S1 Elise Values
Discussion
Interesting article in this weeks Autocar claiming residuals are rock solid. I currently Own two S1 Elise And with the best will in the world I can only justify keeping one. 22,000 miles, great provenance and MMC brakes. Yet not one call in over a month. I think it’s priced about right as well. Anecdotally I’ve heard things are slow with used car sales across the board. Has anyone managed to sell an s1 in the past few months? Was selling a chore? I’m by no means a desperate seller but it would be nice to have the space back now.
Opinions vary on what constitutes low mileage. My car has done 22k lower than most 21 year old cars. The other really low miles cars are all £20k plus asking, albeit they are sub 10k.
Thus my asking priced considerably lower than the collector miles cars, but more than those which have covered 60k plus.
Either the S1 market has stalled or the steam is coming right out of the classic car market.
Thus my asking priced considerably lower than the collector miles cars, but more than those which have covered 60k plus.
Either the S1 market has stalled or the steam is coming right out of the classic car market.
Bankrupt argument. Would you apply that rationale to houses?
964 Manual coupes changed hands at sub £25k once. Doesn’t make them worth that now. The market is fluid, I think there is a slow down currently. Too early to know what’s going to happen but I agree stuff priced CHEAP always sells, if it’s half good.
964 Manual coupes changed hands at sub £25k once. Doesn’t make them worth that now. The market is fluid, I think there is a slow down currently. Too early to know what’s going to happen but I agree stuff priced CHEAP always sells, if it’s half good.
Although I changed the wheels and seats on my car, they were changed for period S1 111S parts. The rear wheels are wider and I always thought the 111S wheels were prettier. Likewise 111S seats have more padding and are more comfortable.
In hindsight I’d have done better leaving the car totally standard and oem. The blue car you mention doesn’t have the official Lotus 160 kit. I don’t doubt if the conversion is proper, it will drive splendidly but again I wonder if the market demands oem standard for original low miles cars.
In hindsight I’d have done better leaving the car totally standard and oem. The blue car you mention doesn’t have the official Lotus 160 kit. I don’t doubt if the conversion is proper, it will drive splendidly but again I wonder if the market demands oem standard for original low miles cars.
S1’s were made in comparatively tiny numbers over a 4 year window. Similar vintage sports cars-986, S2000 etc are available for far less but there were many more produced.
Whilst you may be considering a Boxster, Z4, 350Z etc I doubt an S1 Elise variant makes that list. If you want one, that’s likely the only thing you want.
Hopefully I’ll find a buyer before I’m too much older.
Whilst you may be considering a Boxster, Z4, 350Z etc I doubt an S1 Elise variant makes that list. If you want one, that’s likely the only thing you want.
Hopefully I’ll find a buyer before I’m too much older.
Like last year I was in contact with an elderly chap who had a 111 S1 from now. The car had covered 17 K. He agreed to sell it, changed his mind and went on to agree and renege Another four times.
Arguably I should’ve walked away but the car became like a unicorn and I really wanted it. I finally secured it a few months ago. I far prefer the brakes on the MMC car but I like the extra fizz at the top end on the 111 S.
I’ve considered removing MMC Replacing with the 111 S steel grooved and drilled discs and pads but I feel it will really hurt the early cars desirability I’ve reduced the price of my MMC car again it’s the cheapest in the classifieds given the mileage and the fact it’s an early car by someway so hopefully someone might be interested
Arguably I should’ve walked away but the car became like a unicorn and I really wanted it. I finally secured it a few months ago. I far prefer the brakes on the MMC car but I like the extra fizz at the top end on the 111 S.
I’ve considered removing MMC Replacing with the 111 S steel grooved and drilled discs and pads but I feel it will really hurt the early cars desirability I’ve reduced the price of my MMC car again it’s the cheapest in the classifieds given the mileage and the fact it’s an early car by someway so hopefully someone might be interested
Interesting. I had my first S1 in 1998. I exited Lotus ownership in 2002 only to come back in 2016. Never loved the S2 I had ( an early Y plate car in 2001) and a 111S in 02. The S3 goes well but I'd want the post 17 gear change, carbon seats and trim at which point they are getting on £40k and dumping you in the envy tax band.
The MMC and 111S I have look almost identical but drive surprisingly differently. I maintain as I said earlier, if you want an S1 you probably don't want anything else. Come on buyer, where are you??
The MMC and 111S I have look almost identical but drive surprisingly differently. I maintain as I said earlier, if you want an S1 you probably don't want anything else. Come on buyer, where are you??
Easy to male comments like that and many do. Like many cars these were cheap for a long time. Fact is they, like many other 90’s cars, are getting few in number. Many don’t care for S2 styling and there aren’t loads of S1’s left that haven’t been damaged in the past or covered big miles.
I think the market has cooled and I think selling a sub 10k miles car at over £20k likely isn’t easy. I don’t think the good S1’s that ate left ever get super cheap again though. I certainly hope not anyway as I have 2!
I think the market has cooled and I think selling a sub 10k miles car at over £20k likely isn’t easy. I don’t think the good S1’s that ate left ever get super cheap again though. I certainly hope not anyway as I have 2!
But if a car with 50-60k is £13k, isn’t £16k -17k cheap for a car with a third of the miles and correspondingly less cosmetic wear. Not like the premium is enormous.
I’d always prefer a looked after low miles car than one with big miles. Provenance being equal. If a leggy car has had lots of remedial work done it doesn’t mean a low miles car hasn’t.
I’d always prefer a looked after low miles car than one with big miles. Provenance being equal. If a leggy car has had lots of remedial work done it doesn’t mean a low miles car hasn’t.
Where as a low miles car is likely in better shape with less wear to the interior and paint that isn’t micro blistered or peppered with stone chips. Low miles means get a premium for a reason.
I can see cars with sub 10k present a problem with use if you want to maintain a big premium. I disagree that a car is with 22k is in any way unusable. I can’t see there’s much difference between a car with 20k and 30k, given the cars are over 20 years old and assuming condition the similar. I average 4K a year in mine as, like most Elise’s, it’s not a daily car. That means someone could use for a few years and still have, by any measure, a low miles car.
The days of sub £10k Elise’s in tidy running condition are long gone yet there are those who seem gripped with resentment that the cars aren’t still at that level.
Happy eliseing all!
I can see cars with sub 10k present a problem with use if you want to maintain a big premium. I disagree that a car is with 22k is in any way unusable. I can’t see there’s much difference between a car with 20k and 30k, given the cars are over 20 years old and assuming condition the similar. I average 4K a year in mine as, like most Elise’s, it’s not a daily car. That means someone could use for a few years and still have, by any measure, a low miles car.
The days of sub £10k Elise’s in tidy running condition are long gone yet there are those who seem gripped with resentment that the cars aren’t still at that level.
Happy eliseing all!
I’ve noticed how many new or pre reg cars are at dealers. 220 in the main. I quite fancy one. Prices spread out between £40 and £45 . Carbon Seats desperately expensive as are all the carbon bits. I also prefer just mats and no full carpet. Why would you hide the tub with cheap carpet?
The S1 May struggle on paper as it doesn’t appear to be a fast or fast ish car anymore. Other cars like Boxsters feel much like a normal car to drive day to day but are still capable of being enjoyable on the right road.
An S1 is a compromise but they feel special all the time. In clothing terms an S1 is a pair of swim shorts on the beach, on a summer day. There is nothing better for the job. If you wander off the beach and into a restaurant....well you could keep the swim shorts on. But you’d probably rather not.
Many people into cars think they know what an S1 offers based on what they have read or heard from others. Like many things in life, they need to be experienced first hand. It’s a marmite car.
Given the low numbers made and the amount remaining I can’t see them ever getting to cheap 986 money.
An S1 is a compromise but they feel special all the time. In clothing terms an S1 is a pair of swim shorts on the beach, on a summer day. There is nothing better for the job. If you wander off the beach and into a restaurant....well you could keep the swim shorts on. But you’d probably rather not.
Many people into cars think they know what an S1 offers based on what they have read or heard from others. Like many things in life, they need to be experienced first hand. It’s a marmite car.
Given the low numbers made and the amount remaining I can’t see them ever getting to cheap 986 money.
Well it took over two months but I sold my Elise. It was a great car and I wasn’t surprised it sold to the first chap who viewed it. The market is very slow at present. Maybe time of year combined with the Brexit Blues. Good luck to those who are also sellers. Don’t get disheartened if your sale seems lethargic. My buyer was a proper chap who didn’t mess around. They are out there.
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