UKSC. Nothing but very bad stories about them. Visited them myself and was told to leave as I was asking too many questions about an SE I was looking at. The guy who bought it a few months later had not end of trouble and ended up spending a fortune getting it fix. So much so, that he had a website about it.

We should really speak to ClubLotus about getting them kicked of the Club Mag. Doesn't to anyone any favours.

Thank You Kato.

Was chosing my words carefully on this one, to see LEW speak and state what

i personally 100% agree with is a very good thing indeed. I'm not for telling other

peoples stories, but i have only ever heard bad ones - including my own.

UKSC put ads in the classic motoring press. Their money must be made from a lot

of first time owners who only later find the forums and join clubs etc. I think without

any exception all the owners i know of that bought a car there, it was their first one,

and bought before any forum involvement.

For my part, i joined CL well before buying my first Esprit. There were no forums back

then, and all the good advice seemed to be that "the S3 was an excellent first Esprit (which

it is), and that buying from a specialist, especially a club approved one, would bring extra

peace of mind"

Proved wrong by many many tales of woe.

[Iain 46]

Hiya Paul,

Sorry to go off topic - but I suspect I'm not a million miles from you! B)

Iain

[Paul C 15]

Hiya Paul,

Sorry to go off topic - but I suspect I'm not a million miles from you! B)

Iain

Not at all. I'm Witney, but you have an Esprit even closer to you still!!!

Martin in milton under whichwood has a white N/A that often gets mistaken

for mine, he must be a couple of miles from you at the most?

[Iain 46]

Not at all. I'm Witney, but you have an Esprit even closer to you still!!!

Martin in milton under whichwood has a white N/A that often gets mistaken

for mine, he must be a couple of miles from you at the most?

Hiya Paul,

Yup - met Martin - we went to the stanton meet in convoy with him 3 years ago (we were in the Elise...)

I'm in Chadlington - between Milton and Chippy...

We'll have to arrange a meet up when I get mine back from SJs....

Iain

[andykirk 0]

I bought a GT3 from UKSC about 3 weeks ago. As I knew little and it was my first Esprit I insisted on having the car checked over at Lipscomb Lotus in Maidstone. This cost me only

[AlanM 1]

I've been reading the comments linking Club Lotus with UK Sportscars and would like to clarify a few points.

I have received complaints about this company and have successfully helped arbitrate satisfactory conclusions in several cases over the past two years. This is a service the Club provides and one which I personally take very seriously. However, in neither case was the evidence sufficient to warrant me taking wider action.

I'm well aware of the responsibilities of Club Lotus, how we may be viewed by enthusiasts and also our duty to give good advice and guidance. When we receive a complaint about a company I always investigate but ultimately our response can only be linked to hard evidence.

I hear various derogatory comments about UKS but few are capable of being backed up with firm evidence. If any LEF member can supply me - in strictest confidence - with either first hand soild evidence or contact details of someone they know who has something to say about UK Sportscars I will investigate and take appropriate action. That action will include refusing future advertising if the evidence is sufficient. I've asked for this on many occasions in the past but have received very little of any substance.

For potential legal reasons I cannot go into more details about this company on a public website but I am more than happy to reply individually to LEF members.

Alan