Thinking of an Elise. Am i mad?

[Chris71]

a311 said:

Captain Muppet said:

Mine was worth about £7k when I bought it. It's now worth about £7k. I've had a free Elise for 5 years...

This fact would also appeal to me. If you can get away with the 2 seats and storage if it's your only car or it's a toy there can't be many better option. Personally overlooking the badge, I don't like the styling of the VX but horses for courses.....

Can't see S1 Elises going down much further. It might not be too long before the really nice ones even start to go up.

Living with a sports car like that day-to-day can be a bit of a shock if you've come from a hatch, but you get used to it.

With regards insurance, try 'modern classic' policies (contrary to popular belief some will do commuting and things like that...) Some will have a minimum age of 30, but some will probably do your age group, particularly if you turn 25 during the policy. If they will cover you, you'll probably be amazed how cheap it is - I'm not that much older than you and my TVR (similar risk...) is half the premium of my Rover 75 diesel...

[jimmyVX]

I used my previous VX220 Turbo as my daily driver for 2 years. Its a bit more refined than an S1 Elise and with a much better roof. All Elise/VX models can leak but with some adjustment to the windows they can be sorted. If you can live without 4 seats and a small boot (boot tetris is a real art) then go for it!

[phey708]

Very tempted to get one now

I already drive a sports car but it drinks fuel for fun and I've got bored of the speed, so I want to try something that's faster but at the same time uses less fuel, which is why I was looking at the S1.

Also did a quick run on Money Supermarket for a rough estimate for insurance and cheapest came in at 1,050 (comprehensive 5 years NCD), but I'm sure I can get it cheaper than that if I ask around. I might as well have something fun whilst I'm young!

And as the other chap mentioned before, the value seems to be staying the same or going up! Must be because they are so lightweight and fast at the same time? I also looked at the VX220 but I just can't seem to connect to it. I like the curves and styling of the Elise rather than the boxy look of the VX.

[Red Firecracker]

phey708 said:

Must be because they are so lightweight and fast at the same time?

I wouldn't say they are 'fast' as such, certainly not in overall top speed terms (and the propensity to get a bit light at the front tends to make me err on the side of caution). However, fast though the twisties is a different thing, and boy are they that. The feedback through the whole car is what makes it for me, it tells me things that a more modern, insulated car never can. I can enjoy a drive in the Elise without having to get to excessive speeds, the challenge being more smooth progress.

[CSK423]

I ran a S1 B&C super 140 for circa 5years 18k miles to 38k miles ?? weekends away, weekly shopping trips, daily commute etc. no problem.

Calypso red with gold technomagnesio wheels

Fuel consumption was good, 1.8 k series engine, it was a 1997 model.

They always have niggling faults some more serious than others but here's my list.....

2 radiators (plastic end caps pop)
Head Gasket Failure (Gasket only no skimming required)
ARB's (wear and tear)
2 x shocks failed (OEM common fault they leak)
Steering rack failed (OEM common fault, too much play in the rack or the column)
Roof leaked sometimes, a knack to fitting it tight.

Despite all of the above, it was a brilliant machine and the only thing I regret is selling it ! It go to the point it was dead money sititng on the drive doing 1k miles or so in its last year.

Anything else let me know

[Robert Elise]

these are proper enthusiasts cars. you'll have great memories (no matter what happens!).
You can't say that about a lot of heated up euro boxes.
Your life is not complete without having owned such a car. I'll put TVR, Noble, Air cooled and some M cars in that list.
Nike.

[crispyshark]

Robert Elise said:

these are proper enthusiasts cars. you'll have great memories (no matter what happens!).
You can't say that about a lot of heated up euro boxes.
Your life is not complete without having owned such a car. I'll put TVR, Noble, Air cooled and some M cars in that list.
Nike.

I'm with this guy although i'd add a something with a V-Tec (Yo) engine aswell.

Do it while you're still young and care free....hell, keep the car even when you're not!

[robsa]

eltax91 said:

My mate is running an S2. The one with the Supercharged Toyota engine. He says he is averaging 30mpg, and it's a toy, so he drives it hard.

Really? A hard driven supercharge Elise still returns an average of 30mpg?! If that is accurate it is astonishing.

[rob.e]

do it.

before you know it you'll be old and fat and married with kids and skint. best get in this sort of thing while you can.

[Motorrad]

billzeebub said:

Colleague at work uses a 2006 model as a daily, all weathers. He is well over 6ft and loves it ..so go for it would be my opinion. Life's too short not to, when you can. Very light cars, so when not going for it the economy is very respectable

I'm six foot four and getting in and out of one is a pain-literally.

[danp]

mk3 mr2?

80% of the elise experience for 25% of the price, and i'd imagine a lot less niggles as a daily (plus it's a full convertible)

(yes i am biased, but hope to have an elise in the stable one day!)

[danp]

mk3 mr2?

80% of the elise experience for 25% of the price, and i'd imagine a lot less niggles as a daily (plus it's a full convertible)

(yes i am biased, but hope to have an elise in the stable one day!)

[TVR1]

Possibly the single worst choice I ever made was to sell LouLou. A wonderful car. Series 2. Seriously looking at them again now. God I miss that car. LG52 BYX if anyone knows her.

[rasg]

If you go for an S1 and you are over 5ft 7" take up yoga a few months before you buy it. With the roof off you can just climb over. With it on yoga is the thing.

Had one when they first came out and went clubbing one night with a mate who was 22 stone. One of the bouncers told me it was the funniest thing he'd seen in a long while.

[andySC]

I had an Elise SC for 2 years. No issues at all. Cheap to service & fuel. Very potent car that ticked a lot of boxes. A bootfull of gas with the right amount of revs on the dial & it felt like it was going to wheelie. Insurance wasn't cheap but mine was a daily & I didn't restrict my mileage. Lost very little £££ in the time I had it.

If my circumstances change & I wanted another fun motor to hoon, I'd have an Elise in a heartbeat.

[wemorgan]

phey708 said:

Any input on my crazy idea?

Do it. Don't surprised though if you join the Seloc forum and find that most threads are about Porsches and the Audi TT

ps. have a decent budget sed aside for annual repairs/upgrades

[Baryonyx]

rasg said:

If you go for an S1 and you are over 5ft 7" take up yoga a few months before you buy it. With the roof off you can just climb over. With it on yoga is the thing.

I'm nearly 6'2" and I can get in and out with little effort (though they are lower than they first appear, everyone should be filmed on their first attempt at getting into an Elise for the comedic value of the moment). Similarly, I didn't have trouble getting in and out of my MR2 Turbo. How stiff and inflexible do you have to be to struggle to get into one of these cars? Getting out is usually tougher!

That said, I do cram myself into a 106 Rallye everyday, you do compromise for the things you love! I still lust after an S1 Elise, but couldn't care less for the S2. Even after speaking to an ex-Lotus test driver who thought the Elise wasn't that good, wasn't as good as it should have been and wasn't as good in almost every sense as the M100 Elan that preceded it!

[phey708]

Well this is a lot of input and I may just go ahead with this. The only trouble now is trying to find one that is in my budget

I was looking at the Mk3 MR2 as well and they also look fun to drive (especially the semi automatic versions with shift buttons on steering wheel). Somehow I am drawn to the S1 because of the looks and the low gravity seating arrangement.

[Baryonyx]

phey708 said:

I was looking at the Mk3 MR2 as well and they also look fun to drive (especially the semi automatic versions with shift buttons on steering wheel). Somehow I am drawn to the S1 because of the looks and the low gravity seating arrangement.

I would definitely avoid the soggy SMT models. The manual shift is far better, and the SMT gearbox feels very old and clunky now. The first mk3 I went out in had the SMT and it really spoiled the experience of the car. The engine is a bit of a wheezer too, but then the Elise engines don't tend to be spectacular either (unless you've got an expensive Honda conversion).

[RobM77]

As others have said, the mpg isn't the issue (most k series Elises should do over 40mpg if you drive sensibly, and over 50 if you're really careful), the main issue is the lack of refinement and uncomfortable seats of the S1. Plenty do use their Elises as everyday cars though - I had a k series S2 111S as a daily driver for three or four years, and two of my friends used S1s for longer commutes than you. Do go into the purchase with your eyes open though - for instance the S1 hood is a right old faff to put on and off.