Exige S1, Do You.....

[Martin R]

I ran my S1 111s as a daily for a couple of years. Getting Liz up to push me up the slope away from our house at 5 am after it had snowed was a memorable moment. Was it fun?  No    

[Alex B]

S1 Exige and a daily is the way forward. With your collection of years behind you scatty getting a second policy whether multi car or not shouldn't be an issue.

[un1eash]

Is a converted S1 Exige a good investment or would an original be more sort after in years to come.

 

Multicar insurance can be quite cheap. I pay around £240 for my daily, problem you have if the Lotus is tucked away in a garage though is it's to easy to take the daily when going out.

[Simon Mac]

Is a converted S1 Exige a good investment or would an original be more sort after in years to come.

 

 

Completely agree.

 

I can only see the Exige S1 price becoming more and more mileage and originality dependent.

 

My view is they will stop seeing a price increase when viewed as usable cars or tweaked for track use, around the point they hit used S3 price levels. Concourse examples continuing the upward trend, but at a slower rate now, I think effectively the S1 buying opportunity has passed  

 

K Series S2's Elises are probably the best "investment" right now.  I was shocked to see an older car than mine on the forecourt at JCT for £15k (51 plate 125 bhp, with touring). 

 

Further evidence can be seen with my own car. With +8k miles and 2 years more on it, mine was worth at least as much as I paid Alex for it. (I horse traded mine against discount on the S3, so it's hard to say exactly  what I could have got for it). Speaking to the sales guy at Silverstone when an Elise part-ex comes in if it's an S2 they will keep it on their books, but are simply pushing S1's out to trade. 

 

Personally I think S2 Exiges still have some upside left from a price POV, and you can enjoy it in the meantime. An early S220 with low mileage will give you a few years of enjoyment, before it too becomes something to be put under bubble wrap. 

[scatty]

I must admit I've never been one for keeping them under bubble wrap or worried about re sale...I'd rather enjoy them and if I take a hit then hey ho...

 

You only live once.... :-)

[dobbo]

I'd rather enjoy them and if I take a hit then hey ho...

 

Couldn't agree more.  It's like keeping your missus for the next guy !

[Simon Mac]

Couldn't agree more.  It's like keeping your missus for the next guy !

 

It's always nice to have some money left over for when you eventually trade the missus in for a newer model though

[scatty]

Ha ha ha ha..... :-)

[un1eash]

I must admit I've never been one for keeping them under bubble wrap or worried about re sale...I'd rather enjoy them and if I take a hit then hey ho...

 

You only live once.... :-)

I agree and I regret not using mine more. Even as a daily I don't do many miles so plan to get a lot more use out of it this year.

It's still nice to know it's worth a bit at the end though. Makes it hard to sell as I wouldn't want to spend more money on the same car in the future.

[DanP]

but given their future (or present) classic status, an Elise or S2 might actually be more fun as you aren't so worried about looking after it's value.

 

^This. 

 

A lot of S2 are over 10 years old now. Hold their value well enough, but not so much that you are paranoid about putting miles on it, or bending it. 

[Dr H]

As it's a Honda converted Exige I don't think mileage is as important. It's no longer original and as such won't have the true 'classic' status.

[KurtB]

Scatty,

 

An S1 Exige as a daily would kill the car and you. They're hot, noisy, hard work to get in and out of and they are temperamental when cold (unless it has an emerald). A converted Exige (in both mine and others opinion) isn't as they should be, though it'll be faster and more reliable than a VHPD. Lower mileage, good condition S1's will appreciate slowly I reckon, but won't ever hit Elan 26R money as they don't have racing provenance. A genuine Motorsport Elise on the other hand...

 

In my humble opinion, the S1 is a beautiful thing to behold, but let someone else have the burden of ownership. Just pop around now and again, enjoy a beer and a chat, and leave knowing your car will do everything else better than the S1. Except look so flipping great. 

 

IF I had the money, I would have a Caterham and an S1 111S in my garage, and having owned both those cars I reckon the Exige would be a garage queen. I totally LOVE mine as if it were made of my own flesh and blood and just couldn't bring myself to sell it, but miss my open top cars so very much.

 

Go S2 buddy, or wait to be able to afford an S3...

[jody391]

Scatty get a nice S1 (Fish's) and a Secound car enjoy it on track enjoy cleaning it and enjoy the crack!

 

It will not depreciate, it will be loved and you will be able to get that noggin burnt with the roof off!

 

The S1 Exige is pure SEX but will YOU enjoy it as it should be?!?!

 

You have had exiges but will this be a long term car???

 

If not Fish's it a better bet and a lot less cash!

 

So you can enjoy it more.

 

My little S1 has a mere 136bhp with alittle mod, good up rated Ali belled discs and great CL5 pads a LSD and 4.5 out of 10 body work (a repair) and is mega on and off track I love it like my left testicle will love it for ever more!

 

Mines a keeper hence why I bought Kosmos engine as an upgrade later I enjoy it every day even if it's just peering at it in the garage!

 

If you need help looking at any given me a bell pepper lol help fella.

[Simon Mac]

Given Scatty's current car, I have a niggling feeling only an S3 will do. 

 

I loved my K series S2 right up until I got something with big torque/power as a daily driver.

 

The V6 is such a different beast, to both the K or the supercharged 1.8 Yota, it totally transforms the car and in many ways dominates the experience.

 

Use the £30k for that S1 as the 50% you need for the 50/50 deal, and enjoy it for 2 years. Ok it will cost you £15k-20k in depreciation, but after all you only live once

[scatty]

I'm waiting for a quote from a lotus specialist about limited mileage and using a daily....

 

Deep down I think I know an s2 exige is the better option for someone like me...

 

I value your opinions, hence when these cars pop up I like to get your advice....

 

 

I'm just crap at waiting, but wait I shall until the correct one pops it's head up...