Basic 2014 Elise - performance

[Martin_M]

Hi folks,

Currently drive an M135i and, given my almost constant urge to regularly change cars, I'm thinking that it's time to scratch the Elise itch.

I quite like the sound of the offer on the basic 1.6 elise. Don't want to pay any more as I intend to lease a practical 4 door for family needs as well so spending more on a faster model isn't an option.

I just wondered what your thoughts are on the performance of the basic 1.6 Elise. I've watched a couple of videos on You Tube of the older S2 models and some seem pretty slow when overtaking other cars.

This is how the Elise stacks up against the M135i:



Max power Elise: 134 hp at 6800 rpm (136 PS) (100kW) M135i 315 hp at 5800 rpm

Max torque Elise: 118 lbft at 4400 rpm (160 Nm) M135I 333 lbft at 1300 rpm

0-60 mph (seconds)6.0 9Lotus) 4.6-4.9 (M135Ii)

Do you reckon I'd end up being mightily disappointed if I changed to the Elise in the basic 1.6 guise or does its performance in the twisties make up for any shortcomings in terms of outright speed or mid-range grunt?

It's a car I've considered for many years but I've always been swayed by sporty but more practical alternatives.

Cheers,

Martin

[kambites]

Why not buy a second-hand supercharged car? It'd be faster than your BMW and probably cheaper to run and buy than a new 1.6. If you buy new, you just end up taking the big hit for what depreciation then do suffer from and then sell a (pretty much) depreciation-free car to the next buyer.

[Martin_M]

kambites said:

Why not buy a second-hand supercharged car? It'd be faster than your BMW and probably cheaper to run and buy than a new 1.6.

I thought the same thing but I found that the majority of loan quotes were more than the £299 per month Lotus are offering. I think it's down to the balloon payment at the end of the deal being part of the Lotus offer whereas this isn't an option buying privately...otherwise I would probably go down this route.

[Fantuzzi]

On raw stats, of course the more powerful car will have the edge in terms of speed, the elise 1.6 0-62 time is 6.5, compared to 5.1 for the m car.

Only you can say if it will 'out weigh' the power deficit, but for most on here I think you know the answer!

The supercharged elise S seems like a good bet if you can stretch for it, 36k, so not that a large amount over the standard spec 1.6 at 27k for the power jump.

[kambites]

Ah, you want to buy on finance? Yes, Lotus do seem to have some fairly good deals on at the moment in an attempt to shift cars.

Whether you'll find the 1.6 disappointing is someone only you can answer really. It's not a fast car and the speed differential coming from the BMW will probably feel even greater than it really is because you'll lose the laggy way the torque builds which makes turbocharged cars feel so quick.

[GTRene]

to 70 no problem I guess, but when going faster and want to go fast to pass another car, then you better get at least a R version, but the 220 is more your car I think.

[Tiger Tim]

In my opinion if you're buying an elise for outright speed or even having that as a key want/need then you've missed the point entirely.

If you haven't driven any elise variant then it'll all make sense after.

[Martin_M]

Tiger Tim said:

In my opinion if you're buying an elise for outright speed or even having that as a key want/need then you've missed the point entirely.

If you haven't driven any elise variant then it'll all make sense after.

Not at all. I recognise that the Elise lacks the outright speed of my bmw, hence my question. I think that the 'fun factor' of the elise and the sense of occasion driving it will more than make up for any performance shortcomings. I was just keen to hear from actual owners who may have been in a similar situation.

In an ideal world, it would be nice to buy a faster version but for me, the elise isn't the kind of car I'd want to spend a lot of money on for a more powerful engine or on options - the whole appeal for me is the basic no frills nature of it.

I'll give it another 6 months and pay Brandon at Murray Motors a visit, during which time I'll probably find that my 6 foot 4 frame won't fit lol...although I believe probax seats can help?

[kambites]

It's a long time since I've sat in a car with probax, but I have vague memories of the probax seats being worse if you're tall because the padding is slightly thicker. Having said that, I've no idea what the current non-probax seats are like; they've probably changed them again since the latest car I drove.

[Martin_M]

Last year I was considering one and a guy paid me a visit in his exige which had the probax seats - I could fit perfectly.

I may well fit in the 2014 elise but if not, is anyone aware of alternative seat options?

[kazste]

Each to their own, but I had one from new for six months sold it as just couldn't get on with it. It's not a slow car but it does need thrashing which is not my style. Had a 1.8s before and loved its torque and now have a europa which again is great if a little lumpy in map, so it's not that I don't know the cars and if you like going to the red line often I suspect you'll be okay. When I was looking at another lotus a couple of places had the supercharged version for £400 per month and zero interest makes it more tempting than secondhand.

[Martin_M]

kazste said:

Each to their own, but I had one from new for six months sold it as just couldn't get on with it. It's not a slow car but it does need thrashing which is not my style. Had a 1.8s before and loved its torque and now have a europa which again is great if a little lumpy in map, so it's not that I don't know the cars and if you like going to the red line often I suspect you'll be okay. When I was looking at another lotus a couple of places had the supercharged version for £400 per month and zero interest makes it more tempting than secondhand.

Do you remember who was offering that for future reference?

[kazste]

Think its a lotus offer not a dealer offer but this has the detail, works out cheap if you have the deposit and will have the final payment.

http://www.bellandcolvill.co.uk/offers/Lotus-Elise...

[un1eash]

I'd look at an older S2 111S, 111R or Exige. Look after it and you won't lose much money over the years.

[Martin_M]

kazste said:

Think its a lotus offer not a dealer offer but this has the detail, works out cheap if you have the deposit and will have the final payment.

http://www.bellandcolvill.co.uk/offers/Lotus-Elise...

Thanks for that - a lot more than I would want to spend tbh.

[Martin_M]

un1eash said:

I'd look at an older S2 111S, 111R or Exige. Look after it and you won't lose much money over the years.

Thanks but that probably takes me back to the previous issue of a private loan costing more than the Lotus deal at £300 per month.

[hajaba123]

I've had an S2 'S' then a Z4Mcoupe, then a S2 S/C and now an M135i, I'm only 5 ft9 so not completely qualified!

The S felt slow, the supercharged was one of the best cars I have ever owned and felt just as torquey and fast as the M135i.

No experience of the new one but I think I would be disappointed.

[Robert Elise]

raw stats won't help, you must drive one to feel for yourself.
The M will feel 10x more grunty, power will always be there. For many people that's all that matters and they can't forgive having to work for it.
With the 1.6 you'll need to drive it "Italian", and then it rewards with the best steering feel there is. Something the Germans are actively removing from their cars.

Car is better with a sports exhaust - sound, response, lighter. maybe 7 ponies too ;-)

I reckon the base Elise would be the best in the range for public roads if it had an extra 40bhp and closer gears. Even the 220 S is a little too much for public roads as you have to modulate the throttle a lot - 10/10 is more fun than 8/10. V6 is bonkers, a fairground ride that needs the track.

many say an Elise can be a DD, but it's not really and can be a little frustrating/dangerous (you're actually much lower than a biker and often out of site). It's best savoured as a purist's occasional drive.

At 5 8 i find the Probax seats the best and regularly drive for 8 hours with just pee stops (i take mine to the Alps each summer).
i also have a range of ear defenders.

[un1eash]

Martin_M said:

Thanks but that probably takes me back to the previous issue of a private loan costing more than the Lotus deal at £300 per month.

You'd have to look at total cost. If you buy new you'll be putting a large deposit down, then £300 a month over 4/5 years to then have a balloon payment at the end.

If you buy used then you can choose no deposit and to have a balloon payment or not, if not at the end of 4/5 years you own an Elise that will still be worth £10k+ as I don't think prices will ever drop below that mark.

[Dr_Rick]

MartinM,

Where abouts are you based? I have a MY13 Elise S that I bought from Brandon that you could have a look at if you want. I'm central belt, based near Edinburgh and travel daily in the Elise. Sometimes over Weegie way, sometimes Stirling, sometimes Edinburgh and if the suns out at the right time sometimes Perth.