The LOTUS ELISE BUYERS GUIDE | Review of Common Problems

This Lotus Elise buying guide is here to help you get the best car possible when buying a second generation Lotus Elise. To my mind they still represent one of the best heavily focused sports car bargains.

Thanks to Darren from Ultimate Car Enthusiasts

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Topics covered :
lotus elise review
lotus elise s1
lotus elise s2
lotus elise problems
lotus elise issues
lotus elise head gasket
lotus elise exhaust
lotus elise track
lotus elise sound
lotus elise track
lotus elise k20
lotus elise cup
lotus elise s3

[BlatentlyFakeName]

Bubbling is something many of the older ones will have now in some places, it is just something which happens to fibreglass. It doesn't mean the car is a bad one. Rusty wishbones are also normal. The front wishbone mount points need checking as galvanic corrosion can disolve the alumnium chassis around the bobins. It can be prevented by keeping something like ACF50 applied to that area. If it's bent there it's probably been in a crash. Small coolant leaks from the stock radiator are also common (you will be able to smell it when warm).

The short/later shape soft tops don't usually leak as they have a better design. Don't buy one without the soft top because they are hard to find and very expensive now!

Another thing to check on early cars is corrosion to the aluminium floor. Early cars had rubber mats fitted which trapped water under them, they should have been removed and any repairs made in a recall.

[grossmeister]

01:25 - no, the radiator itself won't corrode, the steel parts holding the plastic sidepods to the aluminium core can corrode and make the radiator leak, so you will have to stop the car. And no, there are no radiators made from stainless steel, but full aluminium ones.
02:45 - best way to check is a CO-test (kits available very cheap)

[scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

Great little guide car, I watch a lot of channels talking about the K series and all in all it's a cracking engine but one thing that keeps getting mentioned is do not follow the recommended service intervals bring them forward so ie if it was due every 10k then do it at 7k miles

[Darnschnell]

Brilliant video on one of our cars! Can't wait to build our new business adventure together

[darrenschnell]

Love it man, thankyou for the insane review!

[OskarAugustin]

The colour makes this car look almost brand new!

[TheSpacemanSpliff]

Great video. What grille is that above the radiator? Is it aftermarket?

[angrydwarf]

Great guide guys- learned a shed load of great info. Keep it up.

[davidex]

You need to check if the toe links have been replaced, it should be done...greetings from Italy

[GdGd]

How can you not subscribe with a skit like that...

[drjones]

The front clam is not from a K series engine. Something not right. The hard top is long tail so K series period.

[andrewdearnley]

Paint Osmosis - does that require a full re-spray or are we talking section repairs?

[zedlicious]

Getting in… bum on the sill and soon your legs around into the footwell and slide in. Easy. Reverse to get out. Far easier and more elegant

[stevenchan]

I had one for 2 years, it was an endless money pit 😭

[swanningabouttheworld]

Darns okay sign at the end 😂

Another great video, who's garage is that btw!? 😍🍀

[shinds]

No celtic tops were damaged in the making of this video....thankfully😁

[jlbricks]

Why does it look like a Hennessy venom gt spider

[jimdahoney]

Heater in my Elise is not working. What should I look at first?

[jakehyland]

That's an S3... It doesn't use a K Series, it's a Toyota power plant

[shanefanon]

30 thousand dollars over priced I think.