2005 Lotus Elise Base Convertible 2-door 1.8l on 2040-cars

VIN: SCCPC11105HL30263 Year: 2005
Make: Lotus
Model: Elise
Warranty: Vehicle does NOT have an existing warranty
Trim: Base Convertible 2-Door
Options: Leather Seats, CD Player, Convertible
Drive Type: RWD
Safety Features: Anti-Lock Brakes, Driver Airbag
Mileage: 13,370
Power Options: Air Conditioning, Power Windows
Exterior Color: Yellow
Interior Color: Black
Number of Cylinders: 4
Number of Doors: 2

Condition: UsedA vehicle is considered used if it has been registered and issued a title. Used vehicles have had at least one previous owner. The condition of the exterior, interior and engine can vary depending on the vehicle's history. See the seller's listing for full details and description of any imperfections.Seller Notes:"Slight damage under drivers side door ( not on door ) See the picture, looks worse than it is because I put a 2" X 4" piece of clear tape over it and there is dirt stuck around the perimeter, Small crack in front license plate mount. Airbag lamp stays on??? Just like my Nissan Titan. Alarm stopped working a few months back, never looking into it."

I ask that you please don't waste my time if you can not bring cash money to purchase this car, no other form of payment will be accepted. If you can't make it here to inspect the car, and are not willing to send someone, and feel uncomfortable doing business this way, first have a look at my feedback, and if that doesn't make you feel better, please do not bid on the car.  I have been selling many of my collection cars and motorcycles on ebay and other Internet forms, and too many people have made purchases and then didn't show up, or tried to low ball me after a deal was confirmed. I have absolutely no patience left for this type of Monkey business.
It's best said," It is what it is".
I hate to have to write like this but I can't take the dreamers anymore. When I purchased this car it was sight unseen and it didn't start, ( read below) I did as much research as possible and pulled the trigger. With this said for all you serious guys that would like a beautiful car for a great price, cared for like a baby on my watch, buy it and drive her home.


 I have had many sports cars in my life but this is the one car that from the first time I saw one I had to have it. My hobbies included racing in the SCCA several years ago and watching these cars perform on my local track, Sebring Intl' Raceway was incredible, i had to have one! After purchasing this one it handled better than my purpose built race car. One thing I need to make clear is this car was never wrecked or physically damaged in any way, and it should of never been written off as a salvage vehicle, but I guess the insurance company got scarred since in 2005 they were new on the market and most body shops and workshops wouldn't touch them.

Here is how I got this car. I wanted one very bad but didn't want to spend the $50,000 price tag at the time. One of my customers and I got to talking one day about racing and I expressed on how I wanted one. He told me that his Doctor buddy had one almost brand new with only 7000 miles on it that was involved in a strange ordeal and the car could be purchased for allot less but had a salvaged title. He got me a number and I called the salvage yard to get some information. They didn't know much about the car only that it did not start and it was involved in that bad Norther storm that year a couple weeks before they received it. I traced it down to the owner and talked with him. He told me that it was in the basement of the building he worked in and water flooded the basement. I asked how much water? He said after about two weeks he got to see the car and the water marks left were about 4" above the floorboards. He couldn't give me anymore information and said his insurance company totaled the car.

I went as far to contact Lotus America and they were able to find the information inclusive of the salvage but they also had no idea of the cars condition. I called the salvage yard again and they were firm on $30,000 and told me the car is in perfect condition outside of the minor damage I reported above. I then figured if it is that good condition and just won't start it could be a wiring issue from the water and since that is my background I figured what the Hell I'll buy it and race it at Sebring, don't need a title for that.

I made the purchase and had the car shipped to Florida and when it arrived I could not believe the condition of the car, it was perfect! The battery was dead so I replaced it and like the guy said pushed the button and it wouldn't start.  I heard the Bendix "click" on the starter, so like in the old school days I took a heavy wrench and tapped the starter a couple times. When I went to the drivers window and reached in it was like winning the Lottery, I pushed the button and the car fired-up!

I drove the car to the race shop that builds my race cars and we put it up on the lift, it was like from the factory underneath as well, there was little to no evidence of water lines or damage. We pulled the starter and took it apart to find that there was a considerable amount of rust inside that caused the issues. I had the race shop inspect the car from tip to tip a 100% go over that took an entire day, including pulling the wheels, discs, and checking for any possible water damage inclusive of the wiring and connectors, and it got a perfect bill of health, the shop could not believe that an insurance company could do something like this to a vehicle such as this. I contacted LOTUS and told them about what we have found and the LOTUS also couldn't believe it but confirmed that they have heard stories like this, but mine he said was nothing more than a gift. They sold me a new starter and we installed it, and I have put 8000 miles on the car since without any issues of any kind, outside of an airbag indicator light that won't turn off.  I went through all the proper channels with DMV and the car got inspected and passed with a rebuilt title. I tried very hard to get a clean title, but they told me since it got a salvage rating there was nothing they could do. they too couldn't believe that this car was written off when I drove it there for the inspection.

This was the best deal I have ever gotten in my life and my favorite toy of all time. My reason for sale is due to a move where I will be building a new home on a farm land and my driveway is over 1/4 mile long and all dirt and shell rock. It will no longer be practical for me to own especially in the dusty environment. I am the second owner of this beautiful car and it has always been in the garage. I have a hard top for it also. I did invest in a performance Stainless Steel tuned exhaust for it a few years back and kept the factory stock one if wanted. The oil has been changed every 3000 miles, now three times with Amsoil Synthetic.

The car runs and drives like it was new, it has brand new rear tires just replaced a few weeks back with no miles on them. Last year the alarm stopped working but I had not had it checked out, i never used it so it didn't matter much to me. The car has never been over 100 MPH with my ownership, nor has it ever been on a racetrack. It has been my pride and joy and I wouldn't even let my kids drive it.

Someone here can get a great deal on a car that is very desirable and performance designed for a great price dispite the titles description. If you are a smaller person, and can fit in  the cockpit, and love a car that turns heads where ever she goes, my lotus will fit the bill. I am 5' 9" and weigh 200 pounds and 52 years old. I can get in and out easily, but I am also used to crawling in and out of a side window.

Please excuse the dirt on and in the car, I live in the country in Florida surrounded by sugar sand. I assure you that it will be sparkle clean when presented to the buyer. I do drive this car a couple days a week.

Please understand that I am not in need of money, I am actually in the retirement stage of my life as we speak. I do not want to part with this car in any way, so with this said I will not even respond to dream offers or trades of any kind. i expect nothing more than cash in hand at the time the car is driven away, where more than likely there will be tears in my eyes. I have a firm price that I set in mind that I will not come off of. The 2005 Lotus Elise was the last year of the race package that included aluminum brake, clutch, and throttle peddle, and also the throttle peddle to throttle body operated by a mechanical cable, not that crap "fly by wire". Also from my understanding they are not being sold in the USA at this time as Lotus in undergoing their own engine designs, my opinion for what it is worth, they have a real hit here using the Toyota performance engine package, i hope they know what they are doing?

I urge you to contact me by phone if you have any questions; I can be reached at: 863 633-9333 daily and into the evening, please do not call after 9:00 PM Est.