Help I want an Elise!!!!!!
Discussion
Hi, I am new to this site and would like some advise. I have been looking for an Elise for about 2 months now and there are so many on the market to choose from. I am looking to get it in about 1-2 months. I have looked on a few dealers websites and in Auto trader, but Im not sure who to trust as I know these are specalist cars. I have heard good things about Sportomotive and would like some advise on where else to look and the south. I have got about 13 grand to spend and would like to get as new as poss as it will be my everyday car as I love driving.
Can anyone recomend some website to look at as well as this one for some advise.
ta very much
Dave
Can anyone recomend some website to look at as well as this one for some advise.
ta very much
Dave
www.elise-faq.info/content/buying/index.php
www.elises.co.uk/problems/index.html
Things to look for.
Spend £14k and you'll get a nice S2. £13k a mint late S1, early average S2 maybe even an average Sport 160.
On a scale how do you rate performance (1) vs comfort (10)
S2 easier to get in and out of safe understeer for winter days and more padded seats.
S1 vs S2 - debate is huge..... try a few and decide which you like !
www.elises.co.uk/problems/index.html
Things to look for.
Spend £14k and you'll get a nice S2. £13k a mint late S1, early average S2 maybe even an average Sport 160.
On a scale how do you rate performance (1) vs comfort (10)
S2 easier to get in and out of safe understeer for winter days and more padded seats.
S1 vs S2 - debate is huge..... try a few and decide which you like !
I've also recently felt the lure due to a mate at work and his Exige which he very unwisely lent me for a quick blat. Not being quite as flush as he is I'll be looking at the lower end of the S1 Elise market, in the £7000-8500 range. I'm quite happy with the spartan surroundings, noise etc, in fact positively look forward to them, but am curious as to how these older/higher mileage cars will stand up to daily use? Griphot, hope it's OK to look for more advice on your thread, not looking to hijack in any way! 
smtwtgh said:
I've also recently felt the lure due to a mate at work and his Exige which he very unwisely lent me for a quick blat. Not being quite as flush as he is I'll be looking at the lower end of the S1 Elise market, in the £7000-8500 range. I'm quite happy with the spartan surroundings, noise etc, in fact positively look forward to them, but am curious as to how these older/higher mileage cars will stand up to daily use? Griphot, hope it's OK to look for more advice on your thread, not looking to hijack in any way!
Engine/gearbox are strong enough. Lotus Ruby S1 test car going strong with 110k on the clock last I heard. Just rover bits after all - only weakness is HGF. Some gearboxes get whiny and clutches and things as miles mount. Massive failures on standard engines are rare…
At that money you need to look for receipts make sure maint is up to date and things like tyres, ball joints, brakes have been done fairly recently. I've heard of good straight cars going for as low as £9k. In general Elise’s wear badly on the cosmetics.... expect stone chips, scuffed and saggy leather etc.
Running an elise doesn’t have to be silly money – specialist servicing is reasonable and MPG’s good (36 av). Insurance is an issue standard car is 17 but many variants 19/20. I ran an S1 daily before my S2 and you'll find you won't miss to many of the comforts - not when you stick your foot down at least !
Damage repaired cars can prove good buys if repaired well. Ebay can bring forward some good cars. Modified cars make only a little more as younger buyers struggle to afford their insurance. This site and SELOC best places to buy - enthusiast cars are well looked after. If a cars worth buying people here (and SELOC) will know the car.
If you only have a little to spend buy now – summer pushes prices up.
http://forums.seloc.org/classified.ph
Elise 1998/S, British Racing Green, Alloys, Upgraded alarm / immobiliser, Yokos, Sports exhaust, Momo Removeable steering wheel, Braided clutch hose. Never tracked. 30k miles with history. Tax, will be sold with full MOT. 1 previous owner, Genuine sale. VGC
0117 9743156 or 07890 536083
jase_555@yahoo.co.uk
Another just sold on SELOC for £7.5k!
edit - it's on here too
www.pistonheads.com/sales/68798.htm
>> Edited by lawrence5 on Tuesday 14th March 21:11
Elise 1998/S, British Racing Green, Alloys, Upgraded alarm / immobiliser, Yokos, Sports exhaust, Momo Removeable steering wheel, Braided clutch hose. Never tracked. 30k miles with history. Tax, will be sold with full MOT. 1 previous owner, Genuine sale. VGC
0117 9743156 or 07890 536083
jase_555@yahoo.co.uk
Another just sold on SELOC for £7.5k!
edit - it's on here too
www.pistonheads.com/sales/68798.htm
>> Edited by lawrence5 on Tuesday 14th March 21:11
lawrence5 said:
Cheers Lawrence, might just keep me away from an MR2!
Mates gf has a MR2 roadster - nice car, handles well. Performance way off the elise mark and even the elise has a bigger boot. You don't want one of them
I sold my MR2 Roadster to buy my Elise S2.
It's just not in the same league.
Lorraine
griphot said:
Cheers felas, those notes have been a great help. Does anyone else find the Seloc site a little slow or is that just me. As I am only 25 should I stick to a standard car for insurance perposes? Any other coments are very welcome.
Dave
Can be slow if you have limited bandwidth. Most of the guys are techies
You have a mode in the top right "Stealth: off" set to on and it doesn't load the pictures and calls itself BBC news so your boss doesn't catch you !! Should speed you up ! Say hi to the guys first....
I was paying about £750 at 26yr old - you should be able to get it reasonable through the specialist. Search insurance and you'll find plenty of info.
In many ways the early std elise's were the sweetest.....
lawrence5 said:
Cheers felas, those notes have been a great help. Does anyone else find the Seloc site a little slow or is that just me. As I am only 25 should I stick to a standard car for insurance perposes? Any other coments are very welcome.
Dave
I was paying about £750 at 26yr old - you should be able to get it reasonable through the specialist. Search insurance and you'll find plenty of info.
My insurance was only £780 at 23 years old with 3 years no claims and 3 points on my license which I was amazed at because all the other cars I thought about getting/have had in the past have been loads more to insure and don't get close to the lotus
kamikz said:
My insurance was only £780 at 23 years old with 3 years no claims and 3 points on my license which I was amazed at because all the other cars I thought about getting/have had in the past have been loads more to insure and don't get close to the lotus
Which company was that with, I will be looking around at quotes for mine next week so is very relevant for me at the moment as I am 25, 3 years no claims and 0 points (similar to yourself).
Mrs Triple S said:
Cheers Lawrence, might just keep me away from an MR2!
Mates gf has a MR2 roadster - nice car, handles well. Performance way off the elise mark and even the elise has a bigger boot. You don't want one of them
I sold my MR2 Roadster to buy my Elise S2.
It's just not in the same league.
Lorraine
I also did the same. MR2 is a cracking car. I loved it. "Elise-light" I liked to call it, and its pretty close. All out performance is MUCH better on the Elise and the limits of the car slightly higher, although admittedly not THAT much. But the way it delivers is so much more transparent. If you want to drive, and I mean properly DRIVE, then the Elise has it hands down. If you want a VERY good handling car with a bit of confort, then the MR2 is the way to go. I would HIGHLY recommend one.
But I just had to have an Elise........
As for insurance, Adrian Flux. Just got mine for a 33 year old, S1 2000, kept on drive, middle of city, 6 years NCB for £538. Not bad and no-one else could come close to be honest. Privilege, who were excellent for my previous car, were a good £50 more than that.........
griphot said:
Cheers felas, those notes have been a great help. Does anyone else find the Seloc site a little slow or is that just me. As I am only 25 should I stick to a standard car for insurance perposes? Any other coments are very welcome.
Dave
I was 23 when I got my S1 sport 160. I did look at a standard S1, value £11K, 1998 car, group 16 against the 2001 sport 160 that cost £19K, group 20. Insurance for the standard model was £1520 !!!! the sport 160 was £936 !!
Why is it cheaper, not many 160's out there and the risk is low as there have not been many claims on them where as there have been loads on the standard car.
lawrence5 said:
PS buy private - dealers rip you off. Get an enthusiast car and you'll not need to worry !
He mentioned Sportomotive, I got my S1 Sport190 from them a month or so ago, got a good price, a shower cap, a cover and a (3rd party) warranty from them. Richard is knowledgeable and a decent bloke, not the usual kind of sharp suited salesman, he's doing the job because he enjoys it, not because of the money (well, OK, the money probably helps, but you know what I mean).
A week after I picked the car up the synchro in 3rd showed up as being weak, they took the car back in, gave me a courtesy car (well, they gave me an R reg Rover 600 Vitesse coupe, scary, scary car) and rebuilt the gearbox completely FOC, no warranty claim, nothing.
Richard, Cos and Dave are real enthusiasts and I can't rate them highly enough.
>> Edited by Mark Benson on Wednesday 12th April 13:53
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