Ok, so its a different stable, but I parked by Z4M next to a new model Elise today as he was leaving, and the sound and look of the thing was just sex.. they do look like mini supercars in a way the M doesn't. Taking out the variables of creature comforts etc, what are your opinions on driving experience between Z4M and elise and if you had to change your M for an Elise, which model Elise would it be?
Z4M compared to newer Lotus Elise/Exige
- Thread starter alexman
- Start date
I sat and drove in my colleague's Élise and my back still hurts. It's a lot of fun to drive however. It's a go-kart. My colleague has actually sold it because it was destroying his back too. Those seats are fiberglass and barely any leather and there is nothing really that would fit in there to replace them to improve comfort. So, no I would not trace a Z4M for an Élise. I agree however that on looks and sound it's very sweet. 
I have looked at buying an Elise or Exige on a couple of occasions. Bloody awkward for those of advancing years to get in and out of, low on creature comforts but excellent cars to drive. Bit of a one trick pony really.
Z4M is a different beast, lairy, cultured, mean, GT cruiser, and classy well eqipped roadster or coupe. Wouldn't swap as a like for like but if I decided to buy a weekend only car then a basic Elise would fit the bill nicely.
Z4M is a different beast, lairy, cultured, mean, GT cruiser, and classy well eqipped roadster or coupe. Wouldn't swap as a like for like but if I decided to buy a weekend only car then a basic Elise would fit the bill nicely.
I owned an elise 2 135r and it was a great car with heaps of character but mate your Z4 is the better car. I drove it from nottingham to aberdeen and back on a number of occasions. It went well but the noise is bad and its hard work. Was great to scoot about in but i dont think id trade my Z4 for one.
This was a real life choice for me recently. It was either the Z4M or the Elise. I'm a long term fan of Chapman's philosophy - just not the practicality, and that's what won out. That and real life performance. The elise is balistic up to reasonable speeds, and then the guts give way. The M will just keep on going.
Hi Guys
Im in my fifth month of owning the z4mc... traded in my s2 elise which was an everyday car for 4.5 years (i only have a 3 mile commute). Whilst i appreciate the relative refinement of the z, i miss the level of engagement in the drive that the s2 offered.
The handling and feedback the s2 provided on A roads and twistys make the z4mc feel more than a little wallowy and i dont think i will ever get near the confidence levels i had when attacking corners in the elise. Admittedly the s2 suffered from understeer but nowhere near the levels with the z. Maybe i need to get the z on the track to fully appreciate it ?? Would anyone know of a training day that they would reccommend to get the most out of the z ?
My biggest complaint with the z is the difficulty getting the power down smoothly in first and second, a common complaint from what i have read... Is it worth removing the CDV ??? What difference does it make ? How easy is it to do?
Maybe not the place to admit this but i wonder if i should have test driven a Cayman S, apparently the balance is a lot smoother/better??? That said though i didnt want a porsche, i like the look of the z and the fact its rare. The value for money in my opinion is fantastic and i just wouldnt have got the same level of kit for the money. It also appears that resale value is improving at the moment (but that also happened with the s2 before i got rid).
Its not all negatives with the z though, it just eats up the motorway miles, has a great engine and sounds fantastic. The build quality makes the elise feels like a tin can (although that was part of the elise charm) and the z4 is far more of an all season drive..........Oh, and one last thing, my girlfriend actually likes this car !
One final observation i thought id make.. It appears that your average Joe driver prefers the elise. People used to move over on the motorway/a roads for the elise whereas now (even though i have 182 more horses) they will not budge. I have also noticed that other drivers are just generally more agressive toward the z, expecting to be let out, pushing through gaps etc.
In summary, the jury is out .. i would definitely get an elise again (as a weekend drive) but wonder if ill grow to love the z enough to keep it for 4.5 years or longer
Im in my fifth month of owning the z4mc... traded in my s2 elise which was an everyday car for 4.5 years (i only have a 3 mile commute). Whilst i appreciate the relative refinement of the z, i miss the level of engagement in the drive that the s2 offered.
The handling and feedback the s2 provided on A roads and twistys make the z4mc feel more than a little wallowy and i dont think i will ever get near the confidence levels i had when attacking corners in the elise. Admittedly the s2 suffered from understeer but nowhere near the levels with the z. Maybe i need to get the z on the track to fully appreciate it ?? Would anyone know of a training day that they would reccommend to get the most out of the z ?
My biggest complaint with the z is the difficulty getting the power down smoothly in first and second, a common complaint from what i have read... Is it worth removing the CDV ??? What difference does it make ? How easy is it to do?
Maybe not the place to admit this but i wonder if i should have test driven a Cayman S, apparently the balance is a lot smoother/better??? That said though i didnt want a porsche, i like the look of the z and the fact its rare. The value for money in my opinion is fantastic and i just wouldnt have got the same level of kit for the money. It also appears that resale value is improving at the moment (but that also happened with the s2 before i got rid).
Its not all negatives with the z though, it just eats up the motorway miles, has a great engine and sounds fantastic. The build quality makes the elise feels like a tin can (although that was part of the elise charm) and the z4 is far more of an all season drive..........Oh, and one last thing, my girlfriend actually likes this car !
One final observation i thought id make.. It appears that your average Joe driver prefers the elise. People used to move over on the motorway/a roads for the elise whereas now (even though i have 182 more horses) they will not budge. I have also noticed that other drivers are just generally more agressive toward the z, expecting to be let out, pushing through gaps etc.
In summary, the jury is out .. i would definitely get an elise again (as a weekend drive) but wonder if ill grow to love the z enough to keep it for 4.5 years or longer
my 2p having just sold my Mk 1 Elise (111S model) which I owned as my daily driver for 4yrs, the longest I have ever owned a car!
Have to echo snowfish's comments regarding driver feedback on the elise. I know the 'M' has hydraulic assited steering but driver feedback relative to the elise is poor. The elise inspired confidence because you knew through the wheel and brake pedal (and yer bum!) where the limits of adhesion were. That combined with the fact a mk1 elise is half the weight of a z4 meant the elise was a far superior (and fun!) driving experience on a 'B' road compared to the Z.
On a recent such B road blast in the M which i frequented in the Elise, i arrived at my destination unruffled and notibly less excited and satisfied than i would of been if I had driven the elise.
Other plus points for the elise were 35+mpg, cheap to run (unless something breaks - which will happen eventually), and generally well liked by public and other motorists.
That said the practicalities of elise ownership dont compare to that of the Z4... entry/exit, boot space and all the other things drivers of 'normal cars' take for granted. Where the Z4 excels is straight-line pace, driving comfort and noise (ive got a gruppem and supersprint!
. Owning a Z also now opens up the posibilities of pan-europe hoons that I have shied away from in the past due to the Elise being uncomfortable on long motorway drives.
Im not knocking the Z4M. Its horses for courses... if you want sheer raw driving exhilleration and fun, then an elise is your ticket.
I switched to the Z4MC as, alas after 4yrs of elise ownership i was looking for something a bit more practical, but still hauled ass, was devastatingly pretty to look at, and exclusive enough that I could go for a week without seeing another one on the road.
Have to echo snowfish's comments regarding driver feedback on the elise. I know the 'M' has hydraulic assited steering but driver feedback relative to the elise is poor. The elise inspired confidence because you knew through the wheel and brake pedal (and yer bum!) where the limits of adhesion were. That combined with the fact a mk1 elise is half the weight of a z4 meant the elise was a far superior (and fun!) driving experience on a 'B' road compared to the Z.
On a recent such B road blast in the M which i frequented in the Elise, i arrived at my destination unruffled and notibly less excited and satisfied than i would of been if I had driven the elise.
Other plus points for the elise were 35+mpg, cheap to run (unless something breaks - which will happen eventually), and generally well liked by public and other motorists.
That said the practicalities of elise ownership dont compare to that of the Z4... entry/exit, boot space and all the other things drivers of 'normal cars' take for granted. Where the Z4 excels is straight-line pace, driving comfort and noise (ive got a gruppem and supersprint!
. Owning a Z also now opens up the posibilities of pan-europe hoons that I have shied away from in the past due to the Elise being uncomfortable on long motorway drives.Im not knocking the Z4M. Its horses for courses... if you want sheer raw driving exhilleration and fun, then an elise is your ticket.
I switched to the Z4MC as, alas after 4yrs of elise ownership i was looking for something a bit more practical, but still hauled ass, was devastatingly pretty to look at, and exclusive enough that I could go for a week without seeing another one on the road.
I'm another elise(well vx220) refugee. A direct comparison with the z4 is impossible really as they are at almost opposite ends of the sports car spectrum. I could never have used mine as a daily driver specially in winter they are a ridiculous proposition being virtually impossible to heat.
But..... For all their shortcomings the lotus family will deliver the best driving experiences you will ever have and everyone should own one once just so you can see what perfect handling is like. I've had two now and will be getting another one after I've had my fun in the z4.
But..... For all their shortcomings the lotus family will deliver the best driving experiences you will ever have and everyone should own one once just so you can see what perfect handling is like. I've had two now and will be getting another one after I've had my fun in the z4.
Liverpool
daz05 said:
It does sound nice and raspy - especially considering you've only got about 3 feet of exhaust from the manifold to the exits
I wonder what the Z4MC would sound like with that short a system on? BTW, I've already had an e34 M5 with no cats or silencers and it's fun for about half an hour
Yup, can't compare the two really.
I've owned a S1 Elise, S2 Elise, S2 Exige and a 340R. Now have the Z4M for "something different", a bit of comfort with speed.
Would love to try tracking the Z4MC but fear it would end up in a spinning mess.....so I've got a S1 Elise to track instead.
When I first got the Z I thought I had made a mistake but really starting to enjoy it.
I've owned a S1 Elise, S2 Elise, S2 Exige and a 340R. Now have the Z4M for "something different", a bit of comfort with speed.
Would love to try tracking the Z4MC but fear it would end up in a spinning mess.....so I've got a S1 Elise to track instead.
When I first got the Z I thought I had made a mistake but really starting to enjoy it.
daz05 said:
Another ex ex elise s1 driver here
i really loved my lotus's keep going back to them they cant be beaten on driver envolvment used as a daily driver as well winter and summer the only thing is they brought out the hooligan in me as for sound i had a full larini system sounded great even for a 4 cyl 
a couple of mates of mine have honda type r supercharged motors in their elises now they sound nice.I cant comment aginst a z4m as i have never been in one would'nt mind ago though :wink: To be honest if i had the money i would have both or if i had a choice an exige mk1 anyday
new to owning my z4mc - give me a year and i'll prob have made a few changes to it (brakes, intake - maybe exhausts) however i think the only lotus that i would swap for the z4m is the new evora - i saw one at the melb motor show and its gorgous (each to their own )
http://www.lotuscars.com.au/#/evora/
)http://www.lotuscars.com.au/#/evora/
I test drove a couple of Elise's (a 56 plate Sportracer and a 57 plate R both 189bhp Toyota engined) before i bought the Z4M, tbh i didnt think that much of them. Handling was obviously great, very cocooned feeling when in the cockpit, obviously an art to getting in and out and i think they look pretty cool.
I did feel that they werent really that quick though (i used to have a Civic Type R so can appreciate the car needing the revs) so perhaps would be better with an S but this was just out of my price range. Also the 2yr warranty cover from new, very poor storage space (couldnt even go to Asda in it if needing more than a couple of bags!) and quite bad/loose/vague feeling gearbox (worse than the M with the CDV!) put me off plus when spending £20k+ it didnt feel like i was getting much for my money compared to the M.
I think the M was the best compromise between "normal" car and Elise/Exige.
I did feel that they werent really that quick though (i used to have a Civic Type R so can appreciate the car needing the revs) so perhaps would be better with an S but this was just out of my price range. Also the 2yr warranty cover from new, very poor storage space (couldnt even go to Asda in it if needing more than a couple of bags!) and quite bad/loose/vague feeling gearbox (worse than the M with the CDV!) put me off plus when spending £20k+ it didnt feel like i was getting much for my money compared to the M.
I think the M was the best compromise between "normal" car and Elise/Exige.
I have both :lol: Like chalk and chesse - supercharged Elise for the track and it's a pretty good road car, but not for long journeys. Z4M is a comfortable cruiser that also works pretty well in the twisties If i could only afford one it'd be a difficult choice but I'd probably go for the Z- just 'cos I like to travel in comfort (old git here)
If i could only afford one it'd be a difficult choice but I'd probably go for the Z- just 'cos I like to travel in comfort (old git here)Having had a Exige S2 190 and then a Exige S2 250, before selling and buying my Z4MC I would say that all thought the Exiges are great at what they do on the track, the Z4 is a fantastic compromise as it offers the speed and comfort aswell as the grin factor. I am a regular ring gower and find the Z4 so much more rewarding for both the long drive down and also feel that it has the better top end where the lotus would struggle at speeds past 120. The Lotus will always win on the twisty stuff but the Z4 has more all round to offer in my opinion.