What Shall I Do?

[Deepfat]

Greetings like minded folk, I've had an elise for just over a year now but have only recently joined MLOC! (didnt know about it til now), my car is a completely standard 1998 Mk1 with no mods and 20k on the clock. I bought it cos I thought it was a totally original low mileage example with an FLSH and I just loved it.

 

However now I've been "umming" and "aarring" about whether to get some kind of performance upgrade or not. My question is, if I modify the car, am I likely to devalue it? and if not then what kind of stuff should I be thinking about doing as a novice (and with whom) bearing in mind that I'm on a bit of a budget and would not want to spend thousands....

Cheers.

[chorton_1]

Eveyone has a view on this. Certainly as a rule you won't get the money back that you spend on it, but it is unlikely you will devalue the car. At worst you just won't add any value.

 

Good news is that the generally accepted first mods are sports exhaust and new air filter system. You don't get a huge power hike but the car sound 'right'. If you keep your old parts you can refit them if you sell and get rid of the new bits separately - definitely the best way to claw the most money back.

 

The list of upgrades generally goes along the lines of, with a few changes to the order as you see fit :-

Intake/Exhaust (£350)

New tyres - the std issue Pirelli P-Zeros are not that highly thought of.

Brake Pads (£variable)

Braided Brake lines (£60)

S2 Dampers and new springs (S2 'suspension') (£550)

New cams and pulleys (£300)

Emerald ECU (to extract all possible power gains) (£500)

Cylinder Head Mods (c.£1000)

 

Driver training early on is definitely money well spent and will maximise your enjoyment. Track days are also a good way to employ your new skills. Both these things can be done with a standard car quite happilly.

 

As for fitting them, you can do a lot of it yourself or get someone to do it for you. Horizon in Birmingham are getting good feedback and there published prices are good, although I haven't used them.

[chorton_1]

PS The above prices are very approximate and do not include fitting

[Scott_Mac]

Welcome... not much to add on the above really. You certainly won't devalue the car if you do the job properly, but don't expect to get the mod money back...

 

Check out some of the "Garages" on here for an idea of the mods people have done, exhaust, induction is by far the most popular.

[Deepfat]

Thanks for the advice guys, I'll have alook at the "garages" for ideas and will get Horizon to quote me for them when I get the car serviced in January. Exhaust, intake, brakes and ECU certainly sounds like an option thats both practical and not too financially painful!.I like the sound of being able to keep the old parts and return the car to its original condition.

Cheers.

[steve]

If youre on a budget and not too emotionally attached to your car, you could sell yours and buy a good one thats been modded. You'll probably pay about the same money or maybe only a few hundred more.

 

Just a thought.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

........oh yes!!! I almost forgot to say! Mine will be for sale soon and has most of the mods above already done!!!

[Scott_Mac]

How convenient Steve

 

Deepfat - where are you based... i'm sure some people local to you will be willing to demonstrate the differences mods can make to your car

[Steve J]

I don't think stones in the chassie count as a mod Steve

[bermudabob]

Scott can tell you all about the effect of Stones....

[steve]

I think i would rather have stones in my chassis than stones in my kidneys.

 

Steve J - I think stones in the chassis could catch on - adds character to otherwise monotonous journeys.... lets you know if you are braking or accelerating.... light weight and a natural material..... errr..... I'm not convcing, am I?

 

Deepfat - yes. Like Scott says, Have a look and a listen to some mods and then you'll see which ones turn you on the most.

 

Steve

[Deepfat]

I live in Swadlincote Derbyshire, I work in derby so I've been commuting along the A514 and yes during the summer I got to learn about all of its corners!, gradually shaving fractions of a second off my journey time!....not!. But yeah if anyone's local and up for a meet it would be really appreciated. Thanks.

And speaking of stones in chassis, you're not the only one Pornstar!, mine sounds as though its a tiny chip that's sitting just behind the driver's seat, never been able to find it tho.

[Scott_Mac]

Stones in chassis much more preferable to kidneys!!!

 

Hmm, is Swadlincote anywhere near Ilkeston? Spend a bit of time up there and could meet you to show you what mine has and what it does...

[steve]

...could meet you to show you what mine has and what it does...

[GCCK]

Don't call him pornstar - he's deluded enough as it is!

[Deepfat]

Swad's south of derby so it aint really that close, however my work occasionally requires the odd trip to Hucknall, so could take the scenic route home instead of the m1 and drop by one of the days on the way back home when the wheather's good, thanks for the offer matey.