Looking to replace the scooby with a MK1 Advice........Advice please

General General Lotus Talk
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*********typical second post and i mess up the title [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/image] !!!*************Hi,Aplogies if this ought to be in the Elise forum but it looks unused for a while… feel free to move if it required.Anyway,looking to replace my 1998 scoob with a MK1 elise, any advice as to what to look out for when buying one second hand or point me in the right direction where i can read up on them. What are common mods to look out for and what options increase the value and which ones are nice to have but not essential.Do they come with hard tops as standardAre they water tight with the soft topWhat MPG is to be expected.What are service intervals and a what cost.Where is the best place to buy eg private dealer or independantIs there a lot of euro / grey imports to look out for…Sorry for all the questions, gotta start somewhere though…Marki knbow alot of mags right up this sort of stuff but i have found it to be more acurate from the horses mouth as it were…Certainly on scoobynet it is [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/grin.gif[/image][This message has been edited by Diggy (edited 19 July 2001).]

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quote:�any advice as to what to look out for when buying one second hand�If you buy privately, I would strongly advise getting your local Lotus dealer to check the car out for you; they know what they’re looking for and should be able to tell you what you’d be getting in to. It shouldn’t cost much to do this, and IMHO it’s very worthwhile, as a typical buyer can’t check a car properly. You may also want to pay for a chassis alignment / geometry check if you are anything but 100% sure about the treatment the car has had as it’s possible to twang the chassis by kerbing the car (or worse).Common Elise mods such as cat bypass and sports exhaust don’t really affect the second-hand price. If the car has a cat bypass, get the cat off the vendor, as you’ll need it come MOT time, and they’re expensive. Hard tops are not standard, and cost very roughly �1,500 from memory (apologies if I’m out), but neither the hard top nor the soft-top are completely watertight I’m afraid. MPG can approach 50 (when running in [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/grin.gif[/image]) but 20s is more usual depending on driving style. Servicing on an Exige is every 6,000 miles or 12 months, but I’m afraid I can’t remember if the Elise is at a higher mileage. Services vary depending on which service it is; a standard ‘A’ service typically costs �200 - �300, the ‘B’ and ‘C’ services more. WRT dealer vs. private, as I posted recently, it’s horses for courses. Dealers will usually prep a car, fix things that are wrong, put a warranty on it, and offer some form of comeback. However, this has to be paid for, so it depends on whether you feel that this is a benefit worth paying for in your situation. Buying privately is definitely cheaper, but is also riskier. However, as David pointed out, you need a descent dealer to make paying dealer prices worthwhile, and going off comments by others on this board, they’re not too common! Not many grey imports around that I know of.Sorry for the vague bits, but hopefully this will give you some pointers.

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Diggy,There are numerous places you can read up on the Elise, my website - www.btinternet.com/~tjthompson [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/wink.gif[/image] and www.elises.co.uk for a start (check the links sections for others). There are numerous models of the Elise available from Standard up to 160 model and various mod’d cars with kits from such companies as PTP, B&C etc. I believe the 111S is the one most people prefer - Good power, not too expensive, better spec than standard car. The Sport 135 is a corker if you can find one… There aren’t too many mods to look out for other than the usual sports exhaust/K&N filter/cat replacement pipe, none of which really increase the value but are nice additions to have.I agree with Tony that unless you know what you are looking for, you should get it checked out by someone who knows the elise - not the AA, RAC etc - a dealer or independent… All the usual stuff should be checked, service history, bills, etc…Tony was right, the Hardtop is �1500 and leaks slightly. The softtop leaks more…I got roughly 38-40 mpg from my standard Elise, and that was with a bit of hard driving now and then - very economical even with the sports exhaust, K&N, cat rep pipe. The Exige on the same run to work gives me about 25 max…!Servicing is more expensive at a Lotus dealer. ‘A’ service at my dealer (JCT600 Leeds) cost me approx �350. ‘B’ and ‘C’ services are more expensive. Interval is every 9000 miles (6000 with the Exige).Good luck with the Elise hunting…T

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Thanx guys, going out at the weekend to start having a look, initialy at Bell & Colvill (they may take my scoob as a PX [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/smile.gif[/image] ) It would seem that the Elise is far more economical than i expected which is nice, so i need to find a 111s then…

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TT,great website by the way [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/smile.gif[/image] just had a quick wiz round, unfortunatly the office is filling up [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/frown.gif[/image] will return lateri think i will steer clear of leeds though [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/wink.gif[/image]M

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Diggy, Tony’s right, but one small thing to bear in mind: the residuals on the 111S are very close to those of the standard car, despite a significant difference when new. This is mainly because the 111S are significantly more to insure, and this affects saleability. Just one to watch out for. [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/smile.gif[/image]

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ahhhhhhh right got ya!

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Another minor thing to consider: The 111S has a close ratio gearbox, which is nice for B-roads. Standard Elise is longer legged, especially on 5th gear, so it is less frantic on the motorway on long trips. Depends, where you drive most.

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The more frantic the better, right?! [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/wink.gif[/image]

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Actually yes, most of the time - but sometimes the long 5th gear is really nice - here on the continent!Best thing would be a six speed gearbox though! [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/grin.gif[/image]

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I had a 111s and thought it was the dogs privates especialy with the close ratio box

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Right,Test drove a standard MY98 elise at the weekend and (flame suit on) i thought it was slow [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/shocked.gif[/image] I liked the handling though especially the way the back end could be steered with the throttle, lift off on roundabouts to tuck the front in seemed to wake up the passenger [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/grin.gif[/image] who did a poor sales job in all honestySo, I loved the nimble, directness but was dissapointed in the staright line speed, i guess i am looking at upping the power, how do i get hold of Dave Andrews??All comments / suggestions appreciated, should i try a 1-11s, they did not have any i could play in? CheersMark

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Pff. that was a boggo std. Elise…Did you try an Elise 160 ? Or Elise 190 ?They’re much much faster.Bear in mind, you’re comparing it to a '97 Scooby or even an MY01You’ll not get the same kick-in-the-back that a Scoob offers. When I got my Exige I was disappointed at how slow it felt compared to my MY98 Scooby, but oddly I pass all the Scoobs at Donington last time out… so perhaps it’s not so slow after all…

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Diggy, David’s hit the nail on the head; the Elise (and Exige) are quicker than they feel. Being normally aspirated and quite light, they tend to accelerate quickly but without drama. You learn this after owning an Elise for a while once you get used to just how fast things that you overtake disappear backwards despite the lack of apparent wallop! Don’t forget that even the cooking 118 BHP Elise is c. 5.6 secs to 60. But, as David says, if you want quicker then it exists. We’re waiting to hear what omygod quick feels like, aren’t we David?! [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/grin.gif[/image]

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Ahhhhh got ya, must admit only ever driven turbo fastish cars delta, intergrale, scoob…Perhaps i could come and have a look at one of your track days, I must admit, at Oulton park earlier in the year there were some elises and an Exige present and i never seemed to be able to catch them up, Admin was the Exige yours (silver with an appropriate rego it was also at donno in the freezing fog ? ) perhaps i ought to try the 160 etc but they are a little out off my price range.guess i need to try one and get saving!!!

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quote:Originally posted by Diggy:I must admit, at Oulton park earlier in the year there were some elises and an Exige present and i never seemed to be able to catch them up, Admin was the Exige yours (silver with an appropriate rego it was also at donno in the freezing fog ? ) Mine’s Titanium Silver, I was at a Scoobynet day at Donington in February/March. It was freezing fog that day til about lunch time (DAMN it was cold)My plate is X1GE K So perhaps that was me you saw… no-one overtook me that day [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/grin.gif[/image] Even Harj of Scoobynet fame in the 22B was left behind.I don’t like Oulton park that much, although I’ve not driven it, I’ve been a passenger a few times and I’m not too happy with Deer-Leap/Lodge - too many scary weight transfers going on with armco nearby. We span (in a mates Exige) there with lots of cars barrelling over the blind crest onto us, very scary… A few laps later, the Listers car rolled there [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/shocked.gif[/image]You’re more than welcome to come to be a passenger at my next track day… quite when that’ll be god only knows… (grr.)However, Tony Whitter is a far more accomplished driver and I’m sure he could give you a far better idea of what the car is capable of.Tony ? When’s your next trackday ?[This message has been edited by Admin5 (edited 24 July 2001).]

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quote:Tony Whitter is a far more accomplished driverDavid, you flatter me! I would never presume to be more capable than someone I’ve never met (we must rectify that BTW), and anyway you sound damn handy reading the board, so for the time being I won’t take that as read if it’s alright with you! [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/wink.gif[/image] However, to answer your question, there’s a Cadwell coming up soon (I can’t remember the date off hand) and I may try to get to that. If I do, I’d be happy to give Diggy a run. [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/smile.gif[/image]

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Yeah i was out with Harj a couple of times at donno…so it was you [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/smile.gif[/image] …Tony i will try to find out about cadwell sounds good and thanx for the invite…although 90kg of extra ballast is sure to make a difference [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/wink.gif[/image] ha ha ha anyone now anything about thius www.gtm-cars.co.uk what do ya’ll think?

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quote:although 90kg of extra ballast is sure to make a difference [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/wink.gif[/image] ha ha haDon’t joke, a passenger makes a significant difference on the limit! [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/smile.gif[/image]

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Sorry tony not making fun… I know how much difference it makes, i was a taxi at Oulton other than my last two sessions totaly changed the car, as well as fuel load.Please don’t take offence it was not meant in that way [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/smile.gif[/image]M