Keeping an Elise Outside and Other Questions

[Mark Benson]

Hi all, currently seriously tempted to fulfil a long term ambition and own an Elise for a while, I've looked at most of the advice offered to others here and on the SELOC board, but have a couple of questions of my own.

First a bit of background; I'm building a track toy in the shape of a Fisher Fury and currently drive an S2000 (company car). The S2000 goes fairly soon as it's the end of the lease, I'm actually hoping to end the lease early as I don't commute to the office anymore and so don't need the practicality and motorway manners of the car anymore and the decrease in tax would be a big advantage - my plan was originally to get an 'everyday' luxobarge and use the Fury for Summer blats and trackdays.

However - as is usual with these things, the build is taking longer than I'd like and I'm not going to be finished this year. Having a 5 series or similar as my only car would drive me up the wall, so I'm looking for an 'interim' car which will allow me to continue to enjoy driving and wil not lose a packet in depreciation while still allowing me to use it for the odd office trip.

So, an Elise would be ideal - the only reason I haven't had one before was the commute down the M4, and as that's now not an issue I see no reason not to go for one. I'd not be wanting to spend a packet, so it's looking like an S1 - I'm quite happy with that.

But....

I don't have a garage, it's full of kit car and tools. Would an Elemental cap or similar be enough to keep the car outside permanently, or do I have to think about putting up some kind of garage (there is room, but I'd rather not).

Roughly how much would a £10-£13k S1 depreciate over a year to 18 months?

I get the impression a carefully modified Elise is a good buy in the longer term as most people seem to go that way anyway, am I correct and would that still apply to a car I didn't intend to keep more than 18 months?

Is the price increase over a standard 120bhp car worth paying for a 135 or a 160?

Thanks in advance.....

[Sublime]

I kept my S1 outside for most of last year, until I finally convinced my parents to remove their kit car from my garage , without any problems or need for a cover, it has got a hard top though.

[bogie]

mines lived outside for 3.5 year - no problems at all...use a shower cape in winter, mainly for ease of de-icing in the morning.

for that money id get a nice S1 111S - a great all rounder for daily use

[Mark B]

I have owned and built a Sylva Striker and an SSC Stylus, both very similar to the Fury you are building.... I now have an Elise as an everyday car. I keep mine on the road at all times, do about 12 - 15k miles a year and love it. The roof is fine, yes it sometimes leaks but it's not drastic, if you are seriously worried then just keep a leather or towel in the car on the sills to soak up rain.

Having said all of the above, I wouldn't suggest you buy an Elise for the purpose you describe. The thing is, you are putting a lot of effort, money and graft into the Fury and I would hate for you to be dissapointed with it once it's built, SVA'd and on the road.

In my honest opinion the Elise is a way better car than a Fury, Striker or Stylus purely because it has been designed from the ground up without the comprimises of using donor parts. Obviously I don't know what spec you are building a car to, but the Elise is a fabulous car in almost all respects, be they handling, grip, speed, acceleration, comfort, etc....

But, I would love to build another Striker, but it would be purely a track orientated machine........

[Mark Benson]

Interesting....

The Fury's getting a Rover V8 and a lot of attention lavished on it, so I'm hoping it won't be a disappointment - hell, it'll be a very different beast to an Elise if nothing else. I wanted to build something that would be fun rather than capable if you see what I mean - a sledgehammer rather than a scalpel (I'd have gone bike power if I'd wanted a nimble, pointy car). A different car to the Elise, not necessarily better, but certainly different. I have no illusions that it may not be the fine driving tool the Elise is, but that's not why I'm building it (plus half the fun is in the build too).

To be honest, if I love the Elise then I'll probably end up keeping both....

And as for a bit of damp - I had an X1/9 for a couple of winters many years ago, so if it's no worse than that (which I doubt) then I'll be fine.

Thanks for your responses so far

[turnamere]

I have kept my S1 outside since I bought it, I don't have a garage at home but I do at work, original plan was to run the Elise for 6 summer months and an old Civic for the winter 6 months. But the car is just too much fun, so the Civic is still in the garage.

I bought it with a hardtop, this went straight in the garage and has not been used since - can't whip the roof off if weather is nice.

I have a full cover but don't like to put it on a dirty car so that is rarely used.

Provided you put the roof on carefully leaks are minimal (where the cant rails meet the A pilars) and generaly leave a small puddle on the sill. If any water makes it any further I simply mop it up with paper towel and drive to work with the windows down and the heater sent to the foot vents to minimise a build up of damp. The only very minor issue is the time it takes to demist on a cold morning, but, if it's cold its usually clear so start the car, take the roof off, screen clear enough to drive - job done.

I don't have a Shower Cape yet, but a friend recommends it, much quicker than cover, no scratching issues, cures leaks and eases misting/frosting issues.

Time to take the roof off for the run home

[StuartB]

Mark Benson said:

I don't have a garage, it's full of kit car and tools. Would an Elemental cap or similar be enough to keep the car outside permanently, or do I have to think about putting up some kind of garage (there is room, but I'd rather not).

Mine is always kept outside. I use the Autoglym stuff to proof the roof ever 6 months and put an Elemental shower cape on if it is going to rain heavily, snow or likely to be frosty. Never, ever had a problem (apart from that time the cape frooze to the window screen!)

Mark Benson said:

Roughly how much would a £10-£13k S1 depreciate over a year to 18 months?

If you figure that out could you tell the rest of us Last year the market was flooded with Elises, it reall hurt S2 prices more than the S1. Based on what I paid for mine 18 months ago and what I think it would go for now, I think depreciation of around £100 a month isn't far off

Mark Benson said:

I get the impression a carefully modified Elise is a good buy in the longer term as most people seem to go that way anyway, am I correct and would that still apply to a car I didn't intend to keep more than 18 months?

Some people are nervous about buying a heavily modified car, but most everybody does it to some extent. You can always get a bit of extra cash out of the car if you convert a modified car back to standard before selling it. For example a performance air filter might sell 2nd hand for £70 off the car but on it, it is unlikely to affect the cars price in the slightest

Mark Benson said:

Is the price increase over a standard 120bhp car worth paying for a 135 or a 160?

The residuals are better on limited / special edition ones, and the seats are more comfy.

>> Edited by StuartB on Wednesday 8th February 18:28

[zebedee]

mine's been outside for 3 years too - paint has blistered a bit in areas, but would have happened anyway by the sounds of things. Showercape stays on all the time and keeps it nice and dry (plus stops roof fading in sunlight).

[Mark Benson]

Thanks guys, seems there's no logical reason not to go for it then.

Not, I think, that one would have stopped me anyway

[S Works]

Mark Benson said:

Thanks guys, seems there's no logical reason not to go for it then. Not, I think, that one would have stopped me anyway

No way back now dude - welcome to the madhouse