Discussion
Hello,
I'm thinking of finally picking up an Elise and having lurked in the classifieds for long enough, had a question. Are nearly 10 year old S1 cars really still worth 10 grand, and if so, does that not make a 13 grand Sports Tourer much better value?
I know that a preference for either comes down to personal taste, but some s1's do look optimistically priced. What should i pay for a 1998 sub 40,000 miler?
Thanks in advance
I'm thinking of finally picking up an Elise and having lurked in the classifieds for long enough, had a question. Are nearly 10 year old S1 cars really still worth 10 grand, and if so, does that not make a 13 grand Sports Tourer much better value?
I know that a preference for either comes down to personal taste, but some s1's do look optimistically priced. What should i pay for a 1998 sub 40,000 miler?
Thanks in advance
It's all a matter of personal taste.The high prices on the S1 would suggest that it's a true 'classic' .Don't be surprised when the price on S2 starts dropping below S1 
Flame me al you like all you S2 owners, but to me the S1 is the only Elise I ever want as it's more 'raw' and 'pure' compared to the S2.
I like the S2,but I don't want one. I was actually considering a 340R to go 'all out',but it was to expensive here
Flame me al you like all you S2 owners, but to me the S1 is the only Elise I ever want as it's more 'raw' and 'pure' compared to the S2.
I like the S2,but I don't want one. I was actually considering a 340R to go 'all out',but it was to expensive here
Thanks. Having just been hammered by depreciation on a Mini Cooper S, i don't fancy doing it again. Market forces will always dictate prices, and with so many S1's at around 9-10, i wondered if they were about to drop?
I'm not sure which i prefer, i like the front of the S1 and the back of ther S2. Need to take them both for a spin.
I'm not sure which i prefer, i like the front of the S1 and the back of ther S2. Need to take them both for a spin.
It does come down to
S1- Raw and edgy with a tendancy to oversteer
S2- More refined with enough comfort for everyday use, still very fast and in inexperienced hands the tendency is to understeer.
Actually driving there is so little difference between all the models, it actually comes down to driver
I would not be so arrogant as to say which is better, it is personal taste.
If you are looking for a S1 the best you are likely to see is Lotustuarts car which has just gone up for sale in classifieds. www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/73568.
Be aware that her dad is very protective and you will have to sell yourself as much as the car selling to you.
>> Edited by gooby on Wednesday 19th April 11:53
S1- Raw and edgy with a tendancy to oversteer
S2- More refined with enough comfort for everyday use, still very fast and in inexperienced hands the tendency is to understeer.
Actually driving there is so little difference between all the models, it actually comes down to driver
I would not be so arrogant as to say which is better, it is personal taste.
If you are looking for a S1 the best you are likely to see is Lotustuarts car which has just gone up for sale in classifieds. www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/73568.
Be aware that her dad is very protective and you will have to sell yourself as much as the car selling to you.
>> Edited by gooby on Wednesday 19th April 11:53
S2 is better.....it benefits from a biger dev budget and mistake learning from the S1 
(fire retardant suit indicated to 3500 degrees on!)
there is little doubt that long term S1's will hold their value significantly better due to 'classic shape' status. S2 is prettier IMO but defo wont get same status long term.
accept you aint avoiding depreciation when you buy a car full stop. Just isn't do-able...specially seeing as I thought mini's were supposed to be one of safest buys currently?!
(fire retardant suit indicated to 3500 degrees on!) there is little doubt that long term S1's will hold their value significantly better due to 'classic shape' status. S2 is prettier IMO but defo wont get same status long term.
accept you aint avoiding depreciation when you buy a car full stop. Just isn't do-able...specially seeing as I thought mini's were supposed to be one of safest buys currently?!
I prefer the S2 myself, a better looking car and more refined. Although "refined" is a comparative term - don't expect too much! I'm not sure if the s2 will ever drop below the s1 myself, it could just be that the s1 has bottomed out and the s2 has yet to. It's a fairly limited market after all. My advice (for what its worth) is to get the best car you can afford remembering to take into account insurance costs! Look for full service history, specialist at least as good a main dealer, low mileage (but not too low - cars don't like being sat in garages weeks on end)and I'd say your better off buying one through this site or other lotus enthusiast sites, where you know the owner loved and cherished them. Some of them have been tracked btw, but a good tracked example isn't necessarily a bad thing, if well cared for.
Myself and Gerrym have had the vx220 vs elise conversation elsewhere You pays your money and takes your choice.
Myself and Gerrym have had the vx220 vs elise conversation elsewhere
You pays your money and takes your choice. certain models will hold their value better. S1 S160's and S2 135R's will hold their value really well.
The S1/S2 debate is absolutely pointless. They both handle great and put a huge smile on the face of the owner. "Preference" is a hard thing to justify and quantify. Soon we will end up in a "K" series are rubbish, "Yota" shouldn't be in a British car and we should all have Honda engines debate which is also pointless. Fun but pointless!
The only thing that is certain, Vauxhall suck
The S1/S2 debate is absolutely pointless. They both handle great and put a huge smile on the face of the owner. "Preference" is a hard thing to justify and quantify. Soon we will end up in a "K" series are rubbish, "Yota" shouldn't be in a British car and we should all have Honda engines debate which is also pointless. Fun but pointless!
The only thing that is certain, Vauxhall suck
gooby said:
certain models will hold their value better. S1 S160's and S2 135R's will hold their value really well.
The S1/S2 debate is absolutely pointless. They both handle great and put a huge smile on the face of the owner. "Preference" is a hard thing to justify and quantify. Soon we will end up in a "K" series are rubbish, "Yota" shouldn't be in a British car and we should all have Honda engines debate which is also pointless. Fun but pointless!
The only thing that is certain, Vauxhall suck
oooh you didn't wanna say that!
putting on flameproof overalls and crash helmet as we speak.....
nwtony said:
I prefer the S2 myself, a better looking car and more refined. Although "refined" is a comparative term - don't expect too much! I'm not sure if the s2 will ever drop below the s1 myself, it could just be that the s1 has bottomed out and the s2 has yet to. It's a fairly limited market after all. My advice (for what its worth) is to get the best car you can afford remembering to take into account insurance costs! Look for full service history, specialist at least as good a main dealer, low mileage (but not too low - cars don't like being sat in garages weeks on end)and I'd say your better off buying one through this site or other lotus enthusiast sites, where you know the owner loved and cherished them. Some of them have been tracked btw, but a good tracked example isn't necessarily a bad thing, if well cared for.
Myself and Gerrym have had the vx220 vs elise conversation elsewhere
Sorry, wasn't trying to do anything but inject some humour. We all have our opinion on the best car.
Cheers
G
gooby said:
certain models will hold their value better. S1 S160's and S2 135R's will hold their value really well.
The S1/S2 debate is absolutely pointless. They both handle great and put a huge smile on the face of the owner. "Preference" is a hard thing to justify and quantify. Soon we will end up in a "K" series are rubbish, "Yota" shouldn't be in a British car and we should all have Honda engines debate which is also pointless. Fun but pointless!
The only thing that is certain, Vauxhall suck
That is because they have a turbocharger and not some nancy Rover engine.
I still have some brochure from the S1 111S 160 in grey? anyway, stil love those looks! but when I've had the choise between the same powered S1 or S2 same specs I choose the S2 it feels a bit more all round, a bit easyer to get in, a far easyer softtop and some other improvements...I see the S1 more as a classic(in a good way) and the S2 more modern/retro?
I would not choose the Vauxhall VX or Opel Speedster as we call them here maybe some same matterials, but the Lotus I think is more car(not only the name) I only would go for the VX if I could get it cheap...and could pay tuning the engine and do some modifications to it...and it came in the color black or darkblue in those colors I like them with a big HP engine in them...
But a fast Lotus Exige/Elise would be my firts (payeble) choise...
GTRene
I would not choose the Vauxhall VX or Opel Speedster as we call them here maybe some same matterials, but the Lotus I think is more car(not only the name) I only would go for the VX if I could get it cheap...and could pay tuning the engine and do some modifications to it...and it came in the color black or darkblue in those colors I like them with a big HP engine in them...
But a fast Lotus Exige/Elise would be my firts (payeble) choise...
GTRene
Hah hah...........
Ok, driven all three and to be honest, not a lot in it. But I would say this:
1) Its firstly down to driving style and what you want the car for
2) The S1 is more raw
3) The S2 is more refined, but still does the basics 1MILLION times better than pretty much anything else on the road
4) The VX220 is only better in any significant way when it has the turbo.............
I was originally going to go for an S2 (I kinda prefer the shape, although this is a moot point, as I like the S1 too!). But they were just out of my price range. So decided to try the S1 anyway and to be honest, unless you are driving it really quite vigourously, there isn't much in it. They both handle beautifully and the only difference I felt was on track when the S1 is slightly more "flighty" at the limit than the S2, which tends to understeer more.
Practicality-wise, the S2 has it, but then even that is negligable. Slightly easier to get in and out of (but, sheesh, only just......) and slightly less noisy.......but thats about it.......
If you are a complete "hooner" of a driver, then you might enjoy the more raw characteristics of the S1. If you like to drive hard, but would also like to use the car more for every day, then go for the S2.
But whatever you do, drive both!!! Then you only have yourself to blame. I decided I couldn't wait, said bugger the inconvenience and lack of refinement and went for the S1 and don't regret a thing!!! Awesome car!
Oh, and the VXT is just, just mindbogglingly quick!!! And does grip a little more than the above two. But, hey, you pays for what you get.................
Ok, driven all three and to be honest, not a lot in it. But I would say this:
1) Its firstly down to driving style and what you want the car for
2) The S1 is more raw
3) The S2 is more refined, but still does the basics 1MILLION times better than pretty much anything else on the road
4) The VX220 is only better in any significant way when it has the turbo.............
I was originally going to go for an S2 (I kinda prefer the shape, although this is a moot point, as I like the S1 too!). But they were just out of my price range. So decided to try the S1 anyway and to be honest, unless you are driving it really quite vigourously, there isn't much in it. They both handle beautifully and the only difference I felt was on track when the S1 is slightly more "flighty" at the limit than the S2, which tends to understeer more.
Practicality-wise, the S2 has it, but then even that is negligable. Slightly easier to get in and out of (but, sheesh, only just......) and slightly less noisy.......but thats about it.......
If you are a complete "hooner" of a driver, then you might enjoy the more raw characteristics of the S1. If you like to drive hard, but would also like to use the car more for every day, then go for the S2.
But whatever you do, drive both!!! Then you only have yourself to blame. I decided I couldn't wait, said bugger the inconvenience and lack of refinement and went for the S1 and don't regret a thing!!! Awesome car!
Oh, and the VXT is just, just mindbogglingly quick!!! And does grip a little more than the above two. But, hey, you pays for what you get.................
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