Selling a Monaro, buying an Elise
Discussion
Hey guys and gals.
After 4 years of Monaro ownership, I sold my baby yesterday. It used to be my daily driver but since moving in with the girlfriend it got used less and less. I wouldn't have an issue with it being my 2nd car but during the winter months, there was no way it was going to fit in my very small garage, so I sold up.
For a while all I wanted was a Caterham but now i'm seriously looking at the Elise. Specifically an S2 version and ideally thats been slightly modified.
Then I saw this and it's really caught my eye:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1818353.htm
Does anyone know anything about this car?
Also, as it's done a fair few miles, what are the cars like at higher miles? Are they reliable?
Any help or advice would be hugely appreciated.
Adam
After 4 years of Monaro ownership, I sold my baby yesterday. It used to be my daily driver but since moving in with the girlfriend it got used less and less. I wouldn't have an issue with it being my 2nd car but during the winter months, there was no way it was going to fit in my very small garage, so I sold up.
For a while all I wanted was a Caterham but now i'm seriously looking at the Elise. Specifically an S2 version and ideally thats been slightly modified.
Then I saw this and it's really caught my eye:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1818353.htm
Does anyone know anything about this car?
Also, as it's done a fair few miles, what are the cars like at higher miles? Are they reliable?
Any help or advice would be hugely appreciated.
Adam
Have you tried driving one yet? An Elise is almost the polar opposite to a heavy V8, you will either love it or hate it !
I fear that the Elise may feel a bit sedate after a Monaro, with 140 ish BHP, it will still feel pretty slow in a straight line. Mine has 160 ish BHP and it's still no ball of fire.
I fear that the Elise may feel a bit sedate after a Monaro, with 140 ish BHP, it will still feel pretty slow in a straight line. Mine has 160 ish BHP and it's still no ball of fire.
Tin Hat said:
Have you tried driving one yet? An Elise is almost the polar opposite to a heavy V8, you will either love it or hate it !
I fear that the Elise may feel a bit sedate after a Monaro, with 140 ish BHP, it will still feel pretty slow in a straight line. Mine has 160 ish BHP and it's still no ball of fire.
True, i've driven a VX220 T though and the sense of speed in a smaller car is greater than in my lazy beast. I fear that the Elise may feel a bit sedate after a Monaro, with 140 ish BHP, it will still feel pretty slow in a straight line. Mine has 160 ish BHP and it's still no ball of fire.
It's not all about the speed for me either, just the feel of it more than anything else.
I've had a VXR8 so can say that whilst the lazy V8 is great, nothing beats the feel of a superb handling small car like the Elise.
I'd had several elises before the VXR8 but then needed a one car do all which it fulfilled perfectly.
Now I have more room to expand the garage so sold it and went back to Lotus with a 211. The main nail in the coffin for the VXR8 was my wifes Mini Cooper S - it simply embarrassed the VX on the country roads and could leave it standing still. Reminded me what i was missing so ended up where I am.
With respect to that car - seems quite pricey and don't believe the crap on the advert. I had a Race Tech S2 elise (one of the first) and the *only* difference was that instead of 4 speakers you got 2 and the floor is covered in a fake aluminium rubber grill instead of carpets. Some of the dash is lined with Alcantara instead of plastic. It is no quicker or lighter.
I do agree Laser Blue is great (thats what mine was) and do think the black wheels set it off nicely but beauty in the eye and all that.
Some of the mods would need some questions asked. I've personally not heard of Gaz Pro Gold shocks so that raises an eyebrow (most run run lotus sport suspension LSS, nitrons or ohlins).
Am curious as to why the fuel filter system was fitted... car coomes with one anyway.
Good to find out what brand of "upgraded" brake pads and discs have been fitted. Some are better than others and some are... not.
In terms of general reliability they are pretty good. However, would be worth finding out more about the head gaskget repair - when this goes it can, but not always, cause internal damage leading to a warped head. If only the gasket was replaced without replacing/skiming the head I would be a bit wary.
Cat removed so you'd need to pop that back in - doesn't do anything other than make it pop n bang on the overrun.
for similar money:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1776813.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1782779.htm
Maybe not as high spec but much lower mileage and some extras (hard top roof on one).
I'd had several elises before the VXR8 but then needed a one car do all which it fulfilled perfectly.
Now I have more room to expand the garage so sold it and went back to Lotus with a 211. The main nail in the coffin for the VXR8 was my wifes Mini Cooper S - it simply embarrassed the VX on the country roads and could leave it standing still. Reminded me what i was missing so ended up where I am.
With respect to that car - seems quite pricey and don't believe the crap on the advert. I had a Race Tech S2 elise (one of the first) and the *only* difference was that instead of 4 speakers you got 2 and the floor is covered in a fake aluminium rubber grill instead of carpets. Some of the dash is lined with Alcantara instead of plastic. It is no quicker or lighter.
I do agree Laser Blue is great (thats what mine was) and do think the black wheels set it off nicely but beauty in the eye and all that.
Some of the mods would need some questions asked. I've personally not heard of Gaz Pro Gold shocks so that raises an eyebrow (most run run lotus sport suspension LSS, nitrons or ohlins).
Am curious as to why the fuel filter system was fitted... car coomes with one anyway.
Good to find out what brand of "upgraded" brake pads and discs have been fitted. Some are better than others and some are... not.
In terms of general reliability they are pretty good. However, would be worth finding out more about the head gaskget repair - when this goes it can, but not always, cause internal damage leading to a warped head. If only the gasket was replaced without replacing/skiming the head I would be a bit wary.
Cat removed so you'd need to pop that back in - doesn't do anything other than make it pop n bang on the overrun.
for similar money:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1776813.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1782779.htm
Maybe not as high spec but much lower mileage and some extras (hard top roof on one).
Tin Hat said:
Have you tried driving one yet? An Elise is almost the polar opposite to a heavy V8, you will either love it or hate it !
I fear that the Elise may feel a bit sedate after a Monaro, with 140 ish BHP, it will still feel pretty slow in a straight line. Mine has 160 ish BHP and it's still no ball of fire.
But the first time you throw it around a corner!I fear that the Elise may feel a bit sedate after a Monaro, with 140 ish BHP, it will still feel pretty slow in a straight line. Mine has 160 ish BHP and it's still no ball of fire.
Tin Hat said:
Have you tried driving one yet? An Elise is almost the polar opposite to a heavy V8, you will either love it or hate it !
I fear that the Elise may feel a bit sedate after a Monaro, with 140 ish BHP, it will still feel pretty slow in a straight line. Mine has 160 ish BHP and it's still no ball of fire.
Unless it's got a Honda, Audi or Duratec in it I fear that the Elise may feel a bit sedate after a Monaro, with 140 ish BHP, it will still feel pretty slow in a straight line. Mine has 160 ish BHP and it's still no ball of fire.
fuzzymonkey said:
Mr Red Barron said:
Also, as it's done a fair few miles, what are the cars like at higher miles? Are they reliable?
You think a 9 year old car that has done 56000 miles is high? 
Mr Red Barron said:
fuzzymonkey said:
Mr Red Barron said:
Also, as it's done a fair few miles, what are the cars like at higher miles? Are they reliable?
You think a 9 year old car that has done 56000 miles is high? ads_green said:
That's just a list of people, though I guess the OP could e-mail them. I'm sure they'll be expensive service requirements when you take an Elise much over 50k. Springs, dampers and bushes spring to mind (no pun intended). Original parts on my old 328i sport came to £1600, to I dread to think what it costs on an Elise, given that everything else on them seems to be more expensive. I'll find out myself soon 
Mine's done 30k and I can feel that the damping isn't quite what it was at 4k miles when I bought the car.RobM77 said:
ads_green said:
That's just a list of people, though I guess the OP could e-mail them. I'm sure they'll be expensive service requirements when you take an Elise much over 50k. Springs, dampers and bushes spring to mind (no pun intended). Original parts on my old 328i sport came to £1600, to I dread to think what it costs on an Elise, given that everything else on them seems to be more expensive. I'll find out myself soon Mine's done 30k and I can feel that the damping isn't quite what it was at 4k miles when I bought the car.Buy the bits on Eliseparts and get an excellent Elise specialist like Guglielmi to fit and setup and it should come in at lot less I would have thought.
dom180 said:
RobM77 said:
ads_green said:
That's just a list of people, though I guess the OP could e-mail them. I'm sure they'll be expensive service requirements when you take an Elise much over 50k. Springs, dampers and bushes spring to mind (no pun intended). Original parts on my old 328i sport came to £1600, to I dread to think what it costs on an Elise, given that everything else on them seems to be more expensive. I'll find out myself soon Mine's done 30k and I can feel that the damping isn't quite what it was at 4k miles when I bought the car.Buy the bits on Eliseparts and get an excellent Elise specialist like Guglielmi to fit and setup and it should come in at lot less I would have thought.
RobM77 said:
dom180 said:
RobM77 said:
ads_green said:
That's just a list of people, though I guess the OP could e-mail them. I'm sure they'll be expensive service requirements when you take an Elise much over 50k. Springs, dampers and bushes spring to mind (no pun intended). Original parts on my old 328i sport came to £1600, to I dread to think what it costs on an Elise, given that everything else on them seems to be more expensive. I'll find out myself soon Mine's done 30k and I can feel that the damping isn't quite what it was at 4k miles when I bought the car.Buy the bits on Eliseparts and get an excellent Elise specialist like Guglielmi to fit and setup and it should come in at lot less I would have thought.
http://www.eliseparts.com/products/show/73/503/s2-...
Edited by dom180 on Saturday 3rd July 12:44
Hi Adam - you may not remember me, but we met at an airfield day a couple of years ago. I was in a ruby red s1 honda elise and you were taking the monaro on track for the first time, and we exchanged pax rides in each others cars.
Just wanted to say, good to hear you're moving to the Lotus fold and if you need any advice or want a ride in an s1 drop me a line as I know you're not far away.
Cheers
Miles
Just wanted to say, good to hear you're moving to the Lotus fold and if you need any advice or want a ride in an s1 drop me a line as I know you're not far away.
Cheers
Miles
dom180 said:
RobM77 said:
dom180 said:
RobM77 said:
ads_green said:
That's just a list of people, though I guess the OP could e-mail them. I'm sure they'll be expensive service requirements when you take an Elise much over 50k. Springs, dampers and bushes spring to mind (no pun intended). Original parts on my old 328i sport came to £1600, to I dread to think what it costs on an Elise, given that everything else on them seems to be more expensive. I'll find out myself soon Mine's done 30k and I can feel that the damping isn't quite what it was at 4k miles when I bought the car.Buy the bits on Eliseparts and get an excellent Elise specialist like Guglielmi to fit and setup and it should come in at lot less I would have thought.
http://www.eliseparts.com/products/show/73/503/s2-...
Edited by dom180 on Saturday 3rd July 12:44
smiles1 said:
Hi Adam - you may not remember me, but we met at an airfield day a couple of years ago. I was in a ruby red s1 honda elise and you were taking the monaro on track for the first time, and we exchanged pax rides in each others cars.
Just wanted to say, good to hear you're moving to the Lotus fold and if you need any advice or want a ride in an s1 drop me a line as I know you're not far away.
Cheers
Miles
Miles, nice to hear from you again buddy. how could I forget?? Your Honda elise was bloody nuts!! I'm hopefully off to view a car either tonight or tommorow night, so i'll update you with what happens. fingers crossed though!Just wanted to say, good to hear you're moving to the Lotus fold and if you need any advice or want a ride in an s1 drop me a line as I know you're not far away.
Cheers
Miles
smiles1 said:
Mr Red Barron said:
Miles, nice to hear from you again buddy. how could I forget?? Your Honda elise was bloody nuts!! I'm hopefully off to view a car either tonight or tommorow night, so i'll update you with what happens. fingers crossed though!
Any good?Mr Red Barron said:
smiles1 said:
Mr Red Barron said:
Miles, nice to hear from you again buddy. how could I forget?? Your Honda elise was bloody nuts!! I'm hopefully off to view a car either tonight or tommorow night, so i'll update you with what happens. fingers crossed though!
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