Looking to buy my first Elise

[chicosgroove]

Hi Guys,
just registered and am new here. Its my first port of call in my bid to buy me an Elise!

Anyway, until I can afford a nice Mark 2 111R or something tasty like that, Im toying with the idea of buying a really cheap mark one for around £8k or £9k. Could anyone tell me if this is a good idea or a bad one, can one enjoy an Elise on such cheap money or would I be wiser spending more? What should one look out for when buying a mark 1 elise?

Like I say, Im just starting out in my research on the matter so any help from you guys would be a great help.

Cheers and many thanks

C

[GYG]

Morning.
Things to look out for (there will be more, but these are some of the obvious ones);

Head gaskets on the K series engines have bad, bad reputation for failing.

Boot release cables failing.

Door 'spring' plates (which keep the doors from closing when opened) can break, make sure the door stays open.

Window winding mechanisms are prone to failure.

The more 'original' elises will hold their value just as well if not better than 'modded' ones, mine had 8k spent on it from new but in terms of resale is worth pretty much the same as a bog standard.

Very early models may have 'cracking' of paint in stress areas, inside the door openings etc.

A lot have been tracked aswell so look out for signs of Armco kissing etc

The rest is just as with any other car service history, 1 lady owner etc etc

Hope that helps, no doubt some of the gurus on here will have some better pointers but good luck and good hunting.

[chicosgroove]

Thanks a lot,
Im going to have to start creating some sort of log of all this useful advise!!

C

[Lawrence5]

Seems to be down at the mo but this has useful info....

www.elise-faq.info/content/buying/index.php

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


Check receipts for things like ball joints and headlamps (they rust) brakes etc. Wouldn't buy a cheap one without plenty of receipts !

[StuartB]

chicosgroove said:

Hi Guys, ....Im toying with the idea of buying a really cheap mark one

As already said, be careful, it might appear cheap when you buy it, however if it then needs a C Service, replacement ball joints all over, four new tyres and brake disks then suddenly it isn't cheap anymore. Not to say that a cheap well cared for car doesn't exist, just that bargains aren't always what they first appear to be.

What I have seen regularly that are good options are where owners are about to trade in and the dealers offer them silly money. Typically you will only have about a week at best to get in there before they trade in but usually these are good motors

[Geeb]

My mate is selling a great low mileage S1 (T Reg). 25,000 miles and everything as it should be, not even stone chipped bonnet. Think he wants around 11k for it, but this is 11k well spent (ie no big probs round the corner) Hes selling for a Impreza before winter arrives. Mail a reply if you`re interested. In Edinburgh btw

Grant

[GYG]

StuartB said:

[quote=chicosgroove]Hi Guys, ....Im toying with the idea of buying a really cheap mark one

however if it then needs a C Service, replacement ball joints all over, four new tyres and brake disks then suddenly it isn't cheap anymore.


You can say that again! C service at my local Lotus garage £3.3K! Suffice to say I did a lot myself and outsourced the parts but still got landed with total costs of 1.4k.

[theweeninjaguy]

how much for your C service?

and that wasn't murry lotus was it??? lol

ninja

[GYG]

JCT at Leeds. Standard cost for C service + ball joints, pads, discs, exhaust expansion joint, wiper, tyres, labour(!!!!) need I go on......!!
Still cheaper than the ex wife tho !! LOL!!

[mrs trackside]

GYG said:

StuartB said: chicosgroove said: Hi Guys, ....Im toying with the idea of buying a really cheap mark one however if it then needs a C Service, replacement ball joints all over, four new tyres and brake disks then suddenly it isn't cheap anymore. You can say that again! C service at my local Lotus garage £3.3K! Suffice to say I did a lot myself and outsourced the parts but still got landed with total costs of 1.4k.

BLIMEY!!

I'm paying close attention to this thread, because an Elise was on my original list of most wanted, but I didn't think I'd be able to reach the pedals (I'm 5 ft on the nail). I sat in one at the weekend, and subject to test drive, we'll be looking to buy one next year for around 10K.

Is that the average cost of a C service?

[GYG]

Thankfully NO! The 'C' is a major service including Cam Belt change, around £600 at an authorised Lotus dealer, but there are others (Lotus specialists etc) who charge less.

[chicosgroove]

Wow,
this is a great response, Im cutting and pasting all this for reference, Thanks for the links to other sites, had a quick look and the dutch one looks very comprehensive.

As for the 11k 25,000 Elise, Id love to but Im not quite at that stage yet. But when I've got the cash Ill be asking who has one they want to sell!!??

Thanks a lot every body,

keep it coming!

C

[StuartB]

mrs trackside said:

I'm paying close attention to this thread, because an Elise was on my original list of most wanted, but I didn't think I'd be able to reach the pedals (I'm 5 ft on the nail). I sat in one at the weekend, and subject to test drive, we'll be looking to buy one next year....

I understand that you can swap the seat runners around in some way to move the seat another inch or so forward should you need it. Not done it myself but have heard this from more than one source.

[mrs trackside]

StuartB said:

mrs trackside said: I'm paying close attention to this thread, because an Elise was on my original list of most wanted, but I didn't think I'd be able to reach the pedals (I'm 5 ft on the nail). I sat in one at the weekend, and subject to test drive, we'll be looking to buy one next year.... I understand that you can swap the seat runners around in some way to move the seat another inch or so forward should you need it. Not done it myself but have heard this from more than one source.

I've heard that too. It's supposed to be quite easy to do as well. Some other lovely, helpful person sent me a link for a booster seat too

[StuartB]

StuartB said:

....What I have seen regularly that are good options are where owners are about to trade in and the dealers offer them silly money. Typically you will only have about a week at best to get in there before they trade in but usually these are good motors

As I was saying:
www.pistonheads.com/sales/49751.htm
That will later appear on a dalers forecourt with a ticket on it saying something silly like £14,995

[lawrence5]

Buyers market so take your time..... plenty of good ones out there at good prices. A recomendation of an enthusiast owned car is the way to go - through here BBS or SELOC. People will know the car and steer you right....

[StuartB]

mrs trackside said:

..........Some other lovely, helpful person sent me a link for a booster seat too

Here you go
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Lotus-Elise-Booster-cushion-Genuine-part_W0QQitemZ4572372002QQcategoryZ27375QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[markizok]

Does SELOC have a for sale section?

[MJK 24]

SELOC has classifieds for cars and parts.

[anonymous-user]

Have a look at as much as the chassis as possible to see if there are any signs of damage, in particular ripples or tears in the structure. Inside the front wheel arches is a good place to look.

My S1 was written off due to chassis damage (the front os wheel was ripped off)- and appeared on Ebay about 18 months later described as having "light crash damage".

Edit: if you see any signs of welding on the aluminium leave well alone.

>> Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 31st August 12:03