Late model or low miles
Discussion
I'm looking to buy an Elise S1 and have been advised to buy the latest model I can afford on the basis that more 'quirks' were ironed out as production continued. The problem with that, though, is the only late cars within my budget (about £13.5k) are high milers.
So my question is this: is it better to go for an early car with fewer miles, or a later one with more? Your advice would be much appreciated.
Adam.
So my question is this: is it better to go for an early car with fewer miles, or a later one with more? Your advice would be much appreciated.
Adam.
Swings and roundabouts. I'd argue that a higher milage car will have had all of the niggles ironed out anyway, so that's a pretty moot point. There's nothing wrong with high milage, it shows the car has been used for it's purpose rather than sitting gathering dust and faults in a lockup.
Also high miles may need things replaced like brake pads & balljoints etc. They add up very quickly. You can get it on low mileage cars too though, so there's no simple answer. Buy on condition...
Personally I'd go for something with average mileage for the age. Not really worth the premium for low mileage, nor probably worth picking up something very leggy unless its particularly nice or well priced.
People seem to get a bit hung up on having ultra low mileage on the Elise despite it's basic mechanical soundness. When trying to sell my '99 T plate late last year on 24,000 had one guy turn it down as it had too high a mileage for him - on a 4 year old car (which was pretty much immaculate too)! I pointed out that my girlfriends sister's elise had only done 7,000 miles when she bought it yet had blatently been thrashed round a track most weekends and had already suffered head gasket failure...
For that price I'd go for a 99 T with up to 30k on the clock. Most important thing is the history, not just full service with dealer or recognised specialist, but the little things that show a car has been properly cared for.
Happy hunting!
Chris
For that price I'd go for a 99 T with up to 30k on the clock. Most important thing is the history, not just full service with dealer or recognised specialist, but the little things that show a car has been properly cared for.
Happy hunting!
Chris
low or high milage doesn't make too much difference I don't think. Me and my brother both have 99 s1's...he's done 12k and I've done 31K and as far as costs are concerned we've both spent about the same. Biggest expense I've had is replacing all the ball joints my brother his shocks for about the same cost. If an older car has already had these kind of things done then it might actually end up costing you less.
Just get whatever you go for inspected by someone who knows what they're doing.
Just get whatever you go for inspected by someone who knows what they're doing.
Thanks for the advice. Having read through the posts, I think mileage and age both come behind condition and history! I have a while to choose (won't have the funds until October/November, when prices will be down anyway), so I'll look at as many examples as I can before then...
Adam.
Adam.
Lots of things to check out if you go for an older one. A useful buying guide is on elise FAQ: www.elise-faq.info/
I bought a 31k '97, with an encyclopedic service hisytory. It had all the common niggles/early design faults - but I put them right & now it is perfect (but still rattles - this in normal). For the price I got it for (at the time) I saved more than I have spent on it since.
Had it just over a year & it has now done 47k - use it everyday & took it halfway round Europe last summer. You can't beat it.
The only thing with mine is that it is pretty well stonechipped in all the normal places - the front looks a bit like a starry night. I saw this as a good thing as it showed the car had not been in a shunt & resprayed. Might get it sprayed soon though.
Whatever you buy - a goldust piece of advice I was given, which is a bit of a hassle but essential really, is to get an alignment check - make sure the chassis is straight.
I bought a 31k '97, with an encyclopedic service hisytory. It had all the common niggles/early design faults - but I put them right & now it is perfect (but still rattles - this in normal). For the price I got it for (at the time) I saved more than I have spent on it since.
Had it just over a year & it has now done 47k - use it everyday & took it halfway round Europe last summer. You can't beat it.
The only thing with mine is that it is pretty well stonechipped in all the normal places - the front looks a bit like a starry night. I saw this as a good thing as it showed the car had not been in a shunt & resprayed. Might get it sprayed soon though.
Whatever you buy - a goldust piece of advice I was given, which is a bit of a hassle but essential really, is to get an alignment check - make sure the chassis is straight.
DanH said:
A nail will be costly to put right though =/ And you don't want an Elise which needs lots of new balljoints, new suspension and a wishbones etc. because then you won't be able to drive it safely at the pace envisaged by the manufacturer.
I didn't mean I was going to buy a nail, just that a poor Elise will be hard to spot when I'm used to driving a Smart. Hence I need to do a few test drives to tell the different between a good and bad Elise...
Adam.
Gassing Station | Elise/Exige/Europa/340R | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff