ELISE almost in sight

ELISE almost in sight

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Discussion

kelvyn

Original Poster:

83 posts

260 months

Saturday 9th November 2002
quotequote all
As my money in the bank is growing, im almost in sight of buying my 1st elise, hopeing to get 1 around january time (111s S1), i was just wondering:

How often the elise has to be serviced?

How much is each service?

Any other information any 1 has about owning an elise would be appreciated.

Bonce

4,339 posts

279 months

Saturday 9th November 2002
quotequote all
Service interval is 9000 miles or 12 months, whichever is sooner.

Cost depends on the type of service (A, B, or C) and who does it. If you want the lotus stamp (which in my experience and opinion does NOT necessarily indicate good quality work) you pay more than for an independant mechanic. i.e. my first A service was at the factory, cost me about £600 with all that needed doing at their £70/hour rate but my most recent A service was £30 plus oil, filter and plugs, performed by a friend who is lotus trained but went independant after Haydon Daytune went bust.

For a fair idea of independant servicing, check Lakeside's website (they are highly recommended).

Other tips?
- Buy an Elemental shower cap (available from www.race-speed.com )
- Don't drive in the wet on Pirelli P-Zeros (use Yokohama Advan Neova LTS tyres instead)
- Above all, keep it shiny side up and enjoy!

clanger

1,087 posts

258 months

Saturday 9th November 2002
quotequote all
Nice prospective choice Kelvyn. January good time to buy an Elise. Weather generally crap and people generally strapped after Christmas jollies. Come March values tend to be creeping back up as spring and sun dawns. Good luck with your search you won't be disappointed and view a number before taking the final plunge - so easy to buy the first one you view (I know!!!)

kelvyn

Original Poster:

83 posts

260 months

Wednesday 13th November 2002
quotequote all
Thanks for the replys guys, most helpful.
I really am itching to get 1 now, just wish some 1 could knock me out til january and then wake up so i could buy 1 there and then. Have asked father christmas (well parents actually) for a radar detector for christmas.
Any way 1 more question, i am gonna have about £15,500 to spend, do u think i shold be able to pick up a nice 111s s1 or am i kiding my self.

TheLemming

4,319 posts

265 months

Wednesday 13th November 2002
quotequote all
Considering how grossly undervalued nice S1 Elises are, that sounds about right IIRC.

It wont be one of the last of the line models, but that should get you a nice one if you shop carefully

northernboy

12,642 posts

257 months

Wednesday 13th November 2002
quotequote all
In my experience, you can probably pick up a sport 135 about now, with about 14k miles on it for 14k.

There are a lot of people asking foolish money, ignore them.

You shoudl definitely only get an absolutely mint one. There are enough of them out there, and since abuse can badly affect an elise (a bad kerbing and you need the suspension checked), there's no reason to accept one in a bad state.

My last service (the 14k one) was nearly £1,500 pounds. Get one that's recently been serviced, that has no obvious defects and that has been kept garaged.

In terms of holding value, you DO NOT want a one that's been modified enough to warrant telling the insurance company. You could eventually be selling it to people who are going to struggle to insure the standard car (assuming you sell it a couple of years later at about 10-11k), any modifications, and most of your potential buyers will be ruled out.

Get an engineer to chek it, from a firm that knows about Loti. NOT from the RAC or AA.

If an Elise is for you, you'll absolutely love it. They are a REAL sports car, not a hot hatch, and the tactility is on another planet. There are compromises that come along with the ownership, but they are worth it. It took something very major to get me out of my first Elise, and I then was back in one within two years. This one may well stay with me forever.

Good luck, and make sure to ask lots of questions. Better to find out through asking than through experience

kelvyn

Original Poster:

83 posts

260 months

Friday 15th November 2002
quotequote all
Thanks for all that useful info northern boy, im most grateful.
I will look at lots i think coz it has taken me some time to save me pennies. I think i will be havi the elise for a while, probly about 3 - 4 years.
Im not bothered about all mod cons, just want a flash car, that goes well and have the roof off all the time.

>> Edited by kelvyn on Friday 15th November 20:52