Want to buy an elise but...

[pdennis30]

Hi I am sure this is a common question but I am keen to buy an Elise to replace my Porsche Boxster, and while i know that i can do with out the creature comfort that the Boxster has , I am concerned about the k series engine and the well known head gasket problems, is it a case of when not if the head gasket goes? Is it possible to fit another engine in the elise.
Also as I intend to use it as an every day car i have seen some posts saying that the heaters dont work all that well.

I can put up with the leaky roof as I used to own an Elan!
I look forward to you help
Many Thanks
Paul

[boggy]

Hi there,

I used to own a Audi TT which I brought new about 14 month's ago, I sold it half way through the year with utter contempt for the thing (a pile of rubbish) I'd spend my money on the new Toyota engined 111R it's a little more easy to use than a Rover engined car (more reliable) that said mine's back at the dealer's with a faulty Clutch I'm sure your going to get plenty of feed back either way from here. I've only owned two proper sport's car's (Lotus a S1 and my currant s2 111R) all the other stuff were just imitations or so called sport's coupes

Boggy

>> Edited by boggy on Wednesday 5th January 15:11

[pdennis30]

Thanks Boggy

I forgot to mention that I am looking at the S1 as I dont have the finaces to go for the newer s2 let alone the toyota engined version.

Would I be better off saving for the s2?

I agree with you about the so called sports cars, although nice and comfy they lack the driving experiance that Im looking for.

[jig]

You have several options on the engine:

Honda conversion
Audi conversion
and possible Ford Duratec conversion

You'd need to budget up to 10k for these though, so not really an option if you're on a budget unless you can buy one already converted.

I've got an S2 and it doesn't leak at all. S1's are a bit worse, but it's not bad by any means.

As for HGF, I think it's a question of luck - there are a lot of K-series cars running around without problems. It certainly doesn't worry me, you just have to know what to look out for so that if it does happen, you catch it early.

[jaker]

an elise owner told me that a replacement engine was about a grand (k series) is that a work of fiction? if it's true, who cares if the head gasket goes?

[Chris_w]

Or just get an Elise with an upgraded head gasket set, I believe that cures the weakness of the standard unit.

[S Works]

Just get a 111s and be done with it. If it's been well looked after and you maintain and run it well then you'll likely be ok.

S2 prices have softened a bit so depending on budget you might get a deal on an earlier one (but perhaps not a 111s).

Frankly they're great cars, get a later one which has the little gremlins sorted (clutch hose, throttle body, P Zero's chucked away etc.) and you'll be well pleased.

As for leaking, well it's all about setting the windows up right. Sure it'll leak a bit but when spring comes round you won't give a toss. Last weekend it was freezing but dry and I had the roof off all day. Utterly brilliant.

www.elise-faq.info/ and www.elises.co.uk/ for your reviewing and reading pleasure.

Just get one. Boxters are only half a Porsche anyway

[fergusd]

There are those who'll tell you the K series is a disaster, and there are others (the vast majority) who don't have problems . . .

The K is not a problem unless you want >160bhp out of it, if you leave it standard it's perfectly reliable.

I know many, many people with standard S1's and S2's who have done eg, 50+K miles, loads of track time and have never had a problem . . . whereas I know of only a couple of people with standard cars who have had HGF problems . . . generally older cars, which have known problems that make HGF more likely . . .

Fd

[PJLarge]

I bought an S1 111S a month or two back, trading across from a 250hp MX-5. My Mazda mates thought I was mad and would miss the power, but I don't. Like you, I had reservations about the K-Series but I'm pleasantly surprised by it. It's a great engine with nice power delivery and really likes to be revved. My car seems happy as larry, sits at 88*c all day long and doesn't leak at all, although I haven't left it out with the standard mohair hood yet, only the hardtop. My car's only done 11k, I had the cambelt changed along with the tyres for some advans in the deal (bought from Bell & Colvill) - I'm absolutely delighted with the car. Roll on the better weather now!

Phil.

[Mustard]

pdennis30 said:

Hi I am sure this is a common question but I am keen to buy an Elise to replace my Porsche Boxster, and while i know that i can do with out the creature comfort that the Boxster has , I am concerned about the k series engine and the well known head gasket problems, is it a case of when not if the head gasket goes? Is it possible to fit another engine in the elise. Also as I intend to use it as an every day car i have seen some posts saying that the heaters dont work all that well. I can put up with the leaky roof as I used to own an Elan! I look forward to you help Many Thanks Paul

Dont know how old your Boxster is, but the chances of an Elise suffering HGF are about the same as a Boxster suffering RMS, just I suspect the Elise would be cheaper to fix.

Dont worry! Enjoy...................

[malbon]

Theres a misconception about hgf's. yes- they are common but they are not exactly expensive to fix.

[jfrf]

personally i would say that hgf is more rare rather than common
yes you do read about it happening on forums, but its still a tiny minority

[alunr]

malbon said:

Theres a misconception about hgf's. yes- they are common but they are not exactly expensive to fix.

i'd question just how common they are. I did 59,000 in my last elise with no problems and I know of plenty of others with elise who have had no problems.

Once people hear a bad thing about something it quickly grows into the only thing people hear about.

The K Series is a brilliant engine and I'm happily searching for another S1 as I type

[malbon]

i wouldnt say common in the fact that it happens to every other car..but common enough to say it is a design fault with the K series engine.

It was well documented last year being common in the freelander and other rover based cars.

iv heard of some cars with high mileage and another car of the same year have 2 hgfs before 12k miles.

www.british-cars.co.uk/cgi-bin/gen5?runprog=lotusbbs&mode=thread&access=&subject=2001&source=T&thread=2004123101311316650

There doesn't seem an obvious pattern with regards to mileage. Warming the engine up properly before revving it tho maybe ?

All in all a replacement engine isnt much more than £1500 and that really is worse case scenario with something going wrong with these engines

HGF s tend to be generally £300-£750 repair jobs

[tja]

If you're worried about the K series, get a VX220 or VX220 Turbo

[S1 Hunter]

I agree with Alun R and others. The K series really is a BRILLIANT engine. You can indeed inprove with a Honda conversion etc but it'll cost £10k...

[DanH]

If you are worried about the engine, than an S2 should be a better bet as the k series was improved with new dowels to locate the head etc.

Having said that its pretty rare, although I debate how cheap it is to fix. If you lunch your engine, then spending 1500+ getting it replaced is pretty significant if the car is only worth 12k or so...

[pdennis30]

thanks everyone

I cant get over how many replies I have had and most of them positive, some great links too,

I think like some of you have said, just do it!!
and I think I will.

thanks again

[nightmare]

do consider a VX220 though....think they'll be coming in at S1 prices, with the S2 'set-up' (though it aint like its buckets different from an S1 anwyay)....and the engine is better i reckon....

Hi Mustard - will e-mail you shortly re: Exige discussion of last year if that's okay?

cheers
Night

[S Works]

pdennis30 said:

thanks everyone I cant get over how many replies I have had and most of them positive, some great links too, I think like some of you have said, just do it!! and I think I will. thanks again

Paul, you're welcome mate.... I think most of us went through this conundrum when we first emerged on the Elise scene. I bought mine in Feb last year and I have to say it has been a revelation ever since.

A few niggles along the way but nothing compared to the unmitigated joy it's given me, particularly over the summer with the roof off and Sports zorst blaring across the Kent countryside.

Mine's a standard 118hp K series with a Bell & Colville S/S back box and I cannot fault it. So much fun.

Get a good 'un and you'll be grinning like a chimp on speed for the rest of the year!