New here! Found a used Elise....Need advice.

[alil'britdifferent]

Top pic: Sport Pack wheels
Bottom pic: stock wheels

[lotusforsale]

Originally Posted by clearskies

That is not good to hear! I mean can you guys post a sports pack tire VS stock (which these appear)

Following is 2008 Sport Pack Options... I guess I have to look for all that at the inspection....

[b]
• Lightweight Forged Silver Alloy Wheels
(6J x 16 Front / 7.5J x 17 Rear)
• Yokohama AD07 Advan LTS Tires
(175/55 R16 Front / 225/45 R17 Rear)
• Lotus Sport Tuned Suspension
• Twin Oil Coolers
• Lotus Traction Control
• ProBax™ Sport Seats (in cloth unless combined
with Touring Pack)

Sport Pack eliminates approximately 20 lbs. from curb weight.

Don't look at the 08 specs for the tires, your car is an 05. For 08 the sport pack uses the narrow AD07 tires that you have on that car, which were the base tires.

An 05 with sport pack, if it has the original tires would have A048's. That said, with those miles it likely does not have its original tires, but I can't imagine too many owners replace the sport standard A048's with narrower tires, oh...and the standard wheels too!

[TheViper]

Did you check that the heater/AC interior fan is working in all 3 positions.
? Did you check that the AC blows "chilled" air?
If you took it to a Lotus tech they could pull the cam cover to check for the dreaded cam wear problem.
There is a local Lotus dealer who has an excellent mechanic if you are interested.
Michael

[clearskies]

Originally Posted by TheViper

Did you check that the heater/AC interior fan is working in all 3 positions.
? Did you check that the AC blows "chilled" air?
If you took it to a Lotus tech they could pull the cam cover to check for the dreaded cam wear problem.

I did not check the A/C which I should have.

But when I told him the car had a few issues that were covered under the 05 warranty and if he knew they had been taken care of he had no clue. He did pull out a little book that showed the maintenance done on the car.

[clearskies]

CARFAX REPORT BELOW

CARFAX Vehicle History Report on SCCPC11155HL30243

Let me know if you CANT see the link. I tried from a 2nd web browser that was not logged into my account and succeeded.

I noticed that the car only shows 2 owners. He said he is the third owner.

I did a CARFAX report on my current car and it SHOWED me, my buddys dad, a rental, for a total of 3 which is correct.

But he says, he bought it from a friend, who bought it from some guy. There appears to be someone missing. I dont recall when he said he bought it but I dont believe he was the 2006 BUYER stated there...

[clearskies]

Originally Posted by alil'britdifferent

Top pic: Sport Pack wheels
Bottom pic: stock wheels

Thank you for that.

Im sure the Lotus Mechanic should know, but what is expected to come with the 2005 Sports Pack???? Dual Oil coolers, Sports tuned suspension... etc etc?

Inside was the nicer leather interior and such that came with the Touring Pack. But if it doesnt have sports pack, means less $$ I'll pay...

Originally Posted by lotusforsale

Don't look at the 08 specs for the tires, your car is an 05. For 08 the sport pack uses the narrow AD07 tires that you have on that car, which were the base tires.

An 05 with sport pack, if it has the original tires would have A048's. That said, with those miles it likely does not have its original tires, but I can't imagine too many owners replace the sport standard A048's with narrower tires, oh...and the standard wheels too!

Correct I really cant compare those specs. But I agree, That is really off, maybe he doesnt know that he doesn't have the sports pack. Or maybe he sold/traded to someone else? Point is they are not there.

Originally Posted by TheViper

Did you check that the heater/AC interior fan is working in all 3 positions.
? Did you check that the AC blows "chilled" air?
If you took it to a Lotus tech they could pull the cam cover to check for the dreaded cam wear problem.
There is a local Lotus dealer who has an excellent mechanic if you are interested.
Michael

Thats the kind of stuff I wanted to get checked(ref. the cam) He has know clue about this car besides it drives and what he was told, I mean if he's advertising sports pack, and he doesnt have the rims but doesnt point that out to me its odd. maybe he thinks someone who Doesnt know will be like, wow, those rims are sporty, this must be the sports pack. AS I INITIALLY thought. I wouldnt know the difference, but thanks to u all I do.

I'm not trying to rip the guy off. I just want the truth, and I want to know every last bit before I pay 30k!

[the1sen]

No offense to this seller - but when you buy a car like this, you WANT to know everything about it. Your nature as a Photographer is to have said information.

Since he is playing the "I don't know" card, don't buy this one. He's stringing you along. Find one where the owner knows everything - or one that has a warranty at a dealer.

There will be another one along soon enough.

[tesprit]

Originally Posted by the1sen

No offense to this seller - but when you buy a car like this, you WANT to know everything about it. Your nature as a Photographer is to have said information.

Since he is playing the "I don't know" card, don't buy this one. He's stringing you along. Find one where the owner knows everything - or one that has a warranty at a dealer.

There will be another one along soon enough.

Just my 2 cents, but I have to agree with this, The seller is making you do all the leg work on proving his car is legitimate. Unless he is willing to lower the price and you are willing to go through the hassle and expense of making sure the car is in good condition, it may be better to look for another one with good documentation. He already told you the car had a sport pack which the wheels show otherwise and the Car Fax is showing a discrepancy in the number of owners compared to what he said. What else are you going to find down the road? I'm not saying this car is bad, but you are going to have to go through a lot to prove it isn't.

[LARRY]

Looks nice. Get it. Now.

[clearskies]

Originally Posted by clearskies

CARFAX REPORT BELOW

CARFAX Vehicle History Report on SCCPC11155HL30243

Let me know if you CANT see the link. I tried from a 2nd web browser that was not logged into my account and succeeded.

I noticed that the car only shows 2 owners. He said he is the third owner.

I did a CARFAX report on my current car and it SHOWED me, my buddys dad, a rental, for a total of 3 which is correct.

But he says, he bought it from a friend, who bought it from some guy. There appears to be someone missing. I dont recall when he said he bought it but I dont believe he was the 2006 BUYER stated there...

CAR FAX APPEARS TO BE CORRECT.

It says 2 previous owners, he is the third, it doesnt SHOW him, but states the last miles recorded when he got the car.

MY car shows the same. It doesn't show me but says the correct # of previous owners. Reference that he is NOT being deceitful, it was just my misreading of CARFAX.

Question still up in the air of the car having Sports pack or not, because the the rims arent the sport rims!

What else came with the 05 sports pack?

What does it cost for a Lotus tech to do an inspection/ Ecu Dump?

Side note - The guy is a pilot, flies for a charter airline. So I said I was in aviation industry and worked at MIA and he started asking how much money I made.... I didnt give him a number. I thought that was rather impolite.

We continued talking and he ended up say, THE price is firm $29,900, and he couldnt do much about it unless he kept the top which he bought on his own, for $1,500 and he would sell it on ebay.

Besides the sport pack not being clear the car needs NEW tires within the next 3-4 months, sooner preferably since rain season is coming soon.

Eh, I've seen it a bit lower. Any Advice reference this?

[the1sen]

dude, there'll be another one along.

I paid 29,500 for mine at Lotus of Scottsdale. I got a new Starshield, brand new tires, and my car still has a warranty.

To guess about a Lotus is not advisable. Especially since this car has obviously got some discrepancies to iron out between his story and Carfax.

There will soon be another one for you. You'll see. Mean time, get some more reading done.

Good luck.

[RacyTracy]

Originally Posted by clearskies

Any Advice reference this?

Yes.....walk away.

[Michael_In_Hoboken]

Originally Posted by clearskies

CAR FAX APPEARS TO BE CORRECT.

It says 2 previous owners, he is the third, it doesnt SHOW him, but states the last miles recorded when he got the car.

MY car shows the same. It doesn't show me but says the correct # of previous owners. Reference that he is NOT being deceitful, it was just my misreading of CARFAX.

Question still up in the air of the car having Sports pack or not, because the the rims arent the sport rims!

What else came with the 05 sports pack?

What does it cost for a Lotus tech to do an inspection/ Ecu Dump?

Side note - The guy is a pilot, flies for a charter airline. So I said I was in aviation industry and worked at MIA and he started asking how much money I made.... I didnt give him a number. I thought that was rather impolite.

We continued talking and he ended up say, THE price is firm $29,900, and he couldnt do much about it unless he kept the top which he bought on his own, for $1,500 and he would sell it on ebay.

Besides the sport pack not being clear the car needs NEW tires within the next 3-4 months, sooner preferably since rain season is coming soon.

Eh, I've seen it a bit lower. Any Advice reference this?

I would walk away from this deal in a second.

Tires are going to run you $750, which takes you to almost 30. Plus, regardless of whether or not it has sport pack, it doesn't have the rims...which devalues both the performance and the value (to pick up the sport pack wheels figure $1500 and then selling your touring wheels for $500...so net $1000)

So in the end, you're paying about 31K....that's not a deal these days

[TheViper]

I found out this information about this particular car;

Chrome Orange paint
CDL and electric windows
Sunvisors
Black leather seats
Perforated black leather door panels
Los Angeles audio
Cast 8-spoke wheels
Stowage net
No sports pack.

Michael

[clearskies]

Originally Posted by TheViper

I found out this information about this particular car;

Chrome Orange paint
CDL and electric windows
Sunvisors
Black leather seats
Perforated black leather door panels
Los Angeles audio
Cast 8-spoke wheels
Stowage net
No sports pack.

Michael

Originally Posted by the1sen

dude, there'll be another one along.

I paid 29,500 for mine at Lotus of Scottsdale. I got a new Starshield, brand new tires, and my car still has a warranty.

To guess about a Lotus is not advisable. Especially since this car has obviously got some discrepancies to iron out between his story and Carfax.

There will soon be another one for you. You'll see. Mean time, get some more reading done.

Good luck.

Originally Posted by Michael_In_Hoboken

I would walk away from this deal in a second.

Tires are going to run you $750, which takes you to almost 30. Plus, regardless of whether or not it has sport pack, it doesn't have the rims...which devalues both the performance and the value (to pick up the sport pack wheels figure $1500 and then selling your touring wheels for $500...so net $1000)

So in the end, you're paying about 31K....that's not a deal these days

Originally Posted by RacyTracy

Yes.....walk away.

NO JOY, ILL WALK AWAY, WAIT FOR ANOTHER ONE. THANKS EVERYONE.

[serpent]

Happy to help

Also i would advice you to look at For Sale Section here....i bet you could find a better car for around the same deal.

[Michael_In_Hoboken]

+1

MYRELISE is actually selling his Chrome Orange right now in the FS section

Originally Posted by serpent

Happy to help

Also i would advice you to look at For Sale Section here....i bet you could find a better car for around the same deal.

[clearskies]

Originally Posted by serpent

Happy to help

Also i would advice you to look at For Sale Section here....i bet you could find a better car for around the same deal.

I have been and I will! Thanks!

[TheViper]

What are your parameters, $, Color, specs, Mileage etc?

[RacyTracy]

Originally Posted by clearskies

NO JOY, ILL WALK AWAY, WAIT FOR ANOTHER ONE. THANKS EVERYONE.