30 replies to this topic

[rotuxpress]

Hello everyone!

 

I have been a member of this forum since July 2012, but I believe I still hadn't introduced myself ( ).

 

I am located in Southern Spain and have been buying cars in the U.K. for around 10 years now. Lotus Elise/Exige, VX220, Mk Indy and Westfields have been my main interest, I do have to admit that I have a soft spot for VX220s, and I have now owned a total of three, two n/a models and one Turbo model which previously belonged to forum member Bigt.

 

With the help of very competent professionals in Spain, I have performed quite a few Rhd to Lhd conversions, and I am currently in the process of converting my Calypso red Turbo, to Lhd, and also upgrading it in some areas, whilst in the process.

 

 

I would like to mention how hard it has been for me to purchase cars in the U.K. A lot of people seem to be very reluctant to deal with foreign buyers, in some cases being absolutely ignored by sellers and on other occasions receiving rude answers. What's surprising is that I have also had this same experience with 'so-called' professionals who are well established in the trade, and who claim to be specialists in these lightweight sports car market. I wonder why a lot of people think it's a scam when someone from abroad contacts them to buy their car???

 

I do think this is a great forum, with excellent information, and I hope I can be of help to other VX220 owners.

 

Regards,

 

Miguel

 

 

[e7 jmc]

I guess a lot of people would have concerns about it but you have as much chance being scammed locally as anywhere else.

 

Feel free to buy my supercharged low owner low mileage calypso red ................

[Strugs]

Hi Miguel!

 

My wife's parents live in Benahavis just along the N-340 from you. Been going there for years but never seen a Speedster or a VX220 down there. I'll keep my eyes open for you!

 

One day, I keep telling myself, I would like to drive down there in my VX and spend some time on the Ronda Road in it!    

[Joss]

One of the original gang, Shinyandy, lives not far from you in Manilva

[rotuxpress]

I guess a lot of people would have concerns about it but you have as much chance being scammed locally as anywhere else.

Feel free to buy my supercharged low owner low mileage calypso red ................

Yes, I completely agree with you, you have as much chance being scammed locally, if not more. I would even say it's less hassle to sell your car to someone in a different country. In my case, for example, I organize the transport (a truck picks up the car at the seller's address) and the seller always gets the money through a bank transfer, days before the truck is scheduled, so it's a reliable, hassle-free process for the seller.

Your car is indeed very tempting 👍🏻. I am hoping to finish the VX220 turbo on the first week of February, once it's done it will go up for sale. If it sells quickly and you still have your supercharged VX, I will most likely be contacting you.

[rotuxpress]

Hi Miguel!

My wife's parents live in Benahavis just along the N-340 from you. Been going there for years but never seen a Speedster or a VX220 down there. I'll keep my eyes open for you!

One day, I keep telling myself, I would like to drive down there in my VX and spend some time on the Ronda Road in it!

That's certainly one of my favorite roads in the area! I do prefer the road that goes from Casares to Ronda and the one going from Ronda to El Burgo, but the stretch of road from San Pedro de Alcántara to Ronda is sublime. Let me know if you decide to come and we can oraganize a drive together! The roads around here seem to have been designed for our little sports cars.

[rotuxpress]

One of the original gang, Shinyandy, lives not far from you in Manilva

Do you know if he is still driving a VX220 or similar? Manilva is indeed very close to me.

[Strugs]

Have you seen this ad on Facebook, Miguel?

https://www.facebook...9QXrb6PKynu0qVO

[Strugs]

Have you seen this ad on Facebook, Miguel?

https://www.facebook...9QXrb6PKynu0qVO

Actually, it's on here too!

http://www.vx220.org...s/#entry1984013

[jonnyboy]

Who have you tried to deal with? Certainly not me. One of the problems overseas buyers sometimes have is they can be very aggressive in trying to knock prices down. Private sellers will react badly to this anyway without the added issue of exporting. A lot of scams involve an element of the car getting exported and a lot of people may be completely unaware that its so common for the cars to go abroad.

I think with regards Lotus you have missed the boat a little as the exports aren't what they were. In ther main its the higher mileage poor condition cars that seem to go now and the nice ones tend to stay.

[rotuxpress]

 

Have you seen this ad on Facebook, Miguel?

https://www.facebook...9QXrb6PKynu0qVO

Actually, it's on here too!

http://www.vx220.org...s/#entry1984013

 

Hello Strugs!

 

Yes, I have. Thank you for pointing it out. However, we convert our OEM Rhd dashboards to Lhd dashboards, both for Vx220s and for Elises.

 

 

 

Once the dash is finished, we flock it or upholster it in black alcantara. 

 

Thanks!

[rotuxpress]

Who have you tried to deal with? Certainly not me. One of the problems overseas buyers sometimes have is they can be very aggressive in trying to knock prices down. Private sellers will react badly to this anyway without the added issue of exporting. A lot of scams involve an element of the car getting exported and a lot of people may be completely unaware that its so common for the cars to go abroad.

I think with regards Lotus you have missed the boat a little as the exports aren't what they were. In ther main its the higher mileage poor condition cars that seem to go now and the nice ones tend to stay.

 

Hi Jon,

 

Yes, I contacted you in a regards of a yellow VX220 not long ago and also asked you about Lotus Hardtops and pricing of the cup styled bodykit you had on a Riviera blue track car.

 

In regards to what you say about missing the boat a little, I have been purchasing cars in the U.K. for around ten years now. And yes, I agree with you, I see a lot of high mileage, poor condition cars up for sale.

[jonnyboy]

The numbers of decent cars has certainly dropped off a cliff over the last couple of years. One thing I have started to implement with some of my listings now we will be looking for a premium to export some cars now. One big issue for us is that if we have say a 30k 111R and we sell it to a UK guy it's rare for me not to eventually get the same car back in and sell it again. I've had a couple of cars even 3 times. Of course when they go overseas we don't see them again so as the stocks here are dwindling it makes little sense for us to sell them overseas. Obviously if an export customer is quick and gets the deal done we will always do it but I think it's time we treated the exporting as a premium service rather than the easy sale route it has been in the past. We have to look after our medium and long term outlook I think. 

[rotuxpress]

I can clearly see your point Jon. For that reason, and for the fact that many private sellers in the U.K. seem reluctant to deal directly with overseas buyers, I purchase most of my cars through other intermediaries who are based in the U.K. and that have a long working relationship with me. Obviously, all of this also depends on what the market is like, as I usually have little trouble buying cars over the winter season but the market is more 'lively' during the summer time. Brexit may also affect how cars in the U.K. can be exported to other countries, so we are facing a lot of uncertainties and only time will tell. 

[e7 jmc]

I can clearly see your point Jon. For that reason, and for the fact that many private sellers in the U.K. seem reluctant to deal directly with overseas buyers, I purchase most of my cars through other intermediaries who are based in the U.K. and that have a long working relationship with me. Obviously, all of this also depends on what the market is like, as I usually have little trouble buying cars over the winter season but the market is more 'lively' during the summer time. Brexit may also affect how cars in the U.K. can be exported to other countries, so we are facing a lot of uncertainties and only time will tell. 

 

 

I can only begin to imagine the paperwork that "wrexist" will create to these types of transactions ................!!!

[jonnyboy]

Can't see anything changing with regards car import/export as each country already has a system that's detached from any common EU policy. You still have to pay import duty from EU state to EU state already.

[joshua]

Hi Miguel!

My wife's parents live in Benahavis just along the N-340 from you. Been going there for years but never seen a Speedster or a VX220 down there. I'll keep my eyes open for you!

One day, I keep telling myself, I would like to drive down there in my VX and spend some time on the Ronda Road in it!

That's certainly one of my favorite roads in the area! I do prefer the road that goes from Casares to Ronda and the one going from Ronda to El Burgo, but the stretch of road from San Pedro de Alcántara to Ronda is sublime. Let me know if you decide to come and we can oraganize a drive together! The roads around here seem to have been designed for our little sports cars.

Hi Miguel

We have a small house in Casares and would never have guessed there were any VXers in the area.
We visit 2 or 3 times a year and at least one of those I bring the VX all the way from the UK. Next scheduled drive down is early May so perhaps we can meet up for a drive out?
The Casares to Ronda road is thoroughly epic, especially since they resurfaced the Casares > Gaucin section. Spain is littered with fabulous roads many of them remote and largely undiscovered.

[rotuxpress]

 

 

Hi Miguel!

My wife's parents live in Benahavis just along the N-340 from you. Been going there for years but never seen a Speedster or a VX220 down there. I'll keep my eyes open for you!

One day, I keep telling myself, I would like to drive down there in my VX and spend some time on the Ronda Road in it!

That's certainly one of my favorite roads in the area! I do prefer the road that goes from Casares to Ronda and the one going from Ronda to El Burgo, but the stretch of road from San Pedro de Alcántara to Ronda is sublime. Let me know if you decide to come and we can oraganize a drive together! The roads around here seem to have been designed for our little sports cars.

Hi Miguel

We have a small house in Casares and would never have guessed there were any VXers in the area.
We visit 2 or 3 times a year and at least one of those I bring the VX all the way from the UK. Next scheduled drive down is early May so perhaps we can meet up for a drive out?
The Casares to Ronda road is thoroughly epic, especially since they resurfaced the Casares > Gaucin section. Spain is littered with fabulous roads many of them remote and largely undiscovered.

 

Hello Joshua,

 

That sounds great! Please contact me if you drive down here with your VX in May, we can certainly meet up for a drive! 

 

And yes, we have some really great roads around here ...

 

 

Kind regards,

 

Miguel

[joshua]

See you in May Miguel. ill let you know a week or so before we are due to arrive.

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[allsteel]

Canny colour that, which blue is it.