Caterham to Elise?
Discussion
Currently have a Caterham as a second car and am considering a change to an early second hand Elise S (with Toyota power). I have driven an older S1 with the original 118bhp K series which I enjoyed, I’m just a bit concerned about the Elise not being as much fun as the Caterham, bearing in mind that the car will be used for weekends and sunny evenings and cover around 4K miles per annum. It will undoubtedly be more practical and comfortable than the Caterham. Anyone gone from a Caterham to an Elise and care to share their thoughts?
I did it a while ago now. I had a 1700 xflow caterham (160bhp roger king conversion). I swapped it for an S1 Elise, bog standard. As they were my only cars I LOVED the change and the Elise was a much more comfortable place to be, but it was not lacking in the fun department at all. I would happily jump in the Elise and do an all day drive but the Caterham was definitely a short blast toy that required a fair amount of planning.
I found the Caterham a bit too compromised but it was amazing on the right day. The Elise was 99% of the fun but I was more than happy to sacrifice the 1% for a more useable, everyday car.
I found the Caterham a bit too compromised but it was amazing on the right day. The Elise was 99% of the fun but I was more than happy to sacrifice the 1% for a more useable, everyday car.
I had two Caterhams one after the other - a 1600 Supersport, and a 1800 Superlight. (Both K series obviously) I went to an Elise S1 via a VX220, but the less said about that the better.
I had lots of fun with the Caterhams, but on balance I prefer the Elise. It's practical enough to go away for the weekend with the Mrs, it has a waterproof boot, a hood that works and wind up windows. It feels as good to drive to me as both of the Caterhams - maybe with the exception of the gearchange - but steering and brakes feel just as good. It won't outhandle a Caterham, and it is much less forgiving on the limit, but even so, I wouldn't swap back for anything.
I had lots of fun with the Caterhams, but on balance I prefer the Elise. It's practical enough to go away for the weekend with the Mrs, it has a waterproof boot, a hood that works and wind up windows. It feels as good to drive to me as both of the Caterhams - maybe with the exception of the gearchange - but steering and brakes feel just as good. It won't outhandle a Caterham, and it is much less forgiving on the limit, but even so, I wouldn't swap back for anything.
Yep ! I had a CSR 260 and changed it for an Exige "S". As with all cars
inc Noble M400, I motor in them to Lisbon each year. Superb roads, 140+
in the Noble. For which I found the CSR dreadful with drive train shunt
& intolerable from cockpit heat and dreadful thru the rain. The Exige
is much more civilised on long road trips. Yes, it has the problems of
getting in & out and zero room to stretch, so very necessary in long runs.
Summarising, I miss the torque of the CSR but I see the Exige as the best
compromise I have ever made - depite inherent tyre problems for extensive
road use. If & when the time comes I will find it difficult to part with
the Exige.
inc Noble M400, I motor in them to Lisbon each year. Superb roads, 140+
in the Noble. For which I found the CSR dreadful with drive train shunt
& intolerable from cockpit heat and dreadful thru the rain. The Exige
is much more civilised on long road trips. Yes, it has the problems of
getting in & out and zero room to stretch, so very necessary in long runs.
Summarising, I miss the torque of the CSR but I see the Exige as the best
compromise I have ever made - depite inherent tyre problems for extensive
road use. If & when the time comes I will find it difficult to part with
the Exige.
Ecosseven said:
Currently have a Caterham as a second car and am considering a change to an early second hand Elise S (with Toyota power). I have driven an older S1 with the original 118bhp K series which I enjoyed, I’m just a bit concerned about the Elise not being as much fun as the Caterham, bearing in mind that the car will be used for weekends and sunny evenings and cover around 4K miles per annum. It will undoubtedly be more practical and comfortable than the Caterham. Anyone gone from a Caterham to an Elise and care to share their thoughts?
I've got a Westfield and an Elise S. You've pretty much hit the nail on the head with the Elise being more practical and comfortable. It's not as exciting, but then it's not going to be, but on the road it's a much more pleasant place to be. BUT, it is quite a different drive. On the road it's pretty much spot on, but you can't play with it like you can a Caterfield IYSWIM. The problem I had was choosing between them. I prefer the Westfield when I'm really in the mood to go out and play. But the rest of the time the Elise gives some of the thrills without having to be a beardy masochist. The only answer is of course, to have both 
Edited by juansolo on Monday 15th February 10:09
juansolo said:
I've got a Westfield and an Elise S. You've pretty much hit the nail on the head with the Elise being more practical and comfortable. It's not as exciting, but then it's not going to be, but on the road it's a much more pleasant place to be. BUT, it is quite a different drive. On the road it's pretty much spot on, but you can't play with it like you can a Caterfield IYSWIM. The problem I had was choosing between them. I prefer the Westfield when I'm really in the mood to go out and play. But the rest of the time the Elise gives some of the thrills without having to be a beardy masochist. The only answer is of course, to have both
I've owned several 'Seven' type cars, including a Caterham (though not at the same time as my Elises - I'd moved up to a Sylva by then) and I'd second what juansolo says, almost word for word.The Elise isn't as focussed, or as fun, but it's much more useable when the weather isn't perfect or when you're not in the mood for 10/10ths intensity and concentration.
It's a personal decision really. I was given a professionally built Westfield and I thought it was the biggest heap of dangerous cr*p that I had ever owned - to the point where I refused point blank to give it to my son, and sold it after driving it for all of 500 miles. I felt safer on my motorbikes and I'ce crashed them.
By comparison the Elise is a wonderful piece of engineering and a delight to drive - particularly the later more civilised Yota engined cars.
But thats very much a personal view and there are lots of people on here who believe that the car I drive is over civilised, shouldnt have half the extras that it does have like air con, and weighs too much. They are completely wrong of course, but thats their view.
If you really want performance at the expense of everything else, there's only one answer - a bike.
By comparison the Elise is a wonderful piece of engineering and a delight to drive - particularly the later more civilised Yota engined cars.
But thats very much a personal view and there are lots of people on here who believe that the car I drive is over civilised, shouldnt have half the extras that it does have like air con, and weighs too much. They are completely wrong of course, but thats their view.
If you really want performance at the expense of everything else, there's only one answer - a bike.
Another Westfield --> Elise owner here
I've enjoyed the 3,5 years I had the westfield and loved taking it out after a hard day's work for a quick blast. After last years summer, with the weather changing every hour, I realised I did not use it enough.
So I sold it in oktober and imported a mint 2004 Elise 111R from the UK. I think I've used it for more miles since up to now than a years driving in the Westfield.
Just to have the comfort of a working heater, locking doors and a closeable top make it *such* a more usable car. IMHO the benefits of having these creature comforts doesn't way up to the higher fun factor of the westfield.
As for driving, getting out on the motorway in the Westfield was not funny at all!!! Cars do not see you, and it feels like sticking your hear outside a boeing 747 when at cruzing speed... The Elise it quite ok to drive on the motorway.
Anyway good luck on your decision..
Here are the two I was talking about;
I've enjoyed the 3,5 years I had the westfield and loved taking it out after a hard day's work for a quick blast. After last years summer, with the weather changing every hour, I realised I did not use it enough.
So I sold it in oktober and imported a mint 2004 Elise 111R from the UK. I think I've used it for more miles since up to now than a years driving in the Westfield.
Just to have the comfort of a working heater, locking doors and a closeable top make it *such* a more usable car. IMHO the benefits of having these creature comforts doesn't way up to the higher fun factor of the westfield.
As for driving, getting out on the motorway in the Westfield was not funny at all!!! Cars do not see you, and it feels like sticking your hear outside a boeing 747 when at cruzing speed... The Elise it quite ok to drive on the motorway.
Anyway good luck on your decision..
Here are the two I was talking about;
Westfield to Caterham to Elise S2 111R owner here.... I don't regret selling the caterham for the Elise... The Elise is 400% more fun than the Caterham or the Westfield for one simple reason.... I use the Elise!
As a road car the Severn are just to compromised. I hardly used the Caterham due to the crap summers, it just sat in the garage waiting for a sunny day. I have used the Elise all year, its fun, practical and dare i say it just as fast! (in the real world, road use)
As a road car the Severn are just to compromised. I hardly used the Caterham due to the crap summers, it just sat in the garage waiting for a sunny day. I have used the Elise all year, its fun, practical and dare i say it just as fast! (in the real world, road use)
buzzer said:
...dare i say it just as fast! (in the real world, road use)
That's a fair comment, particularly with UK roads as they are at the moment. The Elise has quite supple suspension and very light cars like Caterfields tend to be limited by the fact that they will skip about quite a bit if the going gets rough enough.IMO the Elise doesn't give you the same intensity of experience, even so, but it is certainly both more useable and equally quick for many practical purposes.
I used to own a 1984 Caterham 1700 Supersprint, which was my everyday car for about 18 months (September 1995 to February 1997), and I never used the roof. During the first three months or so, I commuted from Dartford to Cambridge each day and from then on used it for commuting in and out of Cambridge and for repeated weekend trips to Wales, Scotland and Bristol. A few years later, still living near Cambridge, I bought a standard 1999 series 1 Elise, which was used as a second car - involving regular weekends in Wales and Kent as well as various trips all over the country. As has been said, the Elise was a more practical car than the Caterham, in as much as it had a (lockable) boot, more interior space - and a radio that was some use! (Based on other Caterhams/Lotus Sevens I drove in the past, the Elise hood wasn't quite as waterproof though, having a tendency to leak through the front corners at the windscreen!) Compared to my live axle Caterham, the Elise rode better and was much easier to drive fast over uneven/bumpy road surfaces. In terms of driving fun, the Elise was as much fun as the Caterham, on the road and on track days, and girlfriends preferred riding in the Elise 
I thought the Elise was a car Colin Chapman could have designed as a modern Seven and, as a second car, I would have great difficulty choosing between them. The Seven was cheaper to repair and much easier to service, the Elise was a car you could get into and drive wearing normal clothes and normal shoes, roof on or roof off, and more economical on petrol. At current prices, there's nothing to choose in terms of cost to buy, so it would come down to how hardy I wanted to be and how much of the time! Or I'd have to buy one of each
I thought the Elise was a car Colin Chapman could have designed as a modern Seven and, as a second car, I would have great difficulty choosing between them. The Seven was cheaper to repair and much easier to service, the Elise was a car you could get into and drive wearing normal clothes and normal shoes, roof on or roof off, and more economical on petrol. At current prices, there's nothing to choose in terms of cost to buy, so it would come down to how hardy I wanted to be and how much of the time! Or I'd have to buy one of each I'd agree with alot that's been said.
I had a standard Elise Mk1 as a daily drive for 18 months and now have a Caterham 7 HPC as a weekend toy.
The Caterham is a toy on an early morning blat there's little to touch it. it's bonkers fast and very easy to access making multiple overtakes possible.
In mine the downsides are 4 point harness and the lack of use due to wet weather (even with Half Hood) as I'm lucky enough to be able to use my 3.2 Carrera.
The Elise was far more useable and with sports exhaust it sounded great. I ended selling due to not having of street parking in London and getting fed up with bump parkers.
I hav often thought about another Toyota engined Elise as a toy which I could use more.
To me the Caterham to Elise would be done in order to use it more.
I had a standard Elise Mk1 as a daily drive for 18 months and now have a Caterham 7 HPC as a weekend toy.
The Caterham is a toy on an early morning blat there's little to touch it. it's bonkers fast and very easy to access making multiple overtakes possible.
In mine the downsides are 4 point harness and the lack of use due to wet weather (even with Half Hood) as I'm lucky enough to be able to use my 3.2 Carrera.
The Elise was far more useable and with sports exhaust it sounded great. I ended selling due to not having of street parking in London and getting fed up with bump parkers.
I hav often thought about another Toyota engined Elise as a toy which I could use more.
To me the Caterham to Elise would be done in order to use it more.
I went from an Exige S to a Caterham Academy. I find the caterham way more practical than the elise. When raining, I leave the roof on. When it's cold, I wear more clothes.
The exige was in a garage and I only used it for blats. On the track, I was always worried about the cost of whatever damage I could make, esp. to the chassis. The seven sits on the street just outside my house, I drive it everyday. I got in the front by a stupid person who does not know how to park. In the exige, I'd cry. With the seven, not a tear was shed. Also the seven is much less attractive to 'tunners' and others and I have no qualms whatoever about parking it wherever I need. Also, in the exige I felt I was inside a cocoon, in the seven I feel strapped to a big engine :-)
Keep the Seven, mate!
The exige was in a garage and I only used it for blats. On the track, I was always worried about the cost of whatever damage I could make, esp. to the chassis. The seven sits on the street just outside my house, I drive it everyday. I got in the front by a stupid person who does not know how to park. In the exige, I'd cry. With the seven, not a tear was shed. Also the seven is much less attractive to 'tunners' and others and I have no qualms whatoever about parking it wherever I need. Also, in the exige I felt I was inside a cocoon, in the seven I feel strapped to a big engine :-)
Keep the Seven, mate!
I went from Caterham Acadamy 06 car to Elise Sport 190. I think there is little to beat the Caterham for sheer seat of the pants excitment on the right road (or track) it is just brilliant! A road going go-kart. Unfortunatly any more than a 2-hour drive and I was knackered - the wind the noise!
The Elise is a very well sorted car, ballance and a joy to drive, much easier to live with on a regular basis or to tour in. Both are a pain to get in and out of when you are a 6'3" old git!
The Elise is a very well sorted car, ballance and a joy to drive, much easier to live with on a regular basis or to tour in. Both are a pain to get in and out of when you are a 6'3" old git!
bordseye said:
It's a personal decision really. I was given a professionally built Westfield and I thought it was the biggest heap of dangerous cr*p that I had ever owned - to the point where I refused point blank to give it to my son, and sold it after driving it for all of 500 miles. I felt safer on my motorbikes and I'ce crashed them.
I had a very similar conversation yesterday with a mechanic, who built a Westfield for a mate in the past, has gone racing, and has bikes. Said he refused to drive the Westfield even for a test drive, far too dangerous, has known too many racers badly hurt in them, "at least you can jump off a bike".I was inclining towards a Caterham, but he's rather put me off - which is why I'm now lurking in the Lotus forum
Just bought an Elise S2 (K-series) and will shortly be selling my Caterham (x/flow).
I have had great fun with my Caterham over the 13 years I've had it, but its got to the point where I just don't use it enough. That and the fact that I don't want to look back in 20 years and think I've missed out on trying all sorts of other cars (the rough plan being something along the lines of Caterham->Elise->Exige->Cayman->911).
I have had great fun with my Caterham over the 13 years I've had it, but its got to the point where I just don't use it enough. That and the fact that I don't want to look back in 20 years and think I've missed out on trying all sorts of other cars (the rough plan being something along the lines of Caterham->Elise->Exige->Cayman->911).
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