What Elise to get for 13k

[zippy500]

Quick question. First time Elise buyer, moving from TVR. £13000 max

Low mileage S1, Low mileage S1 111s or an S2(but higher mileage)
I am very fussy about condition etc so nicest I can get. Not bothered about tracking or anything, just fun drive.


Which would be best bet as I like all of them.

Cheers all.

[sramdeen]

I would say that you could pick up a nice one for 13k. You will definitely be able to get an S2 and it won't necessarily be a high mileage example. When I was looking for mine, I could have picked up an early private sale Sports Tourer S2 (~120BHP) with about 30-40k on for around £13k.
You should also be able to find a 135R (S2) for around this money. They are more track-focused, however, so it might not fit the bill.
An S1 Sport 160 is a beautiful car and my favourite of the S1s.

But... Whatever you do, make sure you get a decent exhaust system on it. The first few I test drove really did sound like a metro or rover 200, with the standard exhaust fitted. Coming from a TVR, you must be spoilt when it comes to a nice driving soundtrack!

[sramdeen]

http://pistonheads.com/sales/371785.htm

and

http://pistonheads.com/sales/363428.htm

[Skyman]

Good luck with your search. It took me 6 months to find mine (cue gratuitous picture content) -




.....but it was well worth the wait. Great cars, and agree with the above that a well selected exhaust is a must.

Edited by Skyman on Thursday 14th February 19:54

[LivinLaVidaLotus]

You really do take every opportunity to whip it out don't you?

[Skyman]

LivinLaVidaLotus said:

You really do take every opportunity to whip it out don't you?

You've heard then?

[piooly]

S1 Sport 160 !!

[Ultrasound]

piooly said:

S1 Sport 160 !!

You beat me to it. Really there can be no other choice.

[Gad-Westy]

I'm not sure that I'd want to spend £13k on a S1 160, not convinced it offers enough over a 111s, particularly with so many cars running S2 suspension these days. If it was an S1, this is where my money would go:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/371538.htm

S2 wise, this looks pretty good.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/370114.htm

And the wildcard:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/346830.htm


ETA Just noticed that S2 is cat D, thought it seemed cheap.

Edited by Gad-Westy on Thursday 14th February 20:48

[Redlake27]

I've just part-ex'd my 20,000 mile W Reg S1 with factory 135 engine upgrade. It's at carbridge.co.uk for £9995.

Apart from a crack on the windscreen (not in the MOT failure zone) it is perfect.

[kambites]

Only car or weekend toy?

If it's a daily driver, get an S2 (or VX220T if you can find a good one in budget). If it's a weekend toy, get an S1 Sport 160.

[sramdeen]

S1 Honda for 14k!!!!!! NICEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

[zippy500]

It will be 2nd car, few work journeys, but mainly sunny fun driving.

[LivinLaVidaLotus]

If it's just a fun car, then the S1 Honda would be where my money was, every day (as mine is), would have to be a 111S or an S2 (well, that's my personal opinion anyway).

[kambites]

But the S1 Honda is 14k and the OP said 13k max. I doubt you'll be able to barter nearly 10% off the asking price.

[zippy500]

A tad less than 13 would be perfect, incase I need to change exhaust etc.

How are the Honda ones on insurance out of interest?

[S Works]

Expensive, and limited of choice. At £14k I'd be very interested to see the condition that Honda'd 160's in.

[Loudman]

What TVR is it? I recently moved from a 4.0 Chim to a Mk2 111s, I haven't driven a 130bhp one but I must admit I'm not overwhelmed by the feeling of power in the 111s, so i'd guess that a less powerfull one will feel like quite a 'step-down' from a TVR. Even though I've got sports exhaust it also sounds crap compared to my old V8. That said overall groundcovering speed is at least as good, and the grin factor is about the same i'd say, build quality much better (what wouldn't be....) and overall I'm well chuffed with the new experience. Its not a fair question to say which is better, cos they have very different characters.

[LivinLaVidaLotus]

Loudman said:

build quality much better (what wouldn't be....)

Crikey, you know TVR build quality was crap when someone says Lotus' is much better, lol.

Elise has never been about raw power though, so you're always going to be disappointed if you come from something that tries to make up for other deficiencies through sheer power. It's all about the handling and speed through the twisties.

10% Off - You never know till you ask/try.

[zippy500]

It was a Griffith 500 and a very good one strangely enough, never let me down once in 6 years of ownership, I am a keen tinkering type of person so maybe thats why, but that aside. I know its a different car and test drives so far havent dissapointed.

was considering a Caterham firstly, but couldnt find one I like after a year of looking, so decided on an Elise instead. Now its teh choices of that are getting me, hehe.

Could always get some MP3's with V8 roar on them if I miss it too much.