Please tell me what to look out for on a lotus Elise. Basically a mini buyers guide. What years are best which to avoid. What do I need to budget to get a good one? What are the problem areas or pitfall areas? If this has been covered please point me there. I am strongly considering replacing all project cars with a BRG/tan Elise.
I remember a recent post about owning a Elise for free. I just can't find it
Most important one is to establish if it has been in an accident and if so, if there was any chassis or body damage. Body damage can be very expensive to fix (have a look at how much the clamshells cost) but the chassis itself is unrepairable (at least officially) and if that has had any damage, you're looking at an expensive heap of parts.
In reply to nocones:
I'm calling dibs for the codriver spot! 
The thing I discovered is it's pretty difficult to determine if it has the factory LSD. Apparently, there's a tag on the trans that indicates it, but getting someone across the country to decipher it may be difficult.
from what I understand.. Lotus never thought the elise needed an LSD.. it was only because we American's demanded one what it became an option
mad_machine wrote: from what I understand.. Lotus never thought the elise needed an LSD.. it was only because we American's demanded one what it became an option
Lotus says the car is slower with a LSD on the track but who can turn down profit. .
Getting one that is un-hit, not modified to the hilt and reasonably priced is going to be the issue. There are so many of them running around with 25K in sector 111 parts that they seem to think they can get 100% return on that really limits the pool.
Also very few higher mileage cars. The most that I have seem is a first year with 52K, and a track rental with 65K.
What is the reliability of higher mileage Elise's? One would think it would be good with a Yota motor but...
As far as LSD I never feel the need for one in a light and low hp car so I don't think it's probably necessary for an elise. My Alfa GTV6 and my friends AW11 MR2 both were fun to drive without one.
I think you only really need a LSD if you have a fwd car or something powerful rwd.
Thats just how I feel though some of my friends refuse a car without one.
mad_machine wrote: from what I understand.. Lotus never thought the elise needed an LSD.. it was only because American autocrossers demanded one what it became an option
I've never driven one, so I can't comment on LSD vs. non-LSD on an autocross course, but I do remember that was the driving factor for Lotus offering one. They said on a road course the car was slower with one installed, but admitted it could benefit the car on a tighter autocross course.
It's been a while since I shopped them but I remember that I only considered the 05 because it had a throttle cable. I've driven manuals for 30 years and the one car that I own with a manual and drive by wire doesn't feel right. It feels "disconnected" if that makes sense.
There are other differences but that was the big one for me. YMMV
The major issue has already been highlighted: body damage. Many cars including the one that I owned have been in accidents; mine just came thru with a "clean" title but once I took the clams off the car I realized that while the chassis was good, the front clam itself needed to be repaired and there were minor issues with the rear clam. There are very few clams available in the US and after Lotus quit making the car, I decided that the parts werent going to be any cheaper or more available.
The other main issue seemed to be an oiling issue with the 2ZZ motor similar to what GRM found on the Camry in that sustained hard driving wore out moving parts but with the Elise, it was the cams.
The car is a lousy daily driver. Even if you are young, you will get tired of lifting yourself in and out of the car over the door jam plus in the summer, you are sitting in an aluminum tub with hot hoses on both sides and a very large windshield area. No matter what you did with the AC, it was never enough.
Owning the car was an incredible experience. It is a rock star no matter where you go and remember I am in rural East Tennessee where trucks and jeeps rule. Driving the car is orgasmic on the mountain roads and I got to take a few laps at speed on the road course at Nashville SuperSpeedway before it closed. It was better than sex!
There were other minor issues with the car but mainly dealing with quality control and cheap materials especially in the interior. The Porsche in comparison is a low maintenance car.
Adrift wrote: It's been a while since I shopped them but I remember that I only considered the 05 because it had a throttle cable. I've driven manuals for 30 years and the one car that I own with a manual and drive by wire doesn't feel right. It feels "disconnected" if that makes sense.
I'd drive the car first to see how the drive-by-wire feels...it doesn't have to suck, a lot of manufacturers just make it suck.
GameboyRMH wrote:Adrift wrote: It's been a while since I shopped them but I remember that I only considered the 05 because it had a throttle cable. I've driven manuals for 30 years and the one car that I own with a manual and drive by wire doesn't feel right. It feels "disconnected" if that makes sense.I'd drive the car first to see how the drive-by-wire feels...it doesn't *have* to suck, a lot of manufacturers just make it suck.
yup. The 350Z I had was drive by wire and it was great.
Make sure the oil hose recall has been done. Ask me how I know.
I almost bought one with >100K on it. Had everything ready. Flight booked and paid for, Dr.Linda to fly to the Left Coast to pick it up, insurance on it, cashiers check. Everything. Hadn't heard from the seller the night before, so just before we left for the airport at 0400, I went and checked my email. He wrecked it on the way home the night before. Then I had to undo all that.
Don't worry about the drive by wire v. throttle cable. Mine is a 06 with the drive by wire, and you really can't tell. Oh, hard tops are one large plus, and hard to come by, so if you want one, find a car with one already. Budget about thirty large for a good car in the 05-06 range.
Former Elise owner here. Much has been covered in previous posts. One thing I would look for would be paint damage, especially if you are selecting one of the more, shall we say, vibrant colours. Mine was Krypton, and the paint quality was marginal in some areas. Worse, it was flaking off (think quarter-sized) pieces on the lower body. Having it colour matched and repaired was almost impossible (apparently PPG and Dupont both make the colour, but neither was exactly right). Cosmetics don't diminish the driving experience, but I could never "unsee" the cosmetic issues.
Look carefully at the buttress and the engine cover. There is nothing to stop the engine cover from being opened into the buttress -- damaging paint on both pieces. I knew about that, but one time a "lookie loo" was poking around the car at an event, and he damaged the car that way. In fact, be aware that people will always hover around the car, and they can be hard on it. I once came out to see an admittedly attractive young woman sitting on the front clam.
Mine didn't have the LSD. It wasn't an issue on the track. And I never found it to be an issue on autox courses, either. A set of Hankook C71s transformed the car for autox.
Tires are a pain in the butt because they are staggered, and in unusual sizes. My "aggressive" street tire choice was limited three years ago to Star Specs because of the weird 205/50/15 and 225/45/17 fitment (although I ran a 245/40/17 successfully).
I added the Sector 111 oil pan, just in case.
Now for the hard truth. I didn't love it. My E46 M3 is so much better all around at everything (daily driving, distance driving, track driving, and although slower, autox). My Miata is much more fun for spirited driving. Be sure it is what you really want. It is really a one-trick pony, and I am not convinced that it excels in that area, either. Being a "rock star" also gets really, really tiring.
Regarding miles on the car, my early S1 (something like #120 built) had a fair few miles on it and I didn't have any issues with it - and that one had the Rover K series engine in it.
I loved mine, as did the wife and I'd have another one in a heartbeat, but not as my only car as it's not a very practical car. I did semi DD mine and out here I'd commute in one during the summer, too.
Just repeating all that has already been said: watch for clam shell damage, rear toe link failures, oil hose failure, airbag and headlight updates. The plastics discolor on the rad exhaust, so look for some Exige mesh. Highly recommend a "Stage 2 Exhaust", sounds unbelievable!!
ZOO wrote: Now for the hard truth. I didn't love it. My E46 M3 is so much better all around at everything (daily driving, distance driving, track driving, and although slower, autox). My Miata is much more fun for spirited driving. Be sure it is what you really want. It is really a one-trick pony, and I am not convinced that it excels in that area, either. Being a "rock star" also gets really, really tiring.
As a former Elise owner I feel the same exact way. My sport package 99 NB was 90% of the driving fun for 14% of the cost. AND the miata had functional A/C. But, you have to deal with the stigma of driving a gay or girlie car vs. being a rock star in an exotic; but as zoo said that gets old fast too.
The Elise's trouble spots are:
They are beautiful cars for sure and I'm glad I owned one, but in the end it wasn't worth it for me.
ZOO,
Did those star specs (205/50/15 - 245/40-17) fit on the stock wheels like pictured on mine without rubbing or were those aftermarket or the other (track package) wheels?
Dr. Hess wrote: ZOO, Did those star specs (205/50/15 - 245/40-17) fit on the stock wheels like pictured on mine without rubbing or were those aftermarket or the other (track package) wheels?
I had the Star Specs on the bigger, forged wheels -- I think it was the Sports Suspension Package? I don't know that they would be a good fit on the smaller wheels.
I had a set of Rota Thrusts that were made for a group buy for the Hankooks (I ran 205/50/16, and 245/40/17 in that tire).
Why is a clam so hard to fix? Granted, I have done a lot of fiberglass work on jet skis and motorcycle fairings - nothing the size of a Elise clam.
If the $5k price is correct, is that for a factory painted and ready to bolt on part?
I've done a tad bit of fiberglass work myself, and I don't know what's so special about the clamshells either. I know the official Lotus recommended procedure is to replace the clamshell, so that's what gets spec'ed out on a repair. The things aren't really structural. I think they can barely hold the paint up.
There's some aftermarket clamshells. Sector111 has some. They are not exactly the same. They don't have cutouts/bracing bucket stuff for the headlights, for example. You could glass in the buckets from the busted clam, though. Some have done that. There's a Chinese company selling clamshells for cheap. I'm not sure if anyone has actually bought one and used it.
Oh, don't forget about the headlight covers. One large. Each. And they're kinda fragile.
GameboyRMH wrote:Adrift wrote: It's been a while since I shopped them but I remember that I only considered the 05 because it had a throttle cable. I've driven manuals for 30 years and the one car that I own with a manual and drive by wire doesn't feel right. It feels "disconnected" if that makes sense.I'd drive the car first to see how the drive-by-wire feels...it doesn't *have* to suck, a lot of manufacturers just make it suck.
this. i've had several DBW cars and you wouldn't be able to tell if you didn't know, just people assume that negative things they feel from the car are due to DBW. my rsx type-s had the best throttle response of anything ive driven, i had assumed it was cable throttle till i actually looked. nobody complains about it on those.
a lot of people attribute the mazdaspeed3's lazy throttle response off idle to the DBW but if you install a mechanical boost gauge you see the vacuum drop instantaneously when you hit the pedal, so the throttle is moving, it just has a big dual-mass flywheel for NVH that makes it a bit sluggish off idle.
my xterra is DBW and is fine except the factory ecu programming limits throttle opening below a certain speed, which makes it feel like its got no guts below 3500. ecu flash fixes it easy like though.
actually on topic: this thread has cured any desire i might have had to own an elise, at least until i win the lotto.
Rusnak_322 wrote: Why is a clam so hard to fix? Granted, I have done a lot of fiberglass work on jet skis and motorcycle fairings - nothing the size of a Elise clam. If the $5k price is correct, is that for a factory painted and ready to bolt on part?
They aren't hard to fix, but Lotus says they can't be fixed, which leads to a lot of cars being totaled just for being back into. Last I checked the $5000 was just for the clam. No paint, no shipping. The shipping is a killer from what I have seen, as it's a big 'ol box. Used clams come up for sale from time to time and I've seen the replicas from China/Hong Kong. I have to say parking mine and leaving it in the company of large SUV's was always a bit stressful. One soccer mom on her phone could really ruin your day.
What Hess said is right, the headlight covers are spendy too.
So, what all you previous owners are saying is "Wait a few more years until the 'coolness' wears off for the 2nd(or 3rd) owners, and you'll be able to pick up an Elise just like any other cast off old Lotus - i.e.: cheap."
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