Elise S2 111S 2002

[highflyer]

Hoping to Buy an S2 111S 2002 low milage 15k FLSH not been modified in anyway, BUT reading the classifides and threads there seems to have been head gasket problems, radiator changes, suspension changes, steering rack, is this something I can expect to have to do in the future ? or anything else that seems to go wrong ? I will probably only do 3k a year, no track days and driven moderatly, thanks.

[Francelise]

It is a game of luck I think. Saying that, if it only has 15k I would think it will be ok but if it has done lots of trackdays, you could still be in for big bills.

I have only the S1 cars and have never change a rad/head gasket. The only things really I charge are: Koni suspenion, balljoints, wishbone bushes, steering rack gators.

I should say the ball joint rubber seals, and gators on your's could be spilt. It is just done to age. Suspension should be fine.

OK

[griffter]

if its genuinely fsh it should be ok, but beware 'fsh' on a low mileage car which has been done on miles not annually. By my reckoning an 8 year old car should be due its second cam belts change. If an 02 car does it have the long tail roof? Marginally more hassle to remove and replace. Also harder to find a hard top should you want one. Otherwise imho low mileage is a benefit. People say later cars are better built and better developed but i'm not sure. Worth also checking the heater works. It can be clam off to fix.

[kambites]

Head gaskets tend to go when the engine is abused from cold so the 111S is better than other K-series derivatives because it puts a 4500rpm rev limiter on the engine until it reaches a reasonable (water) temperature. That's not to say that it will never go, if the liner heights are wrong, which they may well be, then it will probably fail eventually. It's only 500 quid or there abouts to get it fixed properly though, and then it's unlikely to fail again.

Radiator end caps do sometimes fail and it requires taking the front clam off to replace it which is a fair bit of labour. Despite being a known weak point it's not a massively common failure though.

The Elise is surprisingly hard on its suspension components but at 15k miles it should be fine for a good while yet. Mine is on nearly 40k and still feels fine. The only Elise I've driven that felt really loose was on about 80-90k miles.

I think 2002 is early enough to avoid the endemic heater resistor pack failure, but I'm not certain of that.

[Loudman]

My 03 111S hasn't had any suspension mods, although I suspect that might change as I intend to track it this year, and I haven't had any radiator issues although I have had a track rod ends and recon steering rack (at about 60k miles - about £300 at same time as normal serivce) and an HGF at 64k miles (separate trip in and £550) but apart from that its been faultless. I would rate this as pretty relable and certainly reasonably cheap to keep in top shape.