Lotus Elise Mk1 anybody got experience of these cars
Discussion
phazed said:
Mmm, for the road you are probably right. A standard Elise will be clinical and capable but the inner hooligan in you, (and me) enjoys our tivs.
TBH, I fancy a change. What I would like is;
The looks of a T350
A removable Targa panel
The torque of my 5.5
More power at the top end
0-60 in sub 4 seconds
Top speed immaterial
Switchable traction for those wet/damp/leaves on ground days
ABS for the same
Less heat in the cabin
Better sound proofing
Better MPG, (mine averages about 12!)
All the above for£20K £50K, is that asking for too much? 
Corvette Z06 maybe?TBH, I fancy a change. What I would like is;
The looks of a T350
A removable Targa panel
The torque of my 5.5
More power at the top end
0-60 in sub 4 seconds
Top speed immaterial
Switchable traction for those wet/damp/leaves on ground days
ABS for the same
Less heat in the cabin
Better sound proofing
Better MPG, (mine averages about 12!)
All the above for
2 things, LHD and yank! I could never have either........
Back to basics, look at the spec of this.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/v...
Back to basics, look at the spec of this.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/v...
phazed said:
2 things, LHD and yank! I could never have either........
Back to basics, look at the spec of this.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/v...
Sounds like you just want a track car for fun then and not ordinary road use? Back to basics, look at the spec of this.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/v...
Reading that spec is like reading an Evo 400 one....
(BTW those Yanks are available in RHD these days and I do believe the engine in your car started life with Buick
)
phazed said:
2 things, LHD and yank! I could never have either........
Back to basics, look at the spec of this.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/v...
That's some spec, having spent the last 5 years trying to build in reliability to my Tvr I'm loath to risk losing that. Back to basics, look at the spec of this.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/v...
Only now that I come to consider selling it do I get the picture, new windscreen for one, it all adds up until you've got a car that cost far more than I'd get back for it and doubtless have a lessor car to replace it with for the same money.
I think I've got to a point where I say stop and sell, or keep and finish off the job I started.
only by looking at other cars has it sunk in just how good the Tvr is and how close I am to having a car I'm very confident with.
After a year of running the car with MBE and removing all the starting and idle issues that often plague these great cars I'm totally confident in its cold and hot starting ability for one thing. Id bet my car would start under a foot of snow and -10 degrees easy.
ETA the door wouldn't open though
I know driving a Lotus or a VX such as the one above would provoke huge driving based emotions but yesterday trying to stop the wheels spinning in third gear at 75 mph in the Tvr whilst going down a country lane and jumping from one bump to the next is pretty engaging in itself and gets the blood pumping something a kin to a motorbike, not many cars do that.
next to the Elise yesterday my car looked more extreme, it is more extreme.
Just not as quick through apexes.
The Lotus appeals to the youth in me
Light
Chuckable
Race car feel to the cab,
Easy to work on
Reliable
Fast with the right engine
Downside cos I'm now actually old
No boot space
Can't get in it
Very small car
Alloy corrosion in winter.
Other than that I think both the Lotus and VX versions of this brilliant design are great little cars and demand big respect.
If I wanted a summer car to do the odd trackday and weekend fun, it's right up there as the best you can get.
Mazda, brill cars but I'd rather have the real thing in the Tvr.
Edited by ClassiChimi on Friday 4th November 08:24
N7GTX said:
phazed said:
2 things, LHD and yank! I could never have either........
Back to basics, look at the spec of this.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/v...
Sounds like you just want a track car for fun then and not ordinary road use? Back to basics, look at the spec of this.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/v...
Reading that spec is like reading an Evo 400 one....
(BTW those Yanks are available in RHD these days and I do believe the engine in your car started life with Buick
)I should've added fairly comfortable to my specification.
Is it really too much asking for the above? I don't want a track car but I would like first a proper sports car that will perform well and not embarrassie itself on the track.
I don't mind modifying your car, of course that is what I've done with my chimaera. The finished result is very capable but the lack of comfort and the over intrusive noise for distances is wearing.
So to sum up, my perfect car would be similar to what I have at the moment but with a little more in the way of creature comforts, with less internal noise and a little more in the way of TVR mad looks.
Unfortunately the car has not been built.
Of course if someone wants to donate a Porsche Turbo S to me and I will forego the mad looks and just enjoy it as it is
if you want quiet and fast FI 4.6 engine 
There really is very little out there that gets near a Tvr for the money, even after sorting one they are comparatively cheap.
Once there sorted they become cheaper to own and so the cost per bhp is goes down, it's a very practical car if you don't go to the extreme they maintain a level of usability that's actually getting cheaper by the day.
Soon we'll be the only ones with a few spaneers actually able to take our cars apart in a lock up.
Using the trusty RV huge back up and knowledge available, cheap to repair
Glorious engine.
I suppose we'll just have to keep swapping our winter /summer tyre wheel combo's over to maintain grip and we'll on our way again
There really is very little out there that gets near a Tvr for the money, even after sorting one they are comparatively cheap.
Once there sorted they become cheaper to own and so the cost per bhp is goes down, it's a very practical car if you don't go to the extreme they maintain a level of usability that's actually getting cheaper by the day.
Soon we'll be the only ones with a few spaneers actually able to take our cars apart in a lock up.
Using the trusty RV huge back up and knowledge available, cheap to repair
Glorious engine.
I suppose we'll just have to keep swapping our winter /summer tyre wheel combo's over to maintain grip and we'll on our way again
That is the advantage Alun.
I've just renewed the stubaxle which i sheared before and it only took me about an hour. With a few years behind you, you get to know these cars inside out and every job even though it may be a pain is actually relatively easy.
You won't be able to do this with any other car out there. Of course it may not breakdown as much, ha ha ha !ha ha ha !
I've just renewed the stubaxle which i sheared before and it only took me about an hour. With a few years behind you, you get to know these cars inside out and every job even though it may be a pain is actually relatively easy.
You won't be able to do this with any other car out there. Of course it may not breakdown as much, ha ha ha !ha ha ha !
ChilliWhizz said:
Age........... terrible terrible thing.......
I'm with Phazed on this. I'd love to find what he's looking for (T350 my fave TVR shape) at that price. So if you find this perfect car Peter, pm me immediately!
- Yes, yes Chilli, you are right as always, but this age thing does come to us all. I just noticed you have bought an Aston?
I'd love one 
- Alun, being able to fix the cars is what its all about. Without a laptop you wont be fixing much built after 2006 I'm sorry to say.
N7GTX said:
Alun, being able to fix the cars is what its all about. Without a laptop you wont be fixing much built after 2006 I'm sorry to say.
Quite so. No3 son who used to work at VW and Nissan previously now works for a friend of mine who is ia BMW independent.He now works on mainly older cars but much more interesting. Loads of M cars and classics. He has never been happier.
ChilliWhizz said:
Age........... terrible terrible thing.......;)
I've just been thinking Richard, while tinkering in the garage.Part of this is "the grass is always greener on the other side", part of it is over familiarity with what we have.
As much as I would like a beautiful cosseting thing like your Austin, cough, (iPad spelling error) you and I know that my chimaera would see it off any day.
Richards up soho cruising around wearing a Tux, maybe 
My envy holds no bounds
As usual I've gone full circle and come running back to the Tvr without even driving a Lotus, hmm!
Just getting up close was enough for me to feel my base instinks, I'll not buy one so it's not fair to be test driving one.
I'm not far from Silverstone and a friend knows a highly respected Lotus dealer so we might take a look on a sunny day and maybe I'll drive one.
Every time I try and dismiss these darn Lotus I think of another fact I'd like to know,
Just realised I'd not checked the weight of one.
My envy holds no bounds
As usual I've gone full circle and come running back to the Tvr without even driving a Lotus, hmm!
Just getting up close was enough for me to feel my base instinks, I'll not buy one so it's not fair to be test driving one.
I'm not far from Silverstone and a friend knows a highly respected Lotus dealer so we might take a look on a sunny day and maybe I'll drive one.
Every time I try and dismiss these darn Lotus I think of another fact I'd like to know,
Just realised I'd not checked the weight of one.
N7GTX said:
That's a good site that is. Very light, 1/4 mile times aren't bad.
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