Newbie here - I've just bought an Elise.

[mangeee]

Hi,
I've just bought a 1996 elise. I pick it up a week on Saturday.
It needs a bit of work on it, it's done 60K and I did get the cheapest Elise that I've seen. Not the wisest move I know - but it's all I could afford.

Anyway, being as it's a bank holiday weekend when I pick it up, I wondered whether there is any sort meeting that weekend where some of you may be able to tell me whether I've bought a real dud or, I hope, a bargin.


thanks

[mangeee]

Oh - one other thing..

Is there an easy way to get in and out of the thing?

The neighbours will p*ss themselves if I keep rolling out onto my knees on the driveway.

[thub]

Take a look on www.midlandslotus.co.uk for possible meets.

Have fun with your new toy!

[S Works]

Grant, welcome to the madhouse.

All I'd say is just 'cos its older and got (comparitively) longer legs than many about (but hey's it's been around 8 years so 60k's still below ave miles right!) don't mean its a dud. If it's been looked after and the service schedule is upto date there's no reason why it should be bad.

For peace of mind I would seriously recommend getting a check of it done by a local specialist to make sure you know what you're letting yourself in for.

As has been said many times before, the worst thing is to have a car you love sitting on the drive waiting for you to get the money together to fix it when things go wrong...

Perfect example: this week mine went in for a GEO check 'cos I thought the steering was feeling heavy, came back with a report noting that it had play in the steering rack and that needed replacing. With the parts, labour and GEO setup it's going to cost me around £500. Fortunately I have that in my "Elise" fighting fund" but it's something I'm pretty hacked off about... then that's car ownership for you isn't it.

Money's always p!ssing out the wallet for something or another!

Tim

[rfoster]

Welcome! Getting in and out of the thing with some degree of dignity just takes a little practice - my chosen way is to put your left leg in first, then popping your bum through the hole next and onto the seat, finally swinging your right leg in, minding the wiper stalk with your foot! Lotus should have had some pictures of this in the handbook!
I reckon a years worth of advanced yoga would probably help!

[aromat]

If you want me to have agood look over it to stop you getting your leg liofted by a main dealer, just let me know. I'll tell you what really needs doing - then it's up to you if / when / where you get the work done.

Bruce

[gadgeroonie]

Welcome - I've just bought one Too

what did you pay for it out of interest ?

[mangeee]

I paid £9250, is this the cheapest one yet?. FLSH, hpi clear. All mot's etc. A few stone chips. A scratch or two on the bonnet, two new rear tyres, new battery, the lady selling it says that it's had performance brakes fitted but the disks aren't drilled or fluted so I assume they are just replacements for the metal matrix ones. - oh, and a hardtop. There's a CRP in the boot but I believe the cat is fitted. There's a non standard air filter on there, but the original bits are in the boot. The filter looks nothing like any of the other replacement ones I've seen whilst searching. When I get it I'll post a pic to see if anybody recognises it.
What do you guys (and gals) think so far?

[gadgeroonie]

sounds like a good price to me

the cheaper ones have all been involved in accicdents

[Debbie_Jane]

mangeee said:

Oh - one other thing.. Is there an easy way to get in and out of the thing? The neighbours will p*ss themselves if I keep rolling out onto my knees on the driveway.

I am glad its not just me that has problems getting in and out of the car! (see 'Suits you Sir!' topic on the Elise/Exige/340R forum)

[Muncher]

mangeee said:

I paid £9250, is this the cheapest one yet?. FLSH, hpi clear. All mot's etc. A few stone chips. A scratch or two on the bonnet, two new rear tyres, new battery, the lady selling it says that it's had performance brakes fitted but the disks aren't drilled or fluted so I assume they are just replacements for the metal matrix ones. - oh, and a hardtop. There's a CRP in the boot but I believe the cat is fitted. There's a non standard air filter on there, but the original bits are in the boot. The filter looks nothing like any of the other replacement ones I've seen whilst searching. When I get it I'll post a pic to see if anybody recognises it. What do you guys (and gals) think so far?

Excellent, that's the sort of car I'll be looking for in the next few months

[DanH]

Bruce (Aromat) has a really good rep for doing work on peoples cars, so I'd take him up on that offer if he's near you. He's also very reasonably priced.

[jig]

Debbie_Jane said:

I am glad its not just me that has problems getting in and out of the car! (see 'Suits you Sir!' topic on the Elise/Exige/340R forum)

I'm 6'3", so no, it's not just you! I've got foot prints all over the right hand side of my dash!

[mangeee]

Thanks for the offer Bruce, I'll call you when I get the car and sort something out. If it does need work doing would I be able to help?

I've also had another tip for getting in and out;
When I fall out on my hands and knees I just make sure I'm facing Mecca... Unfortunately my drive is in the wrong direction.

As for sex in the car.... if only. My missis is more worried about getting in and out than I am.
She did, however, tell me that all her friends want a ride in it (does this happen often?). I don't think she realsied what she said. She thought the smile on my face was because I'd just driven the car for the first time.

[Debbie_Jane]

[quote=mangeee]
I've also had another tip for getting in and out;
When I fall out on my hands and knees I just make sure I'm facing Mecca... Unfortunately my drive is in the wrong direction.
quote]

Actually someone told me today to slide the seat all the way back before trying to get out and that helps a lot and will save me getting more bruises on my left leg as I hit it on the steering wheel each time I get out!