Buying a 111R

[soulkid555]

Hi,

I came across a 111R for sale at the weekend which I looked at and drove.

It is a 2005 111R with 21K miles.

The car was not driven in over 1 year. It was just washed but engne bay was full of cobwebs..

The car is like new.

Body is perfect...wheels are perfect..drives fine.

Is there anything I need to look out for in particular?

The 111R is the toyota 189BHP Engine and Toyota gearbox so I assume these are bullet proof?

The seller told me there was some kind of filter fitted which gives it 10BHP more? Seen the filter..not sure if this really gives it 10BHP more. Anyone know what this is?

Oh yeah..and it is yellow..
I wanted a Storm Titanium but I think the yellow looks really good in person.

[limpsfield]

I have had my 2005 111r for a couple of years and it seems pretty bullet proof.

Before I bought mine, I think it had also spent around a year doing very little, but no problems for me and these cars definitely get better with a few more miles on them.

It is probably the induction kit they are talking about - mine has it and it is meant to add a bit more power but having never driven one without I can't comment.

If you are not sure I am sure you can get a Lotus indie to do an inspection.

I have found mine very hassle free over the past couple of years apart from the resistor pack going - known fault - which means the heater blower packs up.

Have a look at mine in my profile to see my costs etc but I cannot recommend them enough.

And they should only be made in yellow.

Good luck.

[wantalotus]

consider asking for or getting ECU print out, they appear 'bullet proof' but are prone to 'buzzing' A print out will show 5 x Max RPM and engine temps, these RPM should not exceed Max engine RPM, set at 8200, and if my memory serves me well 8400 for VERY limited miliseconds. You cannot over rev the engine under throttle, but any idiot can do it under downchange........

paint work is a little fragile, servicing straight forward and not expensive. Just normal running costs really, not what you would expect from a car with this performance.

Enjoy, Storm Titanium is the best though LOL

[21TonyK]

Sounds a nice car. If it's not moved for a year I'd consider a complete fluid change, coolant, oil, brakes etc and a once over from a specialist. All moving bits could probably do with a bit of grease as well.

Other than that filters, exhausts et all don't add any power they just make more noise.

[soulkid555]

woow...execllent replies guys and very helpful..thank you very much

[hueandcry71]

A pic of the silver 111R i owned a few years ago, my biggest ever car regret was selling that.

[S Works]

If it hasn't been driven in a year then it will but due a service anyway. Depending on whether it's A, B or C why don't you negotiate that off the price or insist that it's done before you buy (specifically that oil, coolant and brake fluids are changed). That'll ensure that the car's thoroughly checked over before you get it, and all the fluids etc. are good to go.

[HVAC MATT]

if it hasnt been driven in a years you may find the tyres have "gone off" and become hard. when I got my elise the fronts were 3 years old (18.5k miles traveled) and had no grip but plenty of tred left on them.

make shore its been looked after well with a good services history. some say having them serviced at non lotus dealers affects the value.

allow £300 for a service front shoes are £260 for a pair fitted and the rears more like 300ish for a pair fitted. also worth paying for it to get checked by someone that knows what there looking at.

but all in all there isnt to much to go wrong. the yota engine is pritty sound.

if you get one go hear a few times www.carlimits.com will make you understand what the car really can do and make you smile alot

[21TonyK]

Good point on the tyres. If it's not been used they could have gone off before they have been worn out. The fronts on mine were shot, 2-3 years old having done 4.5K gentle miles. Hard as nails, understeered like hell. Swapped them after a walshy day and a few weeks on the road.

[soulkid555]

The tyres are bald..

He is putting 4 new tyres on the car this week and he is going to tax it for 3 months..I was the first person to see the car and he had just did not receive the new tyres yet.

The car also has a removeable steering wheel.

It has no alarm but has an immobiliser.

[The Bandit]

Cant believe no-one's asked yet but how much is he asking for it?
There are some bargain early 111Rs going at the moment.

[soulkid555]

I am in Ireland.

He is looking €17,500 for it.
He told me on Saturday he will take les than €17K.

If I buy one in the UK and import to here and pay VRT it will be around €22-€24K

The 111R here new was around €59K

There was 1 Lotus dealer here but they closed in 2007.

I remember they had his car as a demo car.

(He has an RS6 and and SL320 and other stuff and I think he is keen to move on the Elise quickly)

And this is it:

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseactio...

Edited by soulkid555 on Sunday 12th September 21:04

[The Bandit]

How much does it cost to import one as there are plenty of £14k 111Rs about at the moment(a friend has one with 56k for £14,400 and its lovely).
Good luck with the hunt

[21TonyK]

Watch what tyres go on it, ideally Yoko AD07's

[wantalotus]

21TonyK said:

Watch what tyres go on it, ideally Yoko AD07's

this is more important than you may think, there are lots of tyres in the same size, but very few are of the specific compound lotus spec.

Sure the alarm imobiliser is a combined Cobra unit and pretty standard, don't think you get 1 without the other?

Edited by wantalotus on Monday 13th September 11:29

[soulkid555]

wantalotus said:

21TonyK said:

Watch what tyres go on it, ideally Yoko AD07's

this is more important than you may think, there are lots of tyres in the same size, but very few are of the specific compound lotus spec.

Sure the alarm imobiliser is a combined Cobra unit and pretty standard, don't think you get 1 without the other?

Edited by wantalotus on Monday 13th September 11:29

OK. Cool. Will ask him when I talk to him end of the week.

[elise73]

The Bandit said:

How much does it cost to import one as there are plenty of £14k 111Rs about at the moment(a friend has one with 56k for £14,400 and its lovely).
Good luck with the hunt

thanks for the plug buddy- It's still here, not had even 1 person look at it yet.

Been using it for the commute this week, forgot how much fun it is. Catch you soon Paul. Brad

[The Pits]

Soulkid I've had my 111r in Ireland for the past two summers and it's a fantastic car for the roads here. It's the perfect sports car for Ireland, you really don't need anything quicker. I can't wait to bring it back again. Hopefully see you at Mondello park, I haven't been there yet but I must try it before I go back to the UK.

[LivinLaVidaLotus]

Pretty much what everyone else has said, the 10BHP for an air-filter is massively optimistic even if it has been re-mapped, which it would need to be to see any power gains, as AFAIK the ECU is set to adjust fueling to keep a constant 189BHP - although it may make it rev easier having a decent filter/induction on it (and sound better).

Alarm is a Cobra, it is Alarm + Immobiliser, you don't get one without the other. Make sure you get both keys and fobs and the code book for how to disable the immobiliser if the fobs don't work.

Budget for a new battery, a Bosch Silvertop is one of the best for the job IMHO without spending silly money (In the UK at least they can be had for £60 from Costco).