Elise S2 buying advice
Discussion
I am looking to dip my toe in the water and buy an Elise S2 R in the every near future. I'll be clock up a couple of thou a year and one or two track days. I’m doing my homework going through press releases and forums getting a flavour for what to go for.
There’s nothing like the voice of experience so I thought I’d for some buyers do’s and don’t is there specific tell tales to look out for behind which a nasty could be lurking. Also an indication for what I realistically can expect to pay.
Any tips or advice is much appreciated.
There’s nothing like the voice of experience so I thought I’d for some buyers do’s and don’t is there specific tell tales to look out for behind which a nasty could be lurking. Also an indication for what I realistically can expect to pay.
Any tips or advice is much appreciated.
Very open question. register on SELOC.org, tons of info on there. From my own personal experience, check when disks/pads/suspension was refreshed as they can be costly. Check if the car has the later LED rear lights, which look a lot nicer in my opinion. Also assume around £1k pa on 'bits' to keep it right, and consider taking out an AA parts and labour warranty. Other than that, brilliant cars, enjoy, good luck.
Thanks for the response. I have and am currently looking SELOC amongst other sites. As you say brilliant technical info and sound advise. Most of which however involves getting down and dirty removing the undertray and clams for inspection all good and I am more than capable of doing nonetheless in reality not practical at the point of sale especially if it’s a private sale and it’s some ones pride and joy. I would not want to offend and begin to tear down their vehicle in front of them even if they did consent to me doing this. I’m thinking much higher level than this a shortlist maybe of some known issues and concerns which can be easily spotted or eliminated. Personal likes and dislikes an owners gut feeling not a mechanics.
Incidentally I’m looking specifically for a 111R 2004-08
Cheers
Incidentally I’m looking specifically for a 111R 2004-08
Cheers
Hi, understand totally, in that case check the service history is up to scratch, check receipts/dates/mileage for refreshes of the components mentioned below. I'd also prefer to deal with either a) private sale, I'd prefer to deal with a fellow enthusiast who is known in the community, or b) an established Lotus dealer with trained mechanics to support a warranty properly.
things you may want to look for...
a) LED lights were introduced during the ages you mention
b) Optional sports exhausts, you will want a Larini Clubsport at some point :-), but cheaper if you find one already on
c) Facelifted interior, can't remember the date it was introduced, but gives a much nicer looking interior and steering wheel etc.
d) Optional hardtop, I'm guessing this isn't to be your daily drive, but a hardtop makes it more liveable in winter.
e) Stonechips, they all get them, and not that big a job to put right, but check the front clam for any damage.
f) Kerbing, easily done and can crack the underneath of the front clam, just get down on all fours and have a close look around the front
g) Paintwork bubbling, quite common around the lower rear clam, again visible with close inspection.
Hope this helps.
things you may want to look for...
a) LED lights were introduced during the ages you mention
b) Optional sports exhausts, you will want a Larini Clubsport at some point :-), but cheaper if you find one already on
c) Facelifted interior, can't remember the date it was introduced, but gives a much nicer looking interior and steering wheel etc.
d) Optional hardtop, I'm guessing this isn't to be your daily drive, but a hardtop makes it more liveable in winter.
e) Stonechips, they all get them, and not that big a job to put right, but check the front clam for any damage.
f) Kerbing, easily done and can crack the underneath of the front clam, just get down on all fours and have a close look around the front
g) Paintwork bubbling, quite common around the lower rear clam, again visible with close inspection.
Hope this helps.
Sorry mate, but wouldnt put new interior and certainly not a Larini exhaust on my must have list. High spec, service history and then its all down to the price. Haggle hard, particularly with private sales as people seem reluctant to buy privately. Choose your colour. Be prepared for the odd 'surprise'. Apart from that the car is a dream
I am not in the slightest bit technical so can't add much. I have had my 2005 R for over 3 years now and for me the important thing would be the service history - these cars are not that expensive to maintain and there should be no excuses for any gaps. Maybe call the garage who did the last service to check for any advisories that weren't done.
I have had the odd thing go on mine over the years e.g. heater resistor pack which was expensive but overall it just chugs along, low maintenance, lots of fun.
If you want to see running costs info my profile has all of mine bar petrol over the years.
Good luck in your search - there always seems to be a good choice out there and they really are fantastic.
I have had the odd thing go on mine over the years e.g. heater resistor pack which was expensive but overall it just chugs along, low maintenance, lots of fun.
If you want to see running costs info my profile has all of mine bar petrol over the years.
Good luck in your search - there always seems to be a good choice out there and they really are fantastic.
Buy high spec..you want the touring pack with air con, extra sound deadening, iPod connector, leather pro bax seats etc. Uprated dash came in in 2007. Toyota engines came in 2004. Check the fog lights work in the rear led cluster. Check the central locking button in front of the gear knob works. Buy from a reputable dealer. Jct 600 Leeds are fab. My old S2 is for sale there in silver, with every option Inc aluminium levers, stage two exhaust etc. However, it is an S not an R. They keep their value very well. Mine only depreciated by three grand in three years and I bought at peek in spring and just sold this winter when convertible Market is meant to be depressed...not bad at all....i lost that in a year on a three year old vectra and ten in one year on a mazda rx8!!! In reality I don't know if you can be too picky over colour, spec, price...I've known people wait two year for the right one. Getting one with a hardtop is good advice....waited three year for an arctic silver one to come up on eBay..one never did. A dealer like jct may even have an ex lotus management car in for a really good deal...mine was and I've gone back there for an evora.
Had an 07 111R for 3 years now and no problems worth bothering about - a leak in the aircon fixed under guarantee, and a plug dropping out of the bottom of the MFR resulting in a ride on an RAC wagon. Had worse on a German car than that.
The dash was altered in 2007 to IMO a worse design. My car has leather probax ( comfortable) and aircon ( vital IMO) the touring pack ( or whatever you call it ie the sound deadening etc). Some sort of traction control too. No hardtop but then I never use the car in winter or in dodgy parking places and the soft top is watertight. It has Lotus black satin alloys and is Arctic Silver.
Things to watch out for? Not a lot - avoid anything that might have had a crash repair. Check that the engine hasnt been buzzed - get a download if the ECU. Expect paint chips from stones. Look for the right sort of owner - avoid the kiddies who change every few months and look for someone a bit older and more sensible who knows a camshaft from a conrod.
And its a personal preference but I would avoid any car that was non standard particularly with a noisy exhaust. The car even with the touring pack and standard exhaust is too noisy non long journeys
The dash was altered in 2007 to IMO a worse design. My car has leather probax ( comfortable) and aircon ( vital IMO) the touring pack ( or whatever you call it ie the sound deadening etc). Some sort of traction control too. No hardtop but then I never use the car in winter or in dodgy parking places and the soft top is watertight. It has Lotus black satin alloys and is Arctic Silver.
Things to watch out for? Not a lot - avoid anything that might have had a crash repair. Check that the engine hasnt been buzzed - get a download if the ECU. Expect paint chips from stones. Look for the right sort of owner - avoid the kiddies who change every few months and look for someone a bit older and more sensible who knows a camshaft from a conrod.
And its a personal preference but I would avoid any car that was non standard particularly with a noisy exhaust. The car even with the touring pack and standard exhaust is too noisy non long journeys
Edited by bordseye on Wednesday 25th January 22:38
Don't take any of the spec things as "musts", buy what you want, it makes little difference come sale time.
Personally, I didn't want the hassle/complexity/weight of air conditioning, although I probably would have done if the car wasn't kept in a dehumidified garage. The hard-top is a bit pointless, IMO - I've never had so much as a drip from my soft-top and I've never noticed a difference in refinement or warmth and the Elise is my daily driver all through the winter. I've only put my hardtop on twice in five years - once for the first winter after I had it, and now because the lining has come unglued from my soft-top.
Be wary of sports exhausts if you're going to use it for commuting. They may be fun for a while, but the novelty wears off after a while and it just gets annoying.
Personally I don't like the newest dashboard, it just looks tacky and plasticy.
Personally, I didn't want the hassle/complexity/weight of air conditioning, although I probably would have done if the car wasn't kept in a dehumidified garage. The hard-top is a bit pointless, IMO - I've never had so much as a drip from my soft-top and I've never noticed a difference in refinement or warmth and the Elise is my daily driver all through the winter. I've only put my hardtop on twice in five years - once for the first winter after I had it, and now because the lining has come unglued from my soft-top.
Be wary of sports exhausts if you're going to use it for commuting. They may be fun for a while, but the novelty wears off after a while and it just gets annoying.
Personally I don't like the newest dashboard, it just looks tacky and plasticy.
Edited by kambites on Thursday 26th January 08:56
Couple of things that might help/make it clearer:
Airbagged wheel/dash became std on 08MY cars onwards but was a option (Super Touring pack) on 06MY onwards.
Probax seats,revised pedalbox and LED rear lights std from 06 onwards.
A lot of cars produced in 06/07 either blew rads or the top hose would come off, ask if this has been rectified.
6 speed box is a known weak point, check 2nd/3rd gear engagement
Pre 08 there were a lot of LED rear light failures.
Build quality seems to improve greatly on >08 cars so if you can stretch to an 08MY that would be my advice.
Touring and a/c will reflect well on resale but aren't essential.
Good luck
Airbagged wheel/dash became std on 08MY cars onwards but was a option (Super Touring pack) on 06MY onwards.
Probax seats,revised pedalbox and LED rear lights std from 06 onwards.
A lot of cars produced in 06/07 either blew rads or the top hose would come off, ask if this has been rectified.
6 speed box is a known weak point, check 2nd/3rd gear engagement
Pre 08 there were a lot of LED rear light failures.
Build quality seems to improve greatly on >08 cars so if you can stretch to an 08MY that would be my advice.
Touring and a/c will reflect well on resale but aren't essential.
Good luck
kambites said:
Elise build quality has just generally improved year-on-year since the S1 was first released (and of course has taken the weight up with it). I don't think there was anything particularly special about MY08 in that regard?
Improved rad/hoses, toe links, better quality LEDs, new dials/stack etc, basically all the weak points from earlier cars sorted.The Bandit said:
kambites said:
Elise build quality has just generally improved year-on-year since the S1 was first released (and of course has taken the weight up with it). I don't think there was anything particularly special about MY08 in that regard?
Improved rad/hoses, toe links, better quality LEDs, new dials/stack etc, basically all the weak points from earlier cars sorted.Don't want to start an argument again just some balance.
My elise does not have a/c, it is used all year round, doesn't have a hard top and I have never in my near 3 years of ownership wished it had a/c.
If I get hot I open the window about 1cm on both sides and this cools the cabin a lot with not much extra noise and no buffeting, if it steamed up in winter then either again get a window down a fraction or just wait about 40 seconds with heater on full everything and pointing at windscreen.
I would buy on condition and be accepting of any extras.
Just an aside, why an r? They are indeed fine things but of you haven't driven an s of a sc then might be worth it just to see if either suits better.
Either way, good luck and please post pictures.
My elise does not have a/c, it is used all year round, doesn't have a hard top and I have never in my near 3 years of ownership wished it had a/c.
If I get hot I open the window about 1cm on both sides and this cools the cabin a lot with not much extra noise and no buffeting, if it steamed up in winter then either again get a window down a fraction or just wait about 40 seconds with heater on full everything and pointing at windscreen.
I would buy on condition and be accepting of any extras.
Just an aside, why an r? They are indeed fine things but of you haven't driven an s of a sc then might be worth it just to see if either suits better.
Either way, good luck and please post pictures.
kazste said:
Just an aside, why an r? They are indeed fine things but of you haven't driven an s of a sc then might be worth it just to see if either suits better.
Either way, good luck and please post pictures.
A good question my mindset is this… I want the car not as my main ride but for when the sun comes out, road trips around England, Wales, the Scottish highlands and Northern Europe. All of which I suspect an S would be quite adequate if not the better choice but I am also thinking I would like to track the car with a view to the Nurburgring next year which is where the R comes into the equation. Either way, good luck and please post pictures.
That said I would be interested in what you guys may have to say about this, don’t get me wrong I have not entirely discounted and S and will indeed take a look at one or two before drawing any conclusions.
An SC is beyond my budget this time around.
I drove both r and s, decided on the s as its my main car and wouldn't really rev the car to the heights I would need to for an r to be quicker, I rarely take it over 4.5k rpm even when fully warm.
I'm not a good enough driver essentially to use safely the extra an r would give me and prefer to play a game of keeping my momentum up. I can easily see that on a track with long straights you might be wanting more power, but my car will never be tracked so again a non issue for me.
If its your second car or if your not planning on keeping it for too long then an r may be best, but for me the s suits.
I'm not a good enough driver essentially to use safely the extra an r would give me and prefer to play a game of keeping my momentum up. I can easily see that on a track with long straights you might be wanting more power, but my car will never be tracked so again a non issue for me.
If its your second car or if your not planning on keeping it for too long then an r may be best, but for me the s suits.
Gassing Station | Elise/Exige/Europa/340R | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff