Help 111S advice needed!

[ephancock77]

I'm seriously looking at buying an Elise 111s and would like your advice.

The car in question is AU04 EJL is has done 85,000 miles and has one former keeper with FLSH. Does anyone know of this car?

I'm told It hasn't had the head gasket replaced or radiator, car has A/C. If I was to purchase it, it would be parked up outside on my driveway. What should I be looking out for on a car like this? the car will come with a 6 months warranty from VGS automobile which again I'm told will cover the head gasket/radiator and A/C should I encounter any problems, could anyone confirm that these sort of things get covered generally in your 6 month warranty.

One more thing when would the next service be due.

Many thanks any help would be very much appreciated.

[Platinum]

The maintenance booklet says services should be carried out every 9k miles or 12months from last service (in the order A,A,B,A,A,C - 'C' being the relatively expensive one. The cambelt should be changed every 4 years.)

The AC is known for being temperamental, and costs quite a lot to repair - so make sure it works and it's covered in the warranty (my AA warranty does not cover it.)

Here are a few things to add to your checklist:
- condition of the dampers (I think many people would say they need changing by now)
- that there is no damage to the wishbone mounting points
- that it has the 'cups' at the top of the windscreen/door seal to catch any stray droplets that get into the cabin. I think there were introduced MY04.
- all speeds of the fan work (the front clam has to come off to replace the resistors - ££.)

[Thorburn]

If the a/c fails it's normally down to corrosion of the pipes running through the sills. They're coated in rubber and moisture can get trapped against the aluminium pipes - similar to what happens to the floor in early cars with the rubber mats.

AU plate normally means the car was either registered by Lotus or Stratton Motor Company. Might be worth asking on SELOC if anyone knows the car.

I take out an AA Parts and Labour warranty on mine which covers up to £500 of any work needed if they can't repair the car at the roadside - covered the cost of my clutch (mechanical failure, not wear) and when the crank pulley woodruff key sheered.

[ephancock77]

Thanks for your help, just out of curiosity Thorburn, how much do you pay for that AA warranty?

[Thorburn]

ephancock77 said:

Thanks for your help, just out of curiosity Thorburn, how much do you pay for that AA warranty?

I think it's around £100 a year on top of the normal breakdown cover, but it varies a bit depending on the age and mileage of the car - I think mine is a little higher as it's over 10 years old.

You can get a quote and find out more here: http://www.theaa.com/breakdown-cover/breakdown-rep...

[zebedee]

and stop worrying about the hgf! Let the car get up to temperature and the thermostat to open, and get back up to temperature before you give it the beans and that will certainly help. So no thrashing it in the first 15 mins if cold outside if the S2 is anything like the S1. You should see the temps rise to normal, then drop a few degrees as the radiator is opened up, then warm back up to normal, then you are good to go.

Check your oil and water regularly, it'll be fine. If the A/C fails, open the windows or take the roof off.

Don't worry, just enjoy!