Discussion
You have a very 'specialist' car. Of course, a dealer will focus on it being incredibly difficult to find a buyer, and will therefore give you a terrible trade price for the Elise.
If you really don't like the idea of selling your car privately, i'd balance the cost of part exchanging versus getting a Lotus dealer or specialist selling yours on a Sale or Return basis.
The reality is, if you walk into a Porsche specialist wanting to offload a different marque, they'll shaft you.
Imagine you want to move quickly as the Elise is very much a Summer car in many people's eyes!
If you really don't like the idea of selling your car privately, i'd balance the cost of part exchanging versus getting a Lotus dealer or specialist selling yours on a Sale or Return basis.
The reality is, if you walk into a Porsche specialist wanting to offload a different marque, they'll shaft you.
Imagine you want to move quickly as the Elise is very much a Summer car in many people's eyes!
Where to start?
I'd drive a few targas if I were you.
a) I'm sure I'll get into trouble as usual, but a 993 Targa (same as a convertible) started off life as a coupe, and had the roof cut-off.
They then added strengthening cross-members yadda yadda and a rather heavy double-glass and metal skylight roof thing.
The dynamics are therefore rather different from the coupe. If you've enjoyed the Elise for it's telepathic handling, the Targa might be the wrong car for you.
b) a 993 is very sensitive to suspension set-up - if it's original, or refreshed in-part or refreshed with a poor combination of componants, you may hate it.
Management Summary: don't sell the Elise just yet.
I'd drive a few targas if I were you.
a) I'm sure I'll get into trouble as usual, but a 993 Targa (same as a convertible) started off life as a coupe, and had the roof cut-off.
They then added strengthening cross-members yadda yadda and a rather heavy double-glass and metal skylight roof thing.
The dynamics are therefore rather different from the coupe. If you've enjoyed the Elise for it's telepathic handling, the Targa might be the wrong car for you.
b) a 993 is very sensitive to suspension set-up - if it's original, or refreshed in-part or refreshed with a poor combination of componants, you may hate it.
Management Summary: don't sell the Elise just yet.
My dilemma is that I just don't use the Elise enough. Its in almost mint condition, I've done 10k miles in 13 years, 24k in total..pathetic. Main reason, impractical, not great on long journeys, would never leave in a carpark for fear of careless oinks etc... Type 49 draws attention.
Its a great looking car, brilliant for short blasts and bombing round country roads, but I've spent more time going to club events displaying it rather than driving it!
993 would be less obvious, more practical and I could drive 100 miles plus without feeling knacked.
Its a great looking car, brilliant for short blasts and bombing round country roads, but I've spent more time going to club events displaying it rather than driving it!
993 would be less obvious, more practical and I could drive 100 miles plus without feeling knacked.
nipod said:
993 would be less obvious, more practical and I could drive 100 miles plus without feeling knacked.
That would depend on the condition of the suspension.Isn't the answer to your post actually an MX-5 ?
No seriously. MX-5 is 80% of the fun/dynamics of the Elise, put the balance of the money into something safe like stocks/shares
and wait for the oil-cooled bubble to burst 
I had two Elises, an S1 and an S2. Great fun on the right day, but the compromises were a pita at times, and they did both feel a bit flimsy.
I love the 993s but it would feel very different. However, the Targa is the least popular variant, although even their prices have risen in the current market. If I was buying a 993 I'd want a manual, Coupe, but prices for a decent one start at nearer £40k.
If you're not specifically looking for a 993, then a Boxster S is a very good option.
I love the 993s but it would feel very different. However, the Targa is the least popular variant, although even their prices have risen in the current market. If I was buying a 993 I'd want a manual, Coupe, but prices for a decent one start at nearer £40k.
If you're not specifically looking for a 993, then a Boxster S is a very good option.
I have had two 993 coupe and 3 elise 2 s1 and 1 s2. i know the problem you descibe and i just grew out of the toy cars so my last s1 went for a 997 GTS. My s1 did 1000 miles pa the 997 is my daily. I would advise you look at an Evora or possibly a cayman and if its affordable a gen2 997 or if not a 996 C4S but read up on the engine risks.
Sell your s1 easily to one of the specialists or private. The 993 is a fine car but pretty old and expensive these days so you really have to want one. I know my GTS is a lot more cash but its better for me than yet another 993 sat in the shed. Best 993 imo are c4 then c2 manual coupe, I wouldnt touch a tip or a vert and the targa is a maybe but is rather compromised with expensive roof that does go wrong.
Sell your s1 easily to one of the specialists or private. The 993 is a fine car but pretty old and expensive these days so you really have to want one. I know my GTS is a lot more cash but its better for me than yet another 993 sat in the shed. Best 993 imo are c4 then c2 manual coupe, I wouldnt touch a tip or a vert and the targa is a maybe but is rather compromised with expensive roof that does go wrong.
Koln-RS said:
That's cheap(ish), yes.
But, it's a Targa, Tiptronic, with high miles and its condition (what you can't see) would be the concern. The driver's seat is often a giveaway.
That money could buy a superb Boxster 'S'.
I'd be looking at something like this 2009 987.2 Boxster S (Gen 2), manual, 22k miles for £23k and warranty which looks like a great buy if you consider a similar Boxster Spyder would be £20k more!But, it's a Targa, Tiptronic, with high miles and its condition (what you can't see) would be the concern. The driver's seat is often a giveaway.
That money could buy a superb Boxster 'S'.
That 993 has some kind of wood trim option, which might be up your street - or not. Hi-fi option and hardbacked sports-seat are nice, but the wheels have not been refurbed in many a year, the rear reflector seems to have been rubbed away, exhaust tips pointing in different directions - all suggest to me a slightly less than fastidious owner.
Discs look 'new', but you'd be looking at spending a few quid just on the above items - you could imagine there might be significant spend in what you can't see in the photos in order for you to get it to a state with which you would be happy.
And it's a tip. There - I've said it.
Discs look 'new', but you'd be looking at spending a few quid just on the above items - you could imagine there might be significant spend in what you can't see in the photos in order for you to get it to a state with which you would be happy.
And it's a tip. There - I've said it.
Edited by Orangecurry on Thursday 3rd September 18:49
My repeated advice is to go and drive one first.
And a 993 that you don't need to spend n,000 GBP on, will probably cost you n,000 GBP more - this manual Targa is 12k more, and is sitting high off the ground (matching OE) and doesn't list any suspension work.....
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
And a 993 that you don't need to spend n,000 GBP on, will probably cost you n,000 GBP more - this manual Targa is 12k more, and is sitting high off the ground (matching OE) and doesn't list any suspension work.....
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
IMHO an Elise is a more special car than a 911 - pound for pound. I have had 3 911s and an S2 Elise - I would not sell the Elise (ever) but have sold a 997s and a 996 Turbo. My current 911 is a 997 Turbo but if I had to choose between it and the Lotus, the Porsche would go. I would be very hesitant about selling a good value, raw driver's car for an overpriced, compromised version of a 911. On the other hand, if you sell the Elise for a 993 and then regret the swap, it's likely that the 993 will have appreciated more than it would cost to get back into another Lotus. First world problem....
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