Buying a MK2 Elise, advice needed!
Discussion
Spend some time here:-
[url]www.seloc.org[/url]
[url]wwww.elises.co.uk[/url]
[url]www.british-cars.co.uk[/url]
[url]www.seloc.org[/url]
[url]wwww.elises.co.uk[/url]
[url]www.british-cars.co.uk[/url]
Sports Tourer is easier to live with as a daily driver, has a few more comforts such as leather seats, 4 speakers, carpets etc. As for the top things to look out for, if you buy from a Lotus dealer ask them to produce a scan-tool printout for you. This will show how the car's engine has been treated (i.e. has it been thrashed from cold all the time etc.) Check for any fibreglass damage as new clams are expensive. Also when you find one you like post on here, seloc and bcbbs asking for knowledge of the car as there is a good chance someone will have owned it.
Might be worth running a search on here, but here are a few things to look out for:
WIndows - work properly and that they are water tight.
Heater controls work - easy to fix but pain in the arse to do.
Good quality tyres are fitted and they have plenty of tread - they are not cheap.
The car has a full Lotus service history - this is very important in my opinion.
Check for stone damage - I think the silver one is the car least likely to be affected by this.
I would also get an AA check or similar carried out.
WIndows - work properly and that they are water tight.
Heater controls work - easy to fix but pain in the arse to do.
Good quality tyres are fitted and they have plenty of tread - they are not cheap.
The car has a full Lotus service history - this is very important in my opinion.
Check for stone damage - I think the silver one is the car least likely to be affected by this.
I would also get an AA check or similar carried out.
www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?t=122413&f=15&h=1&hw=buying+s2
Check this out as there is debate about the use of RAC/AA and others suggest using a Lotus specialist.
Check this out as there is debate about the use of RAC/AA and others suggest using a Lotus specialist.
I recently bought an S2 Elise. And it seems the most common top 5 things to look for is.
1. Chassis damage as this is pretty much unrepairable.
2. Anything on the HPI register.
3. Signs of head gasket failure. (unless its a 111R your looking at)
4. Full service history
5. The car's general condition!
1. Chassis damage as this is pretty much unrepairable.
2. Anything on the HPI register.
3. Signs of head gasket failure. (unless its a 111R your looking at)
4. Full service history
5. The car's general condition!
Sim North East said:
www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?t=122413&f=15&h=1&hw=buying+s2
Check this out as there is debate about the use of RAC/AA and others suggest using a Lotus specialist.
I wouldnt bother with an AA or RAC inspection. Better to get someone who knows about Elises to give it the once over instead.
Another virgin question, I've noticed a lot of advertisers specifically mentioning having 'driving lights'. Are these additional lights to the normal ones? are they not sufficient for night driving?
Additional light to the edges of the front grille, they operate on high beam, normal headlights work fine, these are just a standard addition with sports tourer spec
Also, what do people reckon to a Cat D insurance Elise?
As with any other car 'could' be a bargain if cheap enough, big thing is if the chassis has been bent and bogged then run very quickly, tread with care, get an expert opinion
Additional light to the edges of the front grille, they operate on high beam, normal headlights work fine, these are just a standard addition with sports tourer spec
Also, what do people reckon to a Cat D insurance Elise?
As with any other car 'could' be a bargain if cheap enough, big thing is if the chassis has been bent and bogged then run very quickly, tread with care, get an expert opinion
andyjjj said:
Also, what do people reckon to a Cat D insurance Elise?
With the close knit community guaranteed by Elise ownership.... buy a Cat D, and you may as well just walk around with your knob hanging out!!
There's plenty out there at the mo... just empower yourself with some knowledge or better still, get someone that knows the marque well, to check it out for you.
AA/RAC nah!.. no depth of knowledge on Loti... might as well give the money to me!
Thats a bit strong is nt it . Cat D could be as simple as a car that was stolen and then recovered after the claim was settled .
An elise with chassis damage would be graded as Cat C and you d be right to be wary of it .
Do you think all cars with an insurance claim against them should automatically go to the crusher ? you would nt be able to afford an insurance policy if this were the case , and a lot of excellent garage workers would be out of a job.
What about Doug ward , when everyone was congratulating him for getting his car back from the body shop .
Should his of been crushed ?
An elise with chassis damage would be graded as Cat C and you d be right to be wary of it .
Do you think all cars with an insurance claim against them should automatically go to the crusher ? you would nt be able to afford an insurance policy if this were the case , and a lot of excellent garage workers would be out of a job.
What about Doug ward , when everyone was congratulating him for getting his car back from the body shop .
Should his of been crushed ?
car looked great other than that!I went through the insurance process online with Tesco and at no point did it mention not insuring a Cat D car, not even in the T's and C's. So if I got insured with them there is no way they could refuse a claim because the online process does not state anything about it. If they did the FSA would step in an slap Tesco on the backside! They regulate insurers and they are going big-time about what they put online. The consumer wins!!
andyjjj said:
I went through the insurance process online with Tesco and at no point did it mention not insuring a Cat D car, not even in the T's and C's. So if I got insured with them there is no way they could refuse a claim because the online process does not state anything about it. If they did the FSA would step in an slap Tesco on the backside! They regulate insurers and they are going big-time about what they put online. The consumer wins!!
Yes I'm sure they would pay out - eventually.
tricky 100 said:
Thats a bit strong is nt it . Cat D could be as simple as a car that was stolen and then recovered after the claim was settled .
An elise with chassis damage would be graded as Cat C and you d be right to be wary of it .
Do you think all cars with an insurance claim against them should automatically go to the crusher ? you would nt be able to afford an insurance policy if this were the case , and a lot of excellent garage workers would be out of a job.
What about Doug ward , when everyone was congratulating him for getting his car back from the body shop .
Should his of been crushed ?
Fair point Tricky.
I personally have no problem cars being expertly repaired under Cat C/D... and yes Doug rightly needs to be congratulated on his efforts.
My point (which could have been made more eruditely
) concerns the fact although a CatD car may offer up the opportunity for a potential purchaser to realise a newer model or better spec. My advice is to make a purchase without the stigma and enjoy a queue of serious buyers when you come to sell. The trade tend to steer well clear.
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