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Lotus in the Peak
28th - 30th June 2024

Lotus Elise - Advise Please.


F1YMS

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It can be, but there are several specialists around the midlands who not only make ownership cheaper but also have fantastic reputations.

If your handy with the spanners or at least willing to learn then places like Mloc and the obsessed people within it are a gold mine of information.

Decide which model you want, do lots of research and ask lots of questions before purchase.

Finally, go into the whole ownership thing with your eyes open, these cars were originally screwed together by turnip farmers labourers in deepest darkest Norfolk, they do require the odd thing tightening,fixing or replacing from time to time, the paint can be bubbly the wishbones can be flakey. What your paying your money for is one of the best handling sports cars money can buy, which if you treat it with the right mindset will reward you with endless fun and enjoyment.

Ownership brings many strange traits, you will start to look for the longest twistyest route you can find from location to destination, fetching a loaf or pint of milk from the local shop can take in excess of 3 hours, your friends will introduce you as their mate who "owns a lotus" you will be asked by most who have met you "have you still got your lotus" you will park your car in the furthest corner of any carpark you choose to use, and still return to find a 4x4 or large transit van parked 30mm from your drivers door. Young boys will ask you how fast it goes and shout "nice car mate!" pretty girls will think your missing something in the trouser department, only exceptions being those who know you intimately, they will either leave you through jealousy or continually pull your leg about your obsession. You will go to your garage or driveway simply to look at and admire it. You will possibly start to take driving holidays with new friends you discovered via an Internet forum. It will change your whole perspective of driving and car ownership, when your not looking to buy something that needs replacing you'll be looking to buy something to upgrade it. You might even buy polish that is more expensive and smells better than the cream you dear beloved uses on her face.

Just some of the things you need to take into consideration, if you can live with the above and no doubt some other bits besides then your probably doing the right thing buying an Elise

I'm on my 8th...,,,

Hth

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All of the above!

 

If you plan to keep it in a garage, use it occasionally and not pile the miles on, have it serviced by a specialist once a year and keep it more or less standard it will prove cheap to maintain. It will also slowly rise in value, particularly if you buy an s1 or early s2 with the Rover engine as these are already acknowledged classics and the lightest and purest examples of the breed.

 

If you start doing trackdays and getting in to modifying it can get expensive though - it is a slippery slope.

 

Having said all of that head gaskets always fail on k series cars which is an £800 fix (if it has already gone and had the new style gasket fitted the risk of another failure reduces a lot) and the plastic radiator ends/tanks crack at some point requiring a new rad (another £700 ish fitted, but if a car already has a replacement fitted with alloy ends it should last forever). Beyond that they are simple cars with not much to go wrong.

 

Whatever you do DO NOT buy a car with any sign of damage to the aluminium chassis 'tub'. The chassis itself cannot be repaired and would be scrap.

 

Happy hunting!

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Hi All

 

Thank you so much for all the responses - It has been a great help, if I do get one, it will get a S2, from a Lotus specialist and with a good history. I don't really plan to use it a lot, just on weekends.

 

I want something that is enjoyable to drive, without headaches or stress. Elise seems to be the car I'm looking for.

 

Once again, thank you all for your messages.

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Great description J.E!!

My early s2 started out costing me 9k,then after the honda conversion and standing there looking at it thinking"what can I do now to it",raised to 21k.It became a passion all most an absession!!!

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If you don't rely on it as a daily driver, and have a decent garage that allows you to work on it yourself, and you have the time, it's low cost even if things do go wrong. I'd never changed a cam belt before doing the "C" service on my S2 K series, but with all the help on here and Seloc it was relatively easy.

I then went on to change out the gearbox which I rebuilt with custom ratios. Never opened or changed a gearbox before.

You can buy a lot of tools with the money you save on labour charges!

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If you don't rely on it as a daily driver, and have a decent garage that allows you to work on it yourself, and you have the time, it's low cost even if things do go wrong. I'd never changed a cam belt before doing the "C" service on my S2 K series, but with all the help on here and Seloc it was relatively easy.

I then went on to change out the gearbox which I rebuilt with custom ratios. Never opened or changed a gearbox before.

You can buy a lot of tools with the money you save on labour charges!

I don't plan to daily it or modifying it, only maintaining it in good order. Maintenance cost is my only concern due to the stories I here. I thought it would be best to ask on a forum.

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Welcome.

 

Maintenance costs I would say are very low... 4 years ago before I bought my exige I had the bug for a tvr tuscan. Having viewed 5 cars I went through the service documents on each and my were they eye watering...

 

The biggest problem (in my case anyway) is starting changing little bits here and there which leads down a slippery slope. But as you've said you don't plan to I would say an annual service and fuel is all really you should have to worry about.

 

We're all a friendly bunch so I'm sure that if there was a car in question you had your eye on there may be a member who lives locally who could cast an eye over it with you?

 

If it's an s2 you just have decide k series or Toyota lumps now then.

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Hi

Couldn't have put it better than Kieran however don't follow in Kieran's footsteps of starting to change little or big bits as it comes with a price

Which could mean you don't drive it :)

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Last head gasket i did cost me £230 and that included gaskets, new head bolts and a skim    :)

If I tried to do it myself I would almost certainly break the whole engine and ruin the clam too!

I tried to take my passenger seat out the other day to fit a harness bar and couldn't even do that - I couldn't loosen one of the allen bolts and ended up rounding it off. I shit you not. I am useless. Gav will kill me!

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