Specialist Garage In Nottingham

[krislee]

Hi there!

 

I'm hopefully going to be a proud owner of an Elise in the near future! I've driven a couple and found one I like in Nottingham. I'm now after a Lotus garage/specialist in the local area to have the oily bits checked over. I've used the search function and found most people recommend a trip to Brum and Horizon, but that looks like a fair old trip to ask the current owner and myself to make.

 

Has anyone found another suitable garage a bit closer?

 

I've driven a 1997 R standard with 47k miles, and this felt very planted and 'tight' on the back roads which included some good corners, but was really showing it's age wrt wear and tear on the inside and outside.

 

The car in notto is a 2000 W 111S with 51k miles. I've driven this one for about 15 mins but mainly on straight roads with a few roundabouts thrown in. There were a few obvious things I found myself but after reading up an them I belive most of them to be minor, especially considering the milage, but do you have any comments on these:

 

1) Water in the headlight covers

2) Recent C service but no cambelt change

3) Slight nervousness from the steering wheel at straight ahead

4) Rear Engine cover did not shut easily

5) Window winders not very solid in operation

6) The radiator fan only cut in at about 99C (according to the stack display)

7) Exhaust tail pipes were a bit low with a slight dent/impression in the bodywork just underneath the RHS tail pipe.

8) Throttle linkage was loose in the bracket above the pedal which resulted in some play and clanging noise when wiggly my foot on the pedal

9) Steering wheel cowling (sp?) was a bit loose

10) Car didn't feel quite as 'planted' as the R reg I've driven, but the 111s is still on the original shocks - is this a problem?

 

Didn't realise the list was so long until I wrote it down!

 

Anyway, "Hello" to you all and I hope you can help me out.

 

Regards,

 

Kris.

[Fiona]

Nearest dealer is Storm in Leicester or Gordon Lamb in Sheffield. Both just "ok" and no more.

 

To be honest, most of the Nottingham people I know go to Horizon or Nick Whale.

 

Not much help, sorry.

 

BTW, welcome.

[Mark H]

I know that you dont want to buy a dodgy car but to be honest you will find that most of those problems listed happen on most if not all Elises. From the sounds of things after a few adjustments/tightening up of things you would have a good car. Might be worth checking if it had its cambelt done early before the C service and the temperature sensors are often dodgy, see the thread in the technical section.

 

I always advise people looking for a Lotus to remember it is hand built so expect it to leak/rattle/things to drop off it and you wont be disapointed. If you expect it to be perfect you will be sadly disapointed. That said they are simple cars to fix and you will forget about any rattles once you get driving one

 

BTW - Welcome

[krislee]

Thanks for the welcomes!

 

The guy has had it for two years and 20 odd thousand miles and says it's not had a cam belt change so I would guess it's not had one yet.

 

What's the usual price for a belt change?

 

Cheers,

 

Kris.

[GCCK]

Cambelt change £300?

 

You've done a pretty good detective job on the 111s. Classic case of bargain price (I hope) for a neglected car.

 

The steering nervousness could be nthing more than a geometry reset (£85 I think, at Horizon) but could be a new steering rack in the offing. Ask Malbon about that - £00's! Could be worn bushes to anti-roll bar too.

 

Baggy suspension costs £530 + fitting to replace with S2 springs & dampers (& then a geo).

 

Even a 2000 car in that state may only be worth £12,500 with lots of niggly stuff to put right. Window channels don't have to fail if kept lubricated etc. Loose this & that.

 

On the other hand, a bargain for someone who likes fixing things - so if tempted, assign yourself a budget over & above purchase price.

[Max]

Hi There.

 

Read your post with interest. I own an Elise 111s and also live in the Nottm area.

 

Unfortunately, I know of no dealers near to us that will perform any work on your Lotus without charging a King's randsom. I have just has some work done at Horizon (75 miles from me); "A" service with cam belt, MOT, Geometry check/fix, cost me £400. (service £85, cam belt £150, Geo' £75, MOT £35, all plus VAT)

 

Storm of Leicester wanted £370 for service and £480 for cam belt, excluding MOT. Peter Smith of Derby were similarly expensive.

 

For info, the Geometry has improved the handling a lot and was well worth it, has improved confidence in the front end particularly.

[krislee]

Morning,

 

Again, thanks for the replies. I rang Storm and they wanted £360 for a cambelt. He then told me their hourly rate - £94 + VAT!!

 

It seems there are two well respected places in the Midlands. One is Horizon in Brum and the other is Kelvedon in Spalding.

 

I just need to pursuade the owner to travel to get it checked over.

 

Cheers,

 

Kris.

[Deano]

kris o Kris

 

Longgggggg,Longggggggg list.

 

What are ya doing.

 

Youv'e said it yourself my car drives better than the 111s( No longgg list) , alright the 111 may be a bit faster, but whats a couple of MPH between friends.

 

As I suggested, if ya buy an Elise and drive about thinking that this that and the other going to break or fall off, you'll never enjoy it.

 

As Beefcake so rightly put it T.A.D.T.S.

 

Anyway what do ya mean my cars showing its age I'm afraid its a bit like the driver, BUT IT CAN STILL PERFORM.

 

Gimme a ring.

 

Dean

[malbon]

I 'think' mine is for sale. still waiting on a few phonecalls over the next few days.

 

It wont have any of the issues that are above mentioned 'everything' has been done

 

iv pm'ed spoonz and nick gee but here you go too. pm if interested

 

Lotus Elise S1 111S

 

1999 ‘T’ Registered,

 

Just 13700 Miles!! , 2 Previous Owners

 

Immaculate Condition, Metallic Spice Yellow, Hardly any stop chips

 

New S2 Bilstein Suspension 115/125, New Unmarked Technomagesio Alloys (Sport 160 Victory), New Goodrich G Force Profiler Tyres, Cross Drilled Discs

 

Full Lotus/Independent Service History – Last one @ Horizon costing £450, Recent Cam Belt Change, Recent Steering Rack replacement and Geo, Interim Oil change every 4500, Oil Change 200 miles ago.

 

Brand New Kenwood 2-Stage Mask Stereo

Brand New Quicksilver Supersport Exhaust Fitted, K&N Air Filter, Cat Bypass

 

Upgraded Cat 1 Alarm, Tracker Monitor

 

Lots of Receipts. I’ve used this car everyday (50 miles) since I aquired it 6 months ago with just 8000 miles on ! Everything done to this car as can be insured as standard as I have used genuine Lotus replacement parts (i.e S2 suspension, Victorys). Also have standard exhaust and filter. Any inspection welcome.

[GCCK]

No price on yours Jon, but I hope you're shooting for £15K.

 

There are loads of Elises around but fewer and fewer good ones. It does however, look as though buyers are waking up to the "value gap" between a neglected, standard car and a pristine upgraded car with the important things done. I can testify to that in terms of the car I sold and the car bought to replace it.

 

I'd say that S2 suspension is a "full value" upgrade, ie worth the whole £500 it takes to get there.

 

You didn't mention it's got a hardtop - this matters to some folks!

 

 

To anyone out there - buy Jon's car! He keeps them 5 mins but still manages to spend thousands on them.

[malbon]

Cheers Graeme

 

Never a truer word said about the value gap.

 

I can't believe how narrow the market is for S1's i.e 10k-15k and to see 2 cars at the same price with such a huge difference in work done (or work to be done in the case of the buyer.

 

Yes mine has a hardtop but was going to sell it seperately. Pricewise im looking at 14k min. without the hardtop which i i think is a fair valuation and one that can realistically get it sold - i haven't got time to try my luck.

 

Basically..I see it that a standard 111s in this mileage condition would fetch £13250-£13500 ?

 

So ive put £500 on the head to cover the thousands ££ of work that has been done.

 

Might be able to do something on the price if bits of the car start to fall off

[GCCK]

Aim higher!

 

Open at £14,750 even without the h/t. There aren't many about on that mileage or with those extras - someone will pay, and it leaves you some room for negotiation. If you regard yours as one of the best S1's around, then a buyer looking for just that will pop up.

 

At £13,500 it's game over, but buyers will still expect to haggle!

[malbon]

Done !

[Steve J]

Don't want to depress you too much Jon, but have you thought that if you hadn't bought 4 elises, spent money upgrading, sold 4 elises then you would have enough for a nice S1 Exige

[malbon]

Steve..can't hear you..la la la..can't year you !

 

...I know