How much for an Elise? I want one now!!!

[Slashmb]

I popped down to my local Lotus dealer this afternoon to show my girlfriend an Elise. She had never seen one and I guessed she needed educating! They had a T reg in yellow - no radio but had weird lights at the front, unlike the other two they had in. Price was £16k I think from memory. Guess I'll have to save up for an extra year or three than what I had originally planned. Saw one on Auto Trader site for 11,500. 98r but 68000 miles few other bits too cant remember what. Private sale but would i risk the mileage and the fact i have no come backs on the seller if it goes wrong. I need an Elise now not in 29 months!! Have to save like mad.

Can anyone give me an idea on prices? I prefer the looks of the S1 so even if I could afford an S2 I still think I'd have the original. Never driven one so I'd like to hire one to try it out. Anyone know where from. I could get to Leeds or Manchester pretty easy and Sheffield isnt too far away.

I'm new to this whole thing cos I was thinking of getting a Seat Leon Cupra R but then realised I could get an Elise for about the same ( the leon would have been a few years old). Now I have the Lotus bug and I need one!!

Thanks to Arno for his advice on living with an Elise. Helped alot.

Cheers Guys
Slash

[Dr Bob]

have you tried the british cars bbs?
there are often a few cars on there up for private sale.

There are quite a few threads regarding dealer vs private sale... I guess at the end of the day it's what you are most comfortable with,
if you can get the right car at the right price privately, you can afford to fix any minor problems, or pay more at a dealer and have em fixed free!

If buying private, it's worth finding a local enthusiast or specialist on this or the other board to go and have a look at things with you, the elise is a specialist car and needs someone who knows what's what.

Hope this is helpful, I'm not the most knowledgable about these things, but spend quite a bit of time on these boeards and have picked up a fair bit.

Where roughly are you based, people may have some recommendations based on your location,

HTH, CH.

[Bonce]

Yellow with twin headlight conversion?

Hmmm, sounds like it could be Nick Mason's daughter's (Holly?) car...

[northernboy]

I reckon that of you went out today, with 10k in your pocket, in cash, you could have yourselF a good quality Elise before sunset.

I paid 13k for an immaculate 14k mile sport 135 5 months ago, and they've only gone 1 way since then.

I also think that there are som many around that they'll not do the classic car thing by bottoming out at a decent price.

Next year, I expect that someone'll pick up a 50k mile S1 in good condition for about 8k.

[Gargamel]

plenty on pistonheads
loads on autotrader
some on bookatrack (will be tracked mind)

10k is the dog end of the market
a clean si std for about 13k is easy.

I would buy private for my money, but take someone along and be tough on price

[dave mills]

Bought S1 last month 1997 with 17k for £12k fantastic car. Bought it private but had it checked over at Kings in Warick first which was well worth £60 as they found a couple of minor things for which I drop £400 off the price. If your going to drive it all year find one with hardtop. Still got 400SE TVR (for sale)but it feels so soggy after the Elise!!!!!!!!!!!!!