Toying with the idea of an S1 Elise...

[-DeaDLocK-]

Hey folks.

I currently run a Fiat Coupé that is pushing out about 300bhp and is my (fast!) mile-muncher.

I was out today in it for a quick blast and the sun was out and shining. I then found myself longing for the open top experience, and then I saw an Elise...

The clockwork got ticking and further research shows me that decent early S1s can be had for about £10k to £12k.

What I'd ideally like to do is get one within the next month, keep it till the summer's over and then get rid of it - i.e. a short term summer toy car.

I've driven a bog standard S1 before and found the acceleration off the line a mighty lot of fun, and I've never driven anything with such a laugh-inducing throttle response. Just prod it from a standstill and the car takes off.

My Fiat is mightily quick once it gains traction, but only just copes round the bends, and the idea of a nimble little mid-engined RWD machine really appeals to me.

Just a few questions to convince myself:

1) Are there any pitfalls with what I'm planning to do? Is it such a common thing that I may find it hard to sell once the sun stops shining?

2) What are the major reliability pitfalls, if any? Where do all the major bills lie? I understand the K-series lump is fairly solid so most cars should be alright, and with average mileages of 30-40k I don't see ancillary component failure as being a common thing, or is it...?

3) I know there are various variants, like the 111S, 135 and 160. Because my regular car satiates my need for outright speed, I don't at this moment particularly crave the added horses the extra cars produce. But is there a significant difference between the models? In such a light car, an additional few ponies could make it *that* much more better. Is it worth considering the more powerful (and more expensive) models, or am I splitting hairs and in the real world the bog standard S1 would prove just as fun and quick?

4) Insurance: I am 23 with two years NCB. How would I go about getting affordable insurance? Would a classic car scheme with limited mileage prove to be the best option?

5) Is it worth it? (As if I don't know the answer to this one already...)

Thanks for any hinters guys!

I know a lot of this has been covered before and I've read up a bit already, but it's always nice to get direct and relevant advice.

Cheers,
D

[gcck]

Get a standard S1. Insurance dictates this for you. Throttle response of more powerful variants is no better only difference is top end which should really only make a difference on track. Possible exception is 111s (but you won't find a good one in your budget) which gets the close ratio gearbox. CR box a pain on motorways though, although you're not buying it as an everyday car. I'm on my 2nd Elise: 2nd one is a lot more extreme but wanted to do more track work. First one was std S1 but usefully upgraded (lots of threads about suspension, gearshift, exhaust, induction, brakes & clutch upgrades) and was more "chuckable" on the road.

You'll planning for the worst possible situation depreciation-wise. There will be hundreds of Elises for sale come Sept/Oct whereas there's a shortage of good ones in the spring. Best to budget for 12 months ownership and do 80% annual mileage April-Sept.

Do it - definitely - but get some help when looking. Buy privately with some enthusiastic amateurs in tow. these cars are so simple that if there's anything that really needs fixing, it's glaringly obvious to someone who might have had a similar problem in the past. Lots of help: take a look at SELOC, MLOC, NORLOG, NYLOC etc. according to area.

Graeme

[mutley mk1]

Dude, i brought a standard s1 and its great fun, for a little more throttle response i added a sports zorst £390, a 52mm throttle body £140 and a hurricane induction kit £160 and it makes a good differance over the standard car
my brother runs a s1 111s and you cant really notice the differance! and i saved about 3 grand, so thats the wise money for what u want to do. (in my opinion)
Also these mods are very common so u can save more money by looking at cars with some or all of these mods already carried out, another good tip is to check when the c service id due as it will cost at least £500 and if your planning to own the car for 12 months thats a bill u dont want to have!
buy private or from small sports car trade dude, as they wont buy rubbish (hopefully!)me and my mate did ok anyway.
lotus's do suffer from bad frontend stone chips so dont be put off it just means there more chance its a straight car. also make sure it has good tyres i.e, even tread and not to old. old tyres are a big problem as these cars tend to spend a long time stood up in garages over the winter months and they are light cars so tyre wear is not that great.(if required toyo t1-r's for camskill.co.uk full set £240)

Insurance:
i was 27 when starting my policy last year and got some scary quotes as my no claims are tied up in my company car policy.
After many calls adrian flux did me a classic car 5000 miles a year policy for £1008 the policy is ok but they dont let u pay extra for tagging on extra miles so i had to go easy in the winter months!

Oh and make sure you have loads of summer fun!!!!
Good luck i hope this helps.

[mister kevlar]

hi mate you have email i have an s1 with magnex exhaust, itg, nitron suspension, crp plus more for sell!...email me if your interested.

[henrybovis]

Theres no shortage of elises for sale, 96 on autotrader for less than £13000, you should be able to haggle down to your price bracket. Buy one with a tracker to get your insurance down

Some info:

For Sale:

http://stock.autorespond.co.uk/hawkinsandlock.aspx

www.alexanderdavid.co.uk/_adavidmc.htm

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk

www.pistonheads.com/ads/adverts.asp?s=12

www.eliseparts.com

www.exchangeandmart.co.uk/motoring/index.php

www.findit.co.uk/cars/lotus/elise.htm

www.adtrader.co.uk/postcode_splash.php

www.preloved.co.uk/search/advanced_results.cfm?sect=Motoring&cat=Cars&subcat=Lotus

http://fish4.co.uk/cars/index.html

www.carsource.co.uk/

www.usedlotuscarsforsale.co.uk/used-list

www.loot.com/rs6/cl.asp?action=srslt&ps=15&cpg=sf&kyp=&xp1=0&xp2=0&xp3=0&xp4=0&ord=&prc=4399&kyd=elise&c1=4399&mnp=&mxp=&do=&trd=0&ow=0&psc_dis=0&psc=&iss=

www.upmystreet.com/cla/uc/?a=37&d=elise&m=any&x=any&k=&l1=E1

www.leichat.co.uk/classifieds/elise.html

www.desperateseller.co.uk/findacar/searchpage.asp

www.trade-it.co.uk/cars/

http://forums.seloc.org

www.allapprovedcars.com/UsedCarSearch.aspx?UManufacturerId=0&UModelId=0&UseContext=1

www.goldstar-racing.com/goldstarcarsforsale.htm

www.uksportscars.com/sales___stock.html

www.christopherneil.co.uk/

www.ntccars.com/ntcframe.htm

www.wilson-group.co.uk/lotus/Lotushomepage.htm


Info on Elise:

www.elises.co.uk/miscellaneous/buyingused.html

www.parkers.co.uk/choosing/car_reviews/review.aspx?range_id=337

www.lotus-elise.nl/Buyers_Guide/buyers_guide.html

www.elise-faq.info/

www.pistonheads.com/lotus/elise/Default.asp?storyId=3917

www.elises.co.uk

www.powerelise.com/manual/seite1.html

www.mikecauser.com/lotus/parts/paint_codes.html


Download manuals:

www.brooke-kensington.co.uk/misc/Elise%20Service%20Manual%20-%20indexed.pdf

www.lotus-elise.be/

Insurance:

Chris Knott 0800 917 2274
Auto Torque 0161 278 5226
Elephant 0870 0401 140
Footman James 0121 561 4196
Adrian Flux 08700 777 888
Egger Lawson / CCI 0115 941 5255
Lotus / AON / Esteem (Official) 01483 706 051
Tesco 0845 300 4400
Direct Line 0845 246 8701
Priviledge 0845 246 0275
Liverpool Victoria 01202 292 333
Admiral 0800 600 800
Bell Direct / Admiral 0800 140 180
More Than / Hastings 0800 072 4186
Quoteline Direct 0870 442 9049
Norwich Union Direct 0800 092 9564
budget 0800 072 0644
esteem 01483 706051/706070/706065
frizzel 0800748748
cheam 0208 7701001
adrian flux 01533774477
Aplan 01494 677776
argos 0800 015 4835
insurance world 01604 615415
ASDA 0845 300 2310

www.confused.com
www.elephant.co.uk
www.budgetinsurance.com/
www.asda.com


Tyres:

www.mytyres.net/start.html

www.camskill.co.uk/brand.php?bid=103&tbv=TOYO_T1R_TYRES


Parts:

www.hangar111.com

http://search.ebay.co.uk/elise_W0QQcatrefZC6QQfromZR10QQsacategoryZQ2d1QQsbrftogZ1QQsoZShowQ20ItemsQQsofocusZsoQQsoloctogZ9QQsosortorderZ1QQsosortpropertyZ1

www.pistonheads.com/sales/list.asp?p=1&s=14

www.moto-build.com/classified.html

www.eliseparts.com/index.htm

http://lotusecosse.com/

www.brooke-kensington.co.uk/ppartl6.htm

www.cars.u-net.com/lotus/elise.htm

www.tadts.com/instructions/index.html

http://www25.brinkster.com/bobvanm/

www.ekmpowershop.com/ekmps/shops/grouplotusplc/index.asp

www.loctiteproducts.com/products/detail.asp?catid=13&subid=29&plid=170

http://shop.christopherneil.co.uk/acatalog/Christopher_Neil_Bodywork_157.html

http://bg.mgcars.org.uk/index1.html?o=109715882528634

henry

[KarlosFandango]

FUC*ING HELL, that is THE most comprehensive list of Elise related information I have ever seen. Top work!!!

[Ju.]

You cannot go wrong by getting an elise as a toy. I recently bought a series 1 elise as a semi everyday car (i have a van for work) and so far it has been brilliant i did have to fork out alot for a C service 2 weeks after i bought it but it has been worth it.

I have had no reliability issues apart from a small gear linkage problem that was fixed at the roadside.

as for insurance they are not that bad i am 21 and i pay £800 fully comprehensive for mine thats with alarm and immobiliser. As for trackers people don't steal them so is it really nesscesary.

[turnamere]

Just do it, and then keep it. We bought ours as a third car, the plan was to run the Elise for six summerish months and then garage it and run the old Honda Civic in the winter (avoiding 3 lots of tax and insurance). The Honda is still in the garage, as is the hardtop for the Liz!! I have had the top off at least 50% of the time this year, as long as it isn't raining the roof should be in the boot - go on, you know it makes sense.

[dannylt]

Best of both worlds - put the Civic engine in the Elise

[Ju.]

Why change the engines when the K series once it has its slight flaws sorted out is one of the best engines out there and not to mention lighter than all high tec jap equivelents, which are all short stroke have small powerband and pitiful amounts of torque stick with the K series

[dannylt]

That's almost funny! You haven't just read the "KingK" article have you?

[fergusd]

dannylt said:

That's almost funny! You haven't just read the "KingK" article have you?

How much did your honda conversion cost ?

Fd

[dannylt]

I think they cost around 8 or 9k ish now? Some of that is for conversion bits, so if it blows it's cheaper to stick another one in - haven't heard of one yet though, and many of them are track cars. The main benefit is that it's completely standard, driveable and you can thrash it all day long.

For the K-series equivalent you're probably looking at a Scholar block, possibly steel rods, pistons, cams, verniers, throttle bodies, ECU, mapping etc. for around the same all in. Nothing wrong with that either - but they're quite different propositions; plenty of stuff about K's around on the web.

[S Works]

Check out the Maidstone Sportscars infopage:
www.maidstonesportscars.co.uk/services/lotusHPE.asp

One of the guys from the KentLotus/Kent SELOC group (Rick111s) has had his done there. They are having an openday on 30th of July apparently to showcase the Honda developments including supercharged versions.

[Ju.]

Yeah i have read the KingK article i read it a while ago now i found it very interesting actually