Elise
- Thread starter Smartbear
- Start date
I had one very similar, kitted out with a 111S Diffuser, Tigger Splitter, HID's, Hurricane induction, quick shift kit, remote stat, a Larini Clubsport box and a few other bits. I wish I had kept it. It was an early S2 and still lightweight (before AC and the comfort pack etc was fitted) and fun. It was also rapid! Also had a modified S1 I lost in a fire 
Compared to the Z4.
Drive: It feels faster, having such low weight, it really shifts off the line, once you get to 80 odd though you can feel the engine running out a bit. 100+ and you notice it. But keep it where you want it to be and it punches well above it's weight (forgive the terrible pun) against cars with a lot more power. Over 80 and the Z4 is a better place to be all round, the extra power is just there, no down shifting etc.
Handling wise, stick some S1 geo on it and the handling will outclass the Z4 any day long. It will take a very, very good driver to keep with you in a Z4. I had Yoko's on my S1 and S2 and I never found the limit on the car, tyres got hot and sticky on SELOC days out, but never did the car not feel stuck to the road, and I mean STUCK. Unless you are in a Caterfield or above, the Elise is just pure mechanical grip personified. Overstep that though and they are prone to snap oversteer. The Z is much more progressive and the added weight helps with the predictability. I went from my Elise in to my Griffith and it was like going from a scalpel to a Bowie knife, this is what going from the Griffith to the Z is like. Everything the Elise does is instant, due to the light weight and stiffness.
Comfort is where my Elise was lacking. The S2 seats (I didn't have Probax) got very uncomfortable after a couple of hours at the most. The sound system was.. better than the S1 and both got very fatiguing due to the drone at motorway speeds.
Getting in and out of them, especially the S1, was a massive PITA. Though the roof got better, it was always a pain. But due to the driving position and cockpit, you always felt special in the Elise. In the Z, I sometimes get the feeling I am just in another BMW. But the Elise is very crashy, stiff suspension combined with, light weight and the ali tub, touring is great possible, but again can be fatiguing. Especially when you are wringing the engine. The Z you can just cruise.
My Z4 is actually the worst car I've had for reliability so I can't comment on it compared to the Elise. The Z4 lights are awful, the Elise was similar but still better. The Z4 wipers and heating are good, the heated seats great. The Elise was still very, very cold and I had a collection of cloths inside for demisting until the engine came up to temp and most of the moisture was gone. I'm sure the later ones are much better, but add in weight for AC etc.
The Elise being light was easy on consumables, but suspension was/is considered a consumable, coliovers lasted around 20-30k ish. Economy was actually worse than the Z on a run, maybe a bit better in town.
Living with the car day to day: (reliability aside). you can fit a fair amount in an Elise boot, small bags are the key, not big cases. I used it as a daily, instead of my TVR. It does come with the fear of GRP, someone hits it hard enough and the clamshell will be a write off, which is very expensive. I would say the Z4 is easier day to day.
Would I have one again? Yes definitely! Another S1 or S2, not the S3 which IMHO looks awful. Would I miss the Z, on the cold rainy days, definitely.
I have considered an Alfa 4C recently, but that is a pipe dream as a house is more important.
Compared to the Z4.
Drive: It feels faster, having such low weight, it really shifts off the line, once you get to 80 odd though you can feel the engine running out a bit. 100+ and you notice it. But keep it where you want it to be and it punches well above it's weight (forgive the terrible pun) against cars with a lot more power. Over 80 and the Z4 is a better place to be all round, the extra power is just there, no down shifting etc.
Handling wise, stick some S1 geo on it and the handling will outclass the Z4 any day long. It will take a very, very good driver to keep with you in a Z4. I had Yoko's on my S1 and S2 and I never found the limit on the car, tyres got hot and sticky on SELOC days out, but never did the car not feel stuck to the road, and I mean STUCK. Unless you are in a Caterfield or above, the Elise is just pure mechanical grip personified. Overstep that though and they are prone to snap oversteer. The Z is much more progressive and the added weight helps with the predictability. I went from my Elise in to my Griffith and it was like going from a scalpel to a Bowie knife, this is what going from the Griffith to the Z is like. Everything the Elise does is instant, due to the light weight and stiffness.
Comfort is where my Elise was lacking. The S2 seats (I didn't have Probax) got very uncomfortable after a couple of hours at the most. The sound system was.. better than the S1 and both got very fatiguing due to the drone at motorway speeds.
Getting in and out of them, especially the S1, was a massive PITA. Though the roof got better, it was always a pain. But due to the driving position and cockpit, you always felt special in the Elise. In the Z, I sometimes get the feeling I am just in another BMW. But the Elise is very crashy, stiff suspension combined with, light weight and the ali tub, touring is great possible, but again can be fatiguing. Especially when you are wringing the engine. The Z you can just cruise.
My Z4 is actually the worst car I've had for reliability so I can't comment on it compared to the Elise. The Z4 lights are awful, the Elise was similar but still better. The Z4 wipers and heating are good, the heated seats great. The Elise was still very, very cold and I had a collection of cloths inside for demisting until the engine came up to temp and most of the moisture was gone. I'm sure the later ones are much better, but add in weight for AC etc.
The Elise being light was easy on consumables, but suspension was/is considered a consumable, coliovers lasted around 20-30k ish. Economy was actually worse than the Z on a run, maybe a bit better in town.
Living with the car day to day: (reliability aside). you can fit a fair amount in an Elise boot, small bags are the key, not big cases. I used it as a daily, instead of my TVR. It does come with the fear of GRP, someone hits it hard enough and the clamshell will be a write off, which is very expensive. I would say the Z4 is easier day to day.
Would I have one again? Yes definitely! Another S1 or S2, not the S3 which IMHO looks awful. Would I miss the Z, on the cold rainy days, definitely.
I have considered an Alfa 4C recently, but that is a pipe dream as a house is more important.
I've had 2 of these...hopefully I can upload the pics.
Yellow 1(Buttercup) was a mechanically standard 111r
Blue 1 (Bluebell) was an extensively modified 111r........road orientated track car but the loss of the boot space to a massive intercooler meant it had to go...........and I was fearing for my license and by association livlihood.
Glad I had the experience,not sure if I'd go back but that's no reflection on the Lotus brand.
Following on from a previous post I found the standard elise seats very comfortable,Buttercup was a 54 plate and Bluebell had a pair of Probax seats which I couldn't get overly excited about.....possibly needed spacers under the runners to get the angle right for me,not sure but would've been disappointed if I'd specced them as they're quite pricey.
If you feel the need,then go for it,bought wisely you'll lose no money.
Yellow 1(Buttercup) was a mechanically standard 111r
Blue 1 (Bluebell) was an extensively modified 111r........road orientated track car but the loss of the boot space to a massive intercooler meant it had to go...........and I was fearing for my license and by association livlihood.
Glad I had the experience,not sure if I'd go back but that's no reflection on the Lotus brand.
Following on from a previous post I found the standard elise seats very comfortable,Buttercup was a 54 plate and Bluebell had a pair of Probax seats which I couldn't get overly excited about.....possibly needed spacers under the runners to get the angle right for me,not sure but would've been disappointed if I'd specced them as they're quite pricey.
If you feel the need,then go for it,bought wisely you'll lose no money.
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gov said:Would love an Elise - problem for me unfortunately is my size - 6'7" - just too big
Loved my old Elan - drove like a go kart - was surprisingly big inside - and a real headturner
Nice. Rare too, can't remember the last time I saw one in the metal
sars said:
I am tempted by another lotus, not an Elise though-I'm more keen on a caterham 7 based on the idea that if im going to make sacrifices with regards to comfort/noise etc then I may as well go the whole hog & completely immerse myself :lol:
Probably not until I retire & can build one for a hobby
Rob
I had a Toyota powered S model & it was ok in standard guise, I then ruined everything by fitting a Toyota racing developments (TRD) airbox & a lotus stage one exhaust-it sounded fantastic for ten minutes then caused a migraine :roll:
On a hot day you could feel the heat seeping into the cabin as well, air-con is frowned upon in lotus circles as it weighs too much and breaks all the time anyway
If you need to access the under "bonnet" area it's a monumental pain in the rear & takes 2 days to dismantle and rebuild....
I had to change my resistor pack due to loss of interior fan speeds, lotus placed it in the most awkward place possible which is often underwater with the following effect :x
On a hot day you could feel the heat seeping into the cabin as well, air-con is frowned upon in lotus circles as it weighs too much and breaks all the time anyway
If you need to access the under "bonnet" area it's a monumental pain in the rear & takes 2 days to dismantle and rebuild....
I had to change my resistor pack due to loss of interior fan speeds, lotus placed it in the most awkward place possible which is often underwater with the following effect :x
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Honestly,try 1 for size and get a test drive if possible,you might be pleasantly surprised.I'm 6'3" with 34" inside leg!! .....and elise was very comfortable,definate technique to getting in and out especially with the roof on though.
TRD airbox on my supercharged elise was fabulous,so addictive and fine unless above 4K
TRD airbox on my supercharged elise was fabulous,so addictive and fine unless above 4K
agreed on the resistor pack Smartbear,total pain if it needs changed as it's not an expensive part but load of labour if fitted at main dealer.Front clam is shimmed to fit correctly and fixings can be difficult to remove.........as you know judging by your pics,braver than me,don't think I'd attempt the clam removal at home.....kudos
