Inspecting an Elise

[up-the-dubs]

So i'll be joinging you all very soon in the Elise ownership fold and was wondering about this whole inspection lark.

Importing a car from the UK back to Ireland so obviously I'll need the car inspected as a flight over just to "have a look" isn't really on the cards!

Any suggestions of who or where to use to inspect it? Do I need to get the seller to bring it to a garage or do people do call outs? Looking at the Azure Blue S1s in the classifieds. Any advice on this would be great.

Thanks

Dubs.

[jondude]

I doubt if the seller will object - so long as you pay all costs AND ( most importantly ) use someone who knows what they are doing.

I most certainly would not allow ' my mate, he's a mechanic ' to start dismantling my Elise!! I want to know he is Lotus trained or simply one of the best. After all, what if Harry Heavyhanded scratches or damaages the car, and you then pull out for that or any other reason????

It is a bit tricky as the rather authoritative AA/RAC inspections ( where they do come to you ) are both outrageously expensive and not very thorough on the Elise, apparently.

I'd say it is a case of you arranging for an agreed garage to take a look as part of your test drive time.

[LivinLaVidaLotus]

AA/RAC are no good, they won't take the under tray off, and if they don't do that, there's not a huge amount for them to check, so a waste of money. Better off finding out what local specialists there are in the area of the owner and asking them if they'd take it along, if you book it all etc. and asking said specialist to email you a copy of the report they produce. One of the main things you want is an ECU printout, to see if it has ever been buzzed etc.

[up-the-dubs]

Cheers,

I may be showing a little lack of research here, but what is "buzzed" and should I be worried if the car has experienced this? Haven't heard of this before!

I've recieved a mail from a PHer offering to check it out for me. Seems to know his stuff, so I'm going down that avenue atm.

[LivinLaVidaLotus]

buzzed - Been taken over the rev-limiter, usually with a wrong/early down shift i.e. Red-lining it in 5th, going for 6th, ending up in 4th - will force the car over the rev-limit.

[Gooby]

up-the-dubs said:

Cheers,

I may be showing a little lack of research here, but what is "buzzed" and should I be worried if the car has experienced this? Haven't heard of this before!

I've recieved a mail from a PHer offering to check it out for me. Seems to know his stuff, so I'm going down that avenue atm.

Only a main dealer or specialist will be able to interogate the ECU. Essential for info on engine use.

Buzzing an engine generally means there will be a big end failure on the books.

[S Works]

Buzzing shouldn't be a problem on a K-series car. Just get it checked over by a reputable specialist and request a buyers report.

[TIPPER]

S Works said:

Buzzing shouldn't be a problem on a K-series car. Just get it checked over by a reputable specialist and request a buyers report.

I hope not Tim: I managed to hit..er..ahem rpm when I tripped the meters and got black flagged on Saturday. The car was as good as gold on the way home to Plymouth though and still refuses to use any sgnificant amount of oil (1/2 litre in three TDs).