2004 Merci E-Gear

[$$$=SPEEED]

Hello Guys,

I am new here and would like to know from you Merci owners a few things regarding the Merci if possible?

The 04 Merci was the first to have E-gear. Why are there more 05-06-07 Merci's out there for sale and barely any 04's? Were production #'s low that year? I am thinking of getting a Merci finally and do not know the differences between an 04 and 05? I do want E-gear but do not want to spend the huge $$$$ and take the big depreciation hit on a newer model? I have had most exotic cars , Ferrari 430, 360 CS, Gallardo's etc. The Merci would pretty much complete the $300k and down exotics and I would like to own them all just attempting to learn the differences. Obviously a low mile 04 car would be depreciated more than an 05 hence the questions on differences between the model years.

One of my concerns with the Merci is that I like to track my cars as well as rip thru the twisties here in the Pacifc NW. I have driven one and it felt really big and heavy? What do you guys think? Thanks


Mike

[pdisme]

Zzzdoc and Jrfootin will probably be able to help with this; Zzzdoc brought his Murci ('04 e-gear) to Sebring with me and a few others two weeks ago and J used to track his Murci until he and some of the rest of us bought Radicals. Jrfootin drove his Murci a lot harder on the track than Zzzdoc though... :sleepy2:

:lol2: :lol2:


I think this picture was shot at Homestead shortly before J spun the car. :grinning-smiley-003

http://www.talklambo.com/pics/data/500/medium/CHIN_HOMESTEAD_Feb_17-18_2007_DL_-_15_113.jpg

[Seb]

For the love of god, don't call it Merci, Merci is Thanks in French! :crazy:

[pdisme]

Here's Zzzdoc's car after buying out all the painters tape in South Florida. :lol2:

[zzzzdoc]

Here's Zzzdoc's car after buying out all the painters tape in South Florida. :lol2:
Don't sell me short. I bought a bunch in Central Florida too. :flipa: BTW, did you notice the blue arrow on the front of the car. That was to ensure it knew which way was forward after the tape job.

Yes the Murci is big, but it had incredible grip on the track. I kept all the nanny stuff working at Sebring, and the car stuck like glue no matter what I did. Acceleration out of curves was great. I could really nail it and have the car respond. The torque was great in that regard.

Now I didn't drive anywhere near 10/10, maybe 7/10 at best, but I did find it to be a fun track car. Now if I wanted to go drifting, I'd choose something else.

Clearly, in most cases, lighter is better on a track. But, I really have nothing bad to say about its manners.

Now Jamie has much more track experience than I. His comments would likely be much more valuable in that regard.

As far as depreciation, I looked at prices for 2004 e-gear Murci's a few weeks ago. Mine would be the lowest mileage one for sale if I put it up. Looking at comparable prices, I think I could possibly sell mine for what I bought it for. Perhaps the LP640 is helping to decrease depreciation on the Murcis due to their much lower price.
I don't think any exotic is a good deal for depreciation, unless it is ULTRA low production like an Enzo, Zonda, FXX, etc... But an '04 Murci might be a real good deal now.

[$$$=SPEEED]

Don't sell me short. I bought a bunch in Central Florida too. :flipa: BTW, did you notice the blue arrow on the front of the car. That was to ensure it knew which way was forward after the tape job.

Yes the Murci is big, but it had incredible grip on the track. I kept all the nanny stuff working at Sebring, and the car stuck like glue no matter what I did. Acceleration out of curves was great. I could really nail it and have the car respond. The torque was great in that regard.

Now I didn't drive anywhere near 10/10, maybe 7/10 at best, but I did find it to be a fun track car. Now if I wanted to go drifting, I'd choose something else.

Clearly, in most cases, lighter is better on a track. But, I really have nothing bad to say about its manners.

Now Jamie has much more track experience than I. His comments would likely be much more valuable in that regard.

As far as depreciation, I looked at prices for 2004 e-gear Murci's a few weeks ago. Mine would be the lowest mileage one for sale if I put it up. Looking at comparable prices, I think I could possibly sell mine for what I bought it for. Perhaps the LP640 is helping to decrease depreciation on the Murcis due to their much lower price.
I don't think any exotic is a good deal for depreciation, unless it is ULTRA low production like an Enzo, Zonda, FXX, etc... But an '04 Murci might be a real good deal now.


Cool. thanks for the great write up. I would like to eventually get a track only car but like to take the exotics out to the track. Is there any difference in the 04 to the 05? Weird that no 04's for sale really out there?

[Shawn]

Weird that no 04's for sale really out there?

found 12 online here:

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/searchresults.jsp?num_records=25&search_lang=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&search_type=both&distance=0&address=60175&marketZipError=true&style_flag=1&make=LAM&model=MURCIELAGO&make2=&start_year=2004&end_year=2004&min_price=&max_price=&transmission=&engine=&drive=&doors=&fuel=&max_mileage=&color=&keywords_display=&sort_type=priceDESC&body_code=0&certified=&advanced=y&default_sort=priceDESC&keywordsrep=&keywordsfyc=

[pdisme]

Cool. thanks for the great write up. I would like to eventually get a track only car but like to take the exotics out to the track.

When you're ready to make that jump, look at getting a Radical, it's an incredible car, four of us on here own them, one even for sale:

http://www.talklambo.com/showthread.php?t=737

[$$$=SPEEED]

found 12 online here:

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/searchresults.jsp?num_records=25&search_lang=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&search_type=both&distance=0&address=60175&marketZipError=true&style_flag=1&make=LAM&model=MURCIELAGO&make2=&start_year=2004&end_year=2004&min_price=&max_price=&transmission=&engine=&drive=&doors=&fuel=&max_mileage=&color=&keywords_display=&sort_type=priceDESC&body_code=0&certified=&advanced=y&default_sort=priceDESC&keywordsrep=&keywordsfyc=

Yes I was browsing again last night and did see quite a few? A month ago there was not that many? My bad. Thx

[zzzzdoc]

Cool. thanks for the great write up. I would like to eventually get a track only car but like to take the exotics out to the track. Is there any difference in the 04 to the 05? Weird that no 04's for sale really out there?

I don't know of any differences in the '05 except some minor fix with the brakes. My car was built in late '04 but has the '05 changes on it(even though it is officially an '04. I can't even remember what the issue was. It was very minor.

[$$$=SPEEED]

I don't know of any differences in the '05 except some minor fix with the brakes. My car was built in late '04 but has the '05 changes on it(even though it is officially an '04. I can't even remember what the issue was. It was very minor.

Great thanks so much. Did they make Roadsters in 04?

[zzzzdoc]

The roadster was introduced in 2004 for the 2005 MY.

[$$$=SPEEED]

The roadster was introduced in 2004 for the 2005 MY.

so introduced in 2004 means the model year was 2005. Got it