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Location: Huntington Beach, CA
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Anyone following the Lotus Elise Market
I have really wanted to get one of these cars, but couldn't pay MSRP.
I have noticed that prices are going into the high 30's for cars with 3K miles on them, so they really aren't holding there value. Will prices continue to fall? Michael
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1984 Carrera Targa Sold to fellow Pelican 1973 911S Targa - Sold to fellow Pelican. |
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09-08-2005, 12:01 PM
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falling? not here. new one is 56k, just saw it in person this weekend.
BIG demand for these cars in the Seattle area. |
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09-08-2005, 01:21 PM
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Location: Tarzana, CA / Oxnard, CA
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I've seen some advertised at dealers for $2,500 below MSRP. Silverstar in Thousand Oaks, CA had about 10 in their lot last time I was there.
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Ron '88 Coupe (formerly) |
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09-08-2005, 04:05 PM
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Check out ebay!
I am wondering if people are finding that the novelty wears off quick. At least a porsche has a decent ride, if you want to go out to dinner. Michael
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1984 Carrera Targa Sold to fellow Pelican 1973 911S Targa - Sold to fellow Pelican. |
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09-08-2005, 04:28 PM
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Team California
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Like all Lotuses before it, it is a purpose-built, pure sports car as opposed to a 911, which is a fairly luxurious sports/touring car. (In stock form).
They are amazing cars, but certainly not as an only means of transport.
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Denis The only thing remotely likable about Charlie Kirk was that he was a 1A guy. Think about that one. |
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09-08-2005, 04:45 PM
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What Denis said.
I paid around $46k for mine all said and done. Its got 7k miles and I could probably get 40 for it. But I like it too much to sell! About 2,400 imported last year. The real wild card is the the fed exemption for no bumper runs out this year (06 model), so you are likely to see a heavier, uglier car in 07. That may keep the 05-06 prices up there (fingers crossed). |
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09-08-2005, 04:58 PM
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Team California
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After I typed that, I realised that not every Lotus ever sold is as purpose-built as the Elise. The early '90s Elans spring to mind as a more compromised car, (comfort, etc..), while still a good sports car IMO.
I was thinking of '60s Elans, which I am crazy about, they new car is very similar in that it was really built w/ the track in mind. Weekend racer type customer. Steve's car, (from my desktop): 
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Denis The only thing remotely likable about Charlie Kirk was that he was a 1A guy. Think about that one. |
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09-08-2005, 05:21 PM
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This is an interesting thread on Elise prices.
http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14010
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1984 Carrera Targa Sold to fellow Pelican 1973 911S Targa - Sold to fellow Pelican. |
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09-08-2005, 08:01 PM
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Elisetalk is a good board
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09-08-2005, 08:15 PM
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We lived in Europe for the past few years where Elise's have been around for a while, and I can tell you (a) there is a novelty factor to these cars which tends to wear off and (b) they do depreciate rapidly.
Just look at prices for used Elises in Europe. Great car. Bad investment.
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_____________________ These are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others.—Groucho Marx |
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09-08-2005, 09:36 PM
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Team California
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Most cars are bad investments. At least it's a great car.
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Denis The only thing remotely likable about Charlie Kirk was that he was a 1A guy. Think about that one. |
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09-08-2005, 10:44 PM
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Considering the "drive off" penalty for new Lotuses (loti?) in the past, the Elise certainly seems to be doing well. Except for the long running Esprit, the last example of an attempted new model (granted front wheel drive) was a huge flop. The Elise seems to be doing pretty well for itself.
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Peter '79 930, Odyssey kid carrier, Prius sacrificial lamb Missing  997.1 GT3 RSnil carborundum illegitimi |
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09-09-2005, 05:07 AM
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ok, Michael I owe you a bit of an apology. i just searched Ebay's recent sales. am i missing something???? these cars are selling for 52k-ish off the lots...and selling well. but a used model with 1k-2k on the clock is selling under 40k. what the *&^k? this is motorcycle type depreciation... crazy. i bet that is some car to drive though...anyone that has driven one car to offer up their opinion?
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09-09-2005, 05:20 AM
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Somewhere in the Midwest
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: In the barn!
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Don’t mean to cause ripples in the pool, but this is generally a Porsche board...I know it's OT. But surely you guys have had these thoughts.
I see comments about the Lotus being purpose built, handles great, etc… Won’t a stripped and well tuned 911 fit those descriptions? 1975 lbs, 40/60 F/R weight distribution, 1.0 lateral G, 187 bhp @ 7800RPM, 133 ft=lbs @ 6800RPM, 0-60 MPH in 4.9 sec., 150 mph top speed. If you noticed the HP and T numbers and where they occur, you’ll know that the engine is not a 911 engine. So the Elise revs higher than a 3.0 SC engine (comparable power 911 unit). And the Elise has a modern skin… But a bastardized 911 built with a well tuned 3.0 could match those numbers, right? So what’s so great about the Lotus? (Before you guys jump all over me, I’m not anti-Lotus. I’m actually very much a Lotus fan. Colin Chapman is one of my idols…so don’t go there please….let’s just talk about the merits of the Elise and a GruppeB-esques 911) |
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09-09-2005, 06:29 AM
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Souk, I had never seen one up CLOSE and personal until this past weekend. seeing a few in person really made me curious about them. It's very likely i would never own one...but i was curious if anyone else had any experience with them.
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09-09-2005, 06:40 AM
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Could you build a 911 that would have the performance and handling benefits of the lightweight, mid-engine Elise? Sure, I think may purpose-built track cars will outperform the Elise. But (1) the Elise comes delivered with 90% of these attributes from the dealer, (2) has a warranty, and (3) costs about $50k.
Its a pretty cool combination. Driving it puts a grin on my face without fail! The steering is a joy. And the benefits of light weight (the Chapman philosophy) are much more significant than I can express. It feels like nothing I've ever driven, except maybe a go-cart when I was a kid My 89 Carrera gets a lot more use than the Elise though. The P car is sitting outside my office right now, the Elise is home in the garage with a dead battery from sitting too long. Spend some time over at elisetalk.com, its a wealth of information |
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09-09-2005, 06:44 AM
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Somewhere in the Midwest
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$50K...that's a lot of money that one could use to build a 911 such that it can be as good and likely better than an Elise. I have a Carrera that will stay mostly stock, but I also have a '76 that's been flared, has a '78 SC engine in it (stock for now). I've stripped it of most things I don't need, and I'm putting light weight parts were I feel it's approriate. The only things it lacks at the moment are: LSD for the soon to be rebuilt (by me) tranny, bigger brakes (by MotoMotions) and the paint job (arghh!!).
Anyhow, I believe that when it's ready, it'll be a purpose built sports car, that will get limited use on the street as it does not have the comfort of my other cars...and I'm very sure it will cost me less than $50K. My Carrera will bring me to the office, but the '76 will be at home waiting for spirited trips or track duty. If you were to walk into my garage and wrote me a check for $50K to build you a purpose built 911 that can out perform an Elise....I'd build it for you and let you choose the color, any color,...as long as it's black 
Last edited by MotoSook; 09-09-2005 at 07:03 AM.. |
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09-09-2005, 06:59 AM
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Quote:
 
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09-09-2005, 07:36 AM
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Somewhere in the Midwest
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Nice
 
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09-09-2005, 07:39 AM
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I would trade Papa Smurf even up for a Lotus Elise in a second. No question about it.
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Keeper of the Titanium Monkey 1975 911S (sold) 1973 911 w/3.2 (sold) 1983 911SC targa (sold) Looking for a 987.2 or 981 Cayman |
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09-09-2005, 07:57 AM
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