Looking for my first Elise : HELP

[Slider@7]

After owning 2 Caterhams during the last 5 years, I now feel it's time to try out something else. So, after selling the R300 earlier this month, I'm looking to buy an Elise ... (light = right ).

I've found a nice low mileage standard S1 ... and I'm going to have a look at the car in the flesh, but since I'm an 'Elise' virgin, I would appreciate some advice about what to look for when inspecting a used Elise.

Thanks in advance

[Pied Piper]

Have a look at the sticky at the top of the forum.

[Hollywood Wheels]

Consult the buyers guide matey. DON'T buy on mileage, buy on condition. An original S1, even with low mileage, may need work. There's sh1t loads of info on the sticky at the top of this page........once you've spent a few years reading it, come back to us with any specific points and you'll get loads of help from people far more knowledgeable than me!!

[patmahe]

I'd advise you to get it checked over - shouldn't cost the earth and you'll probably be able to get the contact details of som very knowlegable people in your area from people on here.

If its a lemon its money well spent - and if its not then it'll give you great peace of mind.

[DucatiGary]

low milage . . . .

cant understand what thats all about.

s1 elises like all cars, dont like being sat round in the garage all their life, rubber perishes, seals go over time.

after learning this the expensive way, ill never buy a older/low milage car again.

if its had everything done on it, and maintained regular, your better buying the high milage everyday runner than the low milage garage queen.

the elise are quite a tuff little car, nothing seems to go wrong once youve sorted everything lots of little things like the wiper arm, the std one is pants and if you want to see out the windscreen if there is even a little moisture you need the uprated on that actually pushes the wiper to the screen.

lots of little things where not right on the S1 elise when it came out the factory, thats why most people upgrade most of the things on their elise turning it into what it should have been.

and once they are all done, you'll be very happy no matter what model s1 it is.

[RobM77]

Everything said so far on mileage is correct, but unless you're minted, do bear in mind the resale value. If you buy an immaculate Elise with 40k on the clock for the standard price, it'll take a huge hit if you try and sell it in a few years time with 60/70k on the clock.

[tricky 100]

Why buy a car thats done kkkkk's of miles when theres tons of examples out there with lowish milage ,buy one with as low milage as possible as long as its got a good history, unless you have a low budget then a high milage car makes sense.

[crackthatoff]

tricky 100 said:

Why buy a car thats done kkkkk's of miles when theres tons of examples out there with lowish milage ,buy one with as low milage as possible as long as its got a good history, unless you have a low budget then a high milage car makes sense.

But time and time again it seems to be the consensus in the elise forum, that the elise with say 40k on the clock with an enthusiastic owner that has never missed a service, warmed her up properly and 'whatever needs doing, get it done' personality that drives weekly is the one to go for !
Not some polish merchant that has done 5000 miles in 10 years and has upgraded nothing.
mine is not high milage by any stretch, but when I was buying got given the fore mentioned advice and I went for one with around 20k on the clock 3 years old, all recipts etc etc so I had the best of both worlds.... and hey presto no problems whatsoever ! listen to the massive and you can't go far wrong

edited to say you'll know the right one from the right family... it will jump out at you !!!! so view as many as you possibly can... It took me 4 months of searching and a year on I'm still a happy bunny !

Edited by crackthatoff on Monday 26th November 20:46

[Slider@7]

Thanks for all the advice so far ...

The car that I'm going to have a look at on Friday (on possibly buy) has around 15k miles and is from 1999. It comes with FSH (receipts & stamps to prove) and is HPI clear. Besides from a Pipercross induction kit, it is totally standard, which is rather important, since otherwise I won't be able to register it over here (Belgium).

Anybody knows a place where I can have it checked over - car is currently located in Surrey ?

If a good soul on here is willing to sacrifice some time Friday afternoon, this would even be better ... and I could reward this with some nice strong Belgian beer

[Paul RN]

Plans Motorsport will check it over for you

http://www.plansmotorsport.com/

[Peter T]

Reply on Blatchat.

[tricky 100]

Sounds like a good one , do you have a link to the ad , what price is it .Going to be difficult to arrange a garage to look at it whilst your here .

[Slider@7]

Cheers Peter

Link to the add. : www.pistonheads.com/sales/294040.htm

[RobM77]

Slider@7" Target="_blank">class="forumQuoter">Slider@7 said:

Cheers Peter

Link to the add. : www.pistonheads.com/sales/294040.htm

That looks like a really nice one!

[DucatiGary]

I ended up buying the highest milage one Id viewed (I saw 7 from all over the country) lotus enthusiast owned, new suspension, stainless larini, new interior, new toe links, rubbers, etc etc etc etc.

it had 70k miles on the clock when i bought it and was noticably better all round than the 7k miles car that was only 500 pound more!

better ride, engine felt healthier, less rattles, etc etc etc.

list goes on and on.

I paid 10 grand in 12 months getting a 6 year old low milage 911 to perfect running order, it was mint when i bought it but kept having minor fualts, rubbers going, problems becuase it was polished more than run.

I kid you not, 10 grand in 12 months, ask in the PH porsche forum, they heard about it all regular . . . . . .

[tricky 100]

Looks nice , bit pricey though . "Sensible offers" sounds like 9.5k to me especially if you turn up with cash on friday afternoon.

[LivinLaVidaLotus]

I bought one with just shy of 4k on the clock (Just 2 years old), I've done another 1.2k on top in 6 weeks and it feels much better already, the engine seems to have bedded in a bit more, not as tight. Deffo go on condition and how it's been maintained rather than miles.

[Slider@7]

Well, I now am the proud owner of a very nice but standard Elise S1

Went to see the bespoke car on Friday ... and because it was such a nice one I decided to buy it at once.

The drive back home was horrible (heavy rain, dense traffic with various traffic jams), we missed our ferry ... and only got home around 2am at night. But in the end, it was a nice experience (the car behaved very well in such difficult conditions and was a much nicer environment to be in then a Caterham). So first impressions are very positive, although I already know I want more power (which was predictable if you are used to 300bhp/ton ).

Thanks to PeterT for all his help and assistance on Friday

Edited by Slider@7 on Sunday 2nd December 19:44