GTA / LE MANS / A610 UK Values

[stephendell]

It seems we are still giving these cars away in the UK.

I've been doing a little light reading this weekend: http://www.renaultalpine.co.uk/PHPBB/ph ... .php?t=952

Looking at the articles and loads of classifieds.

Typical GTA Values:

9,000 Euros (£6300) minimum for a reasonable atmo
13,000 Euros (£9100) - 15,000 Euros (£10500) for a tidy turbo
18,000 Euros (£12,600)+ For a mint or highly modifed car

Le Mans

20,000 Euros (£14000) min.
25,000 Euros (£17500)+ For a Danielson

Typical A610

20,000 Euros (£14000) - 25,000 Euros (£17500) for a tidy car
30,000 Euros (£21000) for a really good car (still 100,000Km though!)

In France a GTA is worth the same or more than a R5 Turbo 1/2. These sell for £10-15K easily over here even as left hand drive. OK so they could be sold back to France but the point is they are still of a similar value when compared in their own market in the same form. In the UK a LHD version of any model is traditionally worth less and a RHD worth more so there is no reason for a GTA to be an exception.

Its up to you guys if you want to get the values up. I suppose a car is only worth what someone will pay for it but that's no reason to just give it away. Many people abandon GTA projects when the going gets tough or expensive but that's still no reason to give it away. They don't in any other country.

If we keep on selling them so cheaply we will simply lose all the cars to Australia. Great for our friends down under but not so good for us. Only the dealer or private importer wins in the end. Even a project car that is bought for £2k over here will eventually pass to a customer for $20,000 - $30,000 AUD. OK so there are importation costs, but is it a coincidence that these figures are almost exactly the same as the equivalent price for a GTA in France (£8300 - £12500).

The UK is the only country were the GTA is so under-valued. If you are looking to buy a car, great, get one now. But when you're looking to sell not so good unless you want to give away all the time, money and effort you have invested (and you will have invested plenty!).

Tell a Frenchman how much a GTA costs in the UK and they will laugh and think you are joking (seriously). When they realise you aren't they will ask you to get one for them until they realise there are no LHD cars available. Anyone wanting to try and develop a 'get rich quick' scheme could do a lot worse than converting UK GTAs to LHD

There is also a strange disparity in the UK prices between a standard GTA Turbo & a Le Mans. In Europe a Le Mans is worth 20-25% more. In the UK it's worth 200-300% more. Why? It's basically the same car with a bodykit and wide wheels. Don't get me wrong the Le Mans is a fantastic looking car and a personal favourite of mine. What I'm suggesting is that the Le Mans values aren't that far out but the basic cars' are.

If anyone has any other thoughts or ideas of how to get the UK values up where they belong or simply in line with other countries, please post below...

If you'd like to wait and build up your stock a little first then don't

Stephen, I hear the complaint but you don't appear to offer a solution!

[stephendell]

Don't let them go so cheaply!

Tell everyone how great (and reliable ) they are.

Other suggestions welcome

It's the 20th Anniversary for the GTA in the UK next year, so perhaps an opportunity for some heavy promotion.

Big event, magazine features etc.

Steve's right. When you consider an equivalent Lotus Esprit Turbo are commanding 9k upwards.

I think the problem is the price of other performance vehicles are coming down too. When you consider things like Subarus, Skylines etc (not quite the same as a GTA, but high performance vehicles) are available for around 4k upwards, many people weigh up the options between vehicles at that price range, and probably go with the safer choice.

This then leaves GTA's sitting on the shelf, and sellers are having to force the prices down..

Here's the best site for second hand french Alpine values...

http://www.webmycar.com/zonecar/webacar ... %24V6%20GT

I remember Classic Cars magazine did a feature on GTAs about 6 years ago and concluded that they were just about the most under-rated supercar going. They recommended buying before prices increased. Strangely enough, they have consistently failed to list the cars in the Price Guide (either under Alpine or Renault) yet they list A310s and much newer modeld of other manufactrers. I emailed them some years ago about this but recieved no response.

Perhaps a stiff (GRP re-inforced) letter from the Club Secretary might produce a response and re-kindle some interest.

That said, any prospective buyer might decide to steer clear of the cars when they read all the problems we discuss on here!.

I'm as guilty as the next man when it comes to GTA values.Often I've had the car admired and shot the resale in the foot by the ' na mate ,you can get a well sorted one for under 5K statement .WE as THE club are in the prime position for any change ,but to be honest I'm not interested in valuations .I get more pleasure in the fact that I own one of the most unknown but exceptional sportscars around and if someone wants to pay 10K for a Lotus

i think the problem is that the GTA has an identity problem over here, i.e. the whole badging issue. very few people understand what they are or what the alpine name means?

also the idea of comparing the values of the R5 turbo 1-2 is a bit mad!! (sorry stephen) but the R5 turbo 1-2 has enjoyed masive world wide motor sport success and therefore has a cult following, hense the greater value, and is a different car!
the GTA had a one make race series.

i dont mean to sound harsh on these great cars, but i think the values are spot on at the present time.

[stephendell]

also the idea of comparing the values of the R5 turbo 1-2 is a bit mad!!

Not at all. What I'm getting at is that France is the home of both cars and over there the R5 Turbo 1/2 is rated no higher and is no more valuable than a GTA and certainly lower than a 610 or Le Mans.

There are at least 2 R5 Turbo 2's in Mille Miles this month for 6000 euros or less (£4200). You would never find a GTA for that sort of money in France. The best Turbo 2's make around 18000 euros (£12600); there is a GTA atmo with a Le Mans bodykit for sale at the same price & I know a man who has one of those

The R5 cult following just keeps the values up with the Alpines in France. It's only in the UK that it makes it higher and yes that probably could be as a result of the Alpine brand image over here. However Venturi which has even less brand image in the UK has no problems with values over here.

Stephen,
I wouldn't worry too much about dozens of GTAs going to Australia. Renault in Australia is a very small force of loyal people, most without any money for toys. Less than 0.5% here drive Renaults. I think the Alpine avalanche to Aus is now about over, as those that want one mostly have them. Of course there are another two that will be on their way soon.

Mostly people in Aus bring in GTR Skylines, Mitsubishi Evos, Silvias and the like. A 1989 GTR is around 5000 pounds finished and registered. (A similar condition GTA about 9000) They are generally much easier and cheaper to import, and dare I say it, faster than a plastic French car, with good parts back up and performance parts available. I am not looking to buy one though, but I do agree that GTAs are just seemingly unloved in your country, price wise.

Many GTAs seem to have fallen into a state of disrepair, which I guess is a result of poor resale prices. Why spend 5000 pounds on a car I can only get 6000 for, when I can sell it rough for 3000.

We will have 12 GTAs (I think) in Aus in a couple of months time. I realise that is a worry to you, but in the scale of things, a very small percentage of the total number of Alpines in the UK, that have gone south.

Thankyou again Stephen for your excellent informative site, and your vehicle check service for those of us far away.

All those in favour, say I.
I echo Alans comments in thanking Stephen for the site and great service.
It'd be great to live in the UK at present because there wouldn't be the added cost of floating a GTA all the way to the colony

As for the market price asked for GTA's in the UK, it's similar to the resale in Aus for all french marques, even late model RS Clios are at close to $20,000 which is about 45% depreciation over 2 years in some cases.
I think the omly thing that will increase value is an increase in interest. How you would go about it is anyones guess.

I think the omly thing that will increase value is an increase in interest. How you would go about it is anyones guess.

I think if Renault actually brought out a new vehicle using the Alpine brand name, then this would bring back awareness of the previous models.

..maybe....

..because now I think about it, this has been done with Skoda, and no one gives a toss about the old Estelle!

Wouldn't it be great if we could get Mr Clarkson to do a 'best budget supercar' slot on Top Gear - i.e. fastest, best handling car for under £5K, that sort of thing. They could get 'the stig' to thrash them round the test track. Anyone got any contacts at the BBC? Or perhaps Top Gear would do a 'viewers cars' slot or an 'owners club' slot each week.
Just a thought.
Clive

Now there is a thought. Top Gear is well recieved, even down here. Someone should just put pen to paper, or email first.

[Alpineandy]

Mr Clarkson raved about the GTA first time around and nobody took a blind bit of notice of him. He uses this comment when people say his word makes or breaks a cars sales sucess.

The bottom line is that a car is only worth what someone will pay for it.
I'd love an A110 1600s (please lottery god!) but it isn't really worth more than a lotus elan sprint, certainly not the 5-10G more that's being asked for them.

Some excellent cars (lotus europa) just don't make the money they should compared to other in their 'class'. But one days it'll suddenly get fashonable.

In 2001 very good A310s were available for under 5G, now they're 7G plus.
Enjoy them while you can still afford to.