Looking at a S2 111R.
Discussion
Read the buyers guide at the top is there anything else I should be looking out for.
Having never driven an Elise (but sat in one) what can I expect. Booked a test drive on an 04 111r with 43000 miles on the clock. My previous cars have all been hot hatches (Focus RS, A3 V6).
What is the touring pack? Air con?
Do the door mirrors fold in? As if it doesn't fit in a new build house single garage then its a no go.
Are hard top roofs hard to come by and do they make a difference in wet/cold conditions?
Any pointer greatly appreciated.
Cheers
Graham
Having never driven an Elise (but sat in one) what can I expect. Booked a test drive on an 04 111r with 43000 miles on the clock. My previous cars have all been hot hatches (Focus RS, A3 V6).
What is the touring pack? Air con?
Do the door mirrors fold in? As if it doesn't fit in a new build house single garage then its a no go.
Are hard top roofs hard to come by and do they make a difference in wet/cold conditions?
Any pointer greatly appreciated.
Cheers
Graham
If I remember correctly, the touring pack is just additional sound deadening (and maybe leather seats). Sure someone will correct me if I am wrong :-)
Never had it on my S2 111R as I prefer to hear the car, however I don't think it makes a massive difference. However my car was a 2nd weekend car so I was not too interested in creature comforts.
The door mirrors do not easily fold in, but an Elise should easily fit into a standard garage. I would be more worried about opening the door to get out rather than if the car will fit. It can be a little bit tight depending upon how flexible you are if you garage is not very big.
You can often purchase hard tops. I had one on my S1 111S. Unfortunately they do not come with a rain gutter so you will get dripped on when it is wet and you open the door. The only reason for getting a hard top is to give it a little bit more security if you are parking the car on the street. A 2nd hand hard top will probably be in the £600-£800 ball park.
I held off getting my 111R until 2006, there was a change to the brake pedal and I always found the dead spot at the top of the earlier car a bit annoying. Only noticed it because I came from a S1 Elise when I was looking to change.
George
Never had it on my S2 111R as I prefer to hear the car, however I don't think it makes a massive difference. However my car was a 2nd weekend car so I was not too interested in creature comforts.
The door mirrors do not easily fold in, but an Elise should easily fit into a standard garage. I would be more worried about opening the door to get out rather than if the car will fit. It can be a little bit tight depending upon how flexible you are if you garage is not very big.
You can often purchase hard tops. I had one on my S1 111S. Unfortunately they do not come with a rain gutter so you will get dripped on when it is wet and you open the door. The only reason for getting a hard top is to give it a little bit more security if you are parking the car on the street. A 2nd hand hard top will probably be in the £600-£800 ball park.
I held off getting my 111R until 2006, there was a change to the brake pedal and I always found the dead spot at the top of the earlier car a bit annoying. Only noticed it because I came from a S1 Elise when I was looking to change.
George
I have a hard-top for mine and I never put it on despite the fact that I use the car all-year 'round. It doesn't really seem to offer anything over the soft-top except I suppose a bit of added security.
With regard to air-con, it'd useful for demisting if the car is going to be kept outside, but it's also heavy and is something else to go wrong so personally I wouldn't bother if the car is going to be kept in a garage.
With regard to air-con, it'd useful for demisting if the car is going to be kept outside, but it's also heavy and is something else to go wrong so personally I wouldn't bother if the car is going to be kept in a garage.
Thanks guys
Had a friend look around one today for me. Requires brake pads all round, possibly disks and has a few bad touch up repairs on the paint. 43000 miles and recently had the clutch changed. Would require a service over the next few months.
Toiling between an Elise or a Boxter. Obviously 2 different animals but think I would much prefer the lotus as a toy. Also id be little more comfortable doing basic repairs myself.
Yes iv sat in one and realise the unflattering nature of getting in and out. Can always take the roof off
Had a friend look around one today for me. Requires brake pads all round, possibly disks and has a few bad touch up repairs on the paint. 43000 miles and recently had the clutch changed. Would require a service over the next few months.
Toiling between an Elise or a Boxter. Obviously 2 different animals but think I would much prefer the lotus as a toy. Also id be little more comfortable doing basic repairs myself.
Yes iv sat in one and realise the unflattering nature of getting in and out. Can always take the roof off
Getting in and out is fine once you get used to it unless you're trying to do it in a confined space with the roof on - because the sills are so wide, you have to be able to open the door quite wide to get through them.
I often have to take the roof off and climb out over the doors in multi-story car parks. It's either that or line the car up, get out, and then push it back into the space.
I often have to take the roof off and climb out over the doors in multi-story car parks. It's either that or line the car up, get out, and then push it back into the space.
Was a big Lotus devotee having had: Elise S1, S2 and Evora and had order down for Exige V6 (cancelled it though due to Lotus issues). I ended up getting a Boxster Spyder instead.
However the Elise + Boxster are often put together in comparisons. It really comes down to what you want to use it for:
- Boxster: far more practical and comfortable (but I lived with the Elise S1 as our only vehicle for 6 months and did not have a major problem).
- Elise : can feel a bit more in the driving experience, fewer around and the owners are more willing to wave/chat if they see another owner
Really depends what you want for the car. Practicallity that you can have a good blast then go for the Boxster, however if it's a weekend car then I would definitely go for the Elise.
The other thing going for the Elise is that as long as you keep the miles off it, then the residuals will probably be better. All to do with the fact that there are less out there, where there a whole bunch of Boxsters in your price range (luckily the Spyder is the exception ;-) )
George
However the Elise + Boxster are often put together in comparisons. It really comes down to what you want to use it for:
- Boxster: far more practical and comfortable (but I lived with the Elise S1 as our only vehicle for 6 months and did not have a major problem).
- Elise : can feel a bit more in the driving experience, fewer around and the owners are more willing to wave/chat if they see another owner
Really depends what you want for the car. Practicallity that you can have a good blast then go for the Boxster, however if it's a weekend car then I would definitely go for the Elise.
The other thing going for the Elise is that as long as you keep the miles off it, then the residuals will probably be better. All to do with the fact that there are less out there, where there a whole bunch of Boxsters in your price range (luckily the Spyder is the exception ;-) )
George
Things which I found made it easier to get in and out of the car when in a small garage and the roof was on:
* Reverse in to the garage so you can use the mirrors to get the passenger side as close to the wall as possible
* Glue some foam or carpet against the wall next to where the drivers door opens so you can just push it against that without worrying about bashing it
* With my S1 111S I also found it easier to get out with the window down (as the window leans in a little) - it was easier in that as the windows were manual so I could wind them up/down with ignition off, in the Europa I'd have to have the ignition on as they're electric
* Reverse in to the garage so you can use the mirrors to get the passenger side as close to the wall as possible
* Glue some foam or carpet against the wall next to where the drivers door opens so you can just push it against that without worrying about bashing it
* With my S1 111S I also found it easier to get out with the window down (as the window leans in a little) - it was easier in that as the windows were manual so I could wind them up/down with ignition off, in the Europa I'd have to have the ignition on as they're electric
Thanks again guys. From reading the buyers guide the main things to check are.
Check fluids.
Check heater works.
There is a tiptronic 05 Boxter S for sale near by so will attempt to get a test drive also.
Im quite slim for now so getting in and out should be ok. Foam on the wall sounds like a good idea.
Would it be cheeky to.take the car to my house on test drive to see if it fits? It's only 5 minutes away.
Like I say iv always liked the thought.of a more hardcore and truer driving experience and the lotus ticks those boxes. Part of me is saying it's a Porsche you idiot, buy it. (911 gt3 is the dream).
Check fluids.
Check heater works.
There is a tiptronic 05 Boxter S for sale near by so will attempt to get a test drive also.
Im quite slim for now so getting in and out should be ok. Foam on the wall sounds like a good idea.
Would it be cheeky to.take the car to my house on test drive to see if it fits? It's only 5 minutes away.
Like I say iv always liked the thought.of a more hardcore and truer driving experience and the lotus ticks those boxes. Part of me is saying it's a Porsche you idiot, buy it. (911 gt3 is the dream).
Beachbum said:
Touring Pack =
Driving lights
Electric Windows
Insulated roof(the soft top variety)
A/C Possibly(Cannot remember if this is definetly the case)
Passenger Foot Rest
Upgraded Stereo Head Unit
If memory serves, the Touring Pack became standard as of end of 2005, beginning of 2006.
AC was a separate option, at least on the K-series cars. Driving lights
Electric Windows
Insulated roof(the soft top variety)
A/C Possibly(Cannot remember if this is definetly the case)
Passenger Foot Rest
Upgraded Stereo Head Unit
If memory serves, the Touring Pack became standard as of end of 2005, beginning of 2006.
The standard cam change point is 6200 RPM on the 111R I think - some people find that a bit high (harder to keep the revs up in that range) so have an ECU reflash to drop it to 5700 RPM instead. Just something to bear in mind (and ask if it's been done on that car) - it's not that expensive to have a reflash to drop the change point if it hasn't been done and does feel a bit high.
Another thing I'd look for when inspecting the car, if you can, is the forward front upper wishbone mount points (if you take a torch and turn the front wheels there's probably enough room to have a look). Hopefully a 2004 car should be fine, but it's worth checking as a few cars which are used all year around (but not all) have suffered corrosion starting to set in there. It's fairly common for the wishbones themselves to be grotty on the surface - crap coating from the factory - and that's nothing to worry about, it's the aluminium box section of the mount point where deep pitting/pinholes is a concern. Probably a good idea to generally have a peer around at the wishbones and mount points to make sure everything is straight as well (although if the car seems to have a good history it will likely all be fine)!
Another thing I'd look for when inspecting the car, if you can, is the forward front upper wishbone mount points (if you take a torch and turn the front wheels there's probably enough room to have a look). Hopefully a 2004 car should be fine, but it's worth checking as a few cars which are used all year around (but not all) have suffered corrosion starting to set in there. It's fairly common for the wishbones themselves to be grotty on the surface - crap coating from the factory - and that's nothing to worry about, it's the aluminium box section of the mount point where deep pitting/pinholes is a concern. Probably a good idea to generally have a peer around at the wishbones and mount points to make sure everything is straight as well (although if the car seems to have a good history it will likely all be fine)!
I had a 111R and have a Boxster 2.7 (owned at the same time). Night and day in terms of what they are like. I utterly loved the Elise, its 'wow factor' on the road, the way it felt special and the handling and feedback was amazing. By comparison the Boxster feels like a tank! It handles well in comparison to 'normal' cars but it is nothing when compared to an Elise. It requires dedication to use daily whilst the Boxster is like a Ford Focus but I am sure you'll love an Elise whereas the Boxster will simply be a really nice car in much the way a BMW might be.
Because they're so low and it's fibreglass bodywork the front chips really really easily. It sounds like it was more than just front-end chips in this case, but it's worth bearing in mind that some degree of stone chippeage at the front will be "normal". Of course it's still better to buy one where someone else has taken the hit of having it tidied up .
.Few things that caught the eye were bubbling of the plastic around the door mirrors. Marks on the doors. Understand cars if this age and type will get everything on the road thrown at them but it was more than that.
Even though I gave the garage a week's notice they never got it out the show room so I could test drive it. Do garages really expect me to part with cash with that attitude.
After sitting in it however just made me more determined to find a good one. The search continues
Even though I gave the garage a week's notice they never got it out the show room so I could test drive it. Do garages really expect me to part with cash with that attitude.
After sitting in it however just made me more determined to find a good one. The search continues
I looked at a rough 2004 111R before I bought mine. It was pretty disappointing. I suspect it had lived outside and just looked a bit tatty - much like the one you describe. If you can find a post-2006 model then you'll get the LED rear lights, fly-by-wire throttle and significantly improved brake feel. I can't remember what they changed but the older car I drove had some dead travel at the top of the pedal which was unnerving.
I ended up finding a lovely 2006 car which I did 20,000 miles in and it was fantastic. I often have to remind myself of why I ended up swapping for an S1 Exige, which tries my patience more than a little.
Good luck and enjoy!
I ended up finding a lovely 2006 car which I did 20,000 miles in and it was fantastic. I often have to remind myself of why I ended up swapping for an S1 Exige, which tries my patience more than a little.
Good luck and enjoy!
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