southwind25 Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 We just made a big mistake.. we had the privilage of driving a dealership Evora for a extended weekend. Now,,,theres no way we could ever afford one, But the experience showed us something we have not experienced in a long time, driving a sportscar in 35 degrees rainy november and not getting hypothermia. So we are now looking into buying a Lotus Elise.. Which means our beloved Birkin 7 will likely be going up for sale. We absolutly adore the car, but reality is we only are able to drive it for 5 months out of the year in Ohio and 4 of those we are sailing our sailboat most weekends. We need something we can drive for 8 months so we have at least 4 months to enjoy it. And sadly we just simply cant afford to have both. The problem is i dont know how much to ask? From what i have seen the last several months the prices of our cars has plummeted! I paid $ 24 K for mine when we bought it..and now??? whats a crossflow birkin worth? $20k? less? The car has the crossflow and the car has been VERY well sorted out. Won the PIB race weekend and several car shows. Has a optional brooklands screen, new minilite style wheels, lightened flywheel, new correct suspension springs, crank trigger, made a new mount for a saddlebag in place of the spare tire. the rest is pretty much stock Birkin though. We have put a few thousand miles on it but it's very much like new. it comes with a ztech ford focus engine we never installed. Welcoming thoughts before we put it up for sale.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rnr Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 Now,,,theres no way we could ever afford one, But the experience showed us something we have not experienced in a long time, driving a sportscar in 35 degrees rainy november and not getting hypothermia. So we are now looking into buying a Lotus Elise.. I cant help you with the Seven but I do know a lot about the Elise having owned mine for 6 years and 60k miles. They are not as comfortable or as well built as an Evora but they are perfectly reasonably daily drivers especially if you are able to do some of the work yourself. Things to watch for: 1) Try getting in and out of it with the roof on before you put your $$ down. While it does get easier it never really becomes easy. 2) Good used ones are available in the $20-25k range. If its less you need to take a long hard look at why. Do not get a salvage one as the suspension pickup points cannot be repaired 3) If you ever want to autocross the car you want to get one with an LSD. (late 05 onwards) 4) Inspect the second cam for wear before purchase - this is an issue that affect some percentage of cars regardless of usage. 5) Look on Britishspeed.com and lotustalk.com for cars with a history. 6) You absolutely never want to parallel park one so plan accordingly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southwind25 Posted November 10, 2011 Author Share Posted November 10, 2011 We did try and get in and out of one with the roof on, and it's not any more difficult than the 7. We dont worry about being graceful. LSD check. we would invest in that eventually if it didnt come with it. whats up with the suspension pickup points? will need to do more research here. We are not looking for the cushy Comfort of a Evora, we dont expect that either. if it's as comfortable-ride quality as our 7 we will love it...except as stated drivable in colder wetter weather. We dont ever expect to drive it in snow or anything, just extend our season. if we can find one for 20k,,,,and sell ours for 18-20k,,we are golden. Our 7 is deffinitly going up for sale... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rnr Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 LSD check. we would invest in that eventually if it didnt come with it. whats up with the suspension pickup points? will need to do more research here. People have had issues with the 6th gear ratio breaking when they attempt an LSD swap so you may want to get one pre-installed. Will likely raise the price though since all the autocrossers want one too. The way the Elise Chassis is extruded and glued together results in very thin suspension pickup points that cannot be welded or replaced. Most salvage cars have issues with the pickup points which is why they are salvage to begin with. The main thing to check will be the wear on the high-cam. Pop the valve cover and check the "big" lobe of the cam for any visible wear. Unchecked wear will eventually break a rocker arm as well which will be a big $$$ repair. Another thing to look for is many people find the 06+ seats (probax) more comfortable than the 05s. I have driven my car 900+ miles in a single day with no issues whatsoever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rikker Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 People have had issues with the 6th gear ratio breaking when they attempt an LSD swap so you may want to get one pre-installed. Will likely raise the price though since all the autocrossers want one too. The way the Elise Chassis is extruded and glued together results in very thin suspension pickup points that cannot be welded or replaced. Most salvage cars have issues with the pickup points which is why they are salvage to begin with. The main thing to check will be the wear on the high-cam. Pop the valve cover and check the "big" lobe of the cam for any visible wear. Unchecked wear will eventually break a rocker arm as well which will be a big $$$ repair. Another thing to look for is many people find the 06+ seats (probax) more comfortable than the 05s. I have driven my car 900+ miles in a single day with no issues whatsoever. WOW ! really? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11Budlite Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 Robert, I think you're in the right ballpark in today's tough market. It might be a little tougher to sell this time of year but you probably don't want to wait till the springtime. I'm sorry to see you sell but I wish you good luck. It's funny how most people consider an Elise too hardcore and a terrible daily driver, but when a se7en driver is looking for something more comfortable with more room they look for an Elise! I once did 840 miles in a day in a 948cc Bugeye Sprite. :ack: I think I'd prefer 900+ miles in an Elise!:driving: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimrankin Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 It was only a bit over 250 miles but nothing spells comfort like near freezing rain blowing in between the windshield and the top and throught the 2" gap above the sliding plastic side curtains of an MGA! When I hit the mountains and it turned to snow it actually got "better", no more waterfall onto my lap. LOL. Funny how the mind works, I can look back and smile but at the time I was seriuosly thinking about just stopping and burning the car for warmth. The few times I've driven the "7" in the cold (I know, "50" isn't "really" cold but then thats why I live here) I compare it to New England winters and smile through the chill. Bravo to you hearty souls who brave the elements just for the thrill of driving a "7" on some twisty back roads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rnr Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 (edited) 900 in s day. WOW ! really? I just checked the route and SF to Seattle is 808 miles so with stops and detours it a little less than 900 - did each way in a single day. I also did 600+ miles (14 hours) from Vegas to SF via Death Valley and the Sonora pass 2 weeks ago with 2 other Elise owners. One of them made this time lapse video - I am in the grey Elise. Edited November 12, 2011 by rnr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mondo Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 It's pretty hard to have one car do it all. Have you considered splitting the difference... getting a Miata and keeping the 7. Seems to be a pretty popular trend around here. Just look at RNR who got a 7 while having the Elise. If I could afford it, I'd probably do the same (and really get hardcore on the 7). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoBoost Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 My Elise actually rides better than my MINI! I think the folks who complain about it are coming from Camrys or such. Wind buffeting is the primary inducer of fatigue in a Seven, whereas the Elise is a basically an enclosed cockpit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 If it helps w/a price point, I just sold somewhat similar Caterham for $21.5K. Slightly bigger engine but abt 2x the miles. I am guessing $16-18K for yours. Don't be in a hurry, it takes time. In all honesty, I think you overpaid a bit, tho know there wasn't much available at the time you bought. Good luck w/the sale, the buyer will receive a better car than you did:)! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rnr Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 It's pretty hard to have one car do it all. Have you considered splitting the difference... getting a Miata and keeping the 7. Seems to be a pretty popular trend around here. Just look at RNR who got a 7 while having the Elise. If I could afford it, I'd probably do the same (and really get hardcore on the 7). Now that I have both I can say that the Seven is the one I would keep if I had to choose. Mainly because I can always get another stock-ish Elise but the Seven is mine and I have customized many things to around me. The other difference that I do understand is that while the Seven puts a bigger grin on my face, the Elise puts a smaller grin on more often. I daily drive my Elise and no matter how rough the day has been at work I always end up at home with a smile on my face. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHKflyer52 Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 Now that I have both I can say that the Seven is the one I would keep if I had to choose. Mainly because I can always get another stock-ish Elise but the Seven is mine and I have customized many things to around me. The other difference that I do understand is that while the Seven puts a bigger grin on my face, the Elise puts a smaller grin on more often. I daily drive my Elise and no matter how rough the day has been at work I always end up at home with a smile on my face. rnr that is one great complement and plug for the Elise. :driving: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southwind25 Posted December 8, 2011 Author Share Posted December 8, 2011 Sorry have been gone for a while.. wow this thread really took off! LOL! The idea of a miata in addition to the 7 would be a great choice!..if i had the money for both i would likely do it. However the missing link is our 24 racing sailboat, which has it's own maintenance bucket. Basically, and humbly, (peeking out from my hobbit hole) i cant afford more than 1 sportscar. So given the reality of that choice, and with our love of british machinery, we found what we believe is the best answer for us. KitKat, Yes,,i WAY ovepaid for this Birkin...while it is an awesome lovely car, in retrospect it was not worth that $ with the engine that was in it. However,,,at that time it was one of the best i could find for the money, even with all the faults we have fixed...At that time the zetec's were going for $7k more! However whoever gets the car hopefully will live in a southern climate because they will fall in love with what this car has become. I will be patient selling it. We will probably "officially" put it on the market the first of Jan...right now we are dealing with my son's wedding 900 miles away in 10 days. I agree...that we will very much miss the 7, it has been a VERY special car to us. damn ohio weather...maybe i should just move south. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert O. Urfer Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 Keep me posted. I am in Toledo, Ohio and may be in the market around May. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southwind25 Posted December 8, 2011 Author Share Posted December 8, 2011 Robert, i am putting on the market after the first of Jan, I will be asking 19k for it... and will be patient but negotiable.. However,,,if the correct Elise comes along, i will make a judgement at that time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prof Skidsalot Posted December 24, 2011 Share Posted December 24, 2011 Rob, is it still coming up for sale Jan 1? Vance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 Hi Rob, Saw on the Akron Craigslist that it was "Never Titled". How would that affect selling your Seven? Still Available? It is a very sharp Seven...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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