Not long now!

[srob]

Just thought I'd post and say hello. After many years of wanting an Elise (and lurking on this site), I'm finally going to pick one up tomorrow. Now I've hit 25 I can afford the insurance. The irony is, having worked for Lotus for seven years (on and off!), now I don't work there again I can afford to buy one!

The car's a standard S1 in Azure Blue with black leather and 32,000 miles on the clock from Speedwell Automotive. The only thing missing from my 'wish list' is a hard top, but I'll worry about that at the end of the summer.

I don't think I'll get much sleep tonight!

Got the cash, got the insurance, got the lift to pick it up (200 miles)....... now where'd I leave my RAC card.

[Crapper]

Congratulation mate, I am joining the Elise club later this month for the first time so I know how I excited you are A quick question actually, I am 25 with 3 year no claims and getting my insurance next week, who have you got yours with?

[srob]

After phoning round all of the numbers in back of Evo, I eventually went with the Co-Op (or CIS Insurance as I think they're known).

One of my mates is a rep for them and he happened to put my details in his computer when bored one lunchtime and it came out £150 cheaper than Admiral (who were previously cheapest).

Came in at 830 quid, with a £100 excess (Admiral £500 excess), and protected no-claims.

Didn't even cross my mind to try them!

Let me know if you want details and I'll dig them out for you.

[iccees]

Just shows. CIS and the rest pick these numbers out of a hat! CIS quoted me £950 with 7 years NCB, this after I'd been with them for four years previous. They lost my custom!

[iccees]

iccees said:

Just shows. CIS and the rest pick these numbers out of a hat! CIS quoted me £950 with 7 years NCB, this after I'd been with them for four years previous. They lost my custom!

P.S. Congratulations on you purchase, Sweet dreams tonight!

[Janitor]

Nice one Simon - tremendous!

That is an odd irony you speak about - but very pleasing to know that you still want one after working there! Many industries look great from the outside, but a bit of 'inside' soon puts the mockers on that! (take lap-dancing... looks great & the good ones probably make you think it's all for you, but surely those ladies must have plenty nights when all they're thinking is 'sod this crap, I'd sooner be at home so I can fart when I want'... sorry, I digress... )

Enjoy Lotus ownership mate. Hope you find that RAC card And just so you know, not all replies come out quite as odd as this one!

[TIPPER]

Used to work for Lotus...200 mile trip...where's my RAC card? Ooo-er.
What do you know that we don't?
More seriously, my 40k '99 S1 was bought in December as an occasional weekend toy but is now being used as my daily driver (about 150 miles daily) with absolutely no reliability problems. (I really shouldn't have said that ).
Anyway nice one and have a good day tomorrow.

[MadaboutMX5s]

Good luck mate. Post some pictures when you get it.

Im collecting mine next week.

[bogie]

congrats ...have fun..the weather looks good so get the roof off

[S works]

Nice one matey - don't bother with the hardtop. £600 better spent on driver training and other upgrades. Just give the soft-top a good going over with waterproofing gear before winter and you'll be fine.

[steve111s]

Well done my friend. I was in the same boat as you a while ago. But now I am a proud owner of a AZURE BLUE S1 elise... SNAP.
You will love it. I know I do. Best value for money I have had. Now all I want is to join the S2 brigade. Have fun and enjoy Where you from? Maybe meet up!! Twins on a run out.....

[wacattack]

steve111s said:

Now all I want is to join the S2 brigade.

No mate, you need to "keep it real" stick with the S1!!

[Davey S2]

srob said:

The car's a standard S1 in Azure Blue with black leather

Same colour as my first Elise. They really do look the nuts. Good choice

Not sure I would part with £600 or so to get a hard top theough. My S1 came with one and it was good though. No leaks at all.

[srob]

Thought I'd post a quick update. Picked her up on Saturday, she did the 200 miles home without skipping a beat. So well in fact that the still current Lotus engineer I took with me has vowed to sell his Impreza and get an Elise of his own. All was good until I tried to start her again a couple of hours later the battery was dead. Bit annoying but not the end of the world. Worst bit was that I was on my way out to pick someone up for a night in the pub. Unfortunately, rather than picking her up in my nice new Elise as promised, I had to pick her up in my Citroen C2 GT. I was as red as a baboon doing a handstand because I had to push the Elise accross the lawn to get the C2 out- and sweating like a pregnant nun- it wasn't the look I was aiming for. Anyway, new battery fitted at home yesterday, courtesy of the RAC (can't praise them enough- thought it was gonna be a long Eliseless bank holiday weekend waiting for the shops to open), but all now seems fine.

Except that the speedo seems to give up now and then, although more 'now' than 'then' at the moment! Could this be to do with losing the power supply when changing the battery? It's got warranty but I could do without having to replace the instrument binnacle.

Must say though that the service from Speedwell was excellent- the car is exactly as described- which helps when you're travelling that far to see it- and Will who runs the place was both knowledgable and helpfull. The battery thing was just one of those things- the car is 8 years old! I would recommend them to anyone- credit where credit's due I think!

[TIPPER]

I don't think I'll ever forget my first drive home in my Elise. Only a forty mile trip and I had the Missus with me. Must say didn't notice she was there most of the way - I was in a world of my own. At last my very own Lotus! As they say 'You and your Lotus, that's all you'll care about'. I've even taken to hand washing and polishing her - don't think I've hand washed, let alone polish, a car in 30 years.
If I've not already said it have fun and be safe.