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Lotus Elise SC yea or nay
- scootr
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1521
- Joined: Mon Sep 16, 2019 11:27 am
- Location: USA
Lotus Elise SC yea or nay
I have a chance to acquire a 2008 Lotus Elise SC.
What say the group yea or nay to this little car?
What say the group yea or nay to this little car?
E89 3.0L 6 MT gone
Michelin P4s
Bilstein struts & shocks
Luxon tower brace
Michelin P4s
Bilstein struts & shocks
Luxon tower brace
- Smartbear
- Lifer
- Posts: 13685
- Joined: Wed Feb 05, 2014 6:54 pm
- Location: a barn in Somerset
Lotus Elise SC yea or nay
More fun than a box of frogs, a Lotus Elise really does feel special (once you’ve managed to climb into it)
A bare boned white knuckle ride, par excellence. With a tiny boot Rob
e89 Sdrive 20i, plenty of mumbo & good economy-the thinking bears z4
e89 Sdrive 30i, this ones busted, pass me another...
e85 3.0si sold
- oldgitdave
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1505
- Joined: Sun Jul 30, 2017 8:47 pm
- Location: Derbyshire
Lotus Elise SC yea or nay
Great little car & superb handling . I had the chance to slam one around the Donington race track . It was actually a present to drive a Ferrari & they built you up by driving a Proton GTI (yes I know ), then the Elise & finally the Ferrari. The Elise was by far the most fun tbh, though getting into it does require some bendability as Smartbear says . And all the better for the Toyota engine over the Rover K Series.
Zedless
- BMWZ4MC
- Lifer
- Posts: 6337
- Joined: Sun Sep 13, 2009 4:24 pm
- Location: Back in the sunshine
Lotus Elise SC yea or nay
I went on a supercar track day like that and drove half a dozen cars ranging from a 911 turbo, through to 360 via an Elise. The Elise was by far the most fun and I was easily lapping nervous drivers in all of the other cars
I’ve a hankering for a V6 Exige 350 and nearly bought one a couple of months ago until the Corona virus got in the way...
I’ve a hankering for a V6 Exige 350 and nearly bought one a couple of months ago until the Corona virus got in the way...
Z4MC - heavily fettled for track use
Lotus Exige - sensible daily driver on the mods slippery slope
Westfield SEiW - in hibernation
Modified RS4 Avant - back in Blighty
S2000 GT - gone
- scootr
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1521
- Joined: Mon Sep 16, 2019 11:27 am
- Location: USA
Lotus Elise SC yea or nay
It sounds like everything I'm reading about it being an ultimate driver's car is true. Lightweight, mid engine, direct steering.
My concern is how raw is it... I'm sure I can ( workout until) I can get in and out but my old bones may not tolerate it if it is jarring at every crack in the road.
What Year/model is that one you have Rob?
My concern is how raw is it... I'm sure I can ( workout until) I can get in and out but my old bones may not tolerate it if it is jarring at every crack in the road.
What Year/model is that one you have Rob?
E89 3.0L 6 MT gone
Michelin P4s
Bilstein struts & shocks
Luxon tower brace
Michelin P4s
Bilstein struts & shocks
Luxon tower brace
- buzyg
- Legend
- Posts: 26421
- Joined: Fri May 20, 2011 6:11 pm
- Location: Cornwall
- scootr
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1521
- Joined: Mon Sep 16, 2019 11:27 am
- Location: USA
Lotus Elise SC yea or nay
Ugh, it's bidding too high Alas
E89 3.0L 6 MT gone
Michelin P4s
Bilstein struts & shocks
Luxon tower brace
Michelin P4s
Bilstein struts & shocks
Luxon tower brace
-
- Member
- Posts: 432
- Joined: Wed Jun 05, 2019 7:48 pm
Lotus Elise SC yea or nay
I have recently noticed a couple of these on my keyworker travels and must admit I am tempted but as I am 6ft 4inches tall I doubt whether I could get in one, getting in and out of an E89 is bad enough
VW Golf GTI Edition 35
Previous E89 18i manual Msport LCI, remapped, 282 bhp 453nm torque, Supersprint exhaust, decatted, stubby, BMW Performance Big Brake Kit, Msport rear valance and diffuser, Inovit 19inch Vector alloys, Msport black grilles.
Previous E89 18i manual Msport LCI, remapped, 282 bhp 453nm torque, Supersprint exhaust, decatted, stubby, BMW Performance Big Brake Kit, Msport rear valance and diffuser, Inovit 19inch Vector alloys, Msport black grilles.
- Smartbear
- Lifer
- Posts: 13685
- Joined: Wed Feb 05, 2014 6:54 pm
- Location: a barn in Somerset
Lotus Elise SC yea or nay
Mine was a 2006 elise S with the Toyota 1zz engine (variable valve timing) the R versions used the 2zz engine (variable valve timing & lift) which can rev to around 9kscootr wrote: ↑Mon May 25, 2020 12:05 am It sounds like everything I'm reading about it being an ultimate driver's car is true. Lightweight, mid engine, direct steering.
My concern is how raw is it... I'm sure I can ( workout until) I can get in and out but my old bones may not tolerate it if it is jarring at every crack in the road.
What Year/model is that one you have Rob?
Owned mine for around 3 years, daily driver for 2 years but then i caved in & bought another car to drive to work.
They’re actually less crashy over bumps than my e85 with sport suspension was, super lightweight at around 850kg (earlier models lighter, later models heavier) so the suspension is surprisingly supple.
Handling is fantastic with probably the best steering feel of any car, can bite if you’re clumsy with it (lift off oversteer)
I spun mine twice in the wet
They can sound tizzy & buzzy due to the aluminium tub chassis having acoustic properties over bumpy roads
Clouting a curb badly can write them off as the double wishbone suspension is mounted directly to the chassis with no “bolt on” section to replace if it’s damaged. I missed the curbs when i span mine
Definitely a car i was proud to own
https://youtu.be/CxflDjfBdoI
Rob
e89 Sdrive 20i, plenty of mumbo & good economy-the thinking bears z4
e89 Sdrive 30i, this ones busted, pass me another...
e85 3.0si sold
Lotus Elise SC yea or nay
You little debil!Smartbear wrote: ↑Mon May 25, 2020 8:14 amMine was a 2006 elise S with the Toyota 1zz engine (variable valve timing) the R versions used the 2zz engine (variable valve timing & lift) which can rev to around 9kscootr wrote: ↑Mon May 25, 2020 12:05 am It sounds like everything I'm reading about it being an ultimate driver's car is true. Lightweight, mid engine, direct steering.
My concern is how raw is it... I'm sure I can ( workout until) I can get in and out but my old bones may not tolerate it if it is jarring at every crack in the road.
What Year/model is that one you have Rob?
Owned mine for around 3 years, daily driver for 2 years but then i caved in & bought another car to drive to work.
They’re actually less crashy over bumps than my e85 with sport suspension was, super lightweight at around 850kg (earlier models lighter, later models heavier) so the suspension is surprisingly supple.
Handling is fantastic with probably the best steering feel of any car, can bite if you’re clumsy with it (lift off oversteer)
I spun mine twice in the wet
They can sound tizzy & buzzy due to the aluminium tub chassis having acoustic properties over bumpy roads
Clouting a curb badly can write them off as the double wishbone suspension is mounted directly to the chassis with no “bolt on” section to replace if it’s damaged. I missed the curbs when i span mine
Definitely a car i was proud to own
https://youtu.be/CxflDjfBdoI
1D513317-2A48-44F2-B933-CD10E64E32EF.jpeg
Rob
- kinger
- Member
- Posts: 360
- Joined: Sun Oct 23, 2016 12:33 pm
Lotus Elise SC yea or nay
Great cars,,Love 'em,, hard to get in, and anyone under 25 looks like a muppet trying to get out of one
Current - E89 35is Saphire Black
Previous- E89 35i Space Grey
- MrPT
- Lifer
- Posts: 4745
- Joined: Sun Oct 21, 2012 7:44 pm
- Location: Bucks/Oxon
Lotus Elise SC yea or nay
I love them too. Was driven to the Evo triangle and handed the keys to a friend’s S3 as a kick-off to my stag do a few years ago - what a combo of car and road!
The S1 is looking really good at the moment, I think. Even £27k for this 6k mile pastiche doesn’t seem too ridiculous an asking price -
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified ... 8070894555
The S1 is looking really good at the moment, I think. Even £27k for this 6k mile pastiche doesn’t seem too ridiculous an asking price -
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified ... 8070894555
Last edited by MrPT on Mon May 25, 2020 1:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.
2008 Z4MC: heavy wheels | crap suspension | skittish rear end | wobbly engine | not enough induction noise | underwhelming turn in | inconsistent braking | lardy battery | chubby steering wheel
2006 Z4 2.5si: gone
2006 Z4 2.5si: gone
- scootr
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1521
- Joined: Mon Sep 16, 2019 11:27 am
- Location: USA
Lotus Elise SC yea or nay
There is no doubt in mind this would just be a real kick in the pants to drive.
The 2008 SC I was looking at bid up over 30K usd. She is a beauty though here > https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2008- ... lise-sc-5/
5 hours left to go........You may want to see what it actually sells for.
The 2008 SC I was looking at bid up over 30K usd. She is a beauty though here > https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2008- ... lise-sc-5/
5 hours left to go........You may want to see what it actually sells for.
E89 3.0L 6 MT gone
Michelin P4s
Bilstein struts & shocks
Luxon tower brace
Michelin P4s
Bilstein struts & shocks
Luxon tower brace
-
- Member
- Posts: 640
- Joined: Sun Aug 05, 2018 12:14 pm
- Location: Hershey, PA USA
Lotus Elise SC yea or nay
Beautiful car. Go for it if you can get a decent price and the condition is good. I've been looking here in the states, but prices are too high considering the age and mileage. I'm currently looking out for an Alfa Romeo 4c. Resale is terrible, so great deals here in the states.
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- Member
- Posts: 640
- Joined: Sun Aug 05, 2018 12:14 pm
- Location: Hershey, PA USA
Lotus Elise SC yea or nay
This is a great video of things to check out when buying an Elise.
https://www.google.com/search?q=thing+t ... e&ie=UTF-8#
https://www.google.com/search?q=thing+t ... e&ie=UTF-8#