A lot of talk about the decimation of Coupe prices, has this had a direct impact on parts too!

After nearly 10 months of trying to sell my older type gearbox on here, which was fully re-built just 44K before being removed, I've finally sold it on eBay for ...£30

It came to the stage where I almost couldn't GIVE it away on here!

And my engine brand NEW in 2006, covered 44K (yes thats new, not re-conditioned/rebuilt!) - £350 !!

What on earth has happened to the Coupe parts market its in sheer tradgedy - is it simply people just have no money? - or has the demand for parts has disapeared? - as it's not like there is huge competition.

Parts that were selling healthily for £150+ just 2 years ago can't be given away.

yes great for the buyer!

But I suppose, as the parts start getting more rare, especially engines/boxes, as the demand rises again the prices will naturally increase

I think the problem is there are so many people breaking them to make a few quid that there are too many parts out there to meet the demand.

Agreed - I also think too many people are breaking them over needing relatively inexpensive maintenance items changing, i.e clutches and belts. Or, buy the cars for sub £1k and then don't have the finances to maintain them.

Either way, an alarming drop in roadworthy numbers ensues

Hopefully, the low parts prices will discourage people from breaking them, when, as you say, they need relatively little work to keep them roadworthy and for those that buy them cheap and find they can't afford to run them, hopefully they'll sell the cars on unbroken, for someone else to care for and run.

The idea of people buying up useable Coupés cheap, just to break and make a fast buck is appalling. That said, if a Coupé is genuinely past it, then no problem.

Well I will never break another one! (despite me making nearly £1600 in parts over 10 months, from a car that I wouldn't have got more than £350 for as a whole)

Well when I say never - not unless it's past it, written off/rotted etc.

The only reason I broke mine was cause it was badly going rotten & that including the mechanical work impending it was going to need 4 figures spending on it - and obviously this wasn't guaranteed to last

I was one of the watchers on that gearbox was gonna bid but in all honesty im skint. Sorry dude.

I'd have snapped the engine up, all about timing though I guess...

Other than supply/demand, I think the problem is condition. I know your parts were low mileage, but do I take a punt on an engine for a ton or pay more when both, from the buyers perspective, carry risk?

If you can genuinely afford to own one of these cars then I think you're more likely to opt for the pricier engine rebuild.

Obviously trim and panels are different, but that's my take on mechanical parts.

I too as watching and could have bought the gearbox, but I'd have to find room to keep it and who knows how long it would be sat there waiting for me to blow up my original one...

I was suprised at only 1 bid @ £30 starting price, as I had 8 watchers.

I mean it's not even worth flogging it for that money - keep it as a spare, but it ws just taking up space in my garage

The thing is we're coming to a point where

1/
The cars being sold always need money spent on them. The people who buy them are reasonably informed (through here) so the buyers are people with a budget.

2/
Classics... it's always been a fairy tale that classic cars (non-premium brand) rise in value and the parts are expensive. No they aren't. Not if there's 1000's on the road. Take the MG's, the parts cost peanuts and I'd say they're genuine classics.

3/
They're performance cars. Many of the last owners picked them up for peanuts and spent nothing on them. They just trashed them from cold with no oil and put them in the garage with a red hot turbo. At least, that's the risk you take. So people will not buy a 44k gearbox because well - you never know how it spent those 44k.

What I find more worrying is the fact you can't seem to find as new parts. If I have a scratch on my center console it'll be sprayjob / plastidip time, as there doesn't seem to be a chance in hell to find a perfect one. Also many cars have been home-maintained, but not in the best way aesthetically. Yeah most of the people on here know how to change the oil or swap some hoses. But how many can CAREFULLY take off a doorcard and not manage to break any supports / tabs / catches / ...

Anyways, I'm one of those who wants the technician to wear clean gloves upon entering my car and not put the screwdriver on the seat or in the center console for fear of scratches. Unfortunately with parts being only available secondhand, it's the only way to keep the car in tiptop condition.

Considering the price of them in good running order, it just isn't worth spending much on parts to repair a knackered one for a lot of people sadly.

Just satisfy yourself in knowing you have a terrific looking car that runs superbly - is comparatively cheap to run and maintain (against similar more modern automobilli) and has given you access to this forum - that the un-initiated think has cost you many more thousands to buy than it actually did.
I was seriously considering buying a Brera S before I bought my LE but felt massively short-changed. Friends of mine who know little about Coupes' are amazed how much they're valued.....

Hi All,
It was me who bought the gearbox. The good thing to come out of this is the fact it will keep another Coupe on the road. So not all is lost. Thanks for a great forum :-)

Yes, thats the main thing Bruce. I wasn't having a dig about the buyer! ha, It was the decimation of the parts (and the cars themselves)value.

But yes should certainly stop people buying perfectly salvagable coupes for 3 figures (or even 2!), just to break for a profit

Well I fully intend to pop up and see you once all is sorted. Thank you for everything. Maybe a few photos of the 2 Sprint Blues together would look good Jamie? :-)