Aftermarket 430 bumpers on the market already

[Bruss]

1 hour ago, Bravo73 said:

@LotusLeftLotusRight - are you aware of how much Lotus would like to charge for a set of GT430 bumpers?

Only when they're not on back order. 

[Colin P]

I love the styling of the GT410Sport, but as I have sid on that thread I don't like the price or the fact that you need to spend another £15K in options to turn it in to a GT (or basically a road car). I don't want or need the Ohlins or the uprated performance, I don't like the ducktail and I personally don't like the big wing of the GT430.

£6K for a new set of bumpers to get the updated styling or £35K+ to change to a GT410Sport in a decent road spec 

As for a Cossie bodykit on a 1.6 Sierra, now that I don't get. You are trying to make a car look like something that the car cannot back up and this situation doesn't apply to a straight bumper swap on an Evora. A 400 can back up it's new appearance. Now adding a GT400 sticker (or worse a GT430 or GT430 sticker) is another matter 

Ps - I prefer Omega to Rolex 

[LotusLeftLotusRight]

Do the likes of McLaren, Ferrari and Lamborghini allow open season on people copying their current C/F body panels for sale?

[C8RKH]

Not a huge fan of Rolex (way way overpriced for what they are) or Omega (too common) actually. But then we are all different and that should be celebrated.

I think there are some heads getting stuck up arses here.  For instance, I have a 2010 NA Evora. Lovely car. If I wanted to change the bumper for a newer, fresher looking, GT430 one, why shouldn't I if I want to?  It does not make my car a GT430, nor am I trying to pass it off as a GT430.  It does not make it a fake either. It just makes it MY CAR!

If I then stuck a GT410 or GT430 badge on it, then yes, you could call it a fake as it is being represented as something it is not. A bit like sticking a GTE bodykit on an S1 or a 400 does not make it a GTE!  Let's have some perspective here.

Same for the duck tail. i could put the 410 ducktail on it purely because i like it and it reduces 25kg in weight high up.  It's my car. What is the issue? Again, not trying to make it a fake anything. Just personalising it.

So I could make my S1 NA have similar fresher styling like a GT410 (bumpers and ducktail) for around £10k. Or I could have the similar looks and higher performance to boot for around £65k for a new GT410 whilst keeping what is to my mind the better interior of the S1 with its brushed metal etc. 

Hmmmm. Tell me again why if I like the design I should not consider that as a viable option and pocket the £55k saved to buy an Exige 350 Sport for the track?  After all, if I keep the original bits when I come to sell the S1 I can put them back on (and who knows if you can still reliably get an S1 front bumper from Lotus or anywhere these days!  Maybe I am better off taking it off and storing it for the future rather than risk damaging it?

The point I am making is that we have choices and desires and likes.  Why should we not endulge them if we can. Who does it harm? You could say Lotus. But then I would say that if they had a realistic pricing strategy and decent availability then I'd be just as happy to spend my hard earned with Lotus than anyone else. in fact, I'd prefer it.

Funny, I detect a whole new level of "preciousness" starting to creep in to some of the discussions here. Maybe this a reflection on the steep rises in the new car costs. I for one will not give a flying fook about what anyone else thinks to the upgrades to my car. It's my car. So there. Get over it. 

I have the headers done. I've done the interior. Exhaust is next and probably the ducktail (sorry @Colin P, but I do like it  ) and then some engine work and new wheels.  Most of it can be returned back to stock and I will keep the stock items, but then why would you as the mods done are either to "improve" stock (e.g. the headers and exhaust) or enhance (my interior is actually an upgrade to sport premium with the Recaro's bought from Lotus and the work all done by Lotus approved trimmers Allon White who have done many cars/interiors for Lotus themselves).  It's my car remember and it's not trying to fske anything, unlike my wife, who I suspect does it all the time to make me feel better!  Tish boom! 

 

[2011 Chrome Orange]

I don't see it any different than any other aftermarket company that makes bumper covers. If you crashed your Camry, most body shops would offer to use aftermarket bumpers as replacement or OEM. (Of course it depends who is paying for it). My guess is that it doesn't seem the same because so few companies offer Lotus parts.

I added GTE front/rear bumpers to my S. Not because I wanted a fake car, but because I really liked the styling. But, the  most important reason was because they never sold the GTE in the US so I could not get an original. I guess that also put some people off based on the "fake GTE" comments that came up.

Edited February 8, 2018 by 2011 Chrome Orange

[Bravo73]

3 hours ago, The Pits said:

Nice 'homage' here for you. He's definitely enjoying the benefits of that particular design without having to pay the very high price!

Yep, like in the watch industry, some homages are definitely of a higher quality than others. 

[The Pits]

As already stated anyone is at complete liberty to do whatever they want to THEIR cars! That includes trying to pass it off as something else if you want too. Doesn't mean anyone else has to like it though. Whenever you personalise a car it won't be to everyone's taste by definition. I would pay more for a good condition S1 with S1 bumpers personally. Than YOUR G1TS vision. Some bloke put an Audi V8 in an Esprit. I'm sure it was great fun and probably very fast but it's worth less than a slower factory four cylinder car, rightly so. Plenty of S2 and S3 Esprits were given 'Turbo-look' body parts, all of which have since been removed and put in a skip. The value of your modified Evora can go down as well as down.

One day, when all the 400s and 410s have been converted to GT lookalikes, someone will roll up in a Donato Coco original and everyone will go mad for it. The 'early bumper' cars will be highly prized show stoppers at the TLF International Brooklands Spectacular 2025.

Just off to bolt a Stevens-look bodykit on my early Turbo Esprit to make it look more modern. Giugiaro? What does he know? 

[C8RKH]

Lol. Some owners don't care whether the value of THEIR car goes up or down. And if you keep the original bits you have no downside. Or am I being a dick?

Time will tell re future value of Evoras. Their value may go up or down regardless of what you do to it.

It seems like modifying bodywork is a no no. But from your posts modding suspension and other stuff is ok. Really? Come on now. Just let people enjoy their cars and celebrate the fact they had the insight to buy a Lotus. Next we'll be saying that the GTE's should all go back to S1 standard, or is factory modding only ok? A silly example I know.

Some people woukd be horrified by PPF as they prefer the patina and authenticity of a used car with every chip a story. 

As I said we are all different and not everyone thinks of the next owner and their preferences.

It's your money do what you like with it. Cars are for personal enjoyment, investments are for wealth creation. You can't take any of it with you anyway, cars or wealth at the end of the day.

[Bruss]

8 minutes ago, C8RKH said:

 

It's your money do what you like with it. Cars are for personal enjoyment, investments are for wealth creation. You can't take any of it with you anyway, cars or wealth at the end of the day.

I think I've decided after recent events,  to be put in mine and shot into space. 

[LotusLeftLotusRight]

My gripe's not with anyone modifying their car if they want to; it's with those companies who just copy Lotus' engineering investment to line their own pockets. I just don't see any correlation between Lotus' asking prices and some sort of justification for a 3rd Party making and selling clear copies of their designs. If a composite bodywork specialist wants to  design, produce and market a cheaper front and rear bumper style of their own for the Evora, then good luck to them. If they really want to offer the Lotus design, then they should enter into some sort of licencing agreement with Lotus. I doubt they would get very far though.

Anyway as stated earlier, I seem to be in a minority of one on here! 

[Colin P]

1 minute ago, LotusLeftLotusRight said:

My gripe's not with anyone modifying their car if they want to; it's with those companies who just copy Lotus' engineering investment to line their own pockets. I just don't see any correlation between Lotus' asking prices and some sort of justification for a 3rd Party making and selling clear copies of their designs. If a composite bodywork specialist wants to  design, produce and market a cheaper front and rear bumper style of their own for the Evora, then good luck to them. If they really want to offer the Lotus design, then they should enter into some sort of licencing agreement with Lotus. I doubt they would get very far though.

Anyway as stated earlier, I seem to be in a minority of one on here! 

I get your point, you are not entirely alone, but this is a general question of non original part manufacture and where do you drawer the line? After market parts are all replacement of the OEM equipment. Can no one make non original body panels? Can autoglass not make replacement windsreens? Can Kwik Fit only sell Exhausts supplied by the OEM?

[Bravo73]

@LotusLeftLotusRight - You must be new to this ‘car enthusiast’ lark.  Go down to any branch of Eurocarparts or GSF and you will find it stacked high with aftermarket or ‘pattern’ parts for every car on the market. You will probably also find non-OEM versions of bodywork and other panels. 

Is this any different to what Mr Win-Ace (aka CK Lim) is doing?

 

@Colin P - SNAP!

[The Pits]

Sorry, just to be clear, I've no idea what @Bruss's recent events are, not at all laughing at that! But the idea of being shot into space in the car does appeal. Beats the usual funeral durge.

As for Andy's durge, I was just making the point that you can spec a 410 to handle like a 430 already if you want but most it seems are more interested in getting a car that looks like one.

Make that two @LotusLeftLotusRight!

[Bravo73]

2 minutes ago, The Pits said:

Sorry, just to be clear, I've no idea what @Bruss's recent events are, not at all laughing at that! But the idea of being shot into space in the car does appeal. Beats the usual funeral durge.

I suspect that Bruss has been inspired by Mr Musk’s recent escapades. 

[Colin P]

5 minutes ago, The Pits said:

As for Andy's durge, I was just making the point that you can spec a 410 to handle like a 430 already if you want but most it seems are more interested in getting a car that looks like one.

Not trying to pass it off as anything it isn't.

I do get your point, but it really isn't that much of a big deal, for example you can go into a Mini showroom, Audi Showroom (sorry @C8RKH), BMW showroom, Mercedes showroom and you can spec the JCW, RS, Msport, AMG bodykit if you prefer the look. I fail to see the difference.

[scotty435]

The pits, I get the feeling that you think these aftermarket body panels are devaluing your 430 in some way and some GTE owners have similar views. Like you and most people on here when the 430 was first shown apart from the performance gains most people liked the front and rear design and we all where waiting for the 400 to get the new design instead the 410 came along, I still think there will be 400 with the new front and rear design in GRP instead of Carbon. Being a Cup 250 owner and having a aero kit that as been copied ten times over and have been fitted to many older Elise's all over the world, I have never thought they should not be doing this, instead thought these guys are just trying to achieve a look which that they prefer and good luck to them.

[The Pits]

Not any kind of big deal, just a bit naff. Absolutely good luck to anyone who wants to spend the thick end of £10k to make their car look more like a newer model while fooling precisely no-one in the process. 

But to take Michael's point the aftermarket guys can do whatever they want, some might even be able to go one better than the factory but this particular example is a shameless copy of the GT430/410 panels so the object of the exercise is to achieve a GT look. While there may be one or two exceptions among us here, the general idea is all about passing your car off as something more expensive. Otherwise WinAce would just have done his own design. Like an M badge on a 316s, it is what it is.

Nothing to do with the 430, in fact I've gone the other way and just ordered an Evora 400 part to put on it!

[The Pits]

Real or fake? I'm getting confused now. You know where you stand with a good honest Coco 400! 

[Bruss]

Well its not the same one as the one at the start of this thread.

[scotty435]

Like it's been mentioned numerous times no one is trying to make there cars into something that are definitely not,  the new design took every one by surprise with it's great new look and I am sure a bit factor into you buying your 430.Some Owners of older models that do not have the funds to stretch to 430 prices are just trying improve on what they already have rightly or wrongly. Anyway I am out of this debate not even a Evora owner, just trying to stick up for the lesser mortal, just feels like there is a bit of model snobbery happening.

[Colin P]

I'd suggest it is a 410 with 400 rims (look like Forged alloys).

Otherwise someone has done the 410 clam grilles and access hatch cover and I think that may be a carbon roof, but difficult to tell..

Edit - not forged alloys, definitely GT410 and it may be £89,995, thanks Bibs!

[Bibs]

That looks like Snows. 

[C8RKH]

2 hours ago, Bruss said:

I think I've decided after recent events,  to be put in mine and shot into space. 

Ooooh, oooh, Mr Bruss, Mr Bruss, you gotta tell us what your ONE song in a continuous loop would be?  Come on now. Own up? You will be up there for a billion years so you better make it a good one.

[Bruss]

10 minutes ago, C8RKH said:

Ooooh, oooh, Mr Bruss, Mr Bruss, you gotta tell us what your ONE song in a continuous loop would be?  Come on now. Own up? You will be up there for a billion years so you better make it a good one.

Lol. So many but it'd have to be Harry Nillson and The Moonbeam Song.

 

 

[The Pits]

Even better than the real thing (by U2)?