Automatic transmission Elise

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A family member who is no longer able to drive a manual transmission is interested in the possibility of an Elise. I know they were not produced, but I am hoping the transmission was derived from another application where there is a possibility to swap in an automatic. I also would want it to be reversible, as (a) the resale value would dictate that it is swapped back if we were to sell it on in future, and (b) the car deserves the dignity and respect of being set back to manual if that day comes!

Any constructive ideas on this would be appreciated. Note, the desire is that it is a series II car, and LHD. We are in Canada, so I would assume that we only have Toyota engine ones domestically available.

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Thanks for the lead on where to look; not surprisingly rather expensive option. Also, the new Exige is out of budget.

Perhaps this will have to wait until one of the new Exige automatics shows up on the used market as we are not in a rush. I am going to have to look at more conventional automagic options that may fit, the budget won't allow for the sequential.

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braddo said:

Isn't the Toyota Elise manual gearbox identical to what is in the Celica? Surely the automatic gearbox from a Celica would fit? Linkages and ECU issues might be complicating factors though.

That is my hope, guess if it has not been done I will have to look at it from the Celica side, and see if I can eyeball and measure two units that are out of the car. Not as worried about linkages and ECU issues, I think the solution would ultimately be to find a body damaged Celica so I have all the bits at hand. Still in the early stages of kicking it around, I appreciate the input.

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kambites said:

A Smart Roadster (if they're available there) might be an alternative?

Thankfully not available here, without emoticons I am not sure if that was a serious suggestion.

Hard to compare anything directly with an Elise, so if not the Elise she will likely go to an XKR, or 10+ year old Aston Martin, very different animals.

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kambites said:

OP: What exactly is your relation's disability? Would a hand clutch on the standard manual 'box work? I'd imagine that'd be considerably cheaper/simpler. Alternatively if it's an arm issue, a sequential box with paddles but a normal clutch might be doable.

She has knee issues that have proven to be very painful after a relatively short drive. I don't know how easy the clutch is on an Elise, but she had a new Mini Clubman and even it was a problem; she simply can't drive my TVRs.

If it had been a serious disability we may have looked at hand clutches and such, but to be honest it all becomes such a pain to deal with that she would sway back to something else that left the factory as an automatic. She has driven paddle and didn't like it.

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kambites said:

It's not an Elise, but frankly an Elise with an automatic gearbox wouldn't really be an Elise either.

An automatic in an Elise is certainly a compromise, with that I agree. Suggesting the Smart roadster in its place, however, is akin to saying Kate Upton has developed a limp, so you may as well dump her for Susan Boyle.

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itcaptainslow said:

I wonder if you could fit a MGF Steptronic gearbox to a S1 Elise? At least mating engine with gearbox wouldn't be a problem...

S2 car is more to her tastes, and the S1 cars (and MGF for that matter) were not imported to Canada. With that said it is an angle I will have to consider if sourcing overseas, good thought to ponder.

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markiii said:

with a didgy knee I'd suggest entry and exit to an Elise is as much an issue

Good point too - I will have to get her to try that. She is OK with my TVRs, and I don't think they are that different from an Elise in this respect, but I will have to let her be the judge.

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kambites said:

Have you driven one? The gearbox is dire and the steering is too slow but it's a fun, tidy handling little car. #

The mk3 Toyota is another very good little car, was that available as an auto?

I wouldn't mind trying one some day as they are interesting little cars, but they never came to Canada. I think they must be fairly slow though, and since her daily driver does 0 to 60 in under 5 seconds, slow just won't do.

The MK3 Toyota is probably a decent car too, but I think it might not be special enough to be a toy. She has wanted a green Elise for some time now, and it is her turn to get what she wants.