[Jaguar]

Hello all, I'm pretty excited to have found this forum. I'm a 23 year old with money to burn, and I've had my eye on an Elise for a long time. I recently found this 05 Elise on Ebay, and I made the guy an offer. So I'm pretty sure I'm gonna buy it, and since I just found this site, I was wondering if anyone has any input or opinions on this buy. It's a second owner car with almost 28k miles on it. This is what was listed:


• Starshield
• Soft Top
• Black Interior
• Touring pack
• Black Lotus emblems front and back
• Carbon Fiber side scoops
• Carbon fiber side raceview mirrors
• Micro Mirror
• All new Boston Acoustics speakers w/Blaupunkt cd player
• JL sub and 5-channel amp
• Toda Flywheel
• Exedy Clutch
• Forced Fed APR Rear Wing
• Forced Fed Half Carbon Front Splitter
• V-force Harness Bar
• Sparco 4 point harnesses
• Larini De-cat
• Arqray SS Single tip exhaust
• Fujita Intake
• Black Diffuser
• Painted Brake Calipers
• Tinted Tails (reversible overlays), tinted front turn signals
• 4,000 miles on the BF Goodrich KDW2's, so in excellent shape

I also get all the stock components with the car, so I can swap out the exhaust system and get the check engine light to go off(I'm generally pretty handy with cars, I usually do my own work). The car is located in Wisconsin, and it was originally from California. 23k of the miles were put on in Cali, so I dont think rust is an issue. The carfax report also came back clean with a history of good service. Any things I should look out for in a car with 27k? It seems high for a Lotus, but low for a toyota engine. Any help is much appreciated, and I'm wicked stoked to drive it if everything works out. Thanks everyone!

 

[kestrel74]

Money to burn ?? Get a 260 S

 

[...m...]

...looks like a great car - if you can afford the insurance, go for it!..

 

[SweetDaddyD]

23k of the miles were put on in Cali, so I dont think rust is an issue.

rotfl

I'm pretty sure rust won't be an issue. anic:

 

[chapster5]

These cars can rust now?

but yeh welcome and where is that picture from?

someone posted a photoshoot and that was one of the pictures...

(more can be found here)

If the guy is saying thats a pic of the car he's selling be wary it may not look like that...

 

[toedrag]

Jaguar, welcome and good luck.:wave:

I wouldn't pay much attention to the mileage - it's all in how these cars are driven. You could see a 5k mile track monster that's been beat to he11 or a high-mileage daily driver with highway miles only and babied the entire way. It just depends. Get Service Records & ECU Dump - the usual items on these cars.

(more can be found here)

If the guy is saying thats a pic of the car he's selling be wary it may not look like that...

Could be this one for sale.

 

[chapster5]

You have a point Toedrag,

ignore my comment

 

[kestrel74]

rotfl

I'm pretty sure rust won't be an issue. anic:

well.................brake rotors.........!

 

[milehitom]

...and the sub-frame is steel.

Tom

 

[...m...]

well.................brake rotors.........!

...you already have an orange car - rusty rotors match perfectly...

 

[Jaguar]

Sweet, my first post and I've already been hung, drawn, and quartered. Sorry guys, my other car is an 84 Grand Prix, and it's busy rusting away as I type this. I know the Elise is an extruded aluminum frame and the rest of the car is composites or plastic. I was concerned about any corrosion that may result from salt/snow/road chemicals/etc, but I guess it's not much of an issue. Yea there were other pictures posted on ebay, I just picked the nicer one. The guy said he was a photographer.

Thanks for all the input (other than the non-rusting). I plan on bringing it to the dealer for a full check up and ECU dump. There was a post here from someone who had seen the car posted on a website (somehting like chicago lambo showroom) but I don't see it anymore. I'm waiting to hear back from the seller if the car was used on a track much, or if it was mostly a cruiser car before his ownership.

 

[LARRY]

James, don't worry, you're doing fine.

Just have a Lotus mechanic give it a once over before you buy it.

Someone who you'll want to work on it after you buy it. :up:

 

[Tristar Racing]

Thanks for all the input (other than the non-rusting). I plan on bringing it to the dealer for a full check up and ECU dump. There was a post here from someone who had seen the car posted on a website (somehting like chicago lambo showroom) but I don't see it anymore. I'm waiting to hear back from the seller if the car was used on a track much, or if it was mostly a cruiser car before his ownership.

Yea, that was my post. I assumed it was the same car but it wasnt.

I probably wouldnt consider a used Elise from anywhere but a member on here or a reputable Lotus dealer, but thats just me...

 

[Jaguar]

Yea, that was my post. I assumed it was the same car but it wasnt.

I probably wouldnt consider a used Elise from anywhere but a member on here or a reputable Lotus dealer, but thats just me...

Seems like he is a member here. Just finished looking up some of the posts and threads.

 

[...m...]

...elises can rust - when i have a chance to remove my rear clam, i'll take some nice pictures (she was a beachside car before i adopted her)...

 

[Jaguar]

I'm still pretty nervous about dropping a lot of money on a car that I haven't gotten a chance to see in person. It looks great from the pics, and with all the work done to it, it sounds like it was taken care of quite well, but I still haven't even seen it start up yet. I'm waiting for a video of a walk around and a start up from the owner. Seriously considering buying a car based on a short description is nerve wracking. Is that how all you people did it, or am I setting myself up to inherit a bunch of problems?

 

[ExoticHottie]

Bought my car used from the complete opposite end of the country. Of course, it only had 1800 miles, and TJ gave her a clean bill of health once she was delivered. I'm all about letting someone else take the hit in buying a new car, even if I have disposable income, I like saving money when I can. Anyway, good luck with your purchase.

Psst. . .I think you're on the wrong forum though. . ."Jaguar".

 

[Jaguar]

Bought my car used from the complete opposite end of the country. Of course, it only had 1800 miles, and TJ gave her a clean bill of health once she was delivered. I'm all about letting someone else take the hit in buying a new car, even if I have disposable income, I like saving money when I can. Anyway, good luck with your purchase.

Psst. . .I think you're on the wrong forum though. . ."Jaguar".

Hmmm, well this car has a bit more than 1800 miles, and I have no idea who TJ is, but if you could send him from wherever in the country he is to Wisconsin to look at this car, you would be my hero. Otherwise, I'm just gonna have to look it over hard when I get there. Saving money is clutch, I just don't want all my saved money to go into an engine rebuild shortly down the road.

'scuse me, I like the football team, not the car (the animal is cool too).

 

[Tristar Racing]

Hmmm, well this car has a bit more than 1800 miles, and I have no idea who TJ is, but if you could send him from wherever in the country he is to Wisconsin to look at this car, you would be my hero. Otherwise, I'm just gonna have to look it over hard when I get there. Saving money is clutch, I just don't want all my saved money to go into an engine rebuild shortly down the road.

'scuse me, I like the football team, not the car (the animal is cool too).

The engine is probably not what is going to be an issue on a used Elise. Chassis damage is the big one; wear and tear items (clutch, tires, body work)can be costly too. I assume she means TJ from FVMC, but I could be wrong...

 

[Jaguar]

The engine is probably not what is going to be an issue on a used Elise. Chassis damage is the big one; wear and tear items (clutch, tires, body work)can be costly too. I assume she means TJ from FVMC, but I could be wrong...

Interesting. To my knowledge, the car has never been in any collision. I guess wailing potholes could wreak some havoc. The owner lists a brand name clutch and flywheel, I am waiting to hear back on if it was a performance swap, or if the original parts needed replacing. FVMC = Fox Valley Motor Cars? That's where the owner said he takes the car to have it serviced. Is TJ A mechanic there? Maybe if he knows the car I can get a professional opinion....