overpriced Elise and UK cars
Discussion
hello,
previous owner of a '76 911, and present owner of a '60 TR3A, I always loved the Elise (S1 only), for its sport and classic aspect...
But even if I do love my Triumph and if it really was a sportcar at its time, I miss the fast driving of the 911.
So, I'm looking for an Elise S1, but continental prices are indecent... I've read the topic about the Uk prices, but you should be happy ! here in France, the lower price for a S1 stock is 25 k€ (about 18k£)! that's around the price they paid it from new !
Uk prices seem to be more realistics, perhaps because it's a national product, and more widespread than here...
So, I start to made up my mind about buying a S1 in the UK, and import it in France. I assume that the procedure will not be to complicated, as we are in the EEC, and as the model is already imported in France.
But do you think I've any chance to find a LHD car in the UK ? I would prefer this solution, even if a RHD is not a fatal issue...
BTW, is there a year to avoid ? i've read that some improvements have been done at the beginning of the production...
Anyway, thank you for your incoming answers and for this great website, and sorry for potential english mistakes....
>>> Edited by French Frie on Tuesday 5th August 10:05
previous owner of a '76 911, and present owner of a '60 TR3A, I always loved the Elise (S1 only), for its sport and classic aspect...
But even if I do love my Triumph and if it really was a sportcar at its time, I miss the fast driving of the 911.
So, I'm looking for an Elise S1, but continental prices are indecent... I've read the topic about the Uk prices, but you should be happy ! here in France, the lower price for a S1 stock is 25 k€ (about 18k£)! that's around the price they paid it from new !
Uk prices seem to be more realistics, perhaps because it's a national product, and more widespread than here...
So, I start to made up my mind about buying a S1 in the UK, and import it in France. I assume that the procedure will not be to complicated, as we are in the EEC, and as the model is already imported in France.
But do you think I've any chance to find a LHD car in the UK ? I would prefer this solution, even if a RHD is not a fatal issue...
BTW, is there a year to avoid ? i've read that some improvements have been done at the beginning of the production...
Anyway, thank you for your incoming answers and for this great website, and sorry for potential english mistakes....
>>> Edited by French Frie on Tuesday 5th August 10:05
Hi, welcome to PistonHeads!
I hadn't realised S1 prices were still so high in the continent! I think you will be extraordinarly lucky to find a left hand drive Elise to buy in England, you will have a LOT more choice if you just settle for a right hander.
As far as which age to go for, there's no particular age/model to avoid, but generally speaking the newer the better as Lotus continually improved the car.
I hadn't realised S1 prices were still so high in the continent! I think you will be extraordinarly lucky to find a left hand drive Elise to buy in England, you will have a LOT more choice if you just settle for a right hander.
As far as which age to go for, there's no particular age/model to avoid, but generally speaking the newer the better as Lotus continually improved the car.
And your English is much better than most of our French no doubt!
I have seen a few lhd elises in the UK - I think that you could buy new, from the coninent , at a substantial saving for a while and a few did...but as Bonce said, you'll be very lucky.
definitely get the later ones, if poss.....though that doesnt seem to have held true with the S2...more problems the more they make!
I have seen a few lhd elises in the UK - I think that you could buy new, from the coninent , at a substantial saving for a while and a few did...but as Bonce said, you'll be very lucky.
definitely get the later ones, if poss.....though that doesnt seem to have held true with the S2...more problems the more they make!
thank you for your compliment, nightmare, but there's an obvious lack of practice! maybe a short journey (to buy an Elise of course) can cure that 
...
Ok, so if anyone hear about a LHD used S1 up to 13 k£, email me please...
I'll see a French Elise this week-end, but as said, it costs 26 K€ (circa 18K£)for a 118bhp car, 72000 km and some scratches
...
thanks everybody, and any other advice is welcome...
>> Edited by french frie on Tuesday 5th August 22:14
... Ok, so if anyone hear about a LHD used S1 up to 13 k£, email me please...
I'll see a French Elise this week-end, but as said, it costs 26 K€ (circa 18K£)for a 118bhp car, 72000 km and some scratches
... thanks everybody, and any other advice is welcome...
>> Edited by french frie on Tuesday 5th August 22:14
£18k for a 72k standard car is way too high! You're definitely on the right track thinking about buying from another country.
Have you checked out the prices in the Netherlands? There are quite a few Dutch Lotus owners around.
I'll keep an eye out for anything that would suit you. Good luck!
Have you checked out the prices in the Netherlands? There are quite a few Dutch Lotus owners around.
I'll keep an eye out for anything that would suit you. Good luck!
Bonce said:
Have you checked out the prices in the Netherlands?
With our wonderful 40% car tax? Unless you can get it back when exporting, cars are *very* expensive in Holland.
Still.. Luckily it's not as bad as Denmark.. Thos guys pay 100 to 150% tax or so?
Bye, Arno.
>> Edited by Arno on Wednesday 6th August 10:56
This is a massive long shot, but there was a US guy trying to sell his left hand drive Elise, and he wanted to ship it to Europe to sell. Basically he was caught by the US customs people and its not road legal in the US. This was about 3 months ago, and I think there was more info on the british cars BBS elise forum.
If you join that BBS and do a search in the archives you might be able to track down his details.
Hi French Frie!
have you checked the German market? there`s quite a good selection of LHD S1s.
the best site is: [url]www.mobile.de
prices starting from 23k Euro for `97 with 21.000km.
good luck!
chouca
have you checked the German market? there`s quite a good selection of LHD S1s.
the best site is: [url]www.mobile.de
prices starting from 23k Euro for `97 with 21.000km.
good luck!
chouca
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