My wife gave me a blank check for new wheelset. When I will set two new wheels one next to another one and add some kind of triangle at the bottom it should look like a heart-shape. Very thoughtful.

Currently I have Shimano RS30 and I don't know any better.

I am 145 lbs, CAAD8, looking for aluminum clincher. Not interested in carbon. Though the check is blank I know that anything over $500 will be heart breaking. But I can add a hundred or two from myself.

I went to LBS and they offered me Mavic Elite for $650, or SL for $1000. They both look nice. But I would prefer Elite to stay within budget. The guy said the mavic wheel have less rolling resistance and it will improve performance. No need for the rim tape and I can replace bearings with better ceramic ones in future. Does it make sense?

Since I do not know any better than RS30, what other wheel comparable to Mavic Elite I should look at?

BTW, nashbar has Elite for $400, but they look nothing like the ones from LBS. -- is it a good deal?

And another question, should the wheels have to be new or eBay used ones are fine too?

With that budget I would get some carbon clinchers. Look for a good deal on ebay or get something like Nuevation. I have gotten a few good deals on new and used wheels on ebay. My latest score is a $1100 used zipp sub9 disc. They are $2000 new. I can't wait for it to get here.

I say go for something custom. Or some other choices can be:
Soul S2.0(depending on your riding you could choose between the 2.0,3.0, and 4.0 wheelsets): https://bikesoul.com/2009/index.php?o...id=2&Itemid=10
November FSW 23: https://www.novemberbicycles.com/fsw-23/
Williams System 19(or 30 depending on your riding): https://williamscycling.com/sys19.html

All are around $500 with the Soul 4.0s being the most expensive at $520
Soul 2.0s are the lightest.
Soul 4.0s are the most aero(depth), but have a high weight.

I don't think he can get carbon clinchers for anywhere near $500

I heartly recommend WH-RS80-C24. Same as Dura ace version except the hub. Jenson has it for about $600 (where I got it from, my local store). You can also get it from e-bay around $550 it seems.
I weight shade over 170lbs, typically bike + me = 200lbs as I commute on these as well. Some bumpy road, etc. Still as true as it was from day 1 after 2500 miles on it (and that was on truing stand when I was doing cleaning last week to adjust... didn't end up doing anything).

The one's at Nashbar are 2010 silver Elites. They come in Silver and black. I'd go with handmade like Williams, Boyd or Soul. I got mine from Handspun and my favorite wheelbuilder and am getting rid of my factory wheels.

Now that I've pushed you in that direction, you could buy my 2010 Mavic Black Elites off of me

Lightweight! FTW!

Seriously, it's my Birthday today. My wife gave me the "gift" of not getting
mad for all of the bike stuff I've had coming in the mail every few days!
[...that and a 40" flat screen for the man-cave in front of the trainer that
she surprised me bless her heart!]

Now, back on-topic, the Elites are damn hard to beat for that money.
I have a set or 2011's that I gladly paid $600. for last year and have no regrets whatsoever.
The difference between Elite & SL is that the SL's have some carbon in their hubs to keep
weight lower and spoke material (Elites have stainless steel/SL alloy).
Both have identical rims. Weight-wise, about 80g separate the two.

The Nashbar Elites will most likely be 2009-10's. Main difference are graphics.

I recently bought a set of Shimano WH-RS80-24 from Ribble @ $400.00 plus shipping. If you are going for pre-made boutique wheels, I'm sure you can get more for your money by purchasing on-line, out of the USA.

1-800-Call Psimet

I wanted a set of RS80's when upgrading but couldn't find any in the range I was willing to spend so I went with Kyrsium Elites and they have been bulletproof ever since. My LBS made me a great deal so it might be worth asking for a discount if that's where you got your bike from.

I thought that too. I got my Ksyriums for $600./flat installed.
I gladly sprung for the MP3 2 Year Extended Warranty for another $50.