Lotus Elise \ Exige

[Darwin]

Any glaring bad points or things to look for ?

[chip]

If it has a K series engine, walk away

[LiD0N]

K series engines- headgasket problems

Check underneath, look at the ally guard, if its scratched, dented, it suggeust hard track life, spinning off etc etc.

Other than that I have no more pointers.

Paul

[Rcb]

http://www.seloc.org/

http://www.clublotus.co.uk/

http://www.midlandslotus.co.uk/forum/index.php?act=home

http://www.exiges.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?Cat=

Etc etc...all from one google search

[Darwin]

http://www.seloc.org/

http://www.clublotus.co.uk/

http://www.midlandslotus.co.uk/forum/index.php?act=home

http://www.exiges.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?Cat=

Etc etc...all from one google search

The reason I didnt do that is I feel its poinless to go onto a Lotus forum and ask what the faults are,I wanted an unbiased opinion

[P17FLD]

If theres a half empty bottle of water in the back, dont bother lmao

[chip]

Engine bay on a good one should look like this:

[Rcb]

The reason I didnt do that is I feel its poinless to go onto a Lotus forum and ask what the faults are,I wanted an unbiased opinion

Well read on them...read posts about where people are asking how to fix various things, that can't be biased

[Darwin]

Engine bay on a good one should look like this:

is there something wrong with the manifold ?, it looks different than normal ?

[Rusty 16v]

is there something wrong with the manifold ?, it looks different than normal ?

I get the feeling thats not how the bay looked when it left the factory

[CraigGreen]

Braided hose from the catchtank is wrong perhaps.

Are those AUDI coilpacks?

[J1M]

Its an Audi conversion. I believe it's the 1.8 Turbo? Popular conversion for the Elise. I'm in exactly the same boat as you Darwin. I've been thinking about getting one for a few months. I've signed up to www.seloc.org and have been browsing the forums. They have a buyers guide and lots of advice for first time owners. Even if you don't post, it's worth signing up to read what they have top say about the Elise/Exige and how the cars perform.

Keep an eye on pistonheads.co.uk too, there seem to be some real bargains on there. The S2 is coming down in price every month!

[Darwin]

Braided hose from the catchtank is wrong perhaps.

Are those AUDI coilpacks?

looks like a whole audi engine actually

[Darwin]

Its an Audi conversion. I believe it's the 1.8 Turbo? Popular conversion for the Elise. I'm in exactly the same boat as you Darwin. I've been thinking about getting one for a few months. I've signed up to www.seloc.org and have been browsing the forums. They have a buyers guide and lots of advice for first time owners. Even if you don't post, it's worth signing up to read what they have top say about the Elise/Exige and how the cars perform.

Keep an eye on pistonheads.co.uk too, there seem to be some real bargains on there. The S2 is coming down in price every month!

Things I find intersting are


decent buy price
decent resale value
great mpg as standard
cheap servicing (toyota engine)
2 seats (no kids)
the wife wont like it (so she wont drive it)

all good points so far

[J1M]

Things I find intersting are


decent buy price
decent resale value
great mpg as standard
cheap servicing (toyota engine)
2 seats (no kids)
the wife wont like it (so she wont drive it)

all good points so far

lol, I have come to the same conclusion, but I've the added bonus that the girlfriend DOES like them, so I won't get any ear ache for spending lots of time with it, lol.

There is a lotus dealership in Milton Keynes. I plan on popping down there one weekend to take a test drive or two and see what deals they have.

[chip]

The lastest ones with the toyota engines are great cars IMHO

But i would perfer an early one with an AUDI transplant TBH!

[Dan¹]

I wouldn't mind an Exige with an S2000/F20C conversion, got vids of one doing a trackday somewhere and it's absolutely savage

[dicky]

20v conversion, is that the BAM KO4 turbo engine? Im helping my mate fit a AUM KO3s 20v lump to a MKII Golf Syncro at the moment.

Am learning allot about Audi/VW.

[J1M]

The lastest ones with the toyota engines are great cars IMHO

But i would perfer an early one with an AUDI transplant TBH!

My mates got this exact combo (or soon will have as the engine is currently being fitted). In fact, it's all his fault that I want one, lol.

I prefer the look of the S2 though.

[chip]

20v conversion, is that the KO4 turbo engine? Im helping my mate fit a KO3s 20v lump to a MKII Golf Syncro at the moment. Am learning allot about Audi/VW.

It is indeed, 340bhp too

[dicky]

It is indeed, 340bhp too

Nice, whos is it? What was done to achive 340bhp, arnt they 225bhp in standard form?

Will post some pics of my mates Golf syncro im helping him with if anyone is interested?

[chip]

It belongs to pro-alloy motorsport, as far as im aware its essentially just a remap and a new cooler etc.

[dicky]

Now that is an impressive gain.
Hard engines to find also for conversions.

[cambridge]

if general stuff to look out for is simlar to the VX then...
Dodgy roof seals,
Track abuse,
gash green stuff brake pads (uttery crap on these cars)
servicing is key
you have no servo on the Lotus's (oh and no abs)
K-Series = ticking time bomb.
quite expensive compared to a VX... eg for S2 toyota money you can get a decent newer VXT I paid jsut under £12K for my 2.2 vx and i dont think its going to drop much below £10K within 2 years so thats good VFM.

some TADTS,
roof leaks,
rattles EVERYWHERE, deal with it
when refulling they vomit fuel all over the place when the pump clicks out
frequent refuelling (even though i get 38-40mpg from mine the tank is tiny lol)
bits fall off inside esp with scuffing of getting in and out
drivers bolster wears nearly instantly..... eg ive seen a 6000 mile 5 year old vx with a naffed bolster lol
cant hear the stereo.


but with all those weird little quirks. I love it, such a fun drive everytime!

[Darwin]

Well read on them...read posts about where people are asking how to fix various things, that can't be biased

They all echo , steer clear of the S1 .