what car thread - Lotus Edition

[Matty]

Iirc the 190 was a bit of a dog's dinner in the S1. I don't think it existed as a proper spec, you could just option it as you wanted it, going back to basics, roll cages and all sorts.

This does have the whiff of it, but still...smells a bit off to me. I've done a search on the plates and can't really find any references to it anywhere.

[Rich B]

yeah, that’s a long time to be laid up. Its still not got an MOT either which is a concern!

i’d not be interested at that price (though if it is an actual Sport 190 it would be a great price?) but it does interest me to find out more…

[scotta]

No radio dash - That's just a panel. You can buy them and fit them. It will have the hole for the radio behind there.

the 190 engine was only available as a limited edition with a roll cage bolted into the passenger footwell which this doesn't have. Mentions that its a minister tuned engine. Id want some paperwork on that.

Those 888R tyres are of no use to you since you dont intend to track it. They are shit in the wet and you wont get them hot enough on the road to get them sticky in the dry. chances are if its not done much recent milage that they will be old as well.

Looks like there is an additional oil cooler in the front clam. That's not a bad thing.

Those are not lightweight magnesium wheels. They are the heaviest wheels available for the S1.

[dan]

That will be tremendously underwhelming whilst simultaneously making a fantastic noise. You'd get bored of it pretty quickly though I reckon.

[Rich B]

That will be tremendously underwhelming whilst simultaneously making a fantastic noise. You'd get bored of it pretty quickly though I reckon.

In terms of drivability?

[Jobbo]

That is surely a normal S1 with mods, not a factory 190 (to the extent any S1s actually were).

Looks overpriced and somewhat of a project.

[Rich B]

That is surely a normal S1 with mods, not a factory 190 (to the extent any S1s actually were).

Looks overpriced and somewhat of a project.

Its definitely over priced as is (though i know he’ll accept £20k), which part of it is a project though (tyres i suppose).

[Rich B]

Another car i’ve been looking at has popped back up for sale. It’s the one i drove last year (K20 sport 135). The guy has done a project on it over the winter as planned - he’s had the front resprayed, the suspension refreshed and a few other bits and pieces.

I’ve had a chat with him tonight, my opinion is he hasn’t done enough to justify his asking price. i did some digging and found out he got it for a (bargain) £12k as an unfinished/non running project, and he’s asking £21.5k now.

My issue is all he’s done is a bit of fettling - probably a few £k’s worth and admittedly a load of his time. But it still has 10 owners, 80k miles, a big gap in its history, etc and of the stuff he could have changed to make it more appealing (a tired interior, average exterior, some osmosis) he hasn’t.

i’d pay £15k for it knowing it would never be perfect and it wouldn’t likely be the cheapest K20 i’d find, but i’m erring more on the side of a K series car with a few mods now tbh.

[scotta]

Another car i’ve been looking at has popped back up for sale. It’s the one i drove last year (K20 sport 135). The guy has done a project on it over the winter as planned - he’s had the front resprayed, the suspension refreshed and a few other bits and pieces.

I’ve had a chat with him tonight, my opinion is he hasn’t done enough to justify his asking price. i did some digging and found out he got it for a (bargain) £12k as an unfinished/non running project, and he’s asking £21.5k now.

My issue is all he’s done is a bit of fettling - probably a few £k’s worth and admittedly a load of his time. But it still has 10 owners, 80k miles, a big gap in its history, etc and of the stuff he could have changed to make it more appealing (a tired interior, average exterior, some osmosis) he hasn’t.

i’d pay £15k for it knowing it would never be perfect and it wouldn’t likely be the cheapest K20 i’d find, but i’m erring more on the side of a K series car with a few mods now tbh.

Doesn’t matter a bit what he paid for it. All that matters is what it’s worth. 10 owners on a 20-25 year old car isn’t excessive and neither is 80k. I’d tell you to FRO at £15k. I would have been asking that to sell my K series S1 with 90k on it.

[Jobbo]

That is surely a normal S1 with mods, not a factory 190 (to the extent any S1s actually were).

Looks overpriced and somewhat of a project.

Its definitely over priced as is (though i know he’ll accept £20k), which part of it is a project though (tyres i suppose).

All of it looks a bit substandard; live with it and you’ll probably want to upgrade stuff.

[Jobbo]

This one looks like a nice original S1. And at the price makes a great basis for Dan to upgrade bits and put a Honda engine in, in time - but not immediately necessary: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411045927854

[Rich B]

That is surely a normal S1 with mods, not a factory 190 (to the extent any S1s actually were).

Looks overpriced and somewhat of a project.

Its definitely over priced as is (though i know he’ll accept £20k), which part of it is a project though (tyres i suppose).

All of it looks a bit substandard; live with it and you’ll probably want to upgrade stuff.

im still not sure which bits you’re referring to as substandard?

[Rich B]

Another car i’ve been looking at has popped back up for sale. It’s the one i drove last year (K20 sport 135). The guy has done a project on it over the winter as planned - he’s had the front resprayed, the suspension refreshed and a few other bits and pieces.

I’ve had a chat with him tonight, my opinion is he hasn’t done enough to justify his asking price. i did some digging and found out he got it for a (bargain) £12k as an unfinished/non running project, and he’s asking £21.5k now.

My issue is all he’s done is a bit of fettling - probably a few £k’s worth and admittedly a load of his time. But it still has 10 owners, 80k miles, a big gap in its history, etc and of the stuff he could have changed to make it more appealing (a tired interior, average exterior, some osmosis) he hasn’t.

i’d pay £15k for it knowing it would never be perfect and it wouldn’t likely be the cheapest K20 i’d find, but i’m erring more on the side of a K series car with a few mods now tbh.

Doesn’t matter a bit what he paid for it. All that matters is what it’s worth. 10 owners on a 20-25 year old car isn’t excessive and neither is 80k. I’d tell you to FRO at £15k. I would have been asking that to sell my K series S1 with 90k on it.

yep, fair points - but it’s just too scruffy as it stands to demand what he’s asking imo, regardless of the (admittedly separate) aspect of how much he has in the car.

The Elise world is a funny old market! The exact same issues are seen as massive issues on one car and brushed off on others!

[Jobbo]

Its definitely over priced as is (though i know he’ll accept £20k), which part of it is a project though (tyres i suppose).

All of it looks a bit substandard; live with it and you’ll probably want to upgrade stuff.

im still not sure which bits you’re referring to as substandard?

If you can’t see what looks a bit rubbish, maybe start looking at cars in the flesh rather than just online.

[Rich B]

All of it looks a bit substandard; live with it and you’ll probably want to upgrade stuff.

im still not sure which bits you’re referring to as substandard?

If you can’t see what looks a bit rubbish, maybe start looking at cars in the flesh rather than just online.

I’m not looking for a scrap - i asked for opinions and you chose to help with opinions - genuine question, which bits looked substandard?

[Jobbo]

There’s a lot which is aftermarket, including the engine. It looks like a car where the seller wants all the money for the engine and it just doesn’t seem worth it. Being willing to drop £5k sounds like he’s a bit desperate to sell. Might be a bargain but there are far more cars on Auto Trader which I prefer over it.

[duncs500]

At this stage mileage isn't really much of a yardstick against anything IMO, it's more what work it's had done and by whom (made complicated by the great unknown of many cars who have owners tinkering with vastly differing abilities).

My car is 90k but I reckon it would stack up well against a lot of the sub-20k milers.

Re Honda/tuned Rover, a punchy Rover is also a brilliant engine. The one in my R400 on roller barrels was a special thing. At full chat in a tunnel the K20 sounds sensational, but across the rev range that K-series probably has it beat for sound. I don't think you can do that wrong either way so long as it's the right person who's done the work.

[Sundayjumper]

The enormous gap in the MOT history would bother me more, and it’s something you can’t ever fix.

Criticism of lack of use is probably amusing coming from me but I do keep my cars MOT’d if they’re capable of passing. Gaps mean problems.

[Marv]

Re Honda/tuned Rover, a punchy Rover is also a brilliant engine. The one in my R400 on roller barrels was a special thing. At full chat in a tunnel the K20 sounds sensational, but across the rev range that K-series probably has it beat for sound.

Yep, the engine in your old R400 with the RBTBs is up there with the best engines I've experienced

[Rich B]

At this stage mileage isn't really much of a yardstick against anything IMO, it's more what work it's had done and by whom (made complicated by the great unknown of many cars who have owners tinkering with vastly differing abilities).

My car is 90k but I reckon it would stack up well against a lot of the sub-20k milers.

Re Honda/tuned Rover, a punchy Rover is also a brilliant engine. The one in my R400 on roller barrels was a special thing. At full chat in a tunnel the K20 sounds sensational, but across the rev range that K-series probably has it beat for sound. I don't think you can do that wrong either way so long as it's the right person who's done the work.

yeah, the mileage wasn’t really the main concern - just another item on the list for that specific car - it was more that the car was scruffy (and had a 12 year gap where it was off the road like the other car).

i’m interested to hear more on the VHPD experience though, you have some experience which is welcome, though Dans comments were a little cryptic!