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

[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.

[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?

[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?

[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?

[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.

[Martin_M]

Dr Rick, thanks very much for the offer. I'm based in Glasgow. I finish up for the school holidays in a couple of weeks so perhaps we could arrange to meet up then if you're around.

SCEL1SE - great input, much appreciated.

[Martin_M]

Ed T said:

Sorry OP crashed your thread a bit. Z4M was great but the M3 has a bit more to it, v8 is fab and the down shifts with the DCT are epic. Motorway slip roads demonstrate the speed differential too. The Z4M had the fact that you were sat on the rear wheels so could feel the rear tyre behaviour a bit batter. M3 awesome all rounder. I have a desire for an exige though before kids arrive on the scene etc, imagine the exige is much more of an event. May miss the M3 tho, ideally both but don't need two cars.

OP personally I think having the. M135 and then an elise sounds perfect if you need two cars. I don't know but I imagine on occasions such as slip roads and motorways you'd be willing it to pick up. 111R or elise Sc out of the question?

Hi no worries. I would need to sell the M135i as currently £400 a month and I think my fiancee would kill me if I proposed adding another £300 a month on an elise lol.

I would hope to pick up a cheap lease car - say £120ish per month and then £299 for the Elise to keep things manageable financially.

If I had a wad of cash to offset the cost of a used car, I'd probably go down the used route but with the final payment on the new elise bringing down the monthly payments it's the easiest route to go.

Looking at the faster models, I genuinely wouldn't be happy paying more than the £29k the basic model costs. I think part of that is the huge discount I got on the M135i which brought it to this price bracket and I think I'd feel cheated if I spent over £30k in the elise for a lot less in terms of equipment etc.

Don't get me wrong, I know you don't buy an elise for creature comforts as such - for me, I'd be looking for something that gives me the fun and feel good factor I had when I used to run a Boxster. The M135i is an amazing car but it just lacks that spark that makes me excited to drive it every day.

[Martin_M]

Thanks for the feedback guys - much appreciated.

With regard to second hand vs new - there's nothing much more I can say on the matter other than to offer an example of a mere £20k loan which would be £600 + over 3 years based on a quick on-line search. This compared to a new example at £299 per month puts things into perspective. My M135i is so new that I'm not going to be making money on it if I sell it within the next year or so which again, points to going down the new route as opposed to used. If I was prepared to put £x down against a used example and then borrow the rest then it may well be a different story but the wife to be already has our existing funds spent when we return from our wedding/honeymoon in a few weeks lol

[Martin_M]

un1eash said:

What's the deposit and term on the £299 deal?

Thanks for the info ghost.

unleash - I believe it's about £7k down - I could probably achieve a couple of grand if I sold the beemer privately which would leave me with £5k to put down which isn't too bad.

[Martin_M]

Thanks Rick, e-mail sent.

[Martin_M]

I know this is probably well known now but I've only just become aware that the Elise is being totally revamped come 2015...I like the back but not so keen on the side profile.

Oh...and the £35k base price :-(

http://www.caranddriver.com/news/lotus-elise-news-...

[Martin_M]

kambites said:

Unless I'm missing something that article is from 2010. That car has been out of plan since Bahar got the boot.

I hope you're right - I hadn't noticed the date.

[Martin_M]

Glad to hear it - as much as I like the auto in my current car, I think I'd rather have the elise in manual. Not only that, but the pics of the proposed newer model makes it look less hardcore than the current model.

[Martin_M]

Westover doing quite a good deal - hope to speak to them tomorrow...

http://www.westovergroup.co.uk/lotus/new-offers/el...

[Martin_M]

Thanks for that Richard. I was just speaking to Ben at Westover who has been excellent. It would seem that at present, what I owe on my bmw against what I'd get for it as a trade-in is pretty similar so I don't think it's a viable option yet. He advised to wait until I've hit the 10k mile mark and look at things again given that I'm paying more per month than the car's depreciating.

I'm in no rush if I'm honest but I just hope that this offer remains into the new year!

[Martin_M]

Tis a sad day - my wife and I paid Murray Lotus a visit today only to find that I don't fit in the damn thing! The hard top would be achievable if I was prepared to endure some discomfort in my lower back but it just wouldn't be sensible in the long run as I already suffer from back ache now and again.

...which leads me to the question - what else? For the looks vs price I really can't think of anything that catches my eye as much...the hunt continues.

Martin