Michael--Just a little historical perspective: When I bought my
first Lotus (my '67 Elan S3) in 1970 from Karl's Garage in NYC I
thought it would be a good idea to have a manual to go with it
(especially since I was soon to move the car to New Mexico--a long
way from any Lotus dealer). The dealer was more than happy to
comply and added a manual (a single volume, but complete with all
subsections) to the deal for $25. That seemed like a high price to
me at the time since it was about 1% of the purchase price for the
car. But that volume has been an invaluable addition to my Lotus
ownership experience, and I would have been really mystified without
it when trying to do some repairs and ugrades over these many years
of owning/driving the car. Last time I looked, the Elise was about
$45+K out the door, so 1% more for a manual only suggests that maybe
things have not changed that much :-)
Cheers, Joel
--- In [EMAIL PROTECTED], Michael Sands <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> I am frustrated by the high prices of Lotus Elise manuals. Lotus
wants
> almost $450 for a set. Perhaps auto manufacturers have decided to
make
> manuals a premium profit center. Maybe I just remember the good
ol'
> days...
>
> The last manual I bought was also for the Elise, Series 1. I do
not
> remember what I paid for it but around $80 sticks in my memory. I
> remember someone offering to purchase Lotus parts for us in the UK
and
> shipping them to us here. Is that still possible? Can anyone
help get
> these manuals?
>
> Elise/Exige 6 Speed General Maintenance��������A120T0327J
> Elise/Exige 6 Speed Engine Manual 1������������B120T0327J
> Elise/Exige 6 Speed Engine Supplement��������C120T0327J
> Elise/Exige 6 Speed Transmission��������������D120T0327J
>
> Elise/Exige 6 Speed Parts������������������A120T0325J
>
> thanks,
>
> Michael
>
> Vent: I bought the car and now own it. There should not be a
barrier
> to getting information about it, something I already own. All I
want
> to do is perform routine operations on my car. Right now I just
want
> to aim my headlights! Perhaps they are trying to discourage us
from
> working on our own cars, a very un-Lotus attitude. Perhaps they
are
> trying to discourage the local corner garage shop from working on
our
> cars, but $500 will be made back on the first repair. In this day
of
> electronic media, it seems a pdf version of the manual should be
> online. I do not have a problem paying for publishing costs but
wonder
> how expensive it is for Lotus to publish a manual if they already
have
> the information for design and manufacturing.
>
> Perhaps the cost includes a subscription service for updates.
Sounds
> reasonable if this is true. The rumor I hear, and actual practice
> demonstrated with the manual that I did purchase, is that no
updates
> will be forthcoming. This means another manual will have to be
> purchased at some reasonable interval if you want to stay current
with
> your car.
>
> Vent done, I feel better now...
>
>
> Michael Sands The Sands Mechanical Museum
> 1652 Kennewick Drive 408-773-1170
> Sunnyvale, CA 94087 www.sandsmuseum.com
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