51 replies to this topic

[Mat Jackson]

With that mileage you will get your money back on the respray costs... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[snotvomit]

Taking it on Saturday to see what it costs.

 

No way I am doing a blowover.  It either gets a proper job done or I will put it up as-is...

 

I was driving it today, though, and I am really torn about selling it.   There's so few cars that drive like a VX... I can live with the paintwork if I am keeping it.

 

I also found out that Three Sisters has started doing track days again -  they haven't done that for years but I had a great time in the MX5 and it's only 40 minutes from here.

 

Whatever, I will report the quote I get from the bodyshop.

 

Thanks for all the advice and discussion.

[snotvomit]

Update:

 

Took it to a bodyshop that deals in classic cars.   He wouldn't even quote but said he can't take the job on until next year at the earliest, so that's a non-starter    He warned me about places that might offer a cheap blowover but I was already concious of that.  He said that the bodywork isn't normal fibreglass, but I'm sure VXs are fibreglass.  He also said that he thought it was a different material to the Elise but I thought our panels were the same material.  Not sure what to make of that visit.

 

I have another couple of places to check out.

 

I will post here when I have consulted them.

[A.C.oral]

Where are you based? I know a great place in York.

[snotvomit]

I am near Preston.

 

 

I just took some photos for context.   This is the worst of it, although there is some bubbling on the top of the rear clam that will inevitably go the same way at some point.

 

https://photos.googl...HNZNTB5X1JuSzl3

 

I'm starting to wonder whether I should just by new front and rear clam.  Seems like overkill for paintwork.

 

Is my paintwork especially bad, or have others had similar levels of degradation?

 

 

 

 

[smiley]

Just buy a 2800 euro frontclam and a 3500 euro rearclam just to fix some osmoses patches? (oem pricing, and no longer available)

 

It's a simpel repair and repaint job by the looks of it.

 

[Strugs]

I am near Preston.

 

 

I just took some photos for context.   This is the worst of it, although there is some bubbling on the top of the rear clam that will inevitably go the same way at some point.

 

https://photos.googl...HNZNTB5X1JuSzl3

 

I'm starting to wonder whether I should just by new front and rear clam.  Seems like overkill for paintwork.

 

Is my paintwork especially bad, or have others had similar levels of degradation?

 

 

 

 

 

New clams would be total overkill. That's totally sort-able. Just need to go to someone reputable who knows what they're doing with cars like these.

 

Those spots are not uncommon (albeit I've not seen a VXR suffer that badly, as VXRs are later-built when I thought Lotus had started painting the clams properly..) and my current VX had similar but all gone now with a respray..

[snotvomit]

Thanks, that is reassuring.   The stuff in the photos is pretty much the entire story apart from the bubbles on top of the rear which I couldn't get to show up on photograph.

 

I got a bit spooked when the guy was looking at it today and saying that the clams weren't ordinary fibreglass and that it was a super-specialist job.  He was saying that it could be up to 200 hours work (no kidding) hence me considering new clams.

 

It will probably be Wednesday before I can take it anywhere else.  I will post on here when I have.

[fiveoclock]

The bodywork isn't normal fibreglass.

[snotvomit]

Thanks.

 

I should have searched  on this forum (now I have)

 

http://www.vx220.org...shell-material/

 

That explains why he was perplexed about the material.

 

[Strugs]

Still nothing that can't be sorted by someone who knows what they're doing...

[vocky]

as above, easily sorted by a decent bodyshop.

 

Probably best to get a full respray, it is hard to get a perfect colour match with red paint

[Madmitch]

Absolutely agree, this doesn't need new clams.  Two choices -

 

1} Leave it as it is and put it up for sale at a lower price appropriate to it's condition.  Then have endless conversations with 'buyers' trying to knock you down on price because 'it's tatty' before finding a buyer who appreciates finding an honest car which isn't hiding any nasties and which he can restore - but he will still want to trim the price to help cover what he anticipates spending.

 

2} Get the work done properly, any decent coachbuilder/painter will understand all about cutting back to make good the gel coat before painting.  Take plenty of photos of the paintwork beforehand to show that it is cosmetic restoration and not accident damage.  Put it up for the higher price it's condition now deserves, you will have fewer 'buyers' but they are likely to be more serious enquiries, the time wasting bargain hunters won't come.  You may still have to trim the price in the end and you probably won't get back the cost of the respray but when you get quote for the restoration work you can do the maths.

 

Good Luck!

[Tibbles Stryker]

I'd just sell it as is, bet you've already had enough folk contact you for it. It's a 10 year old car, everyone knows about the condition of it currently as its advertised all over this post, so ultimately its a car that is original and honest. Honest, just sell as is.

[siztenboots]

new clams lose the originality of the car , as the new clams for a start will have to be aftermarket 

 

[Andrew aka Stuwy]

I'd just sell it as is, bet you've already had enough folk contact you for it. It's a 10 year old car, everyone knows about the condition of it currently as its advertised all over this post, so ultimately its a car that is original and honest. Honest, just sell as is.

 

ill give him £5..

 

you know, due to the condition...  

[snotvomit]

Just got my first realistic quote - from a very reputable place who definitely understood what is needed.

 

Because there is something wrong on every panel, they say it needs a full respray - taking everything back to the GRP and gelcoat/paint.

 

Quoted £4500.  I have another place I can look at over the next couple of days and I will report on their quote too.

[Strugs]

Just got my first realistic quote - from a very reputable place who definitely understood what is needed.

 

Because there is something wrong on every panel, they say it needs a full respray - taking everything back to the GRP and gelcoat/paint.

 

Quoted £4500.  I have another place I can look at over the next couple of days and I will report on their quote too.

 

You'd certainly be looking at a minimum of £3k for a decent job so I doubt that £4.5k is a million miles off..  

[snotvomit]

You'd certainly be looking at a minimum of £3k for a decent job so I doubt that £4.5k is a million miles off..

Yes.   I was hoping to get closer to £3k but if I am getting it done then I want it to be done properly.   This isn't really about maximising the price I can sell it for - whether I get it sprayed or not, it's not going to make any more money than the cost of respray as others have commented - I just feel bad about selling the car with bad paintwork.

 

I'll see what this other place have to say and decide from there.

[A.C.oral]

The guy i use would be no more than 3k i'd almost say for sure. Top job too. I coudn't justify 4.5k even for a vxr.