Help on a Lotus Elise

[Mr Freefall]

I’m currently looking to buy a Lotus Elise. Now, I know nothing about them spec wise, what to look for, what are good bits, what will need changing etc etc etc.

So, it will be an early one, as I already have a TVR Tuscan Red Rose in the garage, but if I start to use this all the time at weekends then the miles will clock up and in the summer I would like to use it to work (30 miles away) now and again, but I don’t want to clock loads and load of mile on it (tvr).

So, my thoughts were buy an Elise, I can use it for the 100 mile round trip I do most weekends in the summer and a couple of days a week to work. They are quite fuel economical, and I’ve heard quite reliable.

I have access to the wife’s BMW 320seD and we will share the same car into work, so I will be selling my Focus TDCi of a year old, and get an Elise for some fun. I will be keeping the TVR not selling it.

Can anyone enlighten me on the pitfalls of an Elise, I’m not a stranger to sports cars, just the Lotus Elise.

Cheers in advance

Gary

[DanH]

If you've owned a Tuscan, then the Elise should seem cheap. At least we don't have finger followers to worry about

You really need to state your budget, and whether you want/can pay for something more powerful than the standard 120 bhp. Whatever you get, you are going to miss the Tuscan's grunt, but if you also appreciate nice handling you'll enjoy the Elise for what it is and not complain too much!

Anyway depending on the age, various bits can wear out over time as they tend to be driven quite hard. They can be replaced, but it can add up if you need a new steering rack and various ball joints in the suspension. The k series is also suspceptible to HGF (moreso on the mk1 cars). Also need the check cam belt has been changed after 3-4 years (not the 5 in the manual) as its not that expensive to do, compared to bent valves etc. Anyway if its done 30k+ you'll need to start budgeting for these things, although they may not be necessary yet. Suspension on the mk1 can wear out as well, its always quite noisy, so just because it clunks don't assume its knackered.

You'll get decent fuel economy. 40 mpg is perfectly possible, and thats not sparing the horses.

Parts for the engine are pretty cheap as its not an expensive engine. If you use a decent independent garage servicing is perfectly reasonable too.

p.s. You will need a sports exhaust, they sound like sewing machines without one.

[alana]

DanH has summed it up perfectly, Head gaskets seem to be main problem with K-series engine,leaking roof,and squeks,MPG is brilliant and the driving experience makes up for most niggles,my only worry is if you have had a TVR it may be too slow, the itrritation i have is i do alot of motorway miles and past 100mph you will have Audi A4's Golf GT Tdi's flying past you which does dent your ego a bit, Honda S2000's? dont even try it on the motorway,(he grinned as he screamed by me),but on the B roads etc, bring on the big boys, i held off a 911 Carrera 4, ( No Joke ), when i first purchased my elise i was told '' You will Bottle it before the car does'' which to me sums up the Brilliance of the Elise. The bonus is you have a second car,it is very practical but in the winter months i would personally take the BMW,there is no sportscar on the market that has better value for money.

[DanH]

The problem with bottling it before the car does, is that it normally involves a lift off at an in-opportune moment