Another "Should I keep it or sell it?" post.
 

I've decided I MUST have an Elise, most likely a used one, and I'm torn as to whether to sell my 82 SC RoW coupe or keep it. It's a daily driver in really great shape with no issues. I bought it never intending to sell it and put $40k total into it to make it "like new" - well, dependable as a daily driver and real purty.

I can probably sell it for something between 15k & 18k (haven't yet researched the market). Part of me says keep it and another part of me asks "will you drive it enough to warrant keeping it once you have the Elise?"

Didn't think I'd ever post asking for opinions on a dumb personal decision, but, oh well.....

sell something else?
you look like you have plenty to spare there...

If you had as many kids as I have, that would be an option. :D

But seriously, if you can have only one, I would keep the SC. If you plan to use the Elise similarly, I think in the long run you will find it kind of tiresome as a daily driver.

You'll need the 911SC for haulin' lotus parts...
:rolleyes:

Wish I did :). See revised sig.

I agree that the Elise will probably bum you out if you try to DD it.

Buy the Elise and a trailer and tow it to the track with the SC. :D

Not a dumb question nor dumb personal decision. I'm asked often if I want to sell my car. And the price of Elises are getting almost too attractive to pass up. However...

I've driven an Elise, and while they're fun little cars, I'm not sure they have that much over our old 911s, particularly when lightened up a bit.

Also: what sort of track record does the Elise have in comparison to the 911? Supposedly, the Elise is bulletproof...supposedly...

As crazy as it may sound, I think your (or my) best bet is to simply own both. :)

I believe the Elise has a Toyota drivetrain, which explains why they have been reliable.

not meant as a non-sequitur, but how tall are you? i am only 5'9" and getting in and out of one is a bit of excercise. if the elise is ever to be used with the top on you might find it a bit awkward as a daily driver. of course if you are a short contortionist you may not have any problems with it.
i have driven an elise a few times, loads of fun, terrific car, but i wouldn't give up my targa for one.
keep the 911, add the elise, it will make the porsche become the practical car.

I dunno, but you should PM me the price and details. They might not be so different, they're both impractical, but the Lotus is a lot further over on the scale.

+1.
Or just modify the ***** out of your 911 and make the Elises shudder. ;)

Definitely check the SC market. I'm sure your SC is a terrific example, but it's not uncommon for quality SC's in So Cal to sell in the $10,000 range.

The other consideration for the Elise is that when stuff breaks, the wait for parts can be loooong and frustrating. And after watching Elises run at our POC events at Streets of Willow over the last two years, I can't say they're that impressive on the track.

I've yet to sit in one, have heard that the're difficult to enter/exit. I'm 5' 13 1/2" tall and will be wanting the hardtop in place 99% of the time so I'm also concerned if I'll have headroom.

Maybe instead of buying one I should just rent one for a day every once in a while :D.

I think I'll keep the SC.

Better idea: buy an ariel atom. don't go out on the days it rains - what is that 20 days a year?? Headroom will not be an issue.

:D

Doug

One of my friends recently sold his Elise. He said it was beating him to death as a daily driver. ( I think they are great cars, but I'd hesitate to DD one as well).

Used ones here: http://www.arielatom.com/index.php?option=com_cfgr_used_cars&Itemid=53

Trying my hardest to be rational now :). Thanks for the input.

Yeah, it seems people here in L.A. find that out around 20,000 miles. That's why there are so many "low mileage" examples on the used market. At that point, I'd think the car is still brand new. Speaking of which, I see virtually no brand new ones on the street anymore. I.E., the Elise might not be selling so well for Lotus when all is said and done.

You must be psychic...his had 22,000.;)

Nobody noticed the 5' 13-1/2" height. I am 5'16".
I am having thoughts along the same line, about selling, not to get another car, but just to get rid of some that I do have. I have not been able to drive the 911 for almost two years now, but I still go to the garage and fire it up and bring it up to temp to burn off condensation. I keep teated fuel in it. I have really enjoyed this car, and have owned it for almost 10 years. It has very low mileage on it. I had the speedometer serviced and the odometer gears replaced in 2003, since then I have still only put about 1800 miles on it since then. 1800 miles in four years, about 450 miles a year average. Good luck on whatever you decide to do with yours.

Gee, thanks a ton Doug! Just what I need to hear in my fragile state of mind! :D

Seriously, I'd buy one in a Leucadia minute if one could be had for anywhere near what a used Elise goes for (fat chance) - they are my idea of a PURE sports car.

Now I'm thinking maybe I should consider a used 7 clone?

One other thing...probably a minor consideration. Sounds in part like there is a novelty factor at work, if only in part, with your fascination for the Elise. I know when they first came out it was there for a lot of people. The question for me would be "will the novelty wear off and if so when?"

I don't think the Elise will be anything more than a blip on the radar screen for long term desirability. I saw one just the other day (after not having seen any for a long while) and not only did it do nothing for me but it stood out so blatantly in the process. If/when these things jump the shark you won't be able to give them away. A problem the 911 has never, nor will ever, have IMHO....

I have a slightly crazy philosophy on cars. I buy cars that I like (practical or not) that also sold well to car buffs and that remained consistent over years. If enthusiasts bought a lot of them there will be a lot of knowledge out there. If the model didn't change much there will be a lot of parts out there.

I don't have enough money to get an interesting car unless I know that I can drive the wheels off of it and then rebuild it and do it again. I don't know if the Elise is there yet on that scale.

Here's an example: I have an '83 Jeep CJ-7. I can buy everything from a frame to interior trim for it from after-market sources. The Jeep has 300,000+ on it's original engine and I just put new Dana-44 axles under it. I am going for 1,000,000 miles on that vehicle.

As you know, you can get just about anything for your SC because they were raced and remained consistent for years. In the 10 year view you will still be able to get anything. This is a little less so for something like a Datsun 240Z which was raced, but which remained consistent for a shorter period of time. The Elise isn't there yet, but might get there.

From my crazy perspective, the SC is a car that you can put 500,000 miles on and still buy stock parts to keep it like new. Another, lesser car would have to have modified and/or custom parts on it to keep going. That's about 5 standard American sedans worth of driving in an excellent car!

Lotus Elise = blood in urine.:rolleyes:

These things will beat the ever living hell out of you. I'm surprised anyone made it to 22,000!!!

Tom

I have nothing new to add, but still will throw my $0.02 in...
SC is a practical daily driver and light duty small family hauler (as long as you have backup cars ...). Elise probably isn't the first and definitely not the 2nd. I'd get both or just keep the SC.

Take it easy on David, I put him up to it!!! :)

Cheers

DARISC:

If I had the means, I would get the Elise as a second car. I test drove one a while back and it exceeded my expectations by a huge margin. The Elise is FAST, exotic, and light years ahead of the aircooled 911 in terms of performance IMO.

On the down side, I was certain that I could live with one as a daily driver. But, there is no way. With the hard top in place, my 5' 11" robust body is squished during ingress. Once in, the proportions are perfect. But, in work clothes, NO WAY.

If you are looking for a fun car and have the extra $$ it will cost beyond the sale price of your SC, I would be all over the Elise or better yet an Exige. They are Bad A$$!

Mike

For what it is worth, the Porsche 911 has stood the test of time in the sports car world.

It has so much stood the test of time that 20, 30 years later they are still desirable.

Why get rid of a "classic" proven machine for a Johnny come "lately" ?

Who knows, in 20 years the lotus might have the reputation as the worst POS ever.

I am not sure, but I am sure the 911 will live on in history!

My two cents ( for free)

Roman in LA
78 targa

The SC will lose its greatest fan and supporter!

Don't do it!

ianc

HAHA! You've obviously read some of my enthusiastic posts!

I'm keeping the SC.

Even if I get a Lotus.

Which I probably won't.

Thanks to all who've helped me stabilize!

David

Don't self-revoke your SCWDP membership David. Muuhahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

(do we need to plan on an SC intervention?)

Something I want to put down here...
1- On any car, there are some points you got "tired of it" and you think you might want something else. You will do the same with any car. How long do you think you will keep the Elise? When it come to think about selling the Elise, what are you gonig to get? A 911 again?
2- If you have to get an Elise right now, no matter what, just sell it. Don't keep too many toys. You won't have time for them and you will get sick of them all. It happen to me and to many friends I know. Keep only and put all your love into it.
3- <i>Didn't think I'd ever post asking for opinions on a dumb personal decision, but, oh well... </i> I agree. I am the type of person that I don't think I ever have to ask for personal decision but it happend.
4- If you have to ask, and the way you asked, I don't think you will sell your 911. Let me ask you this question... if now you don't have both, which one you will feel missing the most? Which one you will feel yuo want to have in most occasions?

Besides, you'd have to change your name to DARIELISE; makes you sound like a girl.

not that there's anything wrong with that....

DARISC

Let me get this straight, you spent $40,000 on a car you can now sell for $15/$18 k, right?

Phew, cause that makes perfect sense to me, especially since I am about to do the same thing. There was a Sean Connery film made in the sixties I guess called "A Fine Madness" and this topic made me think of it.

Are there any pictures of your car posted here?

Tom

Yeah, I know - I'm nucking futs! Well, I'm keeping the SC, into which I knowingly sank multiple times what the car is worth on the market. I did so because I intended (and now still do) to never sell the car (I have no interest in post-Carrera Porsches).

I wanted a really reliable, first Porsche, daily driver with all possible near future issues resolved and so far the car has been trouble free for going on three years of pretty much driving it like I stole it, mostly on city streets which of course is much more taxing than freeway driving.

I can qualify for a doctorate in cross-threading so all my work is done by my mech. Needless to say it would have cost MUCH less had I had the skills to do the work myself.

After buying it I read Stephan Wilkinson's "Gold Plated Porsche" (great read!). Sooo, that's what I now have (though nowhere near as expensive or quick as Steve's). :)

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1196370759.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1196370820.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1196370849.jpg

9.8:1 cr, 223 hp (SSIs w/Dansk 2in/2out), 26mm rear torsion bars, Bilstein Sports, strut brace, WEVO shifter, coupler and mounts, 7s & 8s x 16, no AC, yadayada...
NOT FOR SALE :D

David's car is as nice, clean and stock as they come. He is a creative man. I suspect he'll get another wild hair and we'll have to walk him away from the ledge. :D :D

David,
A Lotus 7 clone seems like a great idea! I wholly endorse the idea (not that it matters what I think). Keep us posted. Glad to go with you to check one out some time. Go to cars and coffee one day and you'll probably see a fleet of great options. I've seen several Ariel Atoms there, amongst other things.

Doug

Thanks for the compliments Doug. You are a gracious man, as are all of you guys who took interest in my plight and indeed DID walk me away from the ledge :)!

Doug, as a matter of fact I value your endorsement and if I go forward in grooming that particular wild hair I will surely take you up on your offer to check out what I might find in a Lotus 7 clone.

You've mentioned cars & coffee several times. Think I could keep you in sight if I were to attempt to follow you up to the next one you attend? :cool:

Thanks all!

David