Lotus Convertible Advice

[thetombraider]

Hello, I am looking at buying a Lotus with the view of using it semi regularly but mainly as a summer toy to get away. My main vehicle is a Land Rover Defender 90 which I love to pieces, but clearly doesn't offer that summer feeling from a roof down, sporty Lotus.

Which model should I look to buy/avoid, what are the the known problems, and are the running costs sensible? Anything else you think I should know would be much appreciated.

T

[marshalla]

Let's do this the sensible way - what's your budget, how do you plan to use it and how wide/tall are you ?

[thetombraider]

Approx £10k could stretch a bit further if there were no mechanical jobs needed doing.
I'm described Athletic Build, 5'8" or 172cm. So I'd definitely have no dramas fitting in.
It'll be used every other day, and now weekends it will need to do a few hundred miles on a motorway return trip.

[marshalla]

Elan M100 or any of the more modern Elise/Exige variants would be the best bet then.

[thetombraider]

Ok, are there any variants of the above mentioned I should avoid due to known problems? Or is owning a Lotus stress free?

Also, not a great fan of the look of the Elan, but quite like both Exige/Elise models

Edited by thetombraider on Sunday 12th April 17:38

[un1eash]

£10k isn't much to work with, the only Elise in that price range are high mileage cars pushing 100k miles and Exige start at nearer £20k plus.

[Mr E]

They're not really ideal for a few hundred miles on a motorway.

On the other hand, compared to a defender they're probably idyllic.

[otolith]

For that budget, a VX220 might be worth considering.

[Bebee]

I regard the Land Rover Defender 90 and the Elise, similar in comfort.
If it was me looking with 10k, I'd look at something like an MX5, you'd get a 2 year old and a power hard top for that money, It's a Convertible as you say.
If it had to be a Lotus, then the Elan as some have said.

[otolith]

An MX-5 will cost you a lot more money in depreciation, and while I'm a big fan of them, they're really not in the same league as a driver's car.

[thetombraider]

I agree, its not loads to work with. I've been looking online and there are plenty for <£15k, I'm not afraid of milage as I know that good servicing can make an engine run a lot longer than poor management. I'm pretty much set on the idea of a Lotus, it's, like you say, a Driver's car.

What's the main difference between a S1 and S2? Is one a million times better than the other?

And am I right in assuming running costs are relatively low? You're right, compared to my Defender, comfort will be ideal. Because I live on a military base, I have to drive 120 miles home and back roughly each week. But I don't need to drive to work in the week, mainly to Tesco or just when I feel like going for a drive.

[Mr E]

Running costs are low until they want something. Reckon on a suspension rebuild every 50k (and probably a rad at the same time)

Light on fuel and brakes, they are very simple cars.

I love mine dearly. I could not do a couple of hundred miles on the motorway every week in it these days.

[thetombraider]

Thank you! I can deal with that I reckon, you should see what my 90 costs me, so many jobs I need to get around to. But I love it dearly. But I couldn't justify a second money pit!

[saaby93]

Did you see the next thread down about S2

[thetombraider]

I have now!! Thanks, this should be enough reading to send me off for the night

[Bebee]

otolith said:

An MX-5 will cost you a lot more money in depreciation, and while I'm a big fan of them, they're really not in the same league as a driver's car.

No, I agree but he wants a 'summer toy to get away' he didn't mention a drivers car.

[AyBee]

Mr E said:

They're not really ideal for a few hundred miles on a motorway.

On the other hand, compared to a defender they're probably idyllic.

I happily drive mine on the motorway, I had a Merc E250 hire car a few weeks ago and stuck 1,000 miles on it, it really wasn't overly comfortable because the steering wheel sits over my left leg and not centrally. The seats in my Lotus are actually really comfortable, even if they don't look it With some nice weather and the roof off, there's nothing better.

For the budget, you'd probably be better off looking for a VX220 IMO.

[otolith]

I find the seat very comfortable and the ride quality is better than you might expect. The main issue with motorway use is noise - although my exhaust and induction are louder than standard, there's also a lot of wind and road noise at speed. That and visibility to other people - to be honest, I wouldn't want to be in one on a busy motorway in heavy rain and spray, you sit at lorry wheelnut height.

[Mr E]

Agreed. Seat is fine. Ride quality is much better than expected.

It's noise (again, mine isn't standard), and the constant feedback that get wearing.
Knowing exactly what all four tyres are doing is excellent on the b-road when pressing on.
Being told about it in detail for 2 hours on the M4 is rather wearing. I have a barge for such things.

[SeanyD]

10k would get you a fairly tired s2 (at a push, probably nearer 12/13k) or a fairly decent s1