Buying Elise?

[Alan]

Chaps, interested in buying an Elise. Whats the deal with the clam shell and repairs. Particualry if you crack it on the track i.e. not covered buy insurance?

[Shug]

Chaps, interested in buying an Elise. Whats the deal with the clam shell and repairs. Particualry if you crack it on the track i.e. not covered buy insurance?

A decent fibreglass repairer can do wonders with a cracked clam. Otherwise, replacements can be sourced on eBay and resprayed or can be sourced from Lotus themselves.

Costs vary massively, dependant on damage. Estimate very roughly between 1 & 2k to have someone else repair and respray a decent crack. Cut some costs off of that, if you can take the clam off yourself.

[Alan]

Ta.

Is there just an S1 & S2 type elise/exige and are there variants of each?

cheers

[simon]

Have you driven one?
The Elise isn't really a car most people buy without doing a lot of research into it and driving a few first. It's not for everyone. They rattle, squeak, bits occaisonally fall off and the drive you nuts. But when you get the roof off and go out for a good blast you really won't care. If you haven't already done so, pop along to Knockhill and get some passenger laps in different cars, that's a good start. There's an SIDC day on the 11th November where there should be plenty to choose from

Have a look here for model info: http://www.elises.co.uk

[Alan]

Yeh mate wouldnt buy one without driving it first.

Would be looking to use more for track use than everyday use. Yip thats why im here to do some research, cheers for the link very useful Is the rattling due to build quality?

[c5tto]

i took the chance when i bought mine, i seen it advertised and phoned up the garage from offshore and agreed to buy it, i had never really looked at them never mind been in 1, and i was impressed when i picked it up, still am after 2 years.

[simon]

The rattles and squeaks are pretty much down to it being a hand built car but you forget all about them on track and you won't hear them there anyway.

[Sanjøy]

Chaps, interested in buying an Elise. Whats the deal with the clam shell and repairs. Particualry if you crack it on the track i.e. not covered buy insurance?

Battle scars you learn to live with them till you can claim on some punter who runs in to you when you are there.

As for on track the SE bunch are second to none IMHO, I lived in London for 6 years with the Lotus and would not trust any of them on track in the way I do th eSE lads after 18 months back up here. Tremendous track etiquette, good spirit in what your doing right and wrong etc. It is probably due to the Scottish nature and the size of the club too, no room for people barging past in a bend and not expecting to meet the same group of people the next track day, beer session, spanners & spong session etc.

SP

[Alan]

Yeh not too worried about taking it on track more concerned about the clam repairs i.e. its not as simply as just getting a new front bumper and wing

[Andy G]

Yeh not too worried about taking it on track more concerned about the clam repairs i.e. its not as simply as just getting a new front bumper and wing

Admitedly the cars are fibreglass so if it takes a bit of a hit then a new clam may be needed, but thats pretty rare.

Insurance companies are normally involved if its a new-ish car though.

[Alan]

cheers.

Any weak points on the car when hammered on track, which are recommended to upgrade/look to replace?

[simon]

What are you looking to buy? S1 or S2?

[Andy G]

typically brakes, suspsension and tyres will bring the largest immediate improvement for an Elise, but as Simon asks, it depends ont he model you are looking at as there are a lot of differences between a early mk 1 and the new toyota S2's (for example).

[Alan]

I prefer the looks of the S1 head lights, whats the price range of S1 Exiges?

Unlikely to be able to afford an S2 Exige.

[Andy G]

I prefer the looks of the S1 head lights, whats the price range of S1 Exiges?

Unlikely to be able to afford an S2 Exige.

Ed's going to get upset in a moment.

S1 Exiges are about 18k +

S2's are getting towards the mid to low 20's