Looking at an Elise, possibly exige

[Mad Dog 007]

Hi All,

I'm looking at buying a lotus Elise. I'm ideally after a 2010 car for £20,000 but the prices are varying so much. (2011 elise £25,000 , Elise 2010 £27,000)

Do Elise's hold their value very well? Is £20,000 being realistic for a 2010 car?

This is the car i liked before, but it's not on pistonheads anymore.

tp://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/2086282.htm

Thanks

[kambites]

What engine are you after?

[Mad Dog 007]

kambites said:

What engine are you after?

No idea really, after reading the forums and posts, it seems like the 1.6 has to be revved alot to be able to get the power and the 1.8 has more low end power.

In the end it all comes down to price really.

Are you able to get good deals with dealers at the moment?

Edited by Mad Dog 007 on Wednesday 2nd February 13:40

Edited by Mad Dog 007 on Wednesday 2nd February 13:40

[Geneve]

For £20,000 you are probably looking at a 2009 S2 1.8'S' or a 2008 S2 1.8'R', each with the usual options.

My understanding is the 'S' has better low and mid-range response, but the 'R' needs to be revved up to the 2nd cam change over point to get the full performance. S3s seem to start nearer £25k, but the 1.6 entry model has been spec'd for new low emissions regs, giving better mpg, but perhaps not the performance of the previous 1.8.

[doggydave]

Geneve said:

For £20,000 you are probably looking at a 2009 S2 1.8'S' or a 2008 S2 1.8'R', each with the usual options.

My understanding is the 'S' has better low and mid-range response, but the 'R' needs to be revved up to the 2nd cam change over point to get the full performance. S3s seem to start nearer £25k, but the 1.6 entry model has been spec'd for new low emissions regs, giving better mpg, but perhaps not the performance of the previous 1.8.

Ditto

[Mad Dog 007]

Geneve said:

For £20,000 you are probably looking at a 2009 S2 1.8'S' or a 2008 S2 1.8'R', each with the usual options.

My understanding is the 'S' has better low and mid-range response, but the 'R' needs to be revved up to the 2nd cam change over point to get the full performance. S3s seem to start nearer £25k, but the 1.6 entry model has been spec'd for new low emissions regs, giving better mpg, but perhaps not the performance of the previous 1.8.

Thanks for your detailed response. Is there anything I should look Out for on the elise's ?(Worn ...)

Is it worth buying the new 1.6 as it comes with 3 years warranty?

Would an Exige be an option?

Thanks

[kambites]

You'd be looking at a considerably older Exige for that kind of money, probably 2007 or thereabouts.

You could always buy a third party warranty if you get a slightly older car.

[doggydave]

We all have our own opinions on which is the best car to buy. Get some test drives under your belt. You will get a 1 year old Elise S with very very low miles for your budget. They are much better to drive than i ever thought. If you are using it primarily as a road car you won't be disappointed. They are very civilised and the Toyota engine is very smooth and should be bullet proof. The roads are so crowded these days any more power is wasted imo. If its to be used regularly on the track get as much power as you can afford.

[Mad Dog 007]

doggydave said:

We all have our own opinions on which is the best car to buy. Get some test drives under your belt. You will get a 1 year old Elise S with very very low miles for your budget. They are much better to drive than i ever thought. If you are using it primarily as a road car you won't be disappointed. They are very civilised and the Toyota engine is very smooth and should be bullet proof. The roads are so crowded these days any more power is wasted imo. If its to be used regularly on the track get as much power as you can afford.

I doubt i would use the car on the track as i have recently passed my ARDS test.

I'm goin to Silverstone on saturday for a test drive.
will hopefully be able to try out both engines.(1.6 /1.8)

I've got a few cars bookmarked, it just depends on what the dealers will offer

Have decided that the car has to have Black wheels though

Edited by Mad Dog 007 on Thursday 3rd February 15:05

[simpo555]

Mad Dog 007 said:

I doubt i would use the car on the track as i have recently passed my ARDS test.

I'm goin to Silverstone on saturday for a test drive.
will hopefully be able to try out both engines.(1.6 /1.8)

I've got a few cars bookmarked, it just depends on what the dealers will offer

Have decided that the car has to have Black wheels though

Edited by Mad Dog 007 on Thursday 3rd February 15:05

Have to agree, think black wheels are really funky

[Mad Dog 007]

Just spoken to a salesmen a JCT.

It sounds like it's cheaper to buy a new car rather than a used car if your doing it through finance.

Time to look for new cars then

[doggydave]

Mad Dog 007 said:

Just spoken to a salesmen a JCT.

It sounds like it's cheaper to buy a new car rather than a used car if your doing it through finance.

Time to look for new cars then

I'm sure Andy and Steve won't mind me saying but they are great guys to deal with and my experience with JCT has only been excellent. Grind out thye best price you can from them. They are negotiable.

[Neal H]

Mad Dog 007 said:

It sounds like it's cheaper to buy a new car rather than a used car if your doing it through finance.

Only if you're prepared to ignore the depreciation.

[Gabber]

Neal H said:

Mad Dog 007 said:

It sounds like it's cheaper to buy a new car rather than a used car if your doing it through finance.

Only if you're prepared to ignore the depreciation.

You only live once.......

[Mad Dog 007]

I bought the Red Elise Stratstone had.

Just contemplating whether to have the Stage 2 exhaust,rather than the stage 1 Exhaust.

Does anyone have a Stage 2 exhaust? if so, are they alot louder?

Thanks

[CooperS]

Yes, i've decided to keep my 111R so my stg 2 is going to be replaced by a Larni Sport. Its ok as a weekend exhaust but everyday going on stretches of motorway it drones so badly its silly. Its great the rest of the time if you dont mind being heard but on the motorway its silly. I've done 6 500 miles stretches going up and down the country and each time earplugs in mean that it isnt a bad journey but day to day i cant be bothered to put them in.

[simpo555]

More than happy with my stage 1 on a 111R. Test drove an 111S with stage 2 and found it fun but nevertheless 'obtrusive'. Like many things its horses for courses and personal taste. For me I have to be able to live with it on a daily basis so a stage 2 is too loud.

[Woza]

Get a 2bular exhaust.

Much better than Lotus ones!