111R with high mileage?

[shot2bits]

Hi All - I have a decision to make which I thought you guys could help with. The mileage I cover with my job is about to extend to around 15-20K PA. I have a Nissan to use rather than pile the miles on the Elise. However, I'd really rather use the Elise but notice that everybody selling Lotus's appears to be obsessed by low mileage examples! There will be a time when I want to trade the 111R (for another Lotus of course) and I don't want to be left with a car I cannot trade / sell. You reckon I should stick with the Nissan and use the Elise almost only for blasts or ditch the Nissan off the nearest cliff and run the Elise?

[boggy]

Hi

I'd be careful here, I'm sure you'd still be able to sell your car but this will have an effect on the re-sale price, I personally wouldn't buy a car with lot's of miles no matter how well it's treated the car has still done the mileage and I prefer my own mileage, on a plus side all the little niggles will be taken car of throughout the servicing but it's up to you.

I can see why you want to drive your car everyday thou the R and 111s is so easy to live with day to day

Boggy

[bogie]

I wouldnt worry about it too much - have 63K miles on my 3 year old S2...its a car and meant to be driven..not an investment !

I have a 2nd car also - I use the Elise on nice days, use the other car for airport runs, when I have to carry passengers + luggage, and in bad weather when I cant enjoy the performance of the ELise.

Splitting the mileage between the 2 Im now doing about 15K miles in each of them per year.

[gooby]

Did you buy it to sell it, or buy it to drive it?

[bher]

My idea is that due to the price/delay/availability of the new car, people are looking for almost new and this is why we see such demand.
However, if you use it regularly (but not for work) you will end with a moderate mileage and your price won't be that good either.
If you enjoy it a lot and the mileage is very very high, only a dealer will probably take it, or certainly take it if you buy another one.
What I do is to use it for work when conditions apply (good weather or at least no heavy rain, not jam hours, ...) The point being to enjoy it and that the price won't be so different, but I do not drive a lot for my job.
Just my 2p.

[scotte]

when i eventually get an R im not going to worry about the mileage......going to drive it (10K per year) until it cant be driven no more.

[[k]ar|]

I use my 111r almost every day, and since delivery on September 1st last year, I've racked up about 10k.

I must say I have no issues with this level of use. Things have run in well, I treat it sympathetically, and it's only been track-day'ed once so far. I think the key is to strike a balance and look after the car. Drive it but don't thrash it, and maintain regularly. It was, after all, built to be driven, as someone said above. I also seem to recall reading somewhere, and I'll be corrected if I'm wrong, that condition is more important than age/mileage with these cars.

Also, I somehow can't imagine Colin Chapman saying to people "yes, just keep it in your garage....". I'm sure he would have approved of regular, or indeed excessive Elise use!

[k]

[havoc]

The Nissan will be a lot cheaper on a ppm basis (depreciation on the 111R will climb if you put big miles on it).

But how much does that worry you?

If your commute is mainly M-way, maybe take the Nissan unless it's a glorious day and you want to take a detour there/back.
If your commute is more, ah, "interesting" roads, then I'd be tempted to suck up the cost and blat it one!!!

FWIW, I've put 50k on a 'teg in ~3years, and I've found it's one of the higher-milers, and on Autotrader price and time spent advertised both seem directly related to mileage, so I've got the worry at the other end myself...but I've had a FANTASTIC 3 years!!!

[xxplod]

I did 33K in my S2 111S in 2.5 years and sold it very quickly with no problems. I think its a case of how well you look after the car. If you are presenting a car with unmarked alloys, documented hostory, pristine bodywork then you'll sell it.

[shot2bits]

Cheers for the replies. I'm going to keep the Nissan for a bit - probably use it mainly on long winter mway trips and the Elise for all other times... The Nissan really is a shocker in terms of performance / cornering and I don't mean that in a good way!

[doug ward]

Have racked up similar mileage to [K]arl in a similar time frame - Agree with the view that its meant to be driven.

I figure that i'll get another one after 3 years so will be handing it back to the dealer in PX so dont have to worry about a private sale.

[theRossatron]

It is meant to be driven but theres no point ruining yourself with depreciation so that you may never be able to by another!

Keep the nissan as it will remind you how good the 111R is, otherwise you'll get used to the R and not appreciate it as much.

Also nothing to stop you taking the Elise on a few commutes now and then.

[MJK 24]

I've put 13k miles on my S2 Elise since December.

I wouldn't worry, just enjoy it. I'll be actively seeking out a high mileage (ie cheap) 111r in a couple of years!

[vtecaz]

I just sold my 111r, it was registered in Apr04 and I did 22800 miles but was in good condition. The early cars only got a 20000 mile warranty which was why i was told it was only worth £20000 to £21000. I was quite disappointed to sell it at that price.