Been to see an early S2 - expectations?

Been to see an early S2 - expectations?

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snotrag

Original Poster:

14,446 posts

210 months

Tuesday 4th May 2021
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Been wondering about an Elise for ages and finally in a position to buy - at the cheap end of the market. I'm looking for an early K series S2 (having originally thinking I wanted an S1, but the later car actually makes more sense for me as one to regularly use).

I viewed my first car this weekend - bear in mind I am perfectly savvy mechanically etc however have zero experience with Lotus (never even sat in one before). It was private sale, up for £15k, probably room for a bit of a deal.

Spec wise the car was what I think will work for me - early long roof S2, few mild mods (Nitrons, induction etc). I specifically want a car for regular road use and the odd trackday - so not an ultra raw or heavily modded car with harnesses, very low etc.

Now I think having viewed one car its made me decide I really want one, but perhaps not that one. The car was on 90k, mechanically sound, knowledgeable owner and lots of maintenance and love. But the bodywork was poor, which I didnt expect. There were bits of damage all over, chips, cracks etc, the front moulding lines around the headlights were all bubbling up, sills had bits of damage etc. The gearshift in particular felt very, very loose.

(Which concerned me as a poor cable actuated gearshfit is a real no-no having been extremely disappointed with my Boxster after owning lots of MX-5s, which other Boxster owners thought was a good shift!)

I am not daft, i've owned many, many older cars, always buy cheaper/older, however spending this much on an Elise will be comforably the most expensive car I've ever bought, I'm looking for a potential forever car and if I'm not going to find one that is going to look as good as I want, I'm perhaps barking up the wrong tree.

There are a number of other cars that have sold recently in the 16-17k market VERY quickly and this is top budget for me so I'm a bit conflicted as to what to do - Are my expectations too high? The prices are climbing all over (some cars listed in February/March are now advertised at £2000 more in May!) and I worry I'm going to be priced out and miss the boat to ever own a Lotus. I understand the seasonal variation but overall its all going one way. I'm not looking for an investment or jumping on a bandwagon either - I'm in it for the driving.

The car I saw would be great for someone for whom its a cheap purchase and wants to track it etc, for me, I dont think it was right.

Not sure what to do! confused

kambites

67,462 posts

220 months

Tuesday 4th May 2021
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You'll find quite a few scruffy looking but mechanically immaculate Elises out there, because the nature of the car means that many owners are far more interested in keeping the car driving perfectly than looking perfect. If that's a problem for you, there are of course aesthetically good cars out there as well, you'll just have to be patient and potentially pay more to get one.

Bear in mind that if you buy an aesthetically perfect Elise, keeping it that way will cost a significant amount of money because it will pick up stone chips etc.

The gear change probably just needs adjusting; but even if it needs replacing a linkage kit isn't hugely expensive and is pretty straightforward to fit. For example:

Bushes: https://www.eliseparts.com/shop/gearbox-drivetrain...
Cables: https://www.eliseparts.com/shop/gearbox-drivetrain...

The gear change is ever going to feel like a Honda S2000 or an MX5, though.

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 4th May 19:30

BertBert

18,955 posts

210 months

Wednesday 5th May 2021
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Maybe it's the same with all cars - they wear as they get older and at 90k miles, that's a lot of miles (in context of an Elise).

When I was looking a couple of years back, it seemed my budget led me to the scruffy end of the market. I didn't look at many but the scruffy cars were scruffy on the inside as well as outside. Also it did seem to go along with not being in great shape mechanically. I needed to up my budget which I didn't have at the time so I gave up the search.

No doubt there are mechanically good but scruffy ones out there, but I'm just not sure how many!

Bert

SeanyD

3,372 posts

199 months

Wednesday 5th May 2021
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Have a chat with Will Blackham, google him or facebook etc, great reputation for sourcing and selling the right car for the right person.

For what its worth, the early long tail 120 bhp K series Elise S2 is probably my favourite Lotus, having owned various up to my last Exige S. It wasn't the quickest or best spec by any means, but the most enjoyable and fun to live with daily. Enjoy.

snotrag

Original Poster:

14,446 posts

210 months

Wednesday 5th May 2021
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Thanks all. I've got a couple more lined up to see now, so fingers crossed.

kambites said:
it will pick up stone chips etc.


Cheers - owned lots of older lower cars so aware of this, but the more I think about it having 'left the scene', the car I saw was in poor condition bodywise.

kambites said:
Gear shift stuff
I've done a bit more reading/research and it seems like I'll just have to spend a bit more on new/refreshed parts to get the shift 'acceptable' or as it was when new, and accept it'll never match some of the others as you say.


SeanyD said:
Have a chat with Will Blackham.
Will do thumbup


SeanyD said:
For what its worth, the early long tail 120 bhp K series Elise S2 is probably my favourite Lotus, having owned various up to my last Exige S. It wasn't the quickest or best spec by any means, but the most enjoyable and fun to live with daily. Enjoy.
That is good to know and matched both my research and also my experience of other cars - It will get used on the road, 2 or 3 trackdays at most a year, and I've been down the road of too focused/highly modified/too extreme before.

This one - https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/11365543 has just sold unfortunately! However now my mind is up I can act quickly if the right car comes up.

kambites

67,462 posts

220 months

Wednesday 5th May 2021
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BertBert said:
No doubt there are mechanically good but scruffy ones out there, but I'm just not sure how many!
Mine (which is not for sale!) is certainly one of them. It's mechanically immaculate, but both the bodywork and the interior are... um... not.

Like most Elises of this sort of age and mileage the only way to get the interior perfect would be a full retrim - Lotus "leather" just doesn't last very long however careful you are; the sill covers scratch; the seals degrade and squeak; carpets wear; etc. Similarly no Elise which has done 90k miles (or probably even half that) is going to have good paint unless it's been fully resprayed at least once and probably had fibreglass work as well (I'd be impressed if anyone can manage 90k miles in an Elise without walloping the nose on the ground at least once; mine is scratched to buggery under the bottom of the front clam).

Mine is getting to the point now where at some point I'll spend the time and money to sort it out, but I'm under no illusion that it'll stay that way in daily use.

Edited by kambites on Wednesday 5th May 11:45

Mr E

21,583 posts

258 months

Wednesday 5th May 2021
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Mine is similar. Mechanically sorted, but plenty of stone chips and general usage.

The gearbox will never feel like an mx5 I’m afraid.

Looking at values, I might be tempted to sell this summer.

STattam

112 posts

216 months

Thursday 6th May 2021
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I will get my coat after I have said this but... if you are at the top of your budget here have you considered a vx220?

snotrag

Original Poster:

14,446 posts

210 months

Thursday 6th May 2021
quotequote all
STattam said:
I will get my coat after I have said this but... if you are at the top of your budget here have you considered a vx220?
Yes, I have. It is an obvious question. I even briefly looked at VX220s years ago when they were about 6 grand. If I was looking for a a bit of a track hack, or a project for lots of modding or an engine swap, or it was to sit in a collection alongside my 911s and Ferraris etc, then yes, a VX220 makes a lot of sense. I've even owned one of the VXR branded cars that was much denounced but actually a much better car than some less informed might think, so I'm not adverse to the badge.


However, this will be by a significant margin the most expensive thing I've ever bought bar my house. i've had all the usual cheap sportscar options. I've got a garage for the first time ever, which I've been specially preparing to make a home for something special. I just want a LOTUS thats all.

There doesnt actually seem to be that much of a price difference any more anyway really!




Baldchap

7,510 posts

91 months

Thursday 6th May 2021
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Possibly worth popping a post on the SELOC forums as people will often prefer to sell to someone in your position than invite test pilots.

Mister K

114 posts

234 months

Thursday 6th May 2021
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Try John Seal in Yorkshire

skeeterm5

3,331 posts

187 months

Thursday 6th May 2021
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SeanyD said:
Have a chat with Will Blackham, google him or facebook etc, great reputation for sourcing and selling the right car for the right person.

For what its worth, the early long tail 120 bhp K series Elise S2 is probably my favourite Lotus, having owned various up to my last Exige S. It wasn't the quickest or best spec by any means, but the most enjoyable and fun to live with daily. Enjoy.
This.

I sold my S3 Exige to him and he was a great guy who really knew his stuff.

giveitfish

4,030 posts

213 months

Thursday 6th May 2021
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Superb cars but the cheap ones can be rough and become rolling restorations. Still fun though, and they’re simple cars with good parts supply and plenty of specialists.

At the time I bought my S1 it was one of the cheapest in the country and was at the time younger than many of the S2’s you’re looking at.

This thread will give you an idea of the ups and downs at this end of the market!

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

I’d do it again tomorrow. For reference a car in the state mine was in would be £14-£15k today.


snotrag

Original Poster:

14,446 posts

210 months

Saturday 8th May 2021
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Left a deposit on one today. Still an older and well used car but it was much better overall condition leaving me plenty of nice little tarting up projects to do, and having a few bits sorted, fresh test, bit of paint etc before I collect in a week or so. Happy boy.

BertBert

18,955 posts

210 months

Sunday 9th May 2021
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Congrats! Any pics?

giveitfish

4,030 posts

213 months

Sunday 9th May 2021
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Sounds good!

snotrag

Original Poster:

14,446 posts

210 months

Sunday 9th May 2021
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Not a colour I'd usually associate with an Elise (I wanted to one of the bright solid colours, yellow, red etc) but I liked it in person. It reminded me more of a typical TVR colour. Got the space in the garage all waiting!

BertBert

18,955 posts

210 months

Monday 10th May 2021
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Looks very nice!

Shnozz

27,423 posts

270 months

Friday 14th May 2021
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Looks good. Will keep an eye out for you around Yorkshire.

Coriander

17 posts

125 months

Friday 14th May 2021
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Looks great, I’m sure you’ll enjoy that and a great time of the year to get it.