My neighbour is wanting to sell his Elise, they have a child on the way and also want to use the money raised to pay off some mortgage. This has got me excited since it's a one owner full Lotus service history car. I was thinking it could provide SWMBO and me some fun for a while and then we might sell it in the summer when prices seem to firm up for soft tops.
We haven't discussed prices yet and it's due a service in February so I would use that as a bargaining point. But my biggest concern is the 1.8 K Series. Is this installation any better than in the MGF/TF/Freelander? I don't want any HGF as it will always be my fault, if you follow....
Thanks in advance.
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A friend has one so these are my comments as a "non owner"
Very difficult to get into unless you are a midget or a contortionist.
Very little space - don't think you could get enough in for a weekend away.
Very noisy and you feel every white line on the road
Wouldn't want to be on a motorway in it
IMMENSE FUN - like a go cart / rocket
Big service bills apparently.
I would say a great car for a spin round, track days or a pose, but very little use otherwise (my friend has done low hundreds of miles per year for the last few years)
An MX5 will not be as exciting, but I'm sure you'd enjoy it a lot more.
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I was thinking about an Elise a while back. Take a look here for tips....
www.lotus-elise.nl/Buyers_Guide/Technical/technica...l
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">Is this installation any better than in the MGF/TF/Freelander?<"
No, so buy carefully. However, all the K-series problems are fixable:
www.austin-rover.co.uk/index.htm?essaykseriesf.htm
Find a local specialist, ask him to check over the car, if there are any doubts then allow for HGF in the price. Any drop in coolant level/oil in coolant/coolant in oil/steaming exhaust/ should be viewed with suspicion and investigated.
Good luck!
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Thanks for all the replies. I think I might pass on this one, probably not a good idea buying a car from someone you know anyway. On the other hand it does look rather nice and sounds great...
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I was fortunate to buy a new 'R' plate model several years ago...MLC etc etc. After waiting almost two years for delivery it exceeded all my expectations. Over two years it clocked up 25k miles in all weathers...but I also had an old Subaru 'just in case'.
I finally decided to get back on the housing ladder so I sold it....the most (motoring) fun I have ever had, and I have been blessed with a Mk1 1600cc Golf Gti, original 1600cc 205 Gti and a Quattro. It was decidedly better than the old Spitfire I owned in my youth and never let me down. Hope you get a good one like I did. If you can afford it, life is too short to have regrets.
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Thanks for the replies again but I'm definitely passing on this one. Car is hopelessly cramped and uncomfortable for me and SWMBO has gone lukewarm on the idea. Probably not a good idea buying off your neighbour anyway, probably go wrong day after we buy it...
Someone will get a nice car though, it's in good condition and garaged.
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I had use of a mate's S1 (98 S reg) for 4 months while he moved house and got a garage built. I would summarise it as follows:
Fabulous to drive. Go kart like steering and stacks of grip.
Lively, responsive engine gives very impressive acceleration in the lower gears (although runs out of puff in 4th and 5th). Incredible traction off the line as well.
Unservoed brakes take a lot of getting used to.
Incredible fuel economy. Capable of 45 mpg without too much effort, and 40 mpg without trying.
Surprisingly comfortable once inside, but very noisy.
Rear visibility when parking is a joke. Also irritating, is the vertical rear screen which at night reflects the tail lights of the car you are following into the rear view mirror.
Hard to get in and out of with the roof up (a real knack that takes ages to master)
Leaked like a sieve
Lots of bits corroded, broken, or falling off (headlamp brackets, window regulator, engine cover release cable, fuel filler neck etc)
Needed constant money spending on it to keep it up to scratch.
Elises can (and do) spring big bills on you with very little warning.
Brett Fraser of Evo magazine is running an R plate S1 at the moment, and he just put it in for a service, and got hit with a quote of £3000 to sort out a weeping head gasket, a blowing exhaust back box, split steering gaiter and a couple of other minor things. My mate reckons he'd spent about £6k on servicing and unscheduled repairs in the five years he owned it.
Cheers
DP
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If you need to ask the question, the Elise is more than likely not the car for you.
I know several of owners who are very happy with them, both those who have them as a toy and those who do a few miles in them. I can see their appeal, but they're not for everyone and I certainly wouldn't want to own one, but if you can get a drive in one its certainly worth experiencing as a one off..
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I know this will be shot down in flames, but how about a late excel?
Looking on the owners forums it sounds as if they are actually quite reliable. You get the similar pluses of great handling good performance, but you can fit in them and they have some luggage space.
Looks as if you can get a very good one for £4K, usable ones from £2k
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The old play on the name springs to mind - Loads Of Trouble Usually Serious
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