I want an elise
Author
Discussion

tomkidd

Original Poster:

197 posts

260 months

Tuesday 12th October 2004
quotequote all
Hi guys

My first post in here. Im mad keen for an elise and (hopefully) within a year I plan to have one. Probably be an S1 for about 11 - 12k

Im 25 soon and was wondering if there are any others of a similar age? If so what are you paying insurance wise?

Id be sharing the car with the mrs

tomkidd

Original Poster:

197 posts

260 months

Tuesday 12th October 2004
quotequote all
also

what are your opinons on the kind of mileage an elise would be safe to buy with?

I have seen stuff about different types of service, can anyone outline these for me? i.e C service etc etc

Cheers guys

Marks1

8 posts

262 months

Tuesday 12th October 2004
quotequote all
I bought an S1 elise this summer with 12K on the clock for 13K from a main dealer and am 22 years old,
I had my own ploicy but with only 3 years NCB ,quotes were well over a grand, so lukcily for me my dad has a private collector policy and i got included on this as a named driver for £180 extra so this is now all my insurance costs me, so I can also drive any vehicle on the policy !!

Good luck with getting your elise you wont regret it fantastic cars.

beechy

183 posts

274 months

Tuesday 12th October 2004
quotequote all
Good choice mate you've taken your first step into a better world.

I'm 25 and bought my S2 Elise when I was 23, Initial insurence was £1800 (Value of the car was £18,000)with Tesco which was the best price I could get and I could only get this price by fitting a tracker.

I recently renewed the insurence with Admiral for around £700 which isnt really to bad I dont think.

I'll let the PH gods answer the milage questions.

trunkie

226 posts

272 months

Tuesday 12th October 2004
quotequote all
Bought my s1 exactly 1 year ago when I was 25. Insurance at that time was 1600 (if memory serves) but that was with a disputed claim on my previous insurers (hit by uninsured 3rd party). Claim is now all sorted for me without fault and I'm back up to my 5 yrs NCB. Just renewed with Adrian Flux for £650.

For your first policy it's worth getting a quote from Elephant and put your mother as a named driver - took 200 quid of a wuote for me... Don't let her in it though!

S Works

10,166 posts

274 months

Tuesday 12th October 2004
quotequote all
Tom,

Welcome to the board and to the Lotus world

You'll find a wealth of knowledge on tap by using the search function of this forum - insurance, servicing, running costs etc are all in there.

Also check out www.elises.co.uk and www.elise-faq.info for lots of facts n tips.

When buying, approach as you would any other car - mileage and general condition all play a part. My best tips would be:

a) Before you even test drive one, make sure you can afford it.
Get your insurance quotes sorted before you head out as finding the car of your dreams only to find you can't afford the insurance will be a kick in the nads.
Also check the running costs are in your league - basic servicing is not very expensive on these cars but there are some things which will cost you (e.g. replacement tyres, pads n disks, suspension parts) and it can really add up.
Whilst they're not as expensive as Ferrari/Porka etc they aren't Fiesta's either... but then I'm sure you know that !

b) So long as you pass a) above, make sure you try several of the variants to get the one most suited to you.

c) When you find one you really like and want, have a Lotus specialist check it over before you hand over the readies!! Will cost about the same as an RAC/AA check and tell you way, way more about the car.

Best of luck mate!
Tim

mustard

6,992 posts

269 months

Tuesday 12th October 2004
quotequote all
would'nt worry too much about mileage, my advise is to try and buy one that someones just thrown a grand or soo at on a C service and cam belt and other little jobs.

Buy on condition and a complete dealer or specialist history, ideally with bills so you can see exactly whats been done and when.

nailer

29 posts

265 months

Tuesday 12th October 2004
quotequote all
Now where would a car fitting that description be coming up for sale in the near future Mustard!?!?!

alunr

1,676 posts

288 months

Tuesday 12th October 2004
quotequote all
nailer said:
Now where would a car fitting that description be coming up for sale in the near future Mustard!?!?!


If there is I'd like you to give me a call Mustard re the email I sent you the other day... via the NWS website.

Badapple

2,265 posts

278 months

Tuesday 12th October 2004
quotequote all
tomkidd said:
Hi guys

My first post in here. Im mad keen for an elise and (hopefully) within a year I plan to have one. Probably be an S1 for about 11 - 12k

Im 25 soon and was wondering if there are any others of a similar age? If so what are you paying insurance wise?

Id be sharing the car with the mrs



I'm 24 & I pay 1200 with admiral, tesco was cheaper but wanted a tracker.
How about this one : plug :
www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/detail.asp?i=30136&s=12

>> Edited by Badapple on Tuesday 12th October 20:40

lurcherslife

8 posts

259 months

Tuesday 12th October 2004
quotequote all
i am 25 just bought s2 111s type 25, 5 years no claims
£1,268 with tesco.

the car is mental, well worth the insurance premium.

tomkidd

Original Poster:

197 posts

260 months

Wednesday 13th October 2004
quotequote all
Cheers guys

Unfortunately Im not quite ready for one yet as Ive just bought a house. Im not sure about moving my no claims from my other toy (1380cc Mini with about 90bhp) so I may add my mum or dad as a driver.

I'll research insurance intensively before I decide on wether I'll be able to get one.

Im in Preston, so is there a specialist near by who would check over a car for me? How does it work? Would you take the guy to look over the car or take the car to the guy?

tomkidd

Original Poster:

197 posts

260 months

Wednesday 13th October 2004
quotequote all
Also how are they for DIY mechanics?

Im quite capable of using a socket set after totally rebuilding, owning and modding a mini for quite a few years.

Stuff like brake pads, oil etc etc?

alunr

1,676 posts

288 months

Wednesday 13th October 2004
quotequote all
Easy to work on. If you happened to email any of the regulars on here I'm sure they'd have a copy of the workshop manual in PDF form too. But I did'nt tell you that!

PS I say easy as a complete mechanical numpty who manged to do plenty of stuff on his own car...

stevie111s

123 posts

259 months

Wednesday 13th October 2004
quotequote all
Maintain mine myself, inc full suspension rebuild, cambelt(s), disks etc (btw guys, if your disks have servicable thickness but are a bit groved, get 'em skimmed, cost me £15 a pair!). The Elise is so simple mechanically ... just get stuck in. It does help to have the WS manual though, torque settings etc plus you should know that certain suspension parts do need special anti-corrosive compounds where ally joins steel. Hope this helps. Steve

Should add ... can't skim MMC's for some reason.

>> Edited by stevie111s on Wednesday 13th October 13:37

zebedee

4,593 posts

302 months

Wednesday 13th October 2004
quotequote all
lurcherslife said:
i am 25 just bought s2 111s type 25, 5 years no claims
£1,268 with tesco.

the car is mental, well worth the insurance premium.



thats rubbish for 5 years no claims - have you tried lotus esteem policy? I pay less than that with 1 years no claims and am 28 - prettly low risk area though

S Works

10,166 posts

274 months

Wednesday 13th October 2004
quotequote all
I pay £804 with NIG through Adrian Flux.

28, 3yrs NCB, no claims or points, parked on road in "low risk" area.

shnozz

30,208 posts

295 months

Wednesday 13th October 2004
quotequote all
I want never gets. my mum used to say that.

djroadboy

1,183 posts

260 months

Thursday 14th October 2004
quotequote all
I'm 25, 1 years NCB and an SP30. I pay £645 fully comp on '99 Standard S1.

Dan

tomkidd

Original Poster:

197 posts

260 months

Friday 15th October 2004
quotequote all
Wowzers

Who are you with?

Cheers