Newbi need help to buy an Elise.. ;)
Discussion
Hi All, I’m new to the forum and heard your all nice and helpful so thought I join up and ask you lots of annoying questions…lol only joking.
Basically I currently drive a Clio 16v ( Williams) with a lot of mods to the engine so it’s faster than an Elise probably close to an Exige pace. But it lacks a little style. I did the Bedford track day in it on the 9th of June but broke a CV joint. Luckily my brother was there in his Griffith 500 and after taking that for a few laps im now convinced RWD is a lot more fun. Now im looking to buy an Elise but only wanting to spend 4-5k does anyone have any recommendations. I’m tamped to buy a damaged one as I have access to a body shop and grp specialists but the weak aluminium chassis put me of.
Any tips would be great
Flan
Basically I currently drive a Clio 16v ( Williams) with a lot of mods to the engine so it’s faster than an Elise probably close to an Exige pace. But it lacks a little style. I did the Bedford track day in it on the 9th of June but broke a CV joint. Luckily my brother was there in his Griffith 500 and after taking that for a few laps im now convinced RWD is a lot more fun. Now im looking to buy an Elise but only wanting to spend 4-5k does anyone have any recommendations. I’m tamped to buy a damaged one as I have access to a body shop and grp specialists but the weak aluminium chassis put me of.
Any tips would be great
Flan
forget it mate, even tired elise's are still fetching 7k+ so you would be looking at something that has a knackered chassis for that price which would be uneconomical to repair.
The chassis isn't weak, it does what its designed to be which is be strong and super light.
I suggest revising your budget or look at cheaper cars such as a supra or subaru if you can't.
what do you want from the car? is it an everyday car, track only or combination?
The chassis isn't weak, it does what its designed to be which is be strong and super light.
I suggest revising your budget or look at cheaper cars such as a supra or subaru if you can't.
what do you want from the car? is it an everyday car, track only or combination?
Edited by andy g bmth on Wednesday 21st June 11:56
Hi Flan, welcome to the forum. Saw your post on SELOC and can only echo bogies comments on there.
Buying a cheap cat registered car will be the beginning of a very expensive and ultimately probably unrewarding experience. For around 8-9k you'll be able to get a straight one with history, from an enthusiast who may have done some useful mods already.
Don't waste your time with damaged ones when there are enough good straight ones out there.
Buying a cheap cat registered car will be the beginning of a very expensive and ultimately probably unrewarding experience. For around 8-9k you'll be able to get a straight one with history, from an enthusiast who may have done some useful mods already.
Don't waste your time with damaged ones when there are enough good straight ones out there.
Thanks for the tips. I just like the look but at 21 don't have the wallet... maybe in a few years they will come down in price i guess but ill have to wait. i got a stupid idea in my head you could get a basic one for 4K but not sure where. lol
I ideally would like one with pannel damage to repair as a Track car. but the standard BHP would disapoint me so i'd want to drop a TT engine in the back at a future date.
Which brings me to my next question, does enyone do a fittin kit for this or are they rare one off's.
Flan
maybe in a few years they will come down in price i guess but ill have to wait. i got a stupid idea in my head you could get a basic one for 4K but not sure where. lol I ideally would like one with pannel damage to repair as a Track car. but the standard BHP would disapoint me so i'd want to drop a TT engine in the back at a future date.
Which brings me to my next question, does enyone do a fittin kit for this or are they rare one off's.
Flan
3000M-TwinTurbo said:
Thanks for the tips. I just like the look but at 21 don't have the wallet... maybe in a few years they will come down in price i guess but ill have to wait. i got a stupid idea in my head you could get a basic one for 4K but not sure where. lol
I ideally would like one with pannel damage to repair as a Track car. but the standard BHP would disapoint me so i'd want to drop a TT engine in the back at a future date.
Which brings me to my next question, does enyone do a fittin kit for this or are they rare one off's.
Flan
maybe in a few years they will come down in price i guess but ill have to wait. i got a stupid idea in my head you could get a basic one for 4K but not sure where. lol I ideally would like one with pannel damage to repair as a Track car. but the standard BHP would disapoint me so i'd want to drop a TT engine in the back at a future date.
Which brings me to my next question, does enyone do a fittin kit for this or are they rare one off's.
Flan
Try Norman at NTC Cars Tel Dartford 01322 229111 I know he's got a few S1'S & S2'S make sure you mention me otherwise I'm not sure he'll be able to help
Boggy
"Panel damage" as you refer to it is the least of your worries. The Elise bodywork is, in the main, made of 2 large fibreglass clamshells - one front, one rear - you then have the door skins, sills (bonded to the chassis) and the engine and front compartment covers. Whilst these can be repaired, to replace them is not cheap (2 or 3k).
The key component of the Elise is the chassis - if this is damaged, then as bogie mentioned, 9 times out of 10 (actually probably 10 times out of 10) a new one will cost you more than the car's salvage is worth.
As for the Audi conversion, yes it's available but not in kit form. Bernard Scouse does the conversions and very good they are too. About 8 or 9 thousand pounds will get you one fitted in the back of a donor car which you supply.
The key component of the Elise is the chassis - if this is damaged, then as bogie mentioned, 9 times out of 10 (actually probably 10 times out of 10) a new one will cost you more than the car's salvage is worth.
As for the Audi conversion, yes it's available but not in kit form. Bernard Scouse does the conversions and very good they are too. About 8 or 9 thousand pounds will get you one fitted in the back of a donor car which you supply.
Edited by S Works on Wednesday 21st June 12:48
Tanks for the replys guys, I can fix Fibreglass no problem but like you say boned chassis are a pain in the a** and not worth it. I recon i could fit a TT lump in the back for around £3-4k easily as i all ready have a TT engine in my Clio.
In an ideal world i need to find one with a fire damaged engine.
In an ideal world i need to find one with a fire damaged engine.
3000M-TwinTurbo said:
unlike the other forum who just abused my car... nice.. lol
Not entirely sure that's right. The way I saw it, some people on SELOC took umbrage to somebody waltzing onto the forum declaring in a pretty condescending manner that their souped up car "came past the elise's with ease" with bog-all proof other than lots of hot air. The "What's up.. cant take it an old clio is Quicker..." comment (no matter how tongue in cheek) wasn't likely to get you too much positive feedback either. I don't think a lot of SELOCer's could give a rats ass whether your Clio was faster than the Saturn 5 rocket, sometimes you've gotta approach a new forum with a little less attitude, especailly if you're asking people for advice.... Just my interpretation of the thread anyway fwiw [edit] actually, i've just re-read the original post and I take back the condescending attitude bit, although some of the following retorts didn't exactly carry the thread on a helpful track....
And having said all that, there seems to be so many people on SELOC at the moment looking to do nothing more than to pick a fight and stir an argument that that was probably the last place to go looking for help
Anyway, good luck on finding a decent car at a bargain price. For the record I'm sure the Clio's bloody fast but surely a Liz would 'av it in the corners Edited by Trixster on Wednesday 21st June 23:27
Edited by Trixster on Wednesday 21st June 23:33
3000M-TwinTurbo said:
Tanks for the replys guys, I can fix Fibreglass no problem but like you say boned chassis are a pain in the a** and not worth it. I recon i could fit a TT lump in the back for around £3-4k easily as i all ready have a TT engine in my Clio.
In an ideal world i need to find one with a fire damaged engine.
In an ideal world i need to find one with a fire damaged engine.
your's is the orange Clio with the steel wheels and the side exit exhaust then?
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