Going To Buy An Elise

[pizzaboy]

Greetings Lotus people! I shall be gracing these boards regularly as im about to become an owner of an S1 elise . So, I need your help!!!

My BIIIG decision is should I buy the 111s or just go for the stock 118bhp K series?

Ive researched into both models and Im aware the 111s has shorter ratios, diff engine blah blah 150bhp blah diff powerband/torque spread blah. However the gbox ratios are probably its main advantage over a 118bhp model. Honestly tho...Im thinking should I just buy a 118bhp and put in a 135 ratio box? Is the 111s extra 30 odd bhp really worth the extra cost of this model (not to mention insurance difference = 111s-£850, Stock118bhp-650). Forget paper figures...how do these cars compare in real life on twisties, city and track?

I have £11k to spend... bear in mind I will be hitting tracks and country roads too but im mostly a city driver and it will be my daily drive. So whats better value for money?

Thanks for any help folks!

[Dixie]

You might struggle to find a 111s for £11k. Or a decent one anyway.

 

You'll not regret choosing an Elise. They're great! Good luck in finding the right one.

 

[Scott_Mac]

The 111s is a great car... but you'll struggle to find a good one for £11k.

 

On country roads etc you won't find much difference between the two anyway... you can cost effectively modify a std car anyway. However the 111s does have more power, more torque etc and is a cracking all round car.

 

I wouldn't necesarily bother with the CR box, yes its good... but its not the cheapest mod you can do, and does make motorway driving a right chore

 

Not a proper original ltd ed one, but the 135 is my fave car:

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...ssPageName=WDVW

[Dixie]

That one on Ebay looks good!!

 

Highest bidder is S0ups?? Is the soups from here after another?

[AL G]

I've just bought my fist Elise, have been after one for years . . Mine is a totally standard 97 S1, and I paid exactly 10k . . I looked at a few for 10.5 to 11k too there seem to be plenty if you are willing to travel. Got mine cheap(er) as it needs a "C" service . . I know a mechanic/specialist/lotus owner who is doing it for £250 so not too bad. .

 

Even with the usual niggles, it's the best thing I've ever done (so far) . .

 

Enjoy !

[malbon]

Stop faffing around on forums and go test drive !

 

111s kicks arse IMHO but with strung out performance there isnt a great deal between the 2 - what im trying to say is the 111s is good at going fast without having to hammer it which is what you would do with the S1. It also has the kind of power that you will desire (and spend 2k trying to achieve) when you realise you want more than your 118.

 

You pays your money. Both great cars. If i was buying now I would just go for whatever was the best deal out there regardless of model. no. i take that back - id have a 111s...I think..or an Exige...or a..340R...but maybe it wouldn't get enough use with the UK weather...OK..back to an elise...but S1 or S2 ?...or a VX maybe better value...2nd car or main car ? shall I buy a beater ?...if ive got a beater then a V8 Esprit may be nice to have in the garage for the weekends...

 

 

 

Its a process we have all been through ! bloody enjoyable the build up to your first elise !!

[Elaine]

Try Autotrader online

[koopa]

oi mc gimp, bet that hasnt made your decision much easier eh?

Listen to old uncle koopa cos ive driven/owned/wrecked em all!

Pizzaboy is one of my good friends and i know how he likes to drive his cars! Im sticking to what i originally said.. spend your money on a nice good condition stock S1, master driving the blank canvas and slowly upgrade to 135 spec. Its better than buying a rough 111s. Plus, ill disagree about the CR box, i think its a far greater improvement over the stock box and for the type of driving pizzaslag does, its ideal. Save for the audi conversion like me!

Either way, let me know when your testdriving suckah

[GreyKnight]

Hi pizzaboy!

 

I was in a similar situation at Christmas when I bought my car off GCCK on here. I had a budget of around 12K and was wondering about whether to look for a standard Elise or a 111s. In the end I made a logical decision to buy Graeme's well looked after and already modified (in terms of reliability mods) standard car for a bit above my budget, rather than buy a 111s that would probably need work and wouldn't have had all the important bits attended to.

 

Lets face it, performance wise on normal road driving you aren't going to notice a vast difference between the two cars within the constraints of the legal speed limit. On a track it will be a different story, but I still don't think it will be dramatic.

 

It's up to you, but for your budget I would point towards a standard car that has been looked after (though even for that you will probably have to spend a bit more than £10K especially now summer is approaching)

[random_guy]

Get a T5 - do it in style and comfort with loads of torque and HP.

[GCCK]

Er, don't remember Lotus doing a T5. There is that Volvo thing with lots of seats, a roof, squidgy suspension. IIRC the estate versions came with a flabby labrador and a Queen Anne dresser as standard!

 

Might be a bit slow, I but think he's looking for a sports car!

 

 

 

This far into the spring, £11K will buy you a good 97 car or progressively leggier 98's & 99's. A 111s at that price would be well on the way to six-figure mileage although that in itself won't make it a poor car if the important bits have been replaced.