Looking to get an elise few questions..

[rich0411]

Hi all..

Looking to get an Elise as i have always loved them..

I understand they arnt the most practical of machines but thats fine as i have a commute of about 3 miles to work which most of the time i cycle if the weather is nice..

which would i be better off buying on my budget of around 12 k obviously less is better!

I prefer the s2 shape but am wary i wont be getting the most for my money..

so i am looking at the s1 shape as well but i am unsure on which would be best for me..

which models are the ones too look out for i guess a 111s would be out of the question bearing in mind i am 21 but i do have 3 NCB with no points or claims..

i have punched my details into a couple of insurance companys are i nearly fell over, getting quotes of 2.5 grand plus.. Am i best of look at specialist brokers for this car

All help is appreciated!

Edited by rich0411 on Tuesday 25th August 18:35

[Stu_00]

Tonnes of ressearch here, are you tracking it etc etc

For that Budget my choice would be a S1 Sport 160!

[kazste]

For insurance give competition car insurance a go Richard egger is also highly rated. I'm 29 with 6ncb and just renewed for £420 included four track days. I also got a 10% discount as paid member to mloc.
I have a new elise s so lean towards the s2 model I think the general cnsensus is that the s1 has better dynamics but the s2 more livable. Mine is the main car I use. Don't be too put off by the rover engine as believe that the UHF problem only costs around £500-600 to fix if it does occur. Others may be able to help you more as only owned one for four months but advice is buy one I still cannot go to sleepwithout looking out the window at it first!!!

[rich0411]

the hgf doesnt worry me i had a metro with the 160 vvc engine back in the day which went and i got it done for 400 pounds hmm thats not a bad price for the insurance ill investigate that..

should i be put off by high mileage ? my old K seires was on nearly 80 K with no real troubles than HGF

Edited by rich0411 on Tuesday 25th August 19:47

[jamesc_1729]

Hello Rich,

Please could I relate my experiences in the hope that it helps you out. Forewarned is forearmed etc...

I'm 28, 10 years NCB. I own an S1 and pay 300 quid per year on a F/C policy from CCI (competition car insurance) I recommend you give them a call in the interests of getting a competitive quote. Oh and by the way - an S1 is group 17, whereas an S2 is group 20.

As for buying one - I bought an S1 a year ago. It was a 1999 S1 on 50k miles. It cost me 7.4k. Very cheap I think you'll agree... but then it's cost me 3.5k in the last year... I've had to replace the following:

Clutch/Release bearing/Arm. - 800 quid.
Plastic-ended radiator - 300 quid.
S2 Bilstein suspension - 600 quid.
Steering Rack - 300 quid.
Tyres - 300 quid.
Discs + Pads - 200 quid.
Exhaust flexi section - 300 quid.
The above forms a comprehensive list of what will need replacing on an S1 Elise. In order to reduce your risk of a moneypit I recommend you buy one with the above done...

Other items were optional e.g. seats, Hurricane, geo, TREs etc.

Please choose wisely when you are buying one, or barter to take the above into account.

James.

Edited by jamesc_1729 on Tuesday 25th August 20:09

[TIPPER]

jamesc_1729 said:

Hello Rich,

Please could I relate my experiences in the hope that it helps you out. Forewarned is forearmed etc...

I'm 28, 10 years NCB. I own an S1 and pay 300 quid per year on a F/C policy from CCI (competition car insurance) I recommend you give them a call in the interests of getting a competitive quote. Oh and by the way - an S1 is group 17, whereas an S2 is group 20.

As for buying one - I bought an S1 a year ago. It was a 1999 S1 on 50k miles. It cost me 7.4k. Very cheap I think you'll agree... but then it's cost me 3.5k in the last year... I've had to replace the following:

Clutch/Release bearing/Arm. - 800 quid.
Plastic-ended radiator - 300 quid.
S2 Bilstein suspension - 600 quid.
Steering Rack - 300 quid.
Tyres - 300 quid.
Discs + Pads - 200 quid.
Exhaust flexi section - 300 quid.
The above forms a comprehensive list of what will need replacing on an S1 Elise. In order to reduce your risk of a moneypit I recommend you buy one with the above done...

Other items were optional e.g. seats, Hurricane, geo, TREs etc.

Please choose wisely when you are buying one, or barter to take the above into account.

James.

Edited by jamesc_1729 on Tuesday 25th August 20:09

Pretty well regardless of what you pay up front a good S1 Elise will cost £10k

Its worth doing some checks on your insurance first and then some research on here and Seloc before taking the plunge.
I wouldn't spend all of your budget on the car as an older S2 may well have pretty much the same issues as an S1. Also beware very low miles car as they will have problems stored up waiting to be resolved.
Better to go for a well used but well maintained example (Don't worry about official dealer servicing - most specialist or DIYers do a better job). As you suggest the engines aren't really a problem and take miles well - you just have to get used to things you'd ignore on 'normal' cars being in need of attention and occasional replacement - suspension, steering racks and radiators being the main areas of concern.
I paid top dollar for my S1 five years ago but, whilst it was under their warranty, I took it back to the dealers until every little issue I picked up was (eventually!!) resolved. I then enjoyed three years of trouble free fun with just the regualr services needed. In the past year tthough it has bitten me on the bum - Completely refurbed the suspension and needed new dampers and to refurb the steering rack. Well over £2.5k in parts but I don't think that's too bad for the fun I've had.
Go in with your eyes open and take your time choosing.
Don't know about your driving experience but Walshy at Carlimits comes highly recommended as the Elise doesn't drive anything like a fwd car.

[kambites]

Look at VX220s too. They're significantly cheaper to insure than Elises.

[JBanx]

I bought a S1 111s (55k, £9000) about 3 months ago now and it hasn't cost me hardly anything really.

I replaced the brakepads (£100), replaced the gear linkage (£50) and the coolant expansion tank (£30). I've driven it everywhere (I live in between the dales and the moors) and the only complaint that I have is that the stereo can't be heard; but who cares.

The HGF was putting me off but it's no more than a cambelt replacement and you could get the 2 done at once should it go. The suspension on mine is still ok (orignial Koni's) but i intend to refresh the lot over the next few months. I do the majority of the work myself, i'm far from a mechanic but they are simply cars really so it's not that difficult.

My insurance is about £700 fully comp with Adrian Flux (i'm 28 with 2 years NCB), but that's on a limited mileage policy (6k)

I would say go for it. Do your research, if the car has been on track it isn't that bad as they will have been well looked after probably, suspension refresh's would be nice (saves you doing it) and be warned; you will upgrade it and tinker with it and his means money; but you will love it!

[RobM77]

I agree with everything said so far. There's nothing worse than buying an old car that needs money spending on it; things can get silly rather quickly!!

Personally I prefer the S2 to the S1; it's lower, stiffer and handles better (e.g. lift off oversteer cured). It's also quieter, which is a bonus. The only downside that I can think of is that it's a bit heavier, and of course some people prefer the lack of refinement in the S1 (which puzzles me!). I am by no means running down the S1; it was a great car and an absolute classic. If I had lots of money to spend on cars I'd keep my S2 and buy an S1 in addition.

However, you're better off buying the best you can get, which might not be an S2 on that money.

[chris7676]

Any S1 should at least need new shocks (if not replaced yet), so it may be easily stiffer / lower than a standard S2 (which is actually soft or "compliant").

[RobM77]

chris7676 said:

Any S1 should at least need new shocks (if not replaced yet), so it may be easily stiffer / lower than a standard S2 (which is actually soft or "compliant").

IIRC, S1 LSS kit is the same spring rates etc as the standard S2 suspension. Given that Lotus are the best ride and handling company in the world, I'd stick with their in-house suspension; but that's just my opinion, and not one shared by everyone on here (Nitrons etc are popular). Presumably an S1 with LSS and the bespoke LTS Yoko tyres (they make them for the S1 now) would handle as well as an S2? There may be other changes between S1 and S2 which I'm not aware of.

[steveott]

Hi there.

I bought my S2 111s 52 plate back in January. Cost me 12.5K which was a good price altho I then spent 1K on a few bits.

As I upgraded my insurance from my previous car I couldnt give you an accurate price but I have just had my renewal quote from Bell for 1.1K . And im now 24. (3 yrs NCB). This is also in a good area - postcode wise.

I found the cheapest to be the likes of Bell, Admiral and Elephant. Specialists seemed to be alot more expensive for me - age i geuss.

I would recommend a 111s as I found it the nicest drive, it has upgraded interor bits which I think is better for daily, high MPG and the Tax is cheap.

good luck.

[RobM77]

I too love my S2 111S. Of all the Elises that I drove it was the best, but that's because I love feedback and chassis poise and don't believe noise enhances the driving experience, moreso distracts from it (in a quieter car I find the feedback more pronounced because I can relax and focus on it more). Bear in mind that the 111S is an everyday Elise, in that it's got sound deadening everywhere (even on the air intake!!), and that's not to everyone's tastes. Some people had issues with understeer in them (check out the famous Clarkson's Top Gear review on You Tube), but if you drive properly it's simply not an issue (I've done wet and dry trackdays and obviously wet and dry road driving and never had an issue with understeer).

I think the general consensus is that for K series cars the S2 111S is the best road Elise S2 and the 135R is the best track Elise S2. There are then loads of other variants for gradiations between the two Toyota cars are out of the OP's budget, so I won't get into that I actually prefer the K cars (lighter and with non-servo assisted brakes), so don't assume it's all bad if you can only afford a K.

Oh, and be aware of the difference between the short hood Elise S2s (10 seconds to put the hood up) and long tail (minutes). All S1s were long tail hoods.

[Mr_C]

You might struggle to insure a Sport 160, I did at 21.

You'll get a pretty tidy S2 Sports tourer with good mileage for your budget

[Stu_00]

Mr_C said:

You might struggle to insure a Sport 160, I did at 21.

You'll get a pretty tidy S2 Sports tourer with good mileage for your budget

If you run a second car, classic car insurance would be the way to go, my friend pays half the price and is younger than me !

[AMGexigeS]

Always makes me smile when you see S1 owners trying to maintain the value of their cars!! Suggesting that £10k is what you should be looking at paying for an S1 is bunkum! There is this for sale http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1192798.htm and at under £9k for 22k miles is bang on the money IMHO. There are plenty that have sold at the £8k mark that also looked like great cars, look around and you'll see the ones still for sale are the ones priced in dreamland. I know someone that paid under £5k for one that was in need of a good service, had an alarm problem and needed two new tyres, all in he's paid just over £5k and it is an absolute beauty, just wish I'd got there first. Best advice is to look at the cars that sell and at what price, you'll soon get a feel as to what to pay and when to ignore nutjob pricing. Good luck.

[LivinLaVidaLotus]

But unless you really know your stuff you could end up buying a right pup where it needs a suspension refresh, all the links and joints etc. within avery short amount of time.

[S Works]

There's a world of difference between a) what an advert says and reality, and b) between what a car is offered at, and what it finally sells at.

FWIW I quite agree with Tipper. If you get an Elise for under 10K at the moment and it costs you nothing other than fuel, a service with no additional parts and your insurance costs for a year, then you're doing bloody well.

[TIPPER]

AMGexigeS said:

Always makes me smile when you see S1 owners trying to maintain the value of their cars!! Suggesting that £10k is what you should be looking at paying for an S1 is bunkum! There is this for sale http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1192798.htm and at under £9k for 22k miles is bang on the money IMHO. There are plenty that have sold at the £8k mark that also looked like great cars, look around and you'll see the ones still for sale are the ones priced in dreamland. I know someone that paid under £5k for one that was in need of a good service, had an alarm problem and needed two new tyres, all in he's paid just over £5k and it is an absolute beauty, just wish I'd got there first. Best advice is to look at the cars that sell and at what price, you'll soon get a feel as to what to pay and when to ignore nutjob pricing. Good luck.

Your msate just got very lucky - there's an exception to every rule but you can't generalise from the particular.
The car you highlight is still on original Konis and most owners fit a sports exhaust. Call that £1k and you're at £9,900. The driver's seat needs the wear patch seeing to (sill will p-robably be in need of attention soon too) - let's face it this is a 'polishers' car, so let's say another £100.
Oooo, look we're at £10k. That's before we start thinking about potential steering rack problem (S1 racks have been known to go at just 20k miles).
If what you want is a low miles mintish car to drive occasionally and polish then for about £10k you'd have a very nice car. Dealers are starting to ask much more for cars like this now.
I put my car on the market earlier this year (didn't need to sell in the end so withdrew). I asked £9350 and had several interested parrties within 24hrs. Why? The car is fitted with Nitrons suspension, has a very recent full suspenion refresh (bushes, balljoints and TREs), it has uprated wheels (340R jobs), recent Toyo 888s, a close ratio gearbox, a decent interior, harnesses, a stereo you can hear!!, and I was going to throw in a cover, shower cape, and spare cylinder head which I've never got around to having ported. Loads of other little bits I've forgotten too. (Oh yeah - brakes).
Something else to bear in mind is the dwindling number of S1s. Far less of them built than the S2 and many prefer the original car with some mods. That's keeping the market healthy.

[AMGexigeS]

I sense a little more S1 bias creeping in but I guess there is no harm in trying to up the value of your steed. However lets look at the Pistonheads stats, for sale or sold we have 24 S1's at £8k or under, there is a further 35 at £9k or under. So almost 60 cars all well under the "You'll have to spend at least £10k" that the doom mongers would lead you to believe you need to shell out? As I said, take a look yourself, once you breach the £10k mark there's alot of cars that just ain't selling. There is talk of lucky buyers but in all honesty and having owned an Elise, you could pay £7k for one and have less trouble than one costing 50% more. Take someone with a some experience about what to look for and look at plenty, having no accident damage is more important than a fancy exhaust/suspension set up/bling/etc etc etc..... Happy hunting