First timer!

[Quixotic]

Hi guys,

Well, where to start...

I'm 28, I've finally managed to get the readies together and I'm looking to buy my first elise .

I've lots of questions and am hoping that some of you veterans will be able to help me out. I've got around 16.5k to spend so obviously I'm looking for a second hand car. I'm quite taken with the S1 111 but I'm wondering if it's worth going for something a little older (and cheaper) with an upgrade. What's the difference in drive / reliability etc.. Is it worth splashing out a bit extra for a quicker 0-60?

Hardtops, are they worth getting? This is going to be an everyday car for me so with our, ahem, changeable weather I'm guessing it's probably worth investing in...

Insurance, always a big headache. As I live in London and I'm a youngish bloke I haven't had much luck with quotes so far. The cheapest I've found is with elephant at 850 quid (and that's with an 8 year no claim!!). Can anyone recommend a good broker / company?

I'm off to book up a test drive / go and interrogate a dealer this weekend so any thoughts / experiences to share would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[loserkid]

Go to a specialist like Paul Matty or someone else of his ilk. A dealer will charge you top dollar for a used Elise and probbaly treat you like a numpty throughout the whole process.

Hardtops are ok but apparently increase the noise inside. My softtop is bearing up really well once I put some restorer on it and adjusted it properly. Occasionally I get a small puddle (about a coke bottle tops worth) but thats becasue of the wind being in just the wrong direction at the wrong time!

I use mine as a daily driver and its fine. I regularly blast upto London in mine to see customers and its manners in London traffic are impecable.

My insurance is through Direct Line for 18K per annum with full ncb and parked on driveway at a miniscule £650ish per year.

My servicing is going to be done by www.swlotus.co.uk near slough/maidenhead.

As far as 111 comparisoms go I can't help other than to say my car is a stock standard 1998 Mk1 and its an absolute hoot to drive.

Enjoy!

>> Edited by loserkid on Wednesday 5th February 18:52

>> Edited by loserkid on Wednesday 5th February 18:53

[jfrf]

850 isnt that bad. doubt youll beat it.
The problem is that you're too young

Dont worry about a hardtop.
Nice but expensive.
Also you do get the odd day in winter where you can take the top off, which is a painwith a hardtop

[lgbarnfield]

I got my insurance from Axa, I was 25 at the time and have 4 years no claims, the premium is £875 IIRC, give them a try, i think Tesco was a similar price.

Good luck with buying your Elise, promise you will love it.

[DanH]

Also go read this site, its got a lot more Elise owners :

www.british-cars.co.uk/

They'll have a clear idea of what you can get for that sort of money.

[fergusd]

Also have a read of

www.elise-faq.info/content/buying/index.php
www.elises.co.uk

some more info FYI

Fd

>> Edited by fergusd on Wednesday 5th February 21:59

[chris_t_4]

I'm just 20 at the moment, but have been getting some quotes for September, when i'm 21, Tesco seems to be by far the cheapest for me, £350 cheaper than elephant and over £1k cheaper than most!

Good Luck

[nick_houghton]

get the 111s

get a hardtop

buy oop north, elises are much cheaper oop here, especially when comparing dealer prices :

chris neil's (oop here) - v reg 16k miles, £17,500
paul bailey (essex) - v reg 16k miles, £19,995

nick

[Slashmb]

where abouts is chris neils, does he have any older elises in and is he main dealer, specialist etc.

Cheers

Slash

edited cos i can't spell even simple words as its way past my bed time

>> Edited by Slashmb on Friday 7th February 00:21

[Robmk1]

Chris Neil is in Northwich, really easy to find (01606 818100) . I got my s1 from there in march last year, it came with a years warranty and it has been great, if its needed to go back there is no worries, they just ask what needs doing and do, courtasy car if you need. They have a large selection at the moment, new and used, at very resonable prices. They have been selling lotus for years but have been an approved dealership for about 6 months. all the facilities there are very good.

[spining-v-grid]

I will second that - Chris Neil are right good.

By eck, they are also good for performance parts at competitive prices.

SVG

[Slashmb]

Do they happen to have a website by any chance? Where abouts is northwich. Is it near Manchester?

Cheers
Slash

[smeagol]

Website: www.christopherneil.co.uk/
Hope that helps (some nice cars on the website)

[Quixotic]

Thanks for all your help, got plenty to keep me going!!

Apart from the Chris Neil Web site does anyone have any other contact info. for Lotus sellers up in the deep, dark north??? Or in fact any other sale sites / advertising online? I've been looking through autotrader and the sales page here...

Thanks again.

[B19GRR]

You could try Mike at Lotus Ribble Valley

www.lotusribblevalley.com/

Not got a huge stock but he's a really nice bloke.

My experience with Chris Neil is pretty damn negative. Went there around 2 years ago looking for a Cerbera. Was told by the sales guy that I shouldn't get a TVR - one wonders why they're a TVR main dealer!! Went back a few weeks ago to look at Elises, same sales guy was giving me full on sucking up to job until I said I'd got a Cerbera and then i just got blanked even though I said I'd be selling private, basically I think he's a twat and he won't be getting any of my money!

I'm surprised to hear they've got the Lotus dealership back as they lost it a few years back because of their dreadful reputation!

[DanH]

My s2 is second hand, and it was originally from Ribble Valley. Previous owner had nothing but praise to heap on them.

They even let him swap his light clusters around with other cars on the lot because he wanted the original old style ones for a rear lights mod.

[skinner]

Fully agree with B19GRR

My first experience of Chris Neil was driving johno from London to Northwich to look/buy his Griff 500. He had called ahead and arranged to meet the sales guy at 1 on the Sat afternoon, phoned half way up the M6 to say he was running half an hour late. So, at the end of a 4 hour drive (thanks to roadworks) we arrive at Chris Neil to be faced by a bemused salesman and a mucky un-preped £30k griff!!!!

I then got in touch with them (against my better judgement) for my S2. Went in on a Thursday and gave the same sales guy full details of what I was looking for under the promise that he would get back to me ASAP. I then phoned him on the Saturday to see what he had found to be met with the same bemused tone as he used when someone else had offered to spend £30k with him

Enough of my rant, try Gordon Lamb in Sheffield. He has just given me a spanking deal on a 111s and seems to be a good guy.

[Jim_Cross]

Skinner - did you see whether Gordon Lamb had any S1 111s's in, or (proper) S1 Sport 135s?

Cheers,

Jim

[skinner]

Jim

They did look a bit thin on the ground for S1's. Give David Wood a ring. 0114 262 5000, may be able to sort you out, I was too busy drooling over the S2 111's . Tell 'im I sent ya!!

Rob

[Jim_Cross]

Thanks Rob. I might pop down there if I get a chance - not far from my house (and it's always worth popping down to dribble over the Nobles )