Discussion
My Mk1 111s has now done just over 50000 miles. I've had it just over a year and it really has been fairly painless to live with as a daily driver, including a driving holiday in France where 12hr days in the car were fairly common. My worry is what is the point whereby it starts to fall apart in a spectacularly expensive manner and be worth near to chuff all for resale? Do I trade up (almost certainly for a new 111s / 111r) now or keep driving a car that inherently has nothing really wrong with it at the moment?
Comments especially from those who have gone from S1 to S2 would be really appreciated - I cannot bring myself to drive anything less involving to drive than my S1
Cheers
Andy
Comments especially from those who have gone from S1 to S2 would be really appreciated - I cannot bring myself to drive anything less involving to drive than my S1
Cheers
Andy
50k is quite a lot of miles for an Elise and the more you put on it the worse it will be come sale time.
I think dealers will try and shaft you good and proper if you part ex it. Probably better off trying to get a private sale.
Or why not keep it and have it TT'd or drop an Audi lump in it instead
I think dealers will try and shaft you good and proper if you part ex it. Probably better off trying to get a private sale.
Or why not keep it and have it TT'd or drop an Audi lump in it instead
How much did you pay for it? How much do you want back?
If it's in good condition, FLSH (dealer or indie), on that mileage I guess you're looking at around 12k value now.
I'd seriously consider just maintaining it well and keeping it. I know there are Elises running around on 80k+ mls and so long as it's properly looked after there's no reason why it won't run and run (like all cars). If the engine starts fouling up, I'm sure it won't cost an arm and a leg to get a recon K-Series (enough end up in hedges) and have it tucked in the back for more miles.... or you could be a very naughty lad and get the Audi or Honda conversion
KEEP IT! 
If it's in good condition, FLSH (dealer or indie), on that mileage I guess you're looking at around 12k value now.
I'd seriously consider just maintaining it well and keeping it. I know there are Elises running around on 80k+ mls and so long as it's properly looked after there's no reason why it won't run and run (like all cars). If the engine starts fouling up, I'm sure it won't cost an arm and a leg to get a recon K-Series (enough end up in hedges) and have it tucked in the back for more miles.... or you could be a very naughty lad and get the Audi or Honda conversion
KEEP IT! Thats the sort of thing I want top hear - I paid 15k for it just over a year ago from a Lotus dealer and it has a FLSH so 12k now is about what I was looking at. I keep changing my mind at the moment so not sure whether a test drive will be a good idea or an expensive one. Oh and the wife has decided she wants an exige instead!!
There's very little on the car that isn't moderately easy to replace and, lets face it, even if you needed a new/recon motor, it's not exactly exotic or hard to obtain. I have an S1 111s (39k miles) which I maintain entirely myself therefore keeping service costs to parts only. And it's not rocket science really, you can maintain an elise with a minimum of special tools and if you keep on top of things you can catch things like gaiters perishing (common problem) before the job gets expensive. Hope this helps.
S Works said:
If it's in good condition, FLSH (dealer or indie), on that mileage I guess you're looking at around 12k value now.
You'll only get about £14.5 - £15K private so a dealer's going to offer more like £10.5K - £11K to be honest.
If your car was'nt silver I'd see if you wanted to do a deal against mine as I'm looking to get back into an S1 and get something a bit more sensible for day to day stuff (work is making me boring!).
Got to say Tim's on the button.
KEEP IT!
Why sell the car just because it has 50K miles on it. I've just bought a car (Subaru Legacy) with 50k on it!
If the car is in good condition, you enjoy it, and have no financial reason to sell, then don't.
With the mileage the car has done it will be at the bottom of its value anyway. It's value won't fall much with another 10k, or another!
As long as the car is maintained correctly, there is no reason to sell a car purely because of its mileage.
I'd be tempted to use it all the more, and become the proud owner of the highest mileage elise on PH. Get to 100k and Lotus may even do a feature on the car in the club magazine
Regards, Neil
KEEP IT!
Why sell the car just because it has 50K miles on it. I've just bought a car (Subaru Legacy) with 50k on it!
If the car is in good condition, you enjoy it, and have no financial reason to sell, then don't.
With the mileage the car has done it will be at the bottom of its value anyway. It's value won't fall much with another 10k, or another!
As long as the car is maintained correctly, there is no reason to sell a car purely because of its mileage.
I'd be tempted to use it all the more, and become the proud owner of the highest mileage elise on PH. Get to 100k and Lotus may even do a feature on the car in the club magazine
Regards, Neil
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