[chrisbin]

Forget "normal" insurance quotes for an Elise....basically they are a waste of time! I got similar figures back when I looked...go to a specialist, and even better specify a limited mileage, and you will get something nearer £4-500 p.a.

The B & C conversion is well recognised, just doesn't produced the goods quite as well as the ones from the factory (these are reckoned to be nearer 140bhp). It is indeed a new cylinder head, probably induction, and sports exhaust. I'm not sure about the brake upgrade but thats easily checked.

111R is a totally different beast and best for your wallet if you avoid....to be honest, given your reasons for purchasing I'd say you'd definitely be better off with sticking to the K series cars...and the 135 is still reckoned to be the best Elise derivative...by EVO no less.....

[NFS]

Originally Posted by Scoot

If you do go down the route of getting a 320D and start looking for a weekend car pop down/up to the Ariel factory in Somerset and get Tom to take you out for a spin.

That's a fine looking thing Scoot. 4 wheeled motorbike really. I'm not sure that I'm totally ready for something that requires a helmet though.

Originally Posted by chrisbin

Forget "normal" insurance quotes for an Elise....basically they are a waste of time! I got similar figures back when I looked...go to a specialist, and even better specify a limited mileage, and you will get something nearer £4-500 p.a.

The B & C conversion is well recognised, just doesn't produced the goods quite as well as the ones from the factory (these are reckoned to be nearer 140bhp). It is indeed a new cylinder head, probably induction, and sports exhaust. I'm not sure about the brake upgrade but thats easily checked.

111R is a totally different beast and best for your wallet if you avoid....to be honest, given your reasons for purchasing I'd say you'd definitely be better off with sticking to the K series cars...and the 135 is still reckoned to be the best Elise derivative...by EVO no less.....

In terms of insurance I gather some specialist outfits include cover for a certain number of track days per annum. I was going to try some of those e.g. Adrian Flux. £500 per annum would feel a lot more comfortable. I definitely want to stick the the £10-11K mark, so I'll try not to tease myself by testing a 111R

[CD]

Originally Posted by needforspeed

I'm also a bit worried about running costs with the Lotus on the basis that they seem to be made from bacofoil, gaffer tape and plastic.

... i do like the look of the elise though

i think i would have a few year old honda S2000 as my realistic weekend car on a slightly larger budget , well the Z4 m coupe no doubt

[NFS]

I just spotted this deal:

http://www.stratstone.com/contact/lo...offer-890.html

New Lotus Elise 111S (134)

On the Road Price: £24,500
Deposit: £5,999

1st Payment: £395
23 Payments: £245
Final: £ 14,344

Total Payable £26,363.80

Cost of Credit: £1,863 / APR: 5.6%

Looks as if this is like those 0% finance deals, which are based on paying the list price without discount. Having said that it's tempting.

[chrisbin]

Is that a guaranteed future value deal, or not?

As you say, the figures do look good....

re. Insurance - call Chris at Autotorque - 0161 611 8630

[NFS]

Originally Posted by chrisbin

Is that a guaranteed future value deal, or not?

As you say, the figures do look good....

re. Insurance - call Chris at Autotorque - 0161 611 8630

Thanks for the tip. I saw some references to Autotorque on another website as well.

As to the finance, I'm not sure if it's a guaranteed figure or not. Haven't spoken to them yet. But from what I've seen a 2 year old 111s has to be worth well over £14K. Probably more like £18-20K so the risks seem low. Drive the deal has £2K of the purchase price though, which I'd be giving up if I went with a deal like this.

The value of my 330i has sunk like a stone to the point that I might as well keep it till Sept 09. I'm not going to save any money by switching to a 320d because they are worth virtually the same as a 330i

So I'm warming to the idea of an elise and the options are:

1. Wait till next years bonus and buy a used one for cash
2. Borrow some money to buy used now and pay off with next years bonus
3. Buy a new one on finance now and pay off with bonus in 2 years time.

The problem with no: 3 is that I'll also be thinking about paying off the 330i at that point. However, I am really liking the lack of depreciation on the elise.

I had another look at the 135 that you posted. Saw it on Pistonheads and it looks nice. Unfortunately it's in Bournemouth so bit far to sort out right now.

[chrisbin]

NFS - make sure when you are aware of the following:

The new Elise deal is on the Elise S - 134bhp Toyota engine.
111s should refer to K series Elises fitted with the VVC engine (about 150bhp)
Elise R is the (190ish bhp from memory) Toyota engine.

Elise S has been around for about 18mths so far so its difficult to estimate values....early R's are going for about £18k, so its likely they will find a level under those...iyswim

I'll see if I can find a 135 nearer to you!!!



The other way of looking at it is for the cost of the final balloon, you can buy a nice used example now......and save financing the depreciation.....

[NFS]

Originally Posted by chrisbin

NFS - make sure when you are aware of the following:

The new Elise deal is on the Elise S - 134bhp Toyota engine.
111s should refer to K series Elises fitted with the VVC engine (about 150bhp)
Elise R is the (190ish bhp from memory) Toyota engine.

Elise S has been around for about 18mths so far so its difficult to estimate values....early R's are going for about £18k, so its likely they will find a level under those...iyswim

I'll see if I can find a 135 nearer to you!!!



The other way of looking at it is for the cost of the final balloon, you can buy a nice used example now......and save financing the depreciation.....

Thanks very much for your continued help with this. It's been really great

I have been getting confused about the different models.

I didn't appreciate that the 111s had 150hp. What do you think of this one:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/326531.htm

EDIT: just noticed the age of the advert, seems weird ... either it will be sold by now or it's dodgy

[chrisbin]

Originally Posted by needforspeed

Thanks very much for your continued help with this. It's been really great

I have been getting confused about the different models.

No worries....it is very confusing!!!

Originally Posted by needforspeed

I didn't appreciate that the 111s had 150hp. What do you think of this one:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/326531.htm

EDIT: just noticed the age of the advert, either it will be sold by now or it's dodgy

As you say....ad looked well dodgy!!

[chrisbin]

http://www.elises.co.uk/miscellaneous/index.html

...is a great source of general info'

[Bumps]

Originally Posted by chrisbin

Your last 2 sentences sum up my philosophy completely!

Me too (get the fun at slow speeds).

May be a bit leftfield, NFS, but have you considered a Brabus Smart Roadster/Coupe?

Otherwise the Elise would be the way to go for me but do beware the HGF issue.

[NFS]

Originally Posted by Bumps

Me too (get the fun at slow speeds).

May be a bit leftfield, NFS, but have you considered a Brabus Smart Roadster/Coupe?

Otherwise the Elise would be the way to go for me but do beware the HGF issue.

Good call bumps, but they never really appealed to me. I don't think that they had rave reviews either .. but isn't Gordon Murray involved in making a new one at the moment?

[Bumps]

Originally Posted by needforspeed

Good call bumps, but they never really appealed to me. I don't think that they had rave reviews either .. but isn't Gordon Murray involved in making a new one at the moment?

Yes he's got the licence and they are looking at turning them around as lightweight people's roadsters - don't know when though.

[NFS]

I'm suffering from some serious Lotus envy at the moment. My research continues and I am seriously leaning toward a 111s (you say 'one-eleven s' apparently, which explains where the name for the 'two eleven' comes from).

Just saw these HDR pictures ... WOW !

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cyrille...n/photostream/

[chrisbin]

...is one of my favourites....

[NFS]

Stop tempting me

I do like the 111s wheels:

[Gibbo]

This may just help you get your cheque book out.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/VideosWallp...43&CT=V&FLT=34

[chrisbin]

Originally Posted by needforspeed

Stop tempting me

I do like the 111s wheels:

Great choice of colour!!!

[Dave_3]

Originally Posted by Gibbo

This may just help you get your cheque book out.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/VideosWallp...43&CT=V&FLT=34

ohhh ... looks excellent, small, nimble, rides well, economical (and even environmentally friendly) and goes like the clappers - and now with a modicum of interior refinement. That sorely, sorely tempts !

I test drove one a little while back and it has a real connection with the road, it was sublime (Swiss Dealer made me sign a form that stated I knew it had no ABS etc. before letting me take it away for a test drive) - makes my heavy inertia-laden E92 feel like driving with oven mits on.

D.

[NFS]

Originally Posted by Dave_3

I test drove one a little while back and it has a real connection with the road, it was sublime (Swiss Dealer made me sign a form that stated I knew it had no ABS etc. before letting me take it away for a test drive) - makes my heavy inertia-laden E92 feel like driving with oven mits on.

When I got back into my 330i after a brief 20 min test drive in an elise I was staggered by how disconnected everything felt.

Power steering and servo assisted brakes are great inventions, but it's easy to forget that they also reduce feedback to the driver.

I don't think I can justify the supercharged one though ... so stop tempting me Gibbo

A 111s will do 0-60 in just over 5 secs which will do for me. 154hp in something but half the weight of the 330i.

I was interested in the new S as well, but it's a good 100 kilos heavier than the older models. I know the critics rate it as a return to form, but I reckon it would feel slower than my BMW, which is not part of the plan.

[chrisbin]

nfs - you have pm about this:

[NFS]

Originally Posted by chrisbin

nfs - you have pm about this:

and .. he's sold it

Never mind ... lot's more about