Elise query?
13 February 2003, 03:45 PM
#1
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I am looking at buying a Lotus Elise (S1). I have found a 97 P with 24K miles, non modified in its original state. My only concern is that I would be its fourth owner (is this a bad sign?). The current owner has only had it since September, and due to a change in circumstances, needs to sell it. Do you think the number of owners could prove a problem in the future?
13 February 2003, 04:53 PM
#3
I wouldnt worry too much. It's an enthusiast's car. My RB5 is 4 years old and has 5 owners already. This did make me think twice but, as above, the condition of the car was more important.
13 February 2003, 08:37 PM
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Don't bother with an AA inspection on an Elise - they aren't really glassfibre and aluminium specialists, and they can't easily access the engine or cooling systems to look at them.
4 owners isn't too bad, although considering how few miles it's done, I'd have a careful look to see if the more recent owners didn't keep the car for long/not many miles because that might indicate they're getting rid of it because of a problem. My VW Corrado VR6 seemed like an excellent car when I looked round it, only found out after I'd decided I liked it that it had had 4 owners, and it turned out to be a bad 'un underneath the good looks.
Anyway, there are plenty of Elises out there so no excuse to get a bad one. Have a look on http://www.british-cars.co.uk/ which has a good Elise forum if you want any more advice.
BTW, I've got an Elise S2 now and I love it; you won't regret the decision to get one!
4 owners isn't too bad, although considering how few miles it's done, I'd have a careful look to see if the more recent owners didn't keep the car for long/not many miles because that might indicate they're getting rid of it because of a problem. My VW Corrado VR6 seemed like an excellent car when I looked round it, only found out after I'd decided I liked it that it had had 4 owners, and it turned out to be a bad 'un underneath the good looks.
Anyway, there are plenty of Elises out there so no excuse to get a bad one. Have a look on http://www.british-cars.co.uk/ which has a good Elise forum if you want any more advice.
BTW, I've got an Elise S2 now and I love it; you won't regret the decision to get one!
13 February 2003, 10:51 PM
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They change hands faster than used fivers. People decide they could "manage" ok day to day... but often tire of them quite quickly because when all is said and done they are impractical but fun cars.
After having test driven some (including a TT230) I have two words to say: kit-car
Marc
http://www.impreza-p1.org.uk
P.S. ex-kitcar owner!
After having test driven some (including a TT230) I have two words to say: kit-car
Marc
http://www.impreza-p1.org.uk
P.S. ex-kitcar owner!
14 February 2003, 05:23 AM
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2nd what's been said about the AA - not specialists in aluminium chassis or fibreglass.
4 owners doesn't sound too bad - but if I was looking for another one I would try and buy one from a Lotus fanatic, hence you would want to see it owned by the same person for a decent amount of time so max money has been spent on it and all problems rectified. The thing to check is how the service history fits in with the owner history. If the car is low milage and the previous owners have kept up full service history then it looks good. Even better if the owners have serviced the car and then sold on - shows someone not shy of spending money on up keep of the car. Alarm bells should sound if each owner has sold up just before a service - does indicate disregard for upkeep of the car.
If you haven't already done so then checkout the buyers guide on
http://www.lotus-elise.nl/default.html
It's a bible and will be a good for bargining the price down.
I own an Elise S1 and Scoob and have to agree with Marc on the impractability of them. If you're looking at long term Elise ownership then they are invariably 2nd cars. Dunno about the kit car bit though, since I've owned a good few Italian cars that have had much worse build quality and often suffered terminal mechanical faliure. The Elise so far has been better than, say my Fiat Coupe Turbo was. The Scoob was the antidote to tempremental Italian cars.
Hope some of this helps,
Andy
4 owners doesn't sound too bad - but if I was looking for another one I would try and buy one from a Lotus fanatic, hence you would want to see it owned by the same person for a decent amount of time so max money has been spent on it and all problems rectified. The thing to check is how the service history fits in with the owner history. If the car is low milage and the previous owners have kept up full service history then it looks good. Even better if the owners have serviced the car and then sold on - shows someone not shy of spending money on up keep of the car. Alarm bells should sound if each owner has sold up just before a service - does indicate disregard for upkeep of the car.
If you haven't already done so then checkout the buyers guide on
http://www.lotus-elise.nl/default.html
It's a bible and will be a good for bargining the price down.
I own an Elise S1 and Scoob and have to agree with Marc on the impractability of them. If you're looking at long term Elise ownership then they are invariably 2nd cars. Dunno about the kit car bit though, since I've owned a good few Italian cars that have had much worse build quality and often suffered terminal mechanical faliure. The Elise so far has been better than, say my Fiat Coupe Turbo was. The Scoob was the antidote to tempremental Italian cars.
Hope some of this helps,
Andy
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