Which Elise?

[planman350i]

Hello, I have recently been on track experience day in an Elise 111R. It was fantastic! So much so that I haved decided to bite the bullet and chop my TVR 350i in for a S1 Elise, budget incl. trade in approx £12,000.

Can someone give me some advice on whats the best Elise to go for at this budget? I want something I can use on the road as a second car with use on an occasional track day. Loved the rawness and oomph of the 111R, but I guess I want be able to get something similar in feel and go for the ££ I have...?

Any advice gratefully received.

[bogie]

for that price id try and find a 111S - with a few bolt ons these are good for 160bhp, and with 150-80Kg less weight than a 111R you have a similar power to weight ratio....if you thought a 111R was a raw experience just wait until you get in an S1 Elise !

[gooby]

A well sorted S1 s160 is very hard (impossible)to beat. Beware, there are very few that are "well sorted". For glittering examples of the breed see Piooly's and (so I have been told) S Works. They will also give you some sound advice!

[xxplod]

They are all good if you find a good one but I'd second the advice of trying to find a 111S. They are a bit more fun.

[bogie]

are S160's really down to that price? !...thought they were holding their value better more.

[planman350i]

Thanks for the advice chaps. Very helpful.

What is the weakest expensive thing I should be looking for on a used 111S (I'm not too bothered easy relaceable items like brakes/shocks etc)? Is the engine the weakest point, or is what I've read about the K series exaggerated?

p.s. I'm used to replacing things on my TVR! Its stuff like chassis/body/engine probs that scare me.

>> Edited by planman350i on Monday 3rd October 22:03

[bogie]

its only really the engine - check for signs of oil/water mixed together in coolant header tank, white bubbles under oil filler cap etc...could be signs of head gasket failure..saying that you can have HGF fixed for £300-400 so its not like a TVR

everything else is a consumable/wearable item, that sometimes prospective purchasers, that are on a tight budget can overlook the expense of replacing. Theres often posts from new owners complaining how 'bad' a car the Elise is, when they buy a 7 year old one for rock bottom like £8-9K..then for the next 3-6 months are continuously replacing stuff thats worn out...this is to be expected of a car of this age and you should either buy a sorted, well maintained one for £11K+ or have a couple of grand to give it all a good overhaul.

Things that wear out (some obvious!):

discs/pads
bushes (labour intensive to replace)
track rod ends
ball joints
suspension
steering rack

have a look on www.elises.co.uk for lots of info...and www.elise-faw.com

oh and www.seloc.org for local meets n events :up

>> Edited by bogie on Monday 3rd October 22:17

[DJ111S]

bogie! You're member of the day on SELOC! Get you!

[bogie]

thats from yesterday...it goes on most posts in a 48hr period...and a lot of the regulars were missing at the weekend !