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Lack of use - time to sell?
#1615095
28/01/2018 16:24
28/01/2018 16:24
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,367 Staffordshire
Nigel
OP
Forum veteran
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OP
Forum veteran
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,367
Staffordshire
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While I was using the Coupe every day, I was worried about the adverse effects it was having (on the car and my wallet). 30,000 miles a year was taking its toll on both.
So - in 2013, I bought an Alfa GT for the daily commute and relegated the Coupe to a weekend toy.
However, it hasn't panned out that way, as most weekends, I can't be bothered to extract the Coupe from the garage. This no makes me wonder if lack of use can be detrimental.
I had to use it last week while the GT was in for a suspension refresh - when I filled it up, I entered the fill-up on Fuelly.com and discovered that the last time I filled it up was July 2017. Prior to that, it was March - those were the only two fill-ups it had last year....
It had four fill-ups in 2016 and a positively giddy 12 in 2015 (mostly caused by taking it to LeMans)
I now find myself thinking the unthinkable - is it time to sell it to someone that will use it?
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Re: Lack of use - time to sell?
[Re: Nigel]
#1615098
28/01/2018 17:48
28/01/2018 17:48
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roly
Unregistered
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roly
Unregistered
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Not if you don't have to Nigel.
I ask myself the same question having had the Cerbera for 10 years and have only done 25k in that time. Then I take it out, everything clicks again and I feel filthy for even thinking of selling it.
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Re: Lack of use - time to sell?
[Re: Nigel]
#1615102
28/01/2018 19:30
28/01/2018 19:30
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,903 Auld Reekie
Edinburgh
Club President, member225
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Club President, member225
Forum veteran
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,903
Auld Reekie
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Horrible choice for you Nigel. Torn between "I love my/any coupe" and "is it time to move on" , "is it taking up valuable space", "would someone else derive more frequent enjoyment from it", or "can I afford to keep it if it's not being driven".... Really don't envy you. Keep it
BumbleBee carer
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Re: Lack of use - time to sell?
[Re: Gripped]
#1615118
29/01/2018 10:19
29/01/2018 10:19
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,831 Haslemere, Surrey
Mark_S
Forum is my job
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Forum is my job
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,831
Haslemere, Surrey
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There is life after a Coupe... but even with a 911 and a GTV I still find myself on here and occasionally looking on eBay at Broomies. As an ex-long term Coupe owner I can testify it gets into your bones and soul. What an under appreciated automotive gem.
To your dilemma, I think I'd sell and then have all of the fun, excitement and blood, sweat and tears of coming back in a few years time.
997 C4S
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Re: Lack of use - time to sell?
[Re: Nigel]
#1615128
29/01/2018 11:57
29/01/2018 11:57
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,302 Pontefract, West Yorkshire
andyps
Club member 1482
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Club member 1482
My job on the forum
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,302
Pontefract, West Yorkshire
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The problem is that when I drive it, I really enjoy it. It still feels ballistic to drive and the handling is sublime, even in the wet and on 4 year old Toyos
One possible solution is to upgrade the suspension (Gaz Gold?), stick some trackday tyres on it and go and have some fun with it. That would certainly be my recommendation and is pretty much what I have my Coupe for. Haven't done a trackday for a while because competing against the clock adds another level of interest so I'll stick with hillclimbing for now. If using for competition you do have to consider regs and classes you can fit it with modifications that are and aren't allowed of course.
Andy
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Re: Lack of use - time to sell?
[Re: andyps]
#1615133
29/01/2018 13:09
29/01/2018 13:09
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,390 Essex
Trappy
Forum is my life
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Forum is my life
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,390
Essex
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It's like a relationship that needs a bit of a kick-start! I'd keep it as it is. Buy it some new shoes (AD08R ) and go on a dirty weekend together Once or twice a year, take it on a decent road trip. Plan a route based on one of those 'UK's best driving roads' articles and take her for a blast over a long weekend. Take a camera and get some nice shots of it etc.
Last edited by Trappy; 29/01/2018 13:10.
F****** b****** thing...
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Re: Lack of use - time to sell?
[Re: Nigel]
#1615134
29/01/2018 13:11
29/01/2018 13:11
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,367 Staffordshire
Nigel
OP
Forum veteran
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OP
Forum veteran
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,367
Staffordshire
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Hi Andy
Where can I find the current MSA sprinting regs? (EDIT - found them - having a read now...)
I wouldn't mind another try - I used to sprint my Honda CRX at Curborough and rather enjoyed it
I'm pretty sure my mods would put me in a fairly elevated class though - up against some big-engined RWD and 4WD modified stuff
Last edited by Nigel; 29/01/2018 13:22.
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Re: Lack of use - time to sell?
[Re: Nigel]
#1615136
29/01/2018 13:27
29/01/2018 13:27
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proccy
Unregistered
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proccy
Unregistered
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Be a shame to see you sell up Nigel.
To me and I'm sure plenty of other people who've had them on this forum your modding and experimentation and ultimate success at various events was the blueprint for most of us to aspire to, and very few of us matched it.
You're the Godfather of Coupé modding and it'll be a sad day indeed when you throw in the towel, almost a "turn the lights off, we're finished here" type of scenario.
I miss my Plus every day even though I've had some capable, more refined machinery since. The essence of a Coupé is irreplaceable imo, despite there being many "better" cars out there.
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Re: Lack of use - time to sell?
[Re: Nigel]
#1615450
04/02/2018 18:09
04/02/2018 18:09
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,076 South Cambs
Barmybob
Hon Club Member: 003
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Hon Club Member: 003
Je suis un Coupé
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,076
South Cambs
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....relegated the Coupe to a weekend toy.
However, it hasn't panned out that way, as most weekends, I can't be bothered to extract the Coupe from the garage. This no makes me wonder if lack of use can be detrimental.
I now find myself thinking the unthinkable - is it time to sell it to someone that will use it? This is a similar position to myself, other than I plan to replace the Coupe with a newer toy. I am a little relieved that it hasn’t sold as I am attached but I do worry that if I do get a great deal on a replacement I will just want it gone! I do still harbour a thought to hide it away somewhere for a few years though.
Gone Audi mad!
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Re: Lack of use - time to sell?
[Re: Nigel]
#1615453
04/02/2018 19:45
04/02/2018 19:45
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6,783 In the coupe.
magooagain
Club Member 259
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Club Member 259
Forum is my life
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6,783
In the coupe.
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I think the question you have to ask yourselves is,do you need the money that the coupe sells for to buy the next toy?
If the answer is no then based on the fact that you are attached to the coupe emotionally then keep it. The looking after it would be a labour of love and if you lose the love one day then sell it.
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Re: Lack of use - time to sell?
[Re: magooagain]
#1615535
06/02/2018 11:23
06/02/2018 11:23
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,076 South Cambs
Barmybob
Hon Club Member: 003
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Hon Club Member: 003
Je suis un Coupé
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,076
South Cambs
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If I had a house with a bigger (Double) garage there would be no pressure to sell the Coupé. Any house move would most certainly get me the space but the costs involved would also most certainly end the RS dream At the moment I'm happy with my current Audi's and unwilling to stump up the 60K to get my preferred RS spec, so the Coupé can sit there loved, but sadly under used. That said, with my savings slowly increasing and some pre-registered RS's being close to the spec I would like, at a price I would be happy to pay the pressure to shift the Coupé is always there
Gone Audi mad!
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Re: Lack of use - time to sell?
[Re: Nigel]
#1615544
06/02/2018 13:28
06/02/2018 13:28
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,425 Lightwater, Surrey
DaveG
Club Treasurer Member 311
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Club Treasurer Member 311
Je suis un Coupé
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,425
Lightwater, Surrey
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I rent a pair of garages around the corner, the rent used to be around a tenner a week each but has steadily increased over the years. I originally rented just one garage to keep my old Spider in rather than sell it, but after 10 years in which the car has gone virtually nowhere, the amount I have spent on the garage exceeds the value of the car as it was 10 years ago, but the value has also increased so I don't feel so bad. So, is it time to sell? No! It's time to find a garage
1996 Portofino 20vt & 2000 Pearl White Plus 2008 Ferrari F430 & 2017 Fiat 124 Spider
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Re: Lack of use - time to sell?
[Re: Nigel]
#1615616
07/02/2018 22:59
07/02/2018 22:59
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 12,643 Watford
MarioCirillo
Ex El Presidente
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Ex El Presidente
I AM a Coop
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 12,643
Watford
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The problem is that when I drive it, I really enjoy it. It still feels ballistic to drive and the handling is sublime, even in the wet and on 4 year old Toyos
One possible solution is to upgrade the suspension (Gaz Gold?), stick some trackday tyres on it and go and have some fun with it.
I considered spending some money to bring the bodywork up to near-concours level, but I'm not sure its worth it on such a modified car. The Coupes that are fetching the big bucks are the near-standard examples. I'm pretty sure mine would sell, but only to another Coupe enthusiast who is looking for a properly modded Coupe - I can't see it selling to someone that wants to preserve it. Depends what you class as big Bucks... Nismos car sold for good money and that was heavily modified and in mint condition If the car is mint it takes very little to remove the mods rather than the other way round. just my 50p
Proud Owner of Rosso Speed LE041
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Re: Lack of use - time to sell?
[Re: Nigel]
#1615700
09/02/2018 18:06
09/02/2018 18:06
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chipped
Unregistered
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chipped
Unregistered
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Glad I'm not alone with this one, I end up driving my old beat up Boxer van everywhere. The worry of rain or salt on the road,as my last one rusted badly makes me think I should sell. No she's a garage Queen and not rusty so I'm keeping her. A visit to Leighton for a stage two this year as well I think.
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Re: Lack of use - time to sell?
[Re: Nigel]
#1619859
03/05/2018 08:57
03/05/2018 08:57
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,650 Dark side of the Moon
H_R
My life on the forum
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My life on the forum
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,650
Dark side of the Moon
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I totally understand where you are at Nigel as I feel I’m at exactly the same place I love tinkering and improving and have done a lot with my car and thoroughly enjoyed doing it too, I’m also leaving it as a good example and a nice spec too not as much power as yours but certainly enough I’m just waiting for the booked service then will put it on the market to see what happens! My biggest difficulty is trying to make sense of the market price as unlike houses you cannot see the actual sold for price Times are definitely a lot better for selling than a few years back so will see how it goes Have you decided on a price range yet Nigel? I really want to go back to a scrapper that I don’t care about as I’m currently to anal about parking in a public car park due to how thoughtless and ignorant most people are! I’m sure there is a moan somewhere on this forum about that with myself expressing dislike of people with the occasional support of Theresa too Good luck with the sale!
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Re: Lack of use - time to sell?
[Re: Nigel]
#1619869
03/05/2018 12:42
03/05/2018 12:42
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,367 Staffordshire
Nigel
OP
Forum veteran
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OP
Forum veteran
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,367
Staffordshire
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I have the Alfa GT as my daily hack - it has huge mileage (243k) but has been amazingly reliable, extremely practical, very comfortable, decently stylish - everything I need in a daily driver. Its almost worthless, so I'm not worried about taking or parking it anywhere. Basically, I have a car I'm more than happy to use for 95% of the time and I'm just filling the 5% gap with an entertaining toy.
Even when I only had the Coupe as the fun car, it wasn't getting used very much and now that I have the Westie, its going to get even less use.
Add into this the fact that I don't have room for three cars (Coupe is being parked on my son's front garden - not a great idea), and I think its time to let it go
Price is the big issue. As a low-ish mileage Plus in a good colour and a great history, it was always going to be £7,500+. However, with over £20k of tuning and chassis mods giving supercar-embarrassing performance, the price is anyone's guess.
I'll ponder.....
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Re: Lack of use - time to sell?
[Re: Master_Mariner]
#1619872
03/05/2018 13:15
03/05/2018 13:15
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,367 Staffordshire
Nigel
OP
Forum veteran
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OP
Forum veteran
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,367
Staffordshire
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Sounds like an advert there Nigel,
Mind already subconsciously made up? 50% there, I reckon....
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Re: Lack of use - time to sell?
[Re: Nigel]
#1619894
03/05/2018 19:06
03/05/2018 19:06
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6,783 In the coupe.
magooagain
Club Member 259
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Club Member 259
Forum is my life
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6,783
In the coupe.
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Sad times seeing long time coupe owners selling thier beloved coupes through lack of use etc.
Nigel,do you think that you might have to break the coupe or put it back to standard to get some sort of investment back?
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