Finally can stop looking for an S1! Result!!!! :o)

[Ferg]

Well After the non-starter we had trying to sell the family car, I put my golf GTI on PH and the Trader and 24 hrs later I have the fuill asking price in my hands! Sweeeeet, it was priced to sell mind. Makes me feel a bit stupid putting it in for 3 weeks though. It was abit gutting saying good bye to the Golf as I'd spent ages ironing out all the niggles. It was a cracking car, just not interesting enough anymore.

So this is now the catalyst required for buying an Elise. The bike is still to sell, but I have permission from SWMBO to dip the savings for an elise in the meantime. Result!!
I'm on the hunt from now. Be warned all ye folk who promised pointers and guidance for the buying process, I will be in touch.

I do notice some cars seem to have been on PH for a long time, do you think this is maybe an indication of their condition?

My budget will only stretch to the lower end of the Elise spectrum maybe stretching to around 7k. Fingers crossed I can find the car thats right for me.

Cheers
Ferg

[tut]

Ferg, S1 prices have actually started to increase, so you will be pushed to get a good one for £7K which is the starting price.

The lower priced ones seem to be selling very quickly on P/H. One comedian has a '98 with 50K miles on it and is asking £20K.

tut

[mwmackenzie]

Good luck fella, you'll love the S1!!!!

Mark

[ed]

Nicely done matey

Hi -torq currently have a 111s that was rebuit but not hpi registered for £7500. He paid £7k for it inc the hard top on ebay. He has since separated it from the deal. I was conversing with the seller and he said there is some minor osr cosmetic chasis damage but nothing at all to worry about.

Might be worth a haggle. Also I believe Gareths dad is considering selling his b and c (140) s1 elise in red which I believe is around the same money.
Might be another to consider.

Best of luck with your search.
cheers Ed

edit to say: looks like the 111s has gone.

[Ferg]

Ed: Yeah I had been eyeing up that 111s. I'm determined not to rush into this so can wait and see what turns up, any heads up on sales is appreciated.

Tut: I had noticed a general increase. I was gutted (in a selfish way, still love that it's happening) that Lotus have announced their entry into F1 as I'm sure that must be having a small effect (that and the scrapage scheme effect). When I started looking 7k would have got one easily, doesn't look that way now. Hopefully, as I can still look as we go into winter, a few ones might surface and the prices might waine a little. As I'm stretching already, I kind of need the market to drop a little.

[smee]

Good choice, cheap cars still exist but not always in the obvious places, i.e. PH is not the be all and end all.

[r055]

good luck on your search mate - take your time though... also take one of us along for some help.

heard of some people getting some great elises/ exiges off of ebay for buttons as well so dont dismiss that avenue either! although approach with caution!

[campbell]

S1s are really only getting rarer. They built a few thousand over the 5-year lifespan, compared to surely 10s of thousands of S2s in their now 8 year lifespan?

The winter may well still yield some lower pricing but the likelihood of someone having to abandon a £6k-£9k S1 in a hurry for financial reasons might be less than those dumping £15k+ S2s, or especially even more expensive Toyota-engined variants, since some of these are far more likely to have finance that is causing crippling monthly outgoings etc. I guess most S1s are generally paid for

Take your time if you can, watch the market movements (stock as well as pricing) and don't be tempted into "1-owner, dry use only, 10k miles" pre-98 examples...these can need a lorra, lorra niggles fixing that their current owners probably haven't yet come across!!

All just my 2p of course.

As an owner of an 83k miles, all-weather, all-season, round Europe, some trackdays, 10-year old S1

Campbell

[Ferg]

Sound advice from all of you. Thankyou.

I've been looking through the buying guides, some info provided by Forum members and other posts, and have come to the conclusion that I'm looking for a 50-70k miler with a colour preference of Blue,Titanium or Silver. I've also been checking and reckon I might be able to extend the budget a little for the right car.

I'll keep you posted on how I get on.

[r055]

make sure you budget for AA parts and labour cover

[Ferg]

Pass the spanners..

There's a local Green one that might be worth a look. Hadn't really thought about the green....

[Sanjøy]

Good effort, you happy to go national ?

[s29ttc]

Hope what I sent you was some use. Remember any time you want a look round mine to get to grips to what to look for don't hesitate to contact me.

[tut]

I don't think Donna has sold her green S1 yet. Very nice car with two S_E owners on its V5.

tut

[Ferg]

Hope what I sent you was some use. Remember any time you want a look round mine to get to grips to what to look for don't hesitate to contact me.

Yeah, that doc was really interesting and will be the first page in my buying references, thankyou. I'd love a look round your car. I'll PM You.

Mr.P, yeah national is a an option, I've got a Lotus freak friend in London that would probably do a primary inspection for me if I asked nicely (read lots of beer). I see there are a lot in Yorkshire which is very reachable. Although I now need to sort out a buying buddy, or borrow a car so I can get down. The only issue with selling your car first. Doh..