Mi1 Elise Prices
Discussion
After seeing some tasty Mk1 Elise's at a car show tonight Im taken by a 1998-2000 model.
However relooking at the classifieds after 12mths of not doing so it seems that 8k wont get me as good a car as last year would. Are prices on the rise? If I wait til next year are they likely to be even higher?
I had a MINI Cooper S that I ragged. I looked after it properly but it begged to be thrashed. Are the Elise's the same, I want hard, fun driving and not worry about having to pussy foot around the car if it is fragile - that Rover K - Series engine scare me...maybe its a myth!
However relooking at the classifieds after 12mths of not doing so it seems that 8k wont get me as good a car as last year would. Are prices on the rise? If I wait til next year are they likely to be even higher?
I had a MINI Cooper S that I ragged. I looked after it properly but it begged to be thrashed. Are the Elise's the same, I want hard, fun driving and not worry about having to pussy foot around the car if it is fragile - that Rover K - Series engine scare me...maybe its a myth!
matt21 said:
After seeing some tasty Mk1 Elise's at a car show tonight Im taken by a 1998-2000 model.
However relooking at the classifieds after 12mths of not doing so it seems that 8k wont get me as good a car as last year would. Are prices on the rise? If I wait til next year are they likely to be even higher?
I had a MINI Cooper S that I ragged. I looked after it properly but it begged to be thrashed. Are the Elise's the same, I want hard, fun driving and not worry about having to pussy foot around the car if it is fragile - that Rover K - Series engine scare me...maybe its a myth!
Summers coming so naturally prices go up,also the crunch seems to be easing which again means prices will rise.However relooking at the classifieds after 12mths of not doing so it seems that 8k wont get me as good a car as last year would. Are prices on the rise? If I wait til next year are they likely to be even higher?
I had a MINI Cooper S that I ragged. I looked after it properly but it begged to be thrashed. Are the Elise's the same, I want hard, fun driving and not worry about having to pussy foot around the car if it is fragile - that Rover K - Series engine scare me...maybe its a myth!
As for 'ragging' one,if you're used to FWD hatches you'll quickly get bitten on the arse by a mid engined RWD car,GET SOME PROPER DRIVING INSTRUCTION before you kill yourself or someone else.
It actually takes a bit of skill to drive one quickly and there'll be no electronic safety net or even ABS to help out if you run out of talent.
If we all knew which way markets would go, we'd be in the used car business.
As above, if you want a car you can rag the s
t out of with impunity, then you're probably barking up the wrong tree with an Elise. Sure you can drive it fast, but you need to work with it and learn it's foibles before wringing its neck. They can be "ragged" but you'll soon end up with big bills, either for repairs or because you'll be getting through consumables faster.
As above, if you want a car you can rag the s
t out of with impunity, then you're probably barking up the wrong tree with an Elise. Sure you can drive it fast, but you need to work with it and learn it's foibles before wringing its neck. They can be "ragged" but you'll soon end up with big bills, either for repairs or because you'll be getting through consumables faster.I reckon S1 prices have stabilised and may even be on the up. In the long term S1 prices will almost certainly rise - its already becoming something of a modern classic. And that brings us to the point that S1s are getting old now so need regular tlc to keep them in tip top condition. You can also get hit by the odd largish bill unless you can diy.
As for thrashing it: well the Elise was designed with track use in mind but as S works says, hard use will take its toll on consumables. As has also been pointed out, its a lightweight, mid engined car with no modern electronic aids to get you out of trouble. Would you be able to recover the car from oversteer (and they go very quickly)? Can you threshold brake (or next best - cadence brake)?. As has been said you can't just chuck the Elise around with impunity. On a track you won't see which way a well driven one went and although the same applies on the road, I prefer to leave the silly fast stuff for the track and relax on the road. Bear in mind though that a relaxing drive in an Elise may be stretching the abilities of other cars.
As for thrashing it: well the Elise was designed with track use in mind but as S works says, hard use will take its toll on consumables. As has also been pointed out, its a lightweight, mid engined car with no modern electronic aids to get you out of trouble. Would you be able to recover the car from oversteer (and they go very quickly)? Can you threshold brake (or next best - cadence brake)?. As has been said you can't just chuck the Elise around with impunity. On a track you won't see which way a well driven one went and although the same applies on the road, I prefer to leave the silly fast stuff for the track and relax on the road. Bear in mind though that a relaxing drive in an Elise may be stretching the abilities of other cars.
Appreciate what you say.
Maybe my interpretation of ragging was misread. I would not buy one for flat out B road blasts. I, however, would like to use them as I am sure it is intended, odd track day, giving it a workout if neccessary, just dont want a fragile stunning looking car like some sports cars end up being.
Maybe my interpretation of ragging was misread. I would not buy one for flat out B road blasts. I, however, would like to use them as I am sure it is intended, odd track day, giving it a workout if neccessary, just dont want a fragile stunning looking car like some sports cars end up being.
B roads and the odd track day is the exact thing it was designed for.
You can have some spirited drives, Elise needs some TLC, but all in all you will love it.
With an S1 you will probably have to factor in some consumables and is probably slightly more to run that hot hatch but not by a huge amount.
Loads of treads on here, and seloc to get your knowledge up on S1 & S2. Do your homework and your know what to look out for when buying.
Great time to buy as still a lot of the summer left to go....
You can have some spirited drives, Elise needs some TLC, but all in all you will love it.
With an S1 you will probably have to factor in some consumables and is probably slightly more to run that hot hatch but not by a huge amount.
Loads of treads on here, and seloc to get your knowledge up on S1 & S2. Do your homework and your know what to look out for when buying.
Great time to buy as still a lot of the summer left to go....
matt21 said:
Appreciate what you say.
Maybe my interpretation of ragging was misread. I would not buy one for flat out B road blasts. I, however, would like to use them as I am sure it is intended, odd track day, giving it a workout if neccessary, just dont want a fragile stunning looking car like some sports cars end up being.
Maybe my interpretation of ragging was misread. I would not buy one for flat out B road blasts. I, however, would like to use them as I am sure it is intended, odd track day, giving it a workout if neccessary, just dont want a fragile stunning looking car like some sports cars end up being.
Edited by Stu_00 on Wednesday 10th June 15:42
S Works said:
If we all knew which way markets would go, we'd be in the used car business.
As above, if you want a car you can rag the st out of with impunity, then you're probably barking up the wrong tree with an Elise. Sure you can drive it fast, but you need to work with it and learn it's foibles before wringing its neck. They can be "ragged" but you'll soon end up with big bills, either for repairs or because you'll be getting through consumables faster.
The Elise is very light on consumables like tyres/brakes - for me the Elise is a very durable car for "ragging" - ok, there's a good chance of HGF at some stage but the k-series will survive an awful lot of abuse. As above, if you want a car you can rag the s
t out of with impunity, then you're probably barking up the wrong tree with an Elise. Sure you can drive it fast, but you need to work with it and learn it's foibles before wringing its neck. They can be "ragged" but you'll soon end up with big bills, either for repairs or because you'll be getting through consumables faster.Sure if you buy an 8-10 year old car it's not like buying a new car and the previous one or two (or 5!) owners have probably "ragged" it a bit before selling it on - potentially lots of things will need doing to it to make it feel like a new one but if you budget for a suspension rebuild/tyres/shocks/springs/brakes pads/disks/brake lines etc they last a fair old time. If you buy right, with the work already done, jobs a carrot.
Edited by dom180 on Wednesday 10th June 17:35
GET ONE! Up until a month ago I had an ibiza cupra so same type of car as yourself, I know have a spangly new elise s (yes the gay one to all you s1 owners). You definitely have to build yourself up to driving the car swiftly I have not yet managed quick driving. Such a special car to drive and very soon your old car will seem very normal compared to your new car. Bit as said driver training is a must as at the moment I am driving g slower than I did in the cupra as would not know how to sort the car out quick enough if it let go.
dom180 said:
S Works said:
If we all knew which way markets would go, we'd be in the used car business.
As above, if you want a car you can rag the st out of with impunity, then you're probably barking up the wrong tree with an Elise. Sure you can drive it fast, but you need to work with it and learn it's foibles before wringing its neck. They can be "ragged" but you'll soon end up with big bills, either for repairs or because you'll be getting through consumables faster.
The Elise is very light on consumables like tyres/brakes - for me the Elise is a very durable car for "ragging" - ok, there's a good chance of HGF at some stage but the k-series will survive an awful lot of abuse. As above, if you want a car you can rag the s
t out of with impunity, then you're probably barking up the wrong tree with an Elise. Sure you can drive it fast, but you need to work with it and learn it's foibles before wringing its neck. They can be "ragged" but you'll soon end up with big bills, either for repairs or because you'll be getting through consumables faster.Sure if you buy an 8-10 year old car it's not like buying a new car and the previous one or two (or 5!) owners have probably "ragged" it a bit before selling it on - potentially lots of things will need doing to it to make it feel like a new one but if you budget for a suspension rebuild/tyres/shocks/springs/brakes pads/disks/brake lines etc they last a fair old time. If you buy right, with the work already done, jobs a carrot.
Edited by dom180 on Wednesday 10th June 17:35
Not sure I'd call an Elise light on tyres, particular with track use. I go through ordinary road tyres in about 8k miles (rears)on the road. My last set of road tyres lasted 6k which included 2 track days and a Walshy day. My current 888s have done 2.5k road, 1 track day and 1 Sprint and I've about 2mm on the rears before they're illegal. I'm fairly light on brakes but some peeps seem to eat pads. Steering racks don't last forever and if not fairly recently replaced on a used S1 may be a job on the horizon: PITA diy job but I got my rack professionally refurbed for £85.
I don't worry too much about the engine: hgf is fixable and if the worse comes to the worse there are plenty of K engines about at reasonable prices.
snuffle said:
if you want a look round an abused example that needs new suspension, you can have a pass seat go in mine im near towcester, if it helps at all
might take you up on that! thankslooking at finances it looks like next year might be a goer. Will give me something to look forward to
TIPPER said:
dom180 said:
S Works said:
If we all knew which way markets would go, we'd be in the used car business.
As above, if you want a car you can rag the st out of with impunity, then you're probably barking up the wrong tree with an Elise. Sure you can drive it fast, but you need to work with it and learn it's foibles before wringing its neck. They can be "ragged" but you'll soon end up with big bills, either for repairs or because you'll be getting through consumables faster.
The Elise is very light on consumables like tyres/brakes - for me the Elise is a very durable car for "ragging" - ok, there's a good chance of HGF at some stage but the k-series will survive an awful lot of abuse. As above, if you want a car you can rag the s
t out of with impunity, then you're probably barking up the wrong tree with an Elise. Sure you can drive it fast, but you need to work with it and learn it's foibles before wringing its neck. They can be "ragged" but you'll soon end up with big bills, either for repairs or because you'll be getting through consumables faster.Sure if you buy an 8-10 year old car it's not like buying a new car and the previous one or two (or 5!) owners have probably "ragged" it a bit before selling it on - potentially lots of things will need doing to it to make it feel like a new one but if you budget for a suspension rebuild/tyres/shocks/springs/brakes pads/disks/brake lines etc they last a fair old time. If you buy right, with the work already done, jobs a carrot.
Edited by dom180 on Wednesday 10th June 17:35
Not sure I'd call an Elise light on tyres, particular with track use. I go through ordinary road tyres in about 8k miles (rears)on the road. My last set of road tyres lasted 6k which included 2 track days and a Walshy day. My current 888s have done 2.5k road, 1 track day and 1 Sprint and I've about 2mm on the rears before they're illegal. I'm fairly light on brakes but some peeps seem to eat pads. Steering racks don't last forever and if not fairly recently replaced on a used S1 may be a job on the horizon: PITA diy job but I got my rack professionally refurbed for £85.
I don't worry too much about the engine: hgf is fixable and if the worse comes to the worse there are plenty of K engines about at reasonable prices.
Compared to what? Try subjecting a typical hot hatch or BMW/Porker to the same abuse and fit the same performance orientated rubber and see how long those tyres last....
I think 6k including 2 track days and an airfield day is pretty good going. You could try fitting harder compound tyres if you want longevity....
Last Summer I paid 7.4k for a 1999 S1 Elise.
Prices were low due to credit crunch hysteria, but it proved to be a bit of a false economy as many elises do.
In the past twelve months I have spent 2.5k on the following:
-- Bell & Colville S2 Bilstein Suspension kit fitted (£0500)
-- Eliseparts Gear Linkage refresh kit fitted (£0050)
-- Eliseparts Throttle Linkage kit fitted (£0030)
-- Eliseparts Sport 160 52mm Throttle Body fitted (£0130)
-- EBC Front Discs / Pads fitted (£0150)
-- Track-rod Ends fitted. (£0050)
-- Janspeed Stainless Steel downpipe fitted(original started blowing.) (£0200)
-- All four tyres replaced with Kumho Ecsta KU31s (£0200)
-- Eliseparts Headlight covers fitted (£0060)
-- Hurricane Induction kit fitted (£0160)
-- Hanger111 Elise Mat set fitted (£0040)
-- Stack and ECU temperature sensors replaced (£0025)
-- Eliseparts Upgraded All-Aluminium Radiator fitted(Plastic end-capped radiator blew)(£0250)
-- New Clutch, Release Bearing + Arm fitted(Original Arm Seized) (£0800)
-- Total Spent (£2665)
Now, not all of these were essential, probably only 1500 pounds worth was, but I wanted to highlight the fact that if you buy at the low end of the market, you might have some pricey bills to pay. This is a ten-year old sports car after all.
What this doesn't highlight though is that I have done 10k miles in the last year and they have been the best 10k miles of my life.
This is the only car which is easy to justify spending money on as it will reward you.
I reckon my Elise is worth 8k+ now, and I would recommend at a minimum that you by one with:
S2 suspension fitted.
C service within last 3 years.
All four tyres are same make, DOT code within last 3 years and 4mm+.
If you follow my advice you will save pounds.
Hope this helps.
Prices were low due to credit crunch hysteria, but it proved to be a bit of a false economy as many elises do.
In the past twelve months I have spent 2.5k on the following:
-- Bell & Colville S2 Bilstein Suspension kit fitted (£0500)
-- Eliseparts Gear Linkage refresh kit fitted (£0050)
-- Eliseparts Throttle Linkage kit fitted (£0030)
-- Eliseparts Sport 160 52mm Throttle Body fitted (£0130)
-- EBC Front Discs / Pads fitted (£0150)
-- Track-rod Ends fitted. (£0050)
-- Janspeed Stainless Steel downpipe fitted(original started blowing.) (£0200)
-- All four tyres replaced with Kumho Ecsta KU31s (£0200)
-- Eliseparts Headlight covers fitted (£0060)
-- Hurricane Induction kit fitted (£0160)
-- Hanger111 Elise Mat set fitted (£0040)
-- Stack and ECU temperature sensors replaced (£0025)
-- Eliseparts Upgraded All-Aluminium Radiator fitted(Plastic end-capped radiator blew)(£0250)
-- New Clutch, Release Bearing + Arm fitted(Original Arm Seized) (£0800)
-- Total Spent (£2665)
Now, not all of these were essential, probably only 1500 pounds worth was, but I wanted to highlight the fact that if you buy at the low end of the market, you might have some pricey bills to pay. This is a ten-year old sports car after all.
What this doesn't highlight though is that I have done 10k miles in the last year and they have been the best 10k miles of my life.
This is the only car which is easy to justify spending money on as it will reward you.
I reckon my Elise is worth 8k+ now, and I would recommend at a minimum that you by one with:
S2 suspension fitted.
C service within last 3 years.
All four tyres are same make, DOT code within last 3 years and 4mm+.
If you follow my advice you will save pounds.
Hope this helps.
Ive just ordered up my 3rd pair of AO48 rears this year
also had fitted 2x wheel bearings, 1 track rod end.
susp upgrade next as it really has past its sell by date
exhaust has got to be changed soon because it sounds damn awful
it needs a repaint, but thats at the bottom of the list and i need to do something about the holes in the seats where a mouse got in gggrrr, drove around for about a week with a mouse trap in the pas footwell final score, mousetrap 1 - mouse 0
also had fitted 2x wheel bearings, 1 track rod end.
susp upgrade next as it really has past its sell by date
exhaust has got to be changed soon because it sounds damn awful
it needs a repaint, but thats at the bottom of the list and i need to do something about the holes in the seats where a mouse got in gggrrr, drove around for about a week with a mouse trap in the pas footwell final score, mousetrap 1 - mouse 0
dom180 said:
TIPPER said:
dom180 said:
S Works said:
If we all knew which way markets would go, we'd be in the used car business.
As above, if you want a car you can rag the st out of with impunity, then you're probably barking up the wrong tree with an Elise. Sure you can drive it fast, but you need to work with it and learn it's foibles before wringing its neck. They can be "ragged" but you'll soon end up with big bills, either for repairs or because you'll be getting through consumables faster.
The Elise is very light on consumables like tyres/brakes - for me the Elise is a very durable car for "ragging" - ok, there's a good chance of HGF at some stage but the k-series will survive an awful lot of abuse. As above, if you want a car you can rag the s
t out of with impunity, then you're probably barking up the wrong tree with an Elise. Sure you can drive it fast, but you need to work with it and learn it's foibles before wringing its neck. They can be "ragged" but you'll soon end up with big bills, either for repairs or because you'll be getting through consumables faster.Sure if you buy an 8-10 year old car it's not like buying a new car and the previous one or two (or 5!) owners have probably "ragged" it a bit before selling it on - potentially lots of things will need doing to it to make it feel like a new one but if you budget for a suspension rebuild/tyres/shocks/springs/brakes pads/disks/brake lines etc they last a fair old time. If you buy right, with the work already done, jobs a carrot.
Edited by dom180 on Wednesday 10th June 17:35
Not sure I'd call an Elise light on tyres, particular with track use. I go through ordinary road tyres in about 8k miles (rears)on the road. My last set of road tyres lasted 6k which included 2 track days and a Walshy day. My current 888s have done 2.5k road, 1 track day and 1 Sprint and I've about 2mm on the rears before they're illegal. I'm fairly light on brakes but some peeps seem to eat pads. Steering racks don't last forever and if not fairly recently replaced on a used S1 may be a job on the horizon: PITA diy job but I got my rack professionally refurbed for £85.
I don't worry too much about the engine: hgf is fixable and if the worse comes to the worse there are plenty of K engines about at reasonable prices.
Compared to what? Try subjecting a typical hot hatch or BMW/Porker to the same abuse and fit the same performance orientated rubber and see how long those tyres last....
I think 6k including 2 track days and an airfield day is pretty good going. You could try fitting harder compound tyres if you want longevity....
t out of a Cooper S for years and I imagine nothing will break, pads and tyre replacements maybe, not much more.Drive an Elise in the same way, any Elise, and you will rack up bills like Billy-O. I've had 4 of the damn things, and believe me, I don't hang about. Rag them hard, track them regularly, and you WILL be spending upwards of £2k a year minimum on keeping it running. Fact. I have the credit card statements to prove it.
jamesc_1729 said:
Last Summer I paid 7.4k for a 1999 S1 Elise.
Prices were low due to credit crunch hysteria, but it proved to be a bit of a false economy as many elises do.
In the past twelve months I have spent 2.5k on the following:
-- Bell & Colville S2 Bilstein Suspension kit fitted (£0500)
-- Eliseparts Gear Linkage refresh kit fitted (£0050)
-- Eliseparts Throttle Linkage kit fitted (£0030)
-- Eliseparts Sport 160 52mm Throttle Body fitted (£0130)
-- EBC Front Discs / Pads fitted (£0150)
-- Track-rod Ends fitted. (£0050)
-- Janspeed Stainless Steel downpipe fitted(original started blowing.) (£0200)
-- All four tyres replaced with Kumho Ecsta KU31s (£0200)
-- Eliseparts Headlight covers fitted (£0060)
-- Hurricane Induction kit fitted (£0160)
-- Hanger111 Elise Mat set fitted (£0040)
-- Stack and ECU temperature sensors replaced (£0025)
-- Eliseparts Upgraded All-Aluminium Radiator fitted(Plastic end-capped radiator blew)(£0250)
-- New Clutch, Release Bearing + Arm fitted(Original Arm Seized) (£0800)
-- Total Spent (£2665)
Now, not all of these were essential, probably only 1500 pounds worth was, but I wanted to highlight the fact that if you buy at the low end of the market, you might have some pricey bills to pay. This is a ten-year old sports car after all.
What this doesn't highlight though is that I have done 10k miles in the last year and they have been the best 10k miles of my life.
This is the only car which is easy to justify spending money on as it will reward you.
I reckon my Elise is worth 8k+ now, and I would recommend at a minimum that you by one with:
S2 suspension fitted.
C service within last 3 years.
All four tyres are same make, DOT code within last 3 years and 4mm+.
If you follow my advice you will save pounds.
Hope this helps.
Interesting.Prices were low due to credit crunch hysteria, but it proved to be a bit of a false economy as many elises do.
In the past twelve months I have spent 2.5k on the following:
-- Bell & Colville S2 Bilstein Suspension kit fitted (£0500)
-- Eliseparts Gear Linkage refresh kit fitted (£0050)
-- Eliseparts Throttle Linkage kit fitted (£0030)
-- Eliseparts Sport 160 52mm Throttle Body fitted (£0130)
-- EBC Front Discs / Pads fitted (£0150)
-- Track-rod Ends fitted. (£0050)
-- Janspeed Stainless Steel downpipe fitted(original started blowing.) (£0200)
-- All four tyres replaced with Kumho Ecsta KU31s (£0200)
-- Eliseparts Headlight covers fitted (£0060)
-- Hurricane Induction kit fitted (£0160)
-- Hanger111 Elise Mat set fitted (£0040)
-- Stack and ECU temperature sensors replaced (£0025)
-- Eliseparts Upgraded All-Aluminium Radiator fitted(Plastic end-capped radiator blew)(£0250)
-- New Clutch, Release Bearing + Arm fitted(Original Arm Seized) (£0800)
-- Total Spent (£2665)
Now, not all of these were essential, probably only 1500 pounds worth was, but I wanted to highlight the fact that if you buy at the low end of the market, you might have some pricey bills to pay. This is a ten-year old sports car after all.
What this doesn't highlight though is that I have done 10k miles in the last year and they have been the best 10k miles of my life.
This is the only car which is easy to justify spending money on as it will reward you.
I reckon my Elise is worth 8k+ now, and I would recommend at a minimum that you by one with:
S2 suspension fitted.
C service within last 3 years.
All four tyres are same make, DOT code within last 3 years and 4mm+.
If you follow my advice you will save pounds.
Hope this helps.
Sounds like you're getting towards a nicely sorted car. Not sure of your mileage but there's a good chance the suspension bushes are past their best. Not failing, just not what they were: changing them might amaze you but its not a five minute job and therefore not cheap (easy enough to diy if you have the time though).
£7.4k + £2.5k +£9.9k. I've been banging on for aged that S1 Elises really start at £10k!
S Works said:
dom180 said:
TIPPER said:
dom180 said:
S Works said:
If we all knew which way markets would go, we'd be in the used car business.
As above, if you want a car you can rag the st out of with impunity, then you're probably barking up the wrong tree with an Elise. Sure you can drive it fast, but you need to work with it and learn it's foibles before wringing its neck. They can be "ragged" but you'll soon end up with big bills, either for repairs or because you'll be getting through consumables faster.
The Elise is very light on consumables like tyres/brakes - for me the Elise is a very durable car for "ragging" - ok, there's a good chance of HGF at some stage but the k-series will survive an awful lot of abuse. As above, if you want a car you can rag the s
t out of with impunity, then you're probably barking up the wrong tree with an Elise. Sure you can drive it fast, but you need to work with it and learn it's foibles before wringing its neck. They can be "ragged" but you'll soon end up with big bills, either for repairs or because you'll be getting through consumables faster.Sure if you buy an 8-10 year old car it's not like buying a new car and the previous one or two (or 5!) owners have probably "ragged" it a bit before selling it on - potentially lots of things will need doing to it to make it feel like a new one but if you budget for a suspension rebuild/tyres/shocks/springs/brakes pads/disks/brake lines etc they last a fair old time. If you buy right, with the work already done, jobs a carrot.
Edited by dom180 on Wednesday 10th June 17:35
Not sure I'd call an Elise light on tyres, particular with track use. I go through ordinary road tyres in about 8k miles (rears)on the road. My last set of road tyres lasted 6k which included 2 track days and a Walshy day. My current 888s have done 2.5k road, 1 track day and 1 Sprint and I've about 2mm on the rears before they're illegal. I'm fairly light on brakes but some peeps seem to eat pads. Steering racks don't last forever and if not fairly recently replaced on a used S1 may be a job on the horizon: PITA diy job but I got my rack professionally refurbed for £85.
I don't worry too much about the engine: hgf is fixable and if the worse comes to the worse there are plenty of K engines about at reasonable prices.
Compared to what? Try subjecting a typical hot hatch or BMW/Porker to the same abuse and fit the same performance orientated rubber and see how long those tyres last....
I think 6k including 2 track days and an airfield day is pretty good going. You could try fitting harder compound tyres if you want longevity....
t out of a Cooper S for years and I imagine nothing will break, pads and tyre replacements maybe, not much more.Drive an Elise in the same way, any Elise, and you will rack up bills like Billy-O. I've had 4 of the damn things, and believe me, I don't hang about. Rag them hard, track them regularly, and you WILL be spending upwards of £2k a year minimum on keeping it running. Fact. I have the credit card statements to prove it.
For the OP on the road, it will be a little more difficult for him to drive the Elise to its full potential compared to the Mini and therefore tyre/brake/consumables will last longer even longer and the servicing costs won't be too far apart using a decent Lotus specilaist - odd Lotus niggle every so often. The problem may come when the OP finds the Elise so much fun that he's compelled to track the car and thus use it a lot harder than his current Mini....
Edited by dom180 on Wednesday 10th June 23:07
Thanks for the points.
For the record my mini has done 49,000 hard miles been on track quite often and thoroughly abused and still feels fresh.
Things have gone wrong but generally issues aside from the fact it has been thrashed.
I feel I would have less balls out thrashes in an Elise. I would imagine great pleasure would come from driving it 7-8 10ths whereas a mini is foot welded to the floor
For the record my mini has done 49,000 hard miles been on track quite often and thoroughly abused and still feels fresh.
Things have gone wrong but generally issues aside from the fact it has been thrashed.
I feel I would have less balls out thrashes in an Elise. I would imagine great pleasure would come from driving it 7-8 10ths whereas a mini is foot welded to the floor
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