Potential S1 ownership

[jimmyV8]

Im considering swapping my 98 TVR Chimaera 400 for a an Elise of similar age. This is mostly due to a change in circumstances and the while i love the sound of the TVR the whole Elise package really appeals ie looks, handling and performance. Is there anything I need to consider when buying, and i looking at huge servicing and parts costs? And obviously anyone who may fancy a TVR in exchange for an Elise get in touch! Thanks in advance James.

[Gad-Westy]

Don't take this as fobbing you off, but there is absolutely loads of info on here and on SELOC.org SELOC's Wiki is particularly useful. Do a search on here and SELOC and I'm sure that'll throw up some specific questions you might want to ask. But regarding running costs, I'd imagine you'll find the Elise a pleasent suprise after the Chimera, particularly at the pumps.

What's your budget by the way and what sort of useage will this be?

[Wildfire]

I'm considering doing similar (except not selling the TVR!).

What is considered "High mileage" for Elises? I have owned one before (for a short time) which was at around 72k and it seemed fine.

I am looking at using it every day, so bodywork isn't that important to me (scratches and stone chips).

[Ganglandboss]

I paid £10,000 for mine about 18 months ago; it is not one bit expensive to run. I have spent: -

• New exhaust front pipe - £125ish
• New N/S front caliper (thread on bleed nipple overtightened before I bought it) £37 from Douglas Valley Breakers
• Catalytic converter - de-catted when I bought it so I needed it to get through MoT
• N/S front ball joint - failed MoT due to wear - £18 from www.eliseparts.com

Service items are not expensive but I spend a bit more on Mobil Motorsport oil and competition brake fluid. I do all the work myself with help from my mechanic cousin.

Remember, a lot of parts come from a Rover/Peugeot/Vauxhall parts bin.

I can seriously recomment an S1 - they're great fun!

[jimmyV8]

Probably looking to spend about £8000 and will be used as a second car for about 5000 miles a year.

[noodleman]

Should be able to pick a nice one up privately for £8K.

I'd happily take £8500 for mine (if I were selling, which I'm not even considering) and she's great. S1 registered in Oct 2000 and in great condition. It's done nearly 60K now and still feels tight as a drum. Also seems to be faster than lower mileage models.

I changed the suspension for S2 stuff less than 1000 miles ago and TBH, whilst there was a notable improvement, it was obvious that there was nothing wrong with the original suspension .

2 years on and it's never broken down. I've replaced one wheel bearing in 2 years, the brake discs and suspension.

You'll know when you find a nice one. Look at as many as you can and buy on condition / owner's attitude / history / driving experience but NEVER on mileage.

[piooly]

one of my mates went from a Chimera 4 litre HC to a S1 elise (standard car) and he loved it. Sure it did not have the sound of the V8 and the straight line pace but he siad he could travel the same stretch of road way quicker in the elise than in the chimera. And as drivers go, he does not hang about........

He misses the V8 sound, but the driving feel more than makes up for it. Running costs I would put as very similar. Not much to break on a Chimera and the parts are cheapish if you know what donnor car TVR got them from....

[jimmyV8]

I was interested that you say running costs you say are similar. Obvious first one is fuel consumption i would imagin the Elise to be in a different world to that of my TVR and from some of the research that i have done, the servicing also appears to be substantially less. I should imagin that some of the Lotus specific parts should be more expensive than others but on the whole I expected yearly running costs to be less.(One of the reasons I was considering an Elise)!

[Gad-Westy]

jimmyV8 said:

I was interested that you say running costs you say are similar. Obvious first one is fuel consumption i would imagin the Elise to be in a different world to that of my TVR and from some of the research that i have done, the servicing also appears to be substantially less. I should imagin that some of the Lotus specific parts should be more expensive than others but on the whole I expected yearly running costs to be less.(One of the reasons I was considering an Elise)!

Generally speaking, consumables are cheap and the Elise doesn't have a great appetite for them. Tyres are £400 for the bells and whistles Neovas that Lotus recommend or £200 for credible alternatives. Brakes can be a bit pricey but again last very well because the car is light. Most expensive Lotus parts can be sourced elsewhere for not a lot to be honest, remember the engine is a Rover unit, and not a very exotic one at that.

You may be pleasently suprised by pirces:

Some stuff I've been looking into recently, off the top of my head.

Fully synth oil, £30
Brand new softop £300 or £80 for Lotus to refurb your old one.
Full seat retrim £350 for the pair
Larini exhaust £350
New Cat £80
Decat £40
New headlight £100

Doesn't look too bad. The biggest expense is realted to the suspension. Generally speaking, by say 60,000 miles an S1 will have consumed everything that is consumable suspension wise. If you were to replace everything at once, i.e. dampers, ball joints, bushes, steering rack, tie rods, rod ends, bearings, geo etc.. You could easilty spend £3000 inc labour so look for as much of this to have been done as possible, ideally with an upgrade to S2 dampers as well.