Realistic Budget.
Discussion
Hi all
Having given up motorcycling this year, owing to a series of injuries sustained over the years both track and road, I decided to fill the empty space in the garage with a weekend fun car more or less the role of my bikes.
Having owned a Lotus back in seventies (Mk1 Elite S2 FWA Climax motor)sold to fund first house purchase, my eyes turned towards it's stable mate of the period all be it with a different badge today.
I now suspect that the extreme qualities of the caterham would put me right back where I was with the bikes.
The Elise would appear to fit the bill of fun small sports car with the same seat of the pants engagement
as the seven but with a degree of comfort.
The last time we rode up to lakes I had to take a shedload of painkillers to make the ride back, my right elbow is totally shot.
On a budget of 8-10k what could I expect.
Cheers guys
David
Having given up motorcycling this year, owing to a series of injuries sustained over the years both track and road, I decided to fill the empty space in the garage with a weekend fun car more or less the role of my bikes.
Having owned a Lotus back in seventies (Mk1 Elite S2 FWA Climax motor)sold to fund first house purchase, my eyes turned towards it's stable mate of the period all be it with a different badge today.
I now suspect that the extreme qualities of the caterham would put me right back where I was with the bikes.
The Elise would appear to fit the bill of fun small sports car with the same seat of the pants engagement
as the seven but with a degree of comfort.
The last time we rode up to lakes I had to take a shedload of painkillers to make the ride back, my right elbow is totally shot.
On a budget of 8-10k what could I expect.
Cheers guys
David
10k will get you a decent 120bhp S1 or S2 (or VX220 in either N/A or turbo form).
You might get a ropey 111S for that in either S1 or S2 guise but I think buying at the bottom end of the Elise market is a recipe for spending more money in the long run than buying a decent car up-front.
You might get a ropey 111S for that in either S1 or S2 guise but I think buying at the bottom end of the Elise market is a recipe for spending more money in the long run than buying a decent car up-front.
I've seen a few good special edition Elises sold for less than £10k recently (through friends and other places - not necessarily PH).
You can get a good, clean S1 for £8k+. I've seen early S2s sell for similar, but they're usually ropey for that money (although not always).
I'd say £8-10k for an S1, £9-11k for an early S2. Anywhere between £9-plenty for special editions (best part of £40k for an S1 S190, for instance!!!).
You can get a good, clean S1 for £8k+. I've seen early S2s sell for similar, but they're usually ropey for that money (although not always).
I'd say £8-10k for an S1, £9-11k for an early S2. Anywhere between £9-plenty for special editions (best part of £40k for an S1 S190, for instance!!!).
One of the things I like about private is that you can actually see how the previous owner treats the car.
If they've thrashed the K series from cold each time, you may well have a big bill heading your way soon after buying - but it's not something you can really tell from a dealer car. At least privately you can see if they take care to warm it up properly etc, just the way they treat it - it's worth it IMO.
If they've thrashed the K series from cold each time, you may well have a big bill heading your way soon after buying - but it's not something you can really tell from a dealer car. At least privately you can see if they take care to warm it up properly etc, just the way they treat it - it's worth it IMO.
Yep - definitely worth seeing how the previous owner treats the car.
Mechanical sympathy, garaged, all receipts etc, even kept warm with a little heater in the winter months.......... a bit like mine........*ahem* which is for sale
(Sorry couldn't resist)
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/l...
Mechanical sympathy, garaged, all receipts etc, even kept warm with a little heater in the winter months.......... a bit like mine........*ahem* which is for sale
(Sorry couldn't resist)
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/l...
moonshadow said:
All sound advise guys!
Thrashing cold engines, still so many knobs out there who haven,t got a frigging clue.......
The K-series seems to get far more upset by this than most engines, too. I assume it generates hot-spots on the head/block interface which weakens the head gasket seal. Thrashing cold engines, still so many knobs out there who haven,t got a frigging clue.......
I get some cars in now and again. Main business is parts supply for lotus but I do get the odd vx and elise in.
For 8-10k you're looking at vx220 really not many dealers will have Elises in at that kind of money. The trade worthy ones start at about 12k
I have a nice vx220 turbo coming in this weekend for 9500 if you watch the classifieds I'll be posting a trade ad. Check my profile to see who I am.
For 8-10k you're looking at vx220 really not many dealers will have Elises in at that kind of money. The trade worthy ones start at about 12k
I have a nice vx220 turbo coming in this weekend for 9500 if you watch the classifieds I'll be posting a trade ad. Check my profile to see who I am.
To give you an idea what you can buy for 8-10k, I just sold my 1998 S1 Elise for just under £9000. This had around 70,000 miles on it and was good condition for the age.
Try to find one with good service history, recent suspension work and the radiator replaced with an alloy one. That should make life a bit easier in the long run.
Try to find one with good service history, recent suspension work and the radiator replaced with an alloy one. That should make life a bit easier in the long run.
Been there and got the T shirt. Sold the bikes and bought a Lotus 111R after a bad off and to make SWMBO happy. 4 years later and I still have the Lotus but I also have a bike again. And the Lotus doesnt get used.
Dont get me wrong, as sports cars go the Lotus is a brilliant piece of kit. But it isnt a bike and once bikes get under your skin no car will substitute. Or thats what I found.
Dont get me wrong, as sports cars go the Lotus is a brilliant piece of kit. But it isnt a bike and once bikes get under your skin no car will substitute. Or thats what I found.
Its amazing how many bikers go Lotus hunting. A good 30% of my customers are bikers buying their first sports car.
If you want to scare yourself get a VX turbo and go stage 4. These days for a total cost about 14k with car purchase you can get 300BHP with ludicrous torque. Its the cheapest route to the biggest performance in the whole S2 Lotus range. Is it the best car? No but you'll have fun scaring the hell out of yourself to find out
If you want to scare yourself get a VX turbo and go stage 4. These days for a total cost about 14k with car purchase you can get 300BHP with ludicrous torque. Its the cheapest route to the biggest performance in the whole S2 Lotus range. Is it the best car? No but you'll have fun scaring the hell out of yourself to find out
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