Respray of S1 elise - A problem?

[gt.elise]

Hi,

I have a 1998 elise with 24k on the clock and so far it has been a blast to own with no problems yet.

Only niggle I have is recently I noticed that the back end section has probably been resprayed at some time. Little tell tale signs on the side air vents were the main clue (small flecks of paint) and the black elise text was also missing. The re-spray seems to have been done to a high standard it to be honest it has taken me 2 months to notice. Does this in anyway devalue the car in terms of the paintwork not being origonal or is it more about the condition of the car?

Cheers.

[StuartB]

Front end resprays aren't uncommon as Liz's seem to attract stones, however if the back end has been resprayed then that would might suggest it has been in some sort of accident in its past. ALthough you can't discount that the original finish might have been shite

Provided it is straight underneath it should not detract from the cars value too seriously. The stickers are readily available to stick back on

Edited by StuartB on Friday 30th June 16:18

[jondude]

The Elise is very vulnerable to bump parking, especially in these days of hit and run, ' I'm alright Jack' Britain.

It may well be the car has been bumped this way, and that a dealer ( especially Lotus approved ) has resprayed the whole area.

A bloke in London used to put portable bollards/cones either side of his Elise to 'help' people park either side.

Many laughed....until their cars were bumped and his remained fine........

[gt.elise]

Cheers guys.

It does seem that the re-spray has been well done so I'm happy about the finish etc.

You know how it is though, you get your first Lotus (or anyone for that matter) and it becomes a mild obsession to keep yer beast in perfect order. At the end of the day she looks good and drives better. If only the weather was a wee bit better in Scotland, I'd be a happy man.

Cheers,

G.

[greysquirrel]

I had someone 'bump'/scrape the back end right under the elise logo, due to it cracking it means they have to do whatever they do and then repaint it. Whereas metal cars might get away with scratch removal techniques the slightest bump on an elise can mean paint being needed.