Hi All

[Alex B]

Hi all,

I'm Alex, im from Castle Donington.

Currently looking at buying a Lotus Elise.

preferable an S2.

Have so far been to test drive an 07 plate Elise S.

[un1eash]

Hello, I'm new to lotus and in the buying process. Have spent a lot of time and money travelling the country trying to find the perfect car. There are some real gems out there so stick to your guns and don't buy the first car that comes along.

[Harmy2010]

I have just bought a N/A Exige. I got lucky and found mine in about 3 hours of looking Good luck with the search, after a week of ownership i am loving mine!!! There a some really knowledgeable people on here so any questions they will help you out (just dont take any mechanical advice from me or 'Scatty'!!)

[Alex B]

hoping to pop and look at a 53 plate on tuesday evening.

 

just a quick question, what year did the k series get scrapped in pllace for the toyota lump?

[scatty]

Hello and welcome. I'm just down the road in Toton.

 

Yep, don't jump and buy the first you see. Errrrm well not strictly true, because I did. Although I'd had my eye on it or 2 months and it was from a respected owner on exiges. So if you can find one from a member selling, the job is definately a good one!!!!

 

Deffo the best time to buy, oh and harmy's right. :-0

 

 

 

[John FISH Curtis]

Welcome all.

 

I looked at loads on Piston Heads, arranged two viewings but they sold before I could view them. Then saw one on Piston Heads, had a long phone call and bought it on viewing (I was lucky as its a gem).

 

Buy on condition not milage........ cars with higher milage usually have received essential unpgrades.

 

Then buy fuel and enjoy.

[handbag]

hoping to pop and look at a 53 plate on tuesday evening.

 

just a quick question, what year did the k series get scrapped in pllace for the toyota lump?

 

The Toyota lump was introduced in 2004 and the K series was then phased out, but there are some 05 cars I think that are still K series.

Easiest way to tell a yota engined car (if standard), is the exhaust exits underneath the car, not out of the back.

[Alex B]

thanks for the tip

 

i hear alot of bad stories with regaurds to the K series lumps? are they as big a nightmare as i hear?

[Martin R]

Around 04/05 would be the last of the K series i would have thought. Dont be impatient there are some gems about. They tend to go at a slightly reduced price this time of year. Find one you like and get an independent inspection ( at your cost ) It would probably cost about £150 i suppose. It could save you a fortune in the long run though.

 

There are a number of well respected independents around the country. Just shout if you need any advice on this and good luck.

 

Edit, the only problem with the K series is HGF. This would probably cost around £600 - £800 for a quality fix. The 111s in particular is a lovely engine to drive IMO.

[scatty]

weve got our monthly meet on the 20th (see events). pop along and chew our ears off. there is a wealth of great knowledge on here, and me....

[handbag]

The K series is certainly not as bad as some would have you believe, in fact the linear delivery of the k series engine is much preferred by some, over the 'revvy' toyota. Please do not be put off by the k series engine, but be aware of the downsides of owning the k versus the yota as neither of them are completely without issues. Do some reading, then test drive and make a decision on which you like best

[DeanB]

Hi Alex. Don't be too put off the K series. I love mine, and it has been reliable in 2 years and 13k miles of my ownership. It has 75k on the clock now. They do blow head gaskets a lot more than most modern engines though. If it happens, you will want about £500 to have it repaired, unless the head casting goes soft in which case you will need a bit more. The Toyota engines are more reliable, some of them less torquey, but of most significance IMO is that the Toyota cars are 100 kilos or so heavier, most of which is on the arse end. Some of that is the brake servo and ABS unit the K series cars don't have.

[scatty]

i think if you factor in for the cost of head gasket failure or get one that has already been done, then i dont see a problem...have a look over on seloc and do a search, the love of the k series is very strong....

 

if its for an everyday car, then maybe the toyota engine would be more suitable....as said, your best bet is to test drive both, then your mind will be made up for you...

 

both will put a smile on your face thats a given...

[chrislane]

I drove both k and toyota before buying mine and far preferred the k, although in hindsight i now know that was partly due to the induction and exhaust as well as the differences in the way the engines do their stuff (thats about as technical as i get!)

 

I must say i went for the k despite being warned against it and it has run smoothly for 18 months without a problem (touch wood). Just need to be prepared for it and know what to look out for, but i am far less worried about hgf now than i was when i bought it - really not the end of the world people would have you believe when you speak to those who have suffered it.

[Alex B]

sorry for the newbie questions.

IMO is that the Toyota cars are 100 kilos or so heavier, most of which is on the arse end. Some of that is the brake servo and ABS unit the K series cars don't have.

 

so S2 k series engined cars dont have abs or servo assisted brakes?

 

weve got our monthly meet on the 20th (see events). pop along and chew our ears off. there is a wealth of great knowledge on here, and me....

 

where abouts do you hold your monthly meet?