A pre-purchase inspection is an essential part of a vehicle purchasing process and this should be a positive experience for both the buyer and the seller.
This is a an opportunity for the seller to establish the vehicle bona-fides which assists in setting the asking price.
If a pre-purchase inspection is not undertaken during a private vehicle sale, then the buyer is vulnerable to any necessary repairs and hidden costs.
A pre-purchase inspection check list should cover the following points –

Engine - cylinder leak-down test should be included
Cooling system
Transmission
Brakes
Suspension
Chassis
Bodywork
Interior
Exhaust
Tyres
Brakes
Electrical
Steering
Safety equipment - mirrors, seat belts, air-bags etc.
Tool kit
Any modifications - are these appropriate and is the vehicle safe to drive?

Investing in a pre-purchase inspection could save you thousands of dollars and post-purchase heartache.
This requires someone who is qualified and significantly experienced to look very carefully at these specialist vehicles.
The construction of many Lotus vehicles is very different to main-stream vehicle manufacturers.
Typical characteristics include stressed skin chassis which is usually identified by the deep centre tunnel that runs through the middle of the vehicle.
The body is usually a one-piece construction and is secured to the chassis by a number of strategically positioned bolts.
The report that comes back from a vehicle inspection at best will detect 95 percent of problems.
Any remaining problems may be completely hidden and not discovered unless the entire car and engine were dismantled.
So be realistic, the final report is not a guarantee that the car is free from any other defects.

Ignoring the pre-purchase inspection process can be likened to jumping out of an aeroplane without first checking your parachute has been packed correctly.
So ask yourself this question - do you really want to experience a crash landing with subsequent on-going financial pain?

WARNING - Previous owner syndrome is alive and well.
So as to make this point absolutely clear - imagine being financially executed by a Lotus.
You will not be the first or the last victim to suffer from insufficient checks to ensure the vehicle is in a safe and good condition plus maintained correctly.