MX5 owner looking to upgrade
Discussion
Hi there,
I Have dreamed of owning an Elise for the past 6 years or so. My current car is a 1.8 MX5, bought because I couldn't afford what I really wanted at the time. I now have a budget of about £12.5k, and have been looking at some Elises. My problem I have also been offered an almost new MX5 sport at a good price. I would really love the Elise, but I have concerns over the reliability of an Elise within my budget, as there seem to be a lot ot thrashed and bashed cars about...
Has anyone got any thoughts...?
I see that Gfoz has recently traded in Mazda for Elise. What has your experience been like?
Cheers
Jimbob
I Have dreamed of owning an Elise for the past 6 years or so. My current car is a 1.8 MX5, bought because I couldn't afford what I really wanted at the time. I now have a budget of about £12.5k, and have been looking at some Elises. My problem I have also been offered an almost new MX5 sport at a good price. I would really love the Elise, but I have concerns over the reliability of an Elise within my budget, as there seem to be a lot ot thrashed and bashed cars about...
Has anyone got any thoughts...?
I see that Gfoz has recently traded in Mazda for Elise. What has your experience been like?
Cheers
Jimbob
but I have concerns over the reliability of an Elise within my budget, as there seem to be a lot ot thrashed and bashed cars about...
True, although a regularly tracked (not trashed) car can be a plus for the Elise as these owners usually take extreme care of their cars.
A good buyers guide is here:
www.lotus-elise.nl/Buyers_Guide/buyers_guide.html
Several cars also come available on www.british-cars.co.uk (Elise section) and most of these are very well maintained and often go for pretty low prices (and have a well known history).
Most Elises are pretty reliable, although some parts can be seen as 'wear' items which are different from other cars. (eg. suspension balljoints)
One thing to keep in mind that no matter what Elise you look at it should have *no* chassis damage whatsoever. Lotus usually does not repair any damage to the chassis. So a chassis-damaged car is a writeoff.
Bye, Arno.
Hi Jimbob
I work for Adrian Blyth - we specialise in Elises - feel free to phone/visit - we prefer a consultative approach coupled to the facts re reliability etc. We'll also consider the MX5 in PX. Got a 98(S) c/w hardtop due in - close to budget.
www.adrianblyth.co.uk
Apprentice
I work for Adrian Blyth - we specialise in Elises - feel free to phone/visit - we prefer a consultative approach coupled to the facts re reliability etc. We'll also consider the MX5 in PX. Got a 98(S) c/w hardtop due in - close to budget.
www.adrianblyth.co.uk
Apprentice
Hi Jimbob,
I own a BRG Mazda MXR (eunos in fact to be precise) and also have an Elise S2. I love my S2 and can honestly say that you will absolutely love the handling of he Elise compared to the MX5. I also loved my MX5 (bullet proof reliability) but you will really appreciate the superior handling and sprinting ability of the Elise.
One point - go on a Lotus driving skills course, well worth the money and you really get to see what the car can really do in a safe environment. The demo lap I had was with Lotus chief test driver Alistair McQueen and it was absolutely phenomenal. One thing it proved is how imprtant driver training is if you really want to experience the full enjoyment of the car. So as mentioned above dont be put off if a car has been regularly 'tracked', these cars are normally owned by enthusiasts who really look after their cars.
Goodf Luck with Elise hunting.
Cheers
Andy
I own a BRG Mazda MXR (eunos in fact to be precise) and also have an Elise S2. I love my S2 and can honestly say that you will absolutely love the handling of he Elise compared to the MX5. I also loved my MX5 (bullet proof reliability) but you will really appreciate the superior handling and sprinting ability of the Elise.
One point - go on a Lotus driving skills course, well worth the money and you really get to see what the car can really do in a safe environment. The demo lap I had was with Lotus chief test driver Alistair McQueen and it was absolutely phenomenal. One thing it proved is how imprtant driver training is if you really want to experience the full enjoyment of the car. So as mentioned above dont be put off if a car has been regularly 'tracked', these cars are normally owned by enthusiasts who really look after their cars.
Goodf Luck with Elise hunting.
Cheers
Andy
I Have dreamed of owning an Elise for the past 6 years or so. My current car is a 1.8 MX5, bought because I couldn't afford what I really wanted at the time. I now have a budget of about £12.5k, and have been looking at some Elises.
On the one hand, the MX5 is solid, reliable, well built,
has low depreciation and is
fast enough for UK roads, with good handling.
On the other hand, you want a bit more handling, and
you seem to want to lose everything else.
Having owned an MX5, and a Lotus (not the Elsie),
I'd have the MX5 every time.
Because I know that hurling a car around corners
is only part of owning a car.
The 10 or 20% better that a Elsie might be at corners doesn't
make up for its many other faults.
I,ve got an MX5 (the wife's) and an Elise and the Elise is a 100% more enjoyable car. Don't let anyone fool you into thinking anything different. The Elise will make you grin from ear to ear regularly, is not expensive to service, and any minor niggles you have will seem trivial compared to the driving experience. The Build Q is much better than previous Lotuses IMHO also.
Hi Jimbob - as you mentioned, I've just gone from the MX5 to a '98 Elise - and to answer your question, I haven't looked back.
Like yourself, I was lurking around these forums prior to buying one - the advice that these guys will share with you is priceless. Possibly like yourself, this isn't a weekend car for me - I use it everyday - so I had concerns beforehand too. The MX5 is positively refined luxury by comparison with the Elise but you'll adore the contrast - you'll laugh out loud when people ask if it has ABS/airbags/a glove box/electric windows, etc etc. Or when giving someone a lift home from work, they hold up their laptop bag and say 'is there room for this in the boot?' The answer's almost always 'no!'
I bought mine knowing that I was going to have to spend some money on it to get it running as I wanted it. It needed a service, MOT and a few other jobs, which I've been taking care of over the last few weeks. I'm not mecahnically skilled and so used the services of Stuart at Cerberus Motorsport who specialises in performance cars. I can't recommend him enough. He accompanied me when I bought it. I've subsequently saved a fortune by putting work through him as opposed to Lotus dealerships. Not that I've anything against them, I just can't afford them! Unless you're completely at home with mechanics, take an expert with you when you buy.
As recommended by some of these guys, I'm off on a 'driving development' day soon, to explore the limits of the car on a wet track with Don Palmer. It's sound advice.
For me at least, I was never going to be able to rest until I finally had one. Now I have one and there's not even the slightest doubt I'd chosen the right car.
I've had it a month now and still grin like an idiot when each morning as I start it up - I've no doubt you will too!
Like yourself, I was lurking around these forums prior to buying one - the advice that these guys will share with you is priceless. Possibly like yourself, this isn't a weekend car for me - I use it everyday - so I had concerns beforehand too. The MX5 is positively refined luxury by comparison with the Elise but you'll adore the contrast - you'll laugh out loud when people ask if it has ABS/airbags/a glove box/electric windows, etc etc. Or when giving someone a lift home from work, they hold up their laptop bag and say 'is there room for this in the boot?' The answer's almost always 'no!'
I bought mine knowing that I was going to have to spend some money on it to get it running as I wanted it. It needed a service, MOT and a few other jobs, which I've been taking care of over the last few weeks. I'm not mecahnically skilled and so used the services of Stuart at Cerberus Motorsport who specialises in performance cars. I can't recommend him enough. He accompanied me when I bought it. I've subsequently saved a fortune by putting work through him as opposed to Lotus dealerships. Not that I've anything against them, I just can't afford them! Unless you're completely at home with mechanics, take an expert with you when you buy.
As recommended by some of these guys, I'm off on a 'driving development' day soon, to explore the limits of the car on a wet track with Don Palmer. It's sound advice.
For me at least, I was never going to be able to rest until I finally had one. Now I have one and there's not even the slightest doubt I'd chosen the right car.
I've had it a month now and still grin like an idiot when each morning as I start it up - I've no doubt you will too!
Slight comparison needed here, I had my MX5 for over 3 years (as an only car). It was fine but I did find the impracticality annoying after a couple of years and bought a second car as an everday run around. Problem being that the MX5 was just not exciting enough for a second car !! Hence I plumped for an Elise which really is a world apart in the 'fun' dept. I suggest if you have not been test driven an Elise - then when you are you will that 10 - 20% better handling is a huge understatement ..... in fact I can say as an owner of BOTH cars try more like 100% better and you are still scratching the surface.
This car is a true 'little sports car' which is ready for track use without any modification, the MX5 is a 'tourer' and in performance terms there is no comparison. If you can live with the impracticality (As a fellow MX5 owner you will be familiar with this to a large extent already) then as others have said above you will love the Elise.
This car is a true 'little sports car' which is ready for track use without any modification, the MX5 is a 'tourer' and in performance terms there is no comparison. If you can live with the impracticality (As a fellow MX5 owner you will be familiar with this to a large extent already) then as others have said above you will love the Elise.
Wow, thanks guys - lots of advice there.
My main concern is the practicality of owning an Elise as an everyday car. I'm not loaded, and the thought of spending out large sums of money keeping an Elise on the road scares me a bit - as do things like web-dude's recent break-away at 30mph....
I did get the opportunity to drive a friend's Elise home through some country lanes a while back. It was only about 7 miles, and I didn't push it, but I was grinning like a cheshire cat all the way home....
My MX5 is the 1.8 without the mod cons like abs, power steering, it is noisy and very stiff, and to me feels like it has more in common with the Elise than it does with the modern MX5's with the softer ride and all their lardy mod-cons.
I am torn between the practical / reliable Mazda and the fun, but potentially greater risk Elise.....
Think I'm going to have to have some test drives...
My main concern is the practicality of owning an Elise as an everyday car. I'm not loaded, and the thought of spending out large sums of money keeping an Elise on the road scares me a bit - as do things like web-dude's recent break-away at 30mph....
I did get the opportunity to drive a friend's Elise home through some country lanes a while back. It was only about 7 miles, and I didn't push it, but I was grinning like a cheshire cat all the way home....
My MX5 is the 1.8 without the mod cons like abs, power steering, it is noisy and very stiff, and to me feels like it has more in common with the Elise than it does with the modern MX5's with the softer ride and all their lardy mod-cons.
I am torn between the practical / reliable Mazda and the fun, but potentially greater risk Elise.....
Think I'm going to have to have some test drives...
jimbb,
after reading this forum, have you ever thought about an Vauxhall VX220.
If your current car is an MX5, you shouldn't have too much of badge snobbery problems with a Vauxhall, especially if you take out the sign from the front..
In terms of practicability the Vauxhall has got a bigger boot (I believe even bigger than a Z3, S2000, MX5)
The roof is easier to fit compared to an MK1. The build quality is said to be better.
And if you feel uncomfortable with the more tailhappy attitude of the MK1, the Vauxhall might be more suited to you, since it tends more to understeer. (+ it has ABS and Air Bag)
I tried both and do not remember, that the VX impressed me much less than the MK1.
I do not want to offend any Lotus fans (I'm one myself), but the Vx220 might still be closer to an Elise than an MX5, in terms of sport car purity.
In view of a limited budget, you get a newer car with less milage and probably less usage on a track for the same price.
You hate it's edgy look, don't you?
Cheers
Patrick
after reading this forum, have you ever thought about an Vauxhall VX220.
If your current car is an MX5, you shouldn't have too much of badge snobbery problems with a Vauxhall, especially if you take out the sign from the front..
In terms of practicability the Vauxhall has got a bigger boot (I believe even bigger than a Z3, S2000, MX5)
The roof is easier to fit compared to an MK1. The build quality is said to be better.
And if you feel uncomfortable with the more tailhappy attitude of the MK1, the Vauxhall might be more suited to you, since it tends more to understeer. (+ it has ABS and Air Bag)
I tried both and do not remember, that the VX impressed me much less than the MK1.
I do not want to offend any Lotus fans (I'm one myself), but the Vx220 might still be closer to an Elise than an MX5, in terms of sport car purity.
In view of a limited budget, you get a newer car with less milage and probably less usage on a track for the same price.
You hate it's edgy look, don't you?
Cheers
Patrick
Hi Patrick,
No, actually I quite like the VX220, I hadn't considered it as a serious purchase primarily because of it's age. I have a limited budget and the VX220 was only released in 2000 I believe. But I've just had a quick look at autotrader and for the year, the prices do look very good - if a little above my current price range.
Thanks for reminding me about that one. Might be just what I'm looking for in terms of practicality...
James
No, actually I quite like the VX220, I hadn't considered it as a serious purchase primarily because of it's age. I have a limited budget and the VX220 was only released in 2000 I believe. But I've just had a quick look at autotrader and for the year, the prices do look very good - if a little above my current price range.
Thanks for reminding me about that one. Might be just what I'm looking for in terms of practicality...
James
jimbb said: Wow, thanks guys - lots of advice there.
I'm not loaded, and the thought of spending out large sums of money keeping an Elise on the road scares me a bit - as do things like web-dude's recent break-away at 30mph....
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Some people have had bad luck with their Elise's. I've had no more trouble with mine than other people seem to get with a 'proper' car. With regards to the handling people often make out that the car is out to kill you. If you've come from a front wheel drive car and you try to drive a lightweight RWD car the same way you're almost guarenteed to have a scare. Get some lessons, learn to drive smoothly, keep it settled in corners and you'll have the time of your life. It's not an easy car to drive fast like a Scooby is but once you get it right you'll love it.
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I am torn between the practical / reliable Mazda and the fun, but potentially greater risk Elise.....
Think I'm going to have to have some test drives...
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