How important is aircon on an Elise S2?

I've heard conflicting views on the importance of aircon for both daily use and when it comes to resale. I've even heard some people say it's one of the most unreliable parts of an Elise.

I'd appreciate any views... would you buy an Elise without aircon?

Thanks!

depends on intended useage I guess

I had one for 6 years, 2 of which it was an only car, daily driver for 25K miles a year on business

on a hot summers day, stuck in traffic, suit n tie, on the way to a client, I would have killed for aircon

the same when ive been stuck in traffic for an hour in the blazing summer sun on the way to LeMans

however if I was buying again, and it was going to be a weekend car/track toy Id just buy the earliest, lightest Elise I could...its an expensive game trying to make one of the later 900Kg + cars go fast, when youve an extra 200kg to lug around

however, if its your only car, and you do a lot of business miles, Id suggest getting the latest spec car you can with all the latest creature comforts, such as aircon and sound deadening

Everything what Bogie said (he knows his stuff!)

However I think it also depends on what model you are looking at.

If you're getting the 111R or SC then the decision is easier. Additional weight affects 0 - 60's most of all, the 0 - 100 will be less noticeable. But with 190 PS or 220Ps you really won't notice the additional weight.

However if you are going for the 111S (s2) or just the S I'd really save as much weight as possible.

I have a 111S S2 with a few mods and I'm about 100KG lighter than the 111R and SC. I'm also about 20ps less than a 111R but I'll give them a run for their money :-) That's if I can change gear smoothly though....damn gear box is pants compared to the Yota engine...blaghhh!

Mine isn't a daily driver so can be less practical. I run stupid things like a lower ride height, front splitter, sticky tyres, annoying loud exhaust and induction kit but then I only spend the time I want to in mine.

For your daily driver....what he said...as much comfort as possible or you'll soon fall out of love the your liz.

I do not have it and when it is hot prefer to have the roof off. Alough I do have a daily driver with Aircon when I have my suit on.

So agree with the above, depends what you use it for. Personally I think communting in the Elise is waste of time, better to get cheap run around and save the beast for the weekend, your appreciate more that way.

Mine doesnt have aircon, and on a sunny day with the roof off, I'd give my left arm for it, Elise is a real suntrap and temperature can get sky high if you're sitting at lights in the sun.

Still damn good without it all the same.

My 111s S2 is my daily drive and the only car im insured on. I dont have aircon.

Do you need aircon? Err no way is it important, if its hot you have the roof off.

This is the UK after all - unless your going to drive around in the only two hot weeks in the summer with the roof on - theres really no need for it. Even having the windows down would be ok.

Thanks for all the great advice!

Would not buy one without A/C. Drive mine all year round in all conditions,no probs at all,in my mind,the advantages cancel out the extra few kilos.

The Elise was originally concieved without a roof, I treat mine as such, the roof only goes on if it's raining properly. If it's dry or mildly moist roof stays off, a thermal hat, gloves and fleece are all you need. Anything over 50mph you don't get wet anyway.

As a daily driver you could always remove the carpets to save them from getting wet, wet carpets will add a good couple of kilos to the car

Seriously, an elise can be very warm on a hot day, but if you have roof off then aircons not going to function properly anyway. I have used my car as a daily driver in the past, commuting 300miles each way and stuck in traffic it's not ideal for a suit and tie, but I'm not sure what help the aircon would have been as the roof was off. If you need to commute significant distances for formal occassions, my advice would be to dress casual and take the change of clothes with you.

In an elise I really don't think aircon matters, the exige on the other hand makes more sense.

So in summary, if you really want aircon, buy an exige

Regards, Neil

If you're talking K series cars and you limit your search to cars with a/c you'll have a very limited choice.

Having said that, I wanted a/c as - yes the roof should be off, yes, a/c adds a bit of weight and yes it's something else to go wrong but - if I'm out with one of my kids and they get too hot/sunburnt I can put the roof on, turn on the a/c and everybody's happy. That way I get to use the car more as I'm not worrying "what if?..."

The extra weight can't be more than 20/30 kgs? So that'll omly come into play when I'm under hard acceleration or going very fast round a corner. Both far less frequent than the constant sitting in a hot cabin.

If it goes wrong, I guess worst case is the compressor? That must be a Rover / Freelander part. If I don't want to repair it, remove compressor, new alternator belt and plug the pipes.

One of the nice things about a/c is that the a/c switch can be used as a fan overide switch (I normally wire my own, but no need with a/c).

So I say it's nice to have it; the benefits (to me at least) outweight any perceived disadvantages.

Actually I've just installed an insulated alcantara headliner to keep the heat in on cold day and the heat out on warm days.

I'm also thinking that tracking the car can be hard work - hot work in summer - and roof/a/c on might make it a more comfortable experience. Even Lemans racers have a/c these days!