What to look for???

[Hel'sElise]

Hello everyone, I'm new on here but going to look at an Elise 111s tonight (T reg) and was wondering if any of you helpful people could point me in the right direction of what I should/shouldn't be looking for.
Your expertise is greatly appreciated :D
Hel

[tonyhetherington]

Hi! Welcome to Pistonheads

Take a look here...

www.elise-faq.info/content/buying/index.php

It's a very good website with information similar to what you're after. Hope it's of help!

Unfortunately I don't know anything specific to suggest for your T-plate 111S, except to say be objective.

You WILL enjoy the test drive and you WILL want to buy it, but realise there are others around and you do NOT have to buy tonight - so be objective, be honest with yourself, and if it's the right one - go for it

Good luck, and be sure to let us all know tomorrow how it goes!

[gooby]

Start here

www.elises.co.uk/problems/index.html

Good Luck

[Hel'sElise]

Thanks.... I'll let you know how I get on. So nice to be welcomed and with so much information.

[S Works]

Welcome to the mate - search like mad for tips using the PH search feature.

The following are excellent info sources:
www.elises.co.uk/
www.elise-faq.info/

Also have a dig around on forums.seloc.org which is a big Lotus Enthusiasts club with excellent forums and community.

Above all, check out a few before you buy to get a feel for them and make sure you get it checked over by a reputable independent before you part with your cash! Feel free to ask away if you have any questions, but anything you think of you'll probably be able to find the answer to by searching the forum archives here!

[Hel'sElise]

Well, I drove it... loved it... and didn't buy - but I'm going to keep on looking.

The information I had from you all was incredibly useful and I was able to ask all of the right questions.

I'll let you know how I get on with the searching

[gooby]

What was wrong with it?

[Hel'sElise]

the deal offered on mine
I think I'm going to go for a private sale on mine and then continue looking
Hel

[tonyhetherington]

Can we ask the specs etc of what you were trading in, what car you were looking at etc?

I sold my Lexus to a main dealer and cried at the price they gave me!

[Hel'sElise]

Mine: 03 Ford Focus ST170
Looking at: T reg Elise 111s

[jig]

Considered getting an ST170 myself (to go with the Elise!) - just out of interest, if you don't mind, what do you think yours is worth?

[Hel'sElise]

Parkers figures say £9240 Part Exchange and around £10k private sale. Mine is quite heavily modified but I can remove all of that if I sell it straight - but I may sell on my forum that I run the Welsh side of stownersclub.com

I love the car and can live with it for a while longer so I've got the luxury of time to look around

[S Works]

IMvHO mate - sell yours privately and buy privately. So long as you get any potential buy checked out by a good specialist you should be covered and you'll save £££'s for sure. If you're concerned by warranty, consider getting an AA parts and labour one.

[Hel'sElise]

Yep, I agree and that's the plan now... I'm not in any rush and know what I want. Luckily I can survive without a car (although I will miss my hoons out over the Welsh mountains on weekends) so it'll be worth it in the long run
Hel