A&Q about Lotus
Q:
Just joined the boards this evening. a little background on myself...I am 20 years old and 4 months ago started selling cars. I've worked a full time job(40hrs +) for the last 5 years saving the whole time, and been fortunate to have very good jobs. I'm not spoiled, my parents don't support me at all. In the last 13 months, I've had a 2003 350Z(10 months), an 05 Infiniti FX35(2 mo.), and about a month ago just bought an 04 TL 6spd w/ Nav. My next car is going to be a Lotus Elise. I have tried to do some research, but haven't come up with much to read about.
I found an 05 w/ 2300 miles for 32,500 but it was down in Florida. I live in PA so it wasn't very feasable. I'm looking to purchase in about 3-4 months(after winter) so I was just curios what kind of price range I'm looking at? When I went on ebay, I see that most are 2005 or newer, but I also saw one that was a 99. Did they stop making Elise's at one point then start again??
Also, on the acura boards, I read a thread that mentioned that Lotus's aren't very reliable. I know Audi's/VW's are known for electrical issues, etc....honestly do Lotus's have any sort of reputaation like that? Of course there are always a few bad apples which I do understand.
I have never driven an Elise, but I just love the looks of them and after reading the boards for a couple minutes, everyone loves how they drive..I'm sure I wont be disappointed. It probably has to drive like a mix of my 350Z and a Miata??
I guess if you don't feel like reading all that, cliffnotes would be: 1) what kind of price range am I looking at for pre-owned, 2) what years were they produced 3) any "reputation" of problems or similar?? 4) what is the drive like?
A:
Price is always in the eye of the beholder, 32.5 for a clean car is a very good price, I doubt it'll get below that in the spring.
The toyota engine has been very reliable. The unreliability rep of Lotus is from (hopefully) bygone era. I personally would not have bought a Lotus had it not come with a Honda/Yota engine.
Welcome to the gang.
ps. Check your insurance before you get an Elise, your age may work against you on your rates.
A:
I'll answer 4, because...
What are they like to drive?
When you get behind the wheel you know you are in for a special ride. The seat fits you like a glove, when you press the start button it roars to a start and you are ready to shift it into first and get going. It starts quickly, but not as fast as you first expect. You find yourself in 3rd gear and over speed limit...so you slip it into 4th and cruise a bit. Your copilot (salesman) tells you that the car is warmed up so why don't you try to "drive it like you stole it." and you drop it into second and push it a bit. The car screams over 6K and it happens...
Then comes the curves, he has set you up. "Steady through them" he tells you. It feels a bit too fast, but the car just slips through them like it's riding on rails. Your heart is pumping now and the engine is screaming 8" behind your head.
Are you hooked yet? I was. Wow...
A:
im a newbie myself so i may be a little misinformed. 2005 will be the most recent year that you can essentially purchase because that is when it was made to adhere to federal standards. as far as pricing is concerned, no one knows. 32.5 would seem to be a very good price imho. optioned out, this is a 48-50k car. so i dont think that it will break much lower than that but everyones got an opinion on that. as far as reliability, this is a hand built car and there are going to be reliability issues. the toyota engine is a big plus but you arent buying a lexus so other than the engine, expect things to go wrong. also expect more noises and rattles than you've ever had in a car [
A:
Originally Posted by BoostedAWD
When I went on ebay, I see that most are 2005 or newer, but I also saw one that was a 99. Did they stop making Elise's at one point then start again??
The Series 1 Elise began production in 1996 and was produced until 2000. In 2001 the Series 2 was released. Both of these model ranges used a Rover engine and were not sold in the US - it is likely that the 99 model you saw was a "track use only" vehicle.
In 2005 the Series 2 Elise was revised, including a toyota engine, to meet US approvals - the Federal Elise. This is the oldest car you can realistically buy.
As for any other questions, as RegGuy says, drive one and you'll be hooked - everything else will be trivial!!
A:
there isn't enough electronic stuff in the car for you to worry about breaking down
A:
I'll help you with the location. I live in Maryland and will drive the Florida car back for you.
A:
Hi
When you are ready to buy, do an intensive coast to coast search of all of the authorized dealers and you might, just might find a brand new 3 year warranty 2005 for a very very good price. If not then maybe by then the 07s will be out and dealers will be punting the 06s. It is pretty hard to gauge. I was going to save up some cash and be patient and wait for the 07s to hit and maybe buy an 06 on a blow out. But an 05 popped up at a price that I could not ignore.
Advice on buying a used Elise. It is really easy to bottom out and or abuse this car. It is essentially an exotic car by all measures, my insurance company lists it as a high performance vehicle. If you buy used you would want to get a computer dump to see if the enigine was abused. And you would want to look and and feel under the front lip, sides and back to see if it was ever bottomed out.
A:
Also anything pre 2005 would be an illegal grey market conversion, probably not street legal and most likely impossible to register in most states as anything other than a track car.
A:
The rest of the questions seem to have been answered, so I'll bite: How did you work 40 hours per week from 15 to 18? I worked nearly every hour I could while in H.S. (and before), but while in school there was no way to maintain 40+ hours per week. Of course, I'm assuming that you went to school... Either way, sounds like you're doing well. Keep up the good work.
A:
Originally Posted by BoostedAWD
I live in PA so it wasn't very feasable. I'm looking to purchase in about 3-4 months(after winter)
If this is to be your only car, then "after winter" would be a good idea. Its performance in the snow (without special tires) is infamously bad, and salt-treated roads are not going to do it any good either.
I have never driven an Elise, but I just love the looks of them and after reading the boards for a couple minutes, everyone loves how they drive..I'm sure I wont be disappointed.
If you're anywhere near York, there's a show coming up in a few weeks where you might be able to get a closer look and perhaps a ride.
A:
to answer 4: the drive is nothing like a 350z, and that's a good thing.
A:
don't buy it just because you think it looks cool.
drive it and be honest with yourself as to whether you could live with the limitiations.
A:
babak: That is one thing I planned on doing very soon was getting a VIN of one and getting a quote. Insurance on my Z wasn't bad AT ALL...I have no accidents or speeding tickets. My FX35 was valued the same as an Elise, obviously not as fast...I'm hoping it would be similar?
Aedo: Thanks for that information, and you are correct...the one I saw on ebay was a track car. I now realize that I'm looking for 05+
JWA: My father owned some businesses which I helped him run...and I also worked at a local bowling alley 5 days a week...and that was until I was a senior, at which point I got a "co op" job working for PA Dept of Trans working 5 hrs a day, then going to the bowling alley after that. As soon as I graduated, I got a full time job with the state making 15 bucks an hr(at 18y/o). When I started going to college, they couldn't work around my school hours so I was forced to get a new job - became an account manager for a staffing company supervising/training 140 blue collar workers in a warehouse(was an office job for me though haha), and after being forced to sue that company for unpaid wages, bonuses, and vacation, I just got a job being a salesman workin 45 hrs a week....all while going to school full time...I"m now a junior.
dododge: After having the Z, I know that I will need a "beater" for the winter time...so by spring time I'll have the money saved up for a cheap beater, then get an Elise. Thanks for the info about the show....I'll have to check it out, and hopefully be able to get out to it....heck maybe find some good deals and end up buying one early? haha Lucky for me, my dealership will buy my TL off of me because its a pretty rare model and its only got 17K miles for an 04 haha
A:
Boosted, you are going to be a successful guy based on your work ethic. This may be way out of place or even out of line, if so, I apologize, but...
You're young. You've worked hard for your money. Why waste so much on relatively expensive, heavily depreciating items such as cars? I mean, I get it, I love cars probably as much or more than anyone, but I also know how important it is to practice delayed gratification and save, invest, grow your income, then affording cars like this isn't such a big deal.
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Many of us have bought our cars from distant dealers and have shipped them; it's done all the time. Do a search and you'll find posts on which carriers have been the best in handling the cars and what people have paid.
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Originally Posted by Scott in Houston
Boosted, you are going to be a successful guy based on your work ethic. This may be way out of place or even out of line, if so, I apologize, but...
You're young. You've worked hard for your money. Why waste so much on relatively expensive, heavily depreciating items such as cars? I mean, I get it, I love cars probably as much or more than anyone, but I also know how important it is to practice delayed gratification and save, invest, grow your income, then affording cars like this isn't such a big deal.
+1
A:
Originally Posted by Scott in Houston
Boosted, you are going to be a successful guy based on your work ethic. This may be way out of place or even out of line, if so, I apologize, but...
You're young. You've worked hard for your money. Why waste so much on relatively expensive, heavily depreciating items such as cars? I mean, I get it, I love cars probably as much or more than anyone, but I also know how important it is to practice delayed gratification and save, invest, grow your income, then affording cars like this isn't such a big deal.
Thanks...a lot of people do seem to say that. I just can't wait to get out of school to find an awesome job thats 8-5(or somewhere in those whereabouts) because this workin till 9 every night and every saturday thing is getting old quick.
I realize its a stupid investment but I do have a strong passion for cars and enjoy driving a nice car - I look at it as a reward for working so hard. If you don't get anything nice to "play" with, it doesn't seem like working so hard pays off. I have told myself I'm not buying a house until I am engaged or married - at which point I'll have plenty of money saved up. For being 20 years old and having $30K cars I have still got about 20,000 in equity right now. I make sure when I finance a car it is something that is in my budget and will allow me to still continue to save money.
A:
make sure you can take the hit of fixing something that is not covered under warranty. these are really expensive to fix, and parts are big bucks for the most part. determine what you are going to use the car for and then decide if this car is right for you. if its the looks that you like, save your $ and check them out when you see them, but buy something that wont bankrupt you.
this may not be popular to write here on the board, but its the truth as i know it. my car had no issues, but all machines will need maintenance.
the prices of the cars will only keep going down, and its most definately a buyers market, and i think it will only continue to be. DONT buy one with high mileage on it. there are many low useage ones out there that are good deals. lowball private party owners if you do choose to buy, you will get something good.
i had an 05 with 1,500 miles on it, loaded with everything, and guys were offering me $30 as though they were doing me a favor. I got my price(which was higher), but I dont think your going to buy/sell these cars and make $ in the process. its a very specialized market, and ones that seems to be impulse buying , as i sold my car 3 times ("I will take the car for sure dude")before the forth buyer actually came through.
A:
good luck with your search.
i too, am a young 21 professional.. so the working hard will come to a pay off.. but like ive seen in the above posts.. check around the ENTIRE country before purchase. its always good to do plenty of research about dealers, and to especially see if the car is just right for you.
on top of that, price with convertibles or cars like the lotus is subject to change by season. for example, i used to have an s2000 and sold it in the summer for $17,500, but when i was trying to sell in the winter season i was only getting offers around $15,500ish..
if i could purchase the lotus again, i would TAKE MY TIME. plenty of research, take more test drives, and then find the one that would be mine forever!
goodluck!