Lotus Elise for £12k...
Discussion
Have a friend that wants a red or a blue elise and the budget is £12k.
What are the pros and cons over the S1 verse the S2 and which is the model she should be looking for at that price.
It would be nice if it wasnt astronomical miles too.
Her preference is simply red or blue and not alot else.
What are the pros and cons over the S1 verse the S2 and which is the model she should be looking for at that price.
It would be nice if it wasnt astronomical miles too.
Her preference is simply red or blue and not alot else.
If it was my friend I'd suggest she buys one of these instead;
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2249936.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2249936.htm
rallycross said:
If it was my friend I'd suggest she buys one of these instead;
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2249936.htm
wrong shade of blue http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2249936.htm
I'd go 111s which is the more powerful 156 (ish) bhp engine, A/C and a hardtop for the winter.
Like this (but wrong colour I know). http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2579054.htm
Make sure the heater matrix has been repaired recently since it WILL fail, and is a labout intensive (front clam off job).
Likewise I'd be checking the head Gasket has been done recenlty/checked too. History, History, History with these.
This would have been spot on - Yeat of Lotus warranty for piece of mind would be ideal too. http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2397818.htm
Like this (but wrong colour I know). http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2579054.htm
Make sure the heater matrix has been repaired recently since it WILL fail, and is a labout intensive (front clam off job).
Likewise I'd be checking the head Gasket has been done recenlty/checked too. History, History, History with these.
This would have been spot on - Yeat of Lotus warranty for piece of mind would be ideal too. http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2397818.htm
The S2 brought a lot of sublte changes in, such as:
Lower sills to make getting in and out easier
A much bigger boot (although I think the S1 boot liner can be removed to reveal more space?)
The aero was tweaked to remove the S1's lift at speed, which was most marked at the rear of the car. The S2 produces very slight downforce I believe.
Bespoke tyres were fitted to get round the problems the light front end caused (I guess these can be fitted to the S1 as well though).
The S2 runs 20mm lower than the S1 and has higher spring rates (the same as the LSS kit for the S1 though I believe).
More comfortable seats (again, obviously retrofittable). I couldn't stand more than an hour or two in an S1, but I do have a very bony posterior
Later models of S2 introduced a short tail roof, which is the big one - the hood pops on in seconds rather than minutes. I'm not sure about the NVH (noise, vibration and harshness); I think it was lowered with the S2. It certainly was dramatically with the Toyota engine S2 (out of this price range).
As others have said, condition is the major concern. Obviously look for signs of HGF as well!
Lower sills to make getting in and out easier
A much bigger boot (although I think the S1 boot liner can be removed to reveal more space?)
The aero was tweaked to remove the S1's lift at speed, which was most marked at the rear of the car. The S2 produces very slight downforce I believe.
Bespoke tyres were fitted to get round the problems the light front end caused (I guess these can be fitted to the S1 as well though).
The S2 runs 20mm lower than the S1 and has higher spring rates (the same as the LSS kit for the S1 though I believe).
More comfortable seats (again, obviously retrofittable). I couldn't stand more than an hour or two in an S1, but I do have a very bony posterior
Later models of S2 introduced a short tail roof, which is the big one - the hood pops on in seconds rather than minutes. I'm not sure about the NVH (noise, vibration and harshness); I think it was lowered with the S2. It certainly was dramatically with the Toyota engine S2 (out of this price range).
As others have said, condition is the major concern. Obviously look for signs of HGF as well!
vixen1700 said:
why is that S1 almost the same price as the S2?It cant be done simply to the mileage.
Oh and it will be her run around car as she is based in london and wont really need it day to day working at the wharf...
That black one is tempting me to come back into buying one...
Only issue I have is that after selling my last car in 2008 to fund my house in London I have now since lost all my NCB, so I suspect that even though I have a clean licence, no points, been driving since 1995 and Im 32... I will get stuffed for the insurance?
That black one is tempting me to come back into buying one...
Only issue I have is that after selling my last car in 2008 to fund my house in London I have now since lost all my NCB, so I suspect that even though I have a clean licence, no points, been driving since 1995 and Im 32... I will get stuffed for the insurance?
NDT said:
RobM77 said:
Later models of S2 introduced a short tail roof, which is the big one - the hood pops on in seconds rather than minutes.
I thought the S2 long tail roof was also a lot quicker than the S1 roof?To me, the important thing with the roof was when the fitted the little cups to the top of the A-pillars to stop water coming in there.
otolith said:
Why does she think she wants an Elise? I'm just thinking her specification seems a little vague to be answered with such a specialist car?
She saw one and loved it... then put it down on the list of things she has to do with nothing more than the colour she wanted.Heard I was PHer and asked if I could help.
So yes her spec is very vauge and she is not into cars that much but its "pretty" so she has to have one.
kambites said:
Yes, the long-tail S2 roof is pretty much identical to the short-tail except there's two hooks at the back of the tails to put in so you can't do it from inside the car. The S1s roof is completely different and resembles a tent.
To me, the important thing with the roof was when the fitted the little cups to the top of the A-pillars to stop water coming in there.
Sorry, yes, quite right. I didn't mean to miss out the long tail S2 To me, the important thing with the roof was when the fitted the little cups to the top of the A-pillars to stop water coming in there.
Du1point8 said:
She saw one and loved it... then put it down on the list of things she has to do with nothing more than the colour she wanted.
Heard I was PHer and asked if I could help.
So yes her spec is very vauge and she is not into cars that much but its "pretty" so she has to have one.
Heard I was PHer and asked if I could help.
So yes her spec is very vauge and she is not into cars that much but its "pretty" so she has to have one.
She might well change her mind when she actually drives one. kambites said:
Du1point8 said:
She saw one and loved it... then put it down on the list of things she has to do with nothing more than the colour she wanted.
Heard I was PHer and asked if I could help.
So yes her spec is very vauge and she is not into cars that much but its "pretty" so she has to have one.
Heard I was PHer and asked if I could help.
So yes her spec is very vauge and she is not into cars that much but its "pretty" so she has to have one.
She might well change her mind when she actually drives one. Its her girly mind that wants it cause its pretty... I know its a fantastic car and would have one with the honda civic engine in a heart beat... pretty certain the OH would hate it though... Hmmm!!
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