Elise S1 vs Elan M100
Discussion
Hi guys.
Havign saved some money together i'm looking into these two cars, i've done a fair bit of research and its obvious that while the M100 is a decent little sports car, on driving thrills it doesnt compare to the Elise.
However with my budget, i could probably go up to 8k to spend on the car alone, 9ish tops. This would get me a decent mid priced m100, but seems to me to be scraping the bottom of what the early s1 elises go for. Are Elises this cheap worth bothering with? Or will they quickly turn into a nightmare/money pit?
Also i am 22, and while ive managed to save some and can budget well, i'm certainly not made of money, in insurance terms the m100 will cost me 800ish, and the S1 probably just over a grand, so there is the added bonus of saved money there. (although this is just based on confused.com and not really shopping around hard)
So my question is, in my position, what is the smart one to go for? Mid-priced nicely looked after elan, or bottom line S1 elise that could also cost more to insure?
My heart says Elise, my head says maybe the Elan is more sensible...
EDIT: By the way it will be a Daily Driver and i tend to do quite low mileage, about 7000 give or take a year.
Havign saved some money together i'm looking into these two cars, i've done a fair bit of research and its obvious that while the M100 is a decent little sports car, on driving thrills it doesnt compare to the Elise.
However with my budget, i could probably go up to 8k to spend on the car alone, 9ish tops. This would get me a decent mid priced m100, but seems to me to be scraping the bottom of what the early s1 elises go for. Are Elises this cheap worth bothering with? Or will they quickly turn into a nightmare/money pit?
Also i am 22, and while ive managed to save some and can budget well, i'm certainly not made of money, in insurance terms the m100 will cost me 800ish, and the S1 probably just over a grand, so there is the added bonus of saved money there. (although this is just based on confused.com and not really shopping around hard)
So my question is, in my position, what is the smart one to go for? Mid-priced nicely looked after elan, or bottom line S1 elise that could also cost more to insure?
My heart says Elise, my head says maybe the Elan is more sensible...
EDIT: By the way it will be a Daily Driver and i tend to do quite low mileage, about 7000 give or take a year.
Edited by Forbes82 on Monday 8th June 00:52
Elan's don't do a lot for me I'm afraid but I don't think they'd be a bad choice if they float your boat. £8-9k is more than enough to get a good S1 Elise. Running costs are quite variable. Will you be using garages or servicing the car yourself? I do my own work and its very cheap to run but other's would have to tell you what sort of costs are involved using specialists. If you buy a lemon you could see big bills but the thing to make sure of is that all the suspension components are in god nick and have plenty of life left in them. That and the brakes seem to be the areas capable of generating big bills. Well them and upgrades! The engine is boggo rover stuff so nothing major to worry about. Even the dreaded head gasket failure can be fixed for around £500 (or £100 DIY!).
Just to throw a spanner in the works though, have you considered a VX220. Ok, the badge isn't for everyone but insurance is considerably cheaper than the Elise as are most parts and servicing costs. The hood is better than the S1 as well. Only thing to worry about seems to be the availability of body panels. Your budget should easily buy a good one.
Just to throw a spanner in the works though, have you considered a VX220. Ok, the badge isn't for everyone but insurance is considerably cheaper than the Elise as are most parts and servicing costs. The hood is better than the S1 as well. Only thing to worry about seems to be the availability of body panels. Your budget should easily buy a good one.
Interesting, i thought my budget would really be scraping an elise but havent researched them a great deal yet. Servicing wise all that can be covered by myself, and anything but really major repairs can be done with help from my lotus nut of a father.
I'll look into the VX220, that probably sounds like the smart mans choice, although ashamedly i have to admit coming from a family of lotus lovers the badge does hold some sway for me, i'll have to see if this is outwieghed by the difference in price!
I'll look into the VX220, that probably sounds like the smart mans choice, although ashamedly i have to admit coming from a family of lotus lovers the badge does hold some sway for me, i'll have to see if this is outwieghed by the difference in price!
Edited by Forbes82 on Monday 8th June 08:26
If I were selling my S1 (which I'm not), 9K would be enough to make me part with it.
It needs no work in the forseeable future with recent brake and suspension upgrades, new tyres, FSH etc.
So yes, you can get a very nice S1 within budget.
I couldn't buy an Elan for driving thrills as the wrong wheels are driven, capable as it is....
It needs no work in the forseeable future with recent brake and suspension upgrades, new tyres, FSH etc.
So yes, you can get a very nice S1 within budget.
I couldn't buy an Elan for driving thrills as the wrong wheels are driven, capable as it is....
I don't think Elises are generally selling for anywhere near the asking prices at the moment. You could get a good S1 two years ago for 9k, I can 't believe that you can't now. Don't be scared to make silly offers.
Buy on condition not mileage. Track use is sometimes a good thing and sometimes a bad thing depending on how well the car has been looked after (many track cars have been significantly upgraded).
For 9k though, my money would be going on a good VX220 N/A.
Buy on condition not mileage. Track use is sometimes a good thing and sometimes a bad thing depending on how well the car has been looked after (many track cars have been significantly upgraded).
For 9k though, my money would be going on a good VX220 N/A.
Interesting, 9k really is the top of budget though, i'd like to not have to stretch quite that far if possible, hence why part of me sees a big benefit on being able to spend a couple of grand less on the elan and being able to have some savings. Although saying this if i do quickly need the money in a year or so's time i really wouldnt lose too much on resale value.
There is alot to weigh up on this one, i definately need to go look at some Elises and vx220's.
There is alot to weigh up on this one, i definately need to go look at some Elises and vx220's.
Edited by Forbes82 on Monday 8th June 09:30
What a bunch of grumpy old elise fans...
I fell in love with he M100 a long ime ago and prices on them are quite odd, some are so incredibly low you couldnt possibly drive past and I have seen some on a dealers forecourt hat made my eyes water. There are brilliant deals o have out there.
To drive they are brilliant, just brilliant but you would expect that from a Lotus. Think of crossing an original Integra type R with an original MX5. You wont give a stuff that it is front wheel drive, they are brilliant.
The engine is an isuzu turbo lump which is solid and built to last (isuzu make sturdy off road and utility vehicles). The roof is great, a little prone to wear around some of the pivots but a good simple rag top roof. It has a boot. The only down point is all the vauxhall switch gear.
Try one, the elise is the purest driving machine you can find but the Elan is fun and practical and beautiful.
I fell in love with he M100 a long ime ago and prices on them are quite odd, some are so incredibly low you couldnt possibly drive past and I have seen some on a dealers forecourt hat made my eyes water. There are brilliant deals o have out there.
To drive they are brilliant, just brilliant but you would expect that from a Lotus. Think of crossing an original Integra type R with an original MX5. You wont give a stuff that it is front wheel drive, they are brilliant.
The engine is an isuzu turbo lump which is solid and built to last (isuzu make sturdy off road and utility vehicles). The roof is great, a little prone to wear around some of the pivots but a good simple rag top roof. It has a boot. The only down point is all the vauxhall switch gear.
Try one, the elise is the purest driving machine you can find but the Elan is fun and practical and beautiful.
Ill certainly go and try some elises/vx220s and elans next weekend. I'm finding it quite hard to make any sort of decision having not driven them. I'm starting to think that as decent elans can seem to be had for 5kish, i might be better off buying one, putting the rest in savings, and then in a year or two when i'm a bit more stable on money and insurance falls even more i could upgrade to the elise.
The other factor is that as an everyday car, the elan seems to have a much bigger boot, which although it isn't a concern of mine, it would no doubt prove handy now and then.
Thanks for the input guys.
The other factor is that as an everyday car, the elan seems to have a much bigger boot, which although it isn't a concern of mine, it would no doubt prove handy now and then.
Thanks for the input guys.
If I were looking to buy an S1 Elise now I'd be looking to spend a minimum £8-9k and haveat least £1k for bits and bobs that may need doing. The difference between a good S1 and a flakey one is amazing and the owner of a good one will know its value and not let it go cheap (unless desperate). Condition is important but beware: beneath a shiney body and a book full of service stamps may lay tired suspension and that's not cheap to replace/refurb. A good Elise is a fantastic car but S1s are getting old now and will need parts replacing regularly if you don't want it to deteriorate.
Try and drive as many as you can to get a feel for them but I'd advise saving another couple of grand before taking the plunge.
Try and drive as many as you can to get a feel for them but I'd advise saving another couple of grand before taking the plunge.
As if to prove me wrong this popped up on Seloc
http://forums.seloc.org/classified.php?action=ad&a...
I don't know anything about it but got to be worth a look.
http://forums.seloc.org/classified.php?action=ad&a...
I don't know anything about it but got to be worth a look.
Well i've tried both and the m100 looks like the right car this time.
The elise was a stunning drive, and round a track or on country roads i'd take that every time, however as an only car, the greater comfort on long journeys and bigger boot made all the difference, and still plenty of fun on the windy bits.
I could definately seeing myself owning an Elise at some stage, but i think the chances of me fitting myself, my girlfriend, and enough kit for over night journeys (especially with her packing) is unlikely, which would probably often leave me with an Elise on the driveway and doing the miles in her punto!
Both fantastic cars, had a really good time in the elan too. After trying both i see the elan as a very sporty road car, especially the chipped one i tried. The elise is more of a race car made usable on the road, and a compromise one too far for me at this stage. Would love it as a weekend car though!
The elise was a stunning drive, and round a track or on country roads i'd take that every time, however as an only car, the greater comfort on long journeys and bigger boot made all the difference, and still plenty of fun on the windy bits.
I could definately seeing myself owning an Elise at some stage, but i think the chances of me fitting myself, my girlfriend, and enough kit for over night journeys (especially with her packing) is unlikely, which would probably often leave me with an Elise on the driveway and doing the miles in her punto!
Both fantastic cars, had a really good time in the elan too. After trying both i see the elan as a very sporty road car, especially the chipped one i tried. The elise is more of a race car made usable on the road, and a compromise one too far for me at this stage. Would love it as a weekend car though!
malbon said:
good luck to you !
However, how you can choose an elan over an elise is beyond me ! TBH if you get an elan then if its not for getting a softop you might as well get any modern day hot hatch which will be faster and better and more reliable i.e. 182 Clio.
Hmmm . I would like to understand your definition of "better". However, how you can choose an elan over an elise is beyond me ! TBH if you get an elan then if its not for getting a softop you might as well get any modern day hot hatch which will be faster and better and more reliable i.e. 182 Clio.
I chose the elan because for 3 or 4 hour plus drives i think it will be much more comfortable than the elise, and also gives me the boot space the be able to take a fair amount of stuff with me. The idea of owning a hatchback instead really doesn't appeal to me. Speed isn't the prime reason for me, it's the fun from driving it coupled with the ease of everyday use, which the elan came out top on. I'm not really a fan of hatchbacks at all.
I dont see reliability as an issue either, the elans are supposedly pretty bomb-proof, and my brothers clio has sure had its fair share of troubles. Not sure what you mean by quicker either, the clio 182 is about half a second slower to 60 than the elan SE, and most of the ones ive looked at have already had the ECU and exhaust upgrades that takes it from 165 to near 200bhp, so would be significantly quicker again. Not that these numbers mean much to me, fact is when i drove it i had alot of fun, especially roof down in summer, (something which a hot hatch doesn't offer) ok not as much as an elise, but then it also means i dont have to live with a postbox for a boot. I also think it looks far far nicer than a clio, and i don't think many would disagree.
I really can't see many reasons for picking a clio 182 over it tbh.
I dont see reliability as an issue either, the elans are supposedly pretty bomb-proof, and my brothers clio has sure had its fair share of troubles. Not sure what you mean by quicker either, the clio 182 is about half a second slower to 60 than the elan SE, and most of the ones ive looked at have already had the ECU and exhaust upgrades that takes it from 165 to near 200bhp, so would be significantly quicker again. Not that these numbers mean much to me, fact is when i drove it i had alot of fun, especially roof down in summer, (something which a hot hatch doesn't offer) ok not as much as an elise, but then it also means i dont have to live with a postbox for a boot. I also think it looks far far nicer than a clio, and i don't think many would disagree.
I really can't see many reasons for picking a clio 182 over it tbh.
Edited by Forbes82 on Tuesday 16th June 09:54
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