Supercharged Elise
Discussion
After spending the last two years with an E36 328 Touring as my daily and a C20XE-engined MK Indy R for the five days each year when circumstances meant I was free to enjoy it, it wasn't broken and the sun was out, I recently decided I needed something new. After a couple of months looking at all sorts of different machinery that was slightly more practical than the Indy (really not hard) and lots more fun than the Touring (again, not a huge ask) a friend suggested an Elise. Listening to TVRs on YouTube had distracted me from the fact I've wanted one for years and that now was really the ideal time.
After deciding I wanted a supercharged model or possibly a 111R I set about looking. It turns out there aren't many SCs for sale, with only three in the country at the time a few weeks ago. Luckily JCT600 had a lovely looking graphite grey example in. A weekend jaunt over to test drive it and I was smitten; it had all the pull of the Indy, but with doors, a windscreen, a roof, padding on the seats, a heater and other such modern luxuries.
Options are:
Lotus Elise SC by jaikdean, on Flickr
Lotus Elise SC by jaikdean, on Flickr
Lotus Elise SC by jaikdean, on Flickr
Lotus Elise SC by jaikdean, on Flickr
Lotus Elise SC by jaikdean, on Flickr
Lotus Elise SC ProBax seat by jaikdean, on Flickr
After deciding I wanted a supercharged model or possibly a 111R I set about looking. It turns out there aren't many SCs for sale, with only three in the country at the time a few weeks ago. Luckily JCT600 had a lovely looking graphite grey example in. A weekend jaunt over to test drive it and I was smitten; it had all the pull of the Indy, but with doors, a windscreen, a roof, padding on the seats, a heater and other such modern luxuries.
Options are:
- Touring pack (leather, sound proofing, hilarious cup holder)
- Traction control
- Forged wheels
Lotus Elise SC by jaikdean, on FlickrLotus Elise SC by jaikdean, on FlickrLotus Elise SC by jaikdean, on FlickrLotus Elise SC by jaikdean, on FlickrLotus Elise SC by jaikdean, on FlickrLotus Elise SC ProBax seat by jaikdean, on FlickrThe Bandit said:
TRD airbox and a 2bular exhaust backbox will sort out the aural pleasure 
So I've been told. I'd quite like to hear one in person to find out what it would be like to live with. I'm not too keen on it being loud, but more 'charger whine and a few pops and bangs would be perfect.They're 217hp. The S2 Exige S ranged from 220 to 260 depending on the model. They share the Toyota 2ZZ engine, but the supercharger on the Elise is integrated into the intake manifold and has no intercooler.
It feels like the right sort of power for the road. Enough to go as fast as you'd reasonably want to go but not so much that you can't run it through a few gears when the occasion arises. I like the character of the engine too, it pulls very linearly up to about 5,000 then goes nuts to the redline at 8,500. With the supercharger you can pootle around town only using 2,000 revs no problem. Really is a great package.
It feels like the right sort of power for the road. Enough to go as fast as you'd reasonably want to go but not so much that you can't run it through a few gears when the occasion arises. I like the character of the engine too, it pulls very linearly up to about 5,000 then goes nuts to the redline at 8,500. With the supercharger you can pootle around town only using 2,000 revs no problem. Really is a great package.
jaik said:
The Bandit said:
TRD airbox and a 2bular exhaust backbox will sort out the aural pleasure
So I've been told. I'd quite like to hear one in person to find out what it would be like to live with. I'm not too keen on it being loud, but more 'charger whine and a few pops and bangs would be perfect.Perfect IMO
The Bandit said:
jaik said:
The Bandit said:
TRD airbox and a 2bular exhaust backbox will sort out the aural pleasure
So I've been told. I'd quite like to hear one in person to find out what it would be like to live with. I'm not too keen on it being loud, but more 'charger whine and a few pops and bangs would be perfect.Perfect IMO
After a year of ownership it's time for an update 
The car's been fantastic, I've covered 8,000 miles with it as a toy, including two days at Oulton park, a long weekend in the French Alps, a trip to Lille over Christmas, countless hoons around Wales and the general day-to-day fun this kind of car offers.
Video: Bum-clenching sideways times at Oulton Park
I caved pretty soon after the posts here about TRD airboxes and am so glad I did. The 'charger whine is so much more pronounced when you're on it and gives a really addictive scream toward the redline, but when you're just pootling around it sounds totally stock. Perfect. I've managed to hold off on the temptation of exhausts so far, though the 2bular website does keep appearing in my Internet history. I'm still concerned about making it an unpleasantly loud place to be on the motorway.
All of which leads nicely onto the fact that, as of this month, the Elise is now my daily. The 328 has been sold and so far I, and the car, couldn't be happier. Getting daily use seems to be much better; I'm getting less in the way of sticking brakes and weak batteries this way that I had over the winter.
Running costs and reliability have been good. Aside from the alarm killing the battery over a few weeks in the winter, the only other problems have been caused by stones: One in the windscreen and one in the radiator! This month's been an expensive one with servicing, replacing the radiator, new rear tyres and brakes all round due imminently, but with the sun out, 8,000rpm on the tacho and that whine in your ear, it all seems more than worth it.
The car's been fantastic, I've covered 8,000 miles with it as a toy, including two days at Oulton park, a long weekend in the French Alps, a trip to Lille over Christmas, countless hoons around Wales and the general day-to-day fun this kind of car offers.
Video: Bum-clenching sideways times at Oulton Park
I caved pretty soon after the posts here about TRD airboxes and am so glad I did. The 'charger whine is so much more pronounced when you're on it and gives a really addictive scream toward the redline, but when you're just pootling around it sounds totally stock. Perfect. I've managed to hold off on the temptation of exhausts so far, though the 2bular website does keep appearing in my Internet history. I'm still concerned about making it an unpleasantly loud place to be on the motorway.
All of which leads nicely onto the fact that, as of this month, the Elise is now my daily. The 328 has been sold and so far I, and the car, couldn't be happier. Getting daily use seems to be much better; I'm getting less in the way of sticking brakes and weak batteries this way that I had over the winter.
Running costs and reliability have been good. Aside from the alarm killing the battery over a few weeks in the winter, the only other problems have been caused by stones: One in the windscreen and one in the radiator! This month's been an expensive one with servicing, replacing the radiator, new rear tyres and brakes all round due imminently, but with the sun out, 8,000rpm on the tacho and that whine in your ear, it all seems more than worth it.
Edited by jaik on Sunday 26th April 10:22
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