So, you've saved some cash and are finally at the point of buying yourself a used Lotus Elise..

The "first owner was an old lady that drove the car from her home to the church and back" doesn't really sound fitting an Elise, but you do hear all those other things... and finally you're on your own. You will have to examine the car and make a proper judgement.

Here it is, the Lotus Elise buying guide..

First of all, I've prepared a reference section. This section simply describes some basic need to know items like how to lift the car, how to identify the VIN numbers etc.

Second section is a description of the differences between a standard Lotus Elise 111 and some of the spin offs, like the 111S, the 160 etc. Very handy need to know's when you're trying to find the differences between several cars.

Third is the more technical part. In this part, you can find the things you should really check before giving that Elise a nod. (It's the part where you'll have to lift the car and inspect for previous damages that have been repaired and which could make your life hard when they're not repaired properly..)

The technical part of the Lotus Elise Buying Guide has been written for people who want to check up on a car that they are interested in, but it's also a reference for those of you that want to do a 'every year DIY checkup' of their car!