Buying Used S2's

[Jameschillman]

So pretty much every S2 ive been about to go and look at has been sold before ive had the chance to go and look at them... Most of them people seem to have put a deposit down offering the full asking price if as described? Is this normal in the 2nd hand market for Elises or have I just been unlucky?

Also if anyone is wanting to sell a 2001/2002 S2 Elise ill buy it!

[Loudman]

In general the market in any 'good' sportscar is fairly stable and prices are pretty keen as people tend to be buying them as a 'luxury' (even for an everyday motor) so sellers know that buyer will pay well for something that they like, its certainly not the same market as a 'transport' car. So in terms of selling price you'll at best be haggling over a few hundred quid, and then only if the seller wants rid. Then you've got the added problem that you're trying to buy an open top sports car just as people are starting to feel that spring is coming, so in short i don't think that its that surprising at all.

[Jameschillman]

Also Other then Pistonheads, Autotrader and Seloc any good places to look?

[LivinLaVidaLotus]

You really are getting around, WHC, SELOC, here

[Jameschillman]

Ahh! And thats only scraping the surface! there are many more to add to that list Karl! Im sure matt put it in my job description somewhere!!

[mac4089]

hello james, my s2 will be up for sale soon, mail me and i will send you some details. mac

[Jameschillman]

mac4089 said:

hello james, my s2 will be up for sale soon, mail me and i will send you some details. mac

Thanks Mac, Am still looking so have replied to your email and look forward to some details

[HiRez]

Lots of Lotus's are being exported to mainland Europe. Pound is currently 'cheap' vs Euro so many are finding their way to France, Belgium etc at full asking price. I've even seen companies organizing 'buying tours' from Germany to the UK!
Recently saw a RHD S111 here in the Netherlands with new plates.

I look at the forums as well and am waiting for an S2 Exige to fall within my budget so I can bring it to Holland. Problem is I will probably need to pay close to 5000 euro's import duty (not so in Belgium and France so more are ending up there). Still a new Exige is 65.000 euro's here in NL for the plain old "S" not even a 240/260 etc.

Edited by HiRez on Thursday 1st April 18:34

[bordseye]

Comments prompted me to have a look through the classifieds to see what had happened to the price I might get for my 2007 12000 miles 111R, touring, aircon, black wheels, traction, in arctic silver. Couldnt see an equivalent below 20k which is a good 2k up on what I found when I last did the exercise a year or so ago. So either the prices being asked today are unrealistic or they have gone up.

[Jameschillman]

Whilst completely out of my budget this car is close by to where I am this weekend : http://www.avonvalleygarage.co.uk/vehicle-details....

I just went to take a look and whilst the car is in Very good condition (the interior has some rust on fixings etc) The price to mee seems very high...? The garage seem to regret ever taking it on as there having trouble shifting it which leads me to believe it is overpriced?

[Loudman]

Hmmm, looks expensive.

I love the fact that they have a bit at the bottom entitled 'other cars similar to this Lotus Elise', a selection which include a Peugeot 607 and a Daihatsu Sirion............I can't say that they were on my shortlist when I was buying my Lotus.......

[HiRez]

Prices have gone up in the last year. As stated before I have been checking prices almost daily for last 2 years (fantasy shopping) and last year there were quite a few Exiges available between 17.000 and 20.000 pounds. Now almost none in that price range. Could be due to overreaction to the economic meltdown, who knows. Also last year there were always around 80-90 S2 Exiges for sale on PH now only +/- 65. My guess they are selling quicker (and at higher prices) due to the lower UK pound (was 1,20/1,25 vs the Euro now 1,10/1,12) which actually makes it cheaper for the Euro buyers...

PS: the price for the Elise you are looking at is quite high


-> edited for the PS.

Edited by HiRez on Friday 2nd April 20:30

[Justin S]

The dash and centre console is wrong for an 05 car. The dash was changed for a later style in the end of 03. The gearlever should have a gaitor on it for starters.
It is a sports tourer ,not an S as has the 118 bhp engine.I would love to see the airbags and 'body kit' as stated...................really am sure they don't know what they have.................Not a good sign to buy from them to be honest.
see the dash and centre vents and gaitor. Mines an 04 spec on a 53 plate

also the engine. This is a 111's engine

[Loudman]

Yeah, I hadn't noticed but that isn't an 'S' which is a toyota engined car and should have the 3 piece diffuser, this is a basic (non-VVC) K-series model. I'd steer clear.

[AllNines]

Justin S said:

The dash and centre console is wrong for an 05 car. The dash was changed for a later style in the end of 03. The gearlever should have a gaitor on it for starters.
It is a sports tourer ,not an S as has the 118 bhp engine.

I agree that there are various aspects on that car that seem wrong, but the "S" (on a K-series car, at least) does not refer to engine power, it's the "111" that would do that (and it would be 120 bhp on an S2, btw). The "S" refers to trim level but that car doesn't seem to have that even.

Prices do seem to be slightly above what they were a year ago (when I was looking for my car) and even then, cars were selling very quickly. I was lucky in that I chanced upon my car in talking to its owner at the Lotus Show before he had advertised it. Letting folk know that you are looking - via this forum for example - seems a good way to hear about cars for sale.

Good luck OP.

[tonypilot101]

hi i am selling the following s2 exige

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1602439.htm if you send me an email i can provide further pictures and service history scans of documents.

regards
tony bostock

[Jameschillman]

tonypilot101 said:

hi i am selling the following s2 exige

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1602439.htm if you send me an email i can provide further pictures and service history scans of documents.

regards
tony bostock

Hi Tony, Im looking for an S2 Elise not an exige sorry!

[S Works]

Good spots JustinS. It's a late model K series car, with the AU numberplate I wonder if it's an ex-Lotus car, and hence why it's got a quirky spec. If the OP's interested in it I'd take a look at the logbook and history and see what it's about. Call Lotus Customer Services if in doubt with the Reg and VIN and see what they can tell you about it.

[griffter]

agree the titanium car is very expensive. I think the website is just a standard dealer template though, hence 'other similar cars'. If they have had it too long it might be worth a phone call to see what they might do; tell them its overpriced and see if theyll deal. Theyre pitching it against 111s at that price. Imho its at least 3k over. Worth a go?

[LivinLaVidaLotus]

Titanium is deffo over-priced IMHO, especially when it doesn't look quite right. Could be right though, most likely an ex Lotus car that they've used to test a few ideas on.