Discussion
Hello,
I'm looking at buying a S1 Elise. SO I want to ask you guys the sort of questions that you probably answer every week to other Newbie’s :p
I'll be using it to commute about 30miles a day. The journey has a little bit of town, "A" road and fairly congested motorway driving (normally moving at around 40 mph)
Will the Elise cope with this without major running costs? What mpg should I expect when my right foot is behaving? How much is a standard service at a lotus main dealer?
How many of you use yours as Daily drivers rather then weekend play things?
I've got a motorbike which I normally use for commuting to work but I'm tired of having to change in and out of my protective gear at each of my journey so the bike will be the weekend plaything and the car will be the daily driver.
Any advice appreciated!
Thanks, Andy.
I'm looking at buying a S1 Elise. SO I want to ask you guys the sort of questions that you probably answer every week to other Newbie’s :p
I'll be using it to commute about 30miles a day. The journey has a little bit of town, "A" road and fairly congested motorway driving (normally moving at around 40 mph)
Will the Elise cope with this without major running costs? What mpg should I expect when my right foot is behaving? How much is a standard service at a lotus main dealer?
How many of you use yours as Daily drivers rather then weekend play things?
I've got a motorbike which I normally use for commuting to work but I'm tired of having to change in and out of my protective gear at each of my journey so the bike will be the weekend plaything and the car will be the daily driver.
Any advice appreciated!
Thanks, Andy.
You'll love it 
- search like mad for hints and tips on here and on SELOC, read up on www.elises.co.uk and www.elise-faq.info/ and you'll be away.
Welcome to the
mate and feel free to ask away. Do use the forum search engine though as most of your questions will have been asked already - I found it an invaluable resource and a good read while I was swatting up on Elises.
- search like mad for hints and tips on here and on SELOC, read up on www.elises.co.uk and www.elise-faq.info/ and you'll be away. Welcome to the
mate and feel free to ask away. Do use the forum search engine though as most of your questions will have been asked already - I found it an invaluable resource and a good read while I was swatting up on Elises. I'd say it's very practical as an every day car... running costs are very low for a car of its type and reliability is usually pretty good if treated right.
You'll see 50mpg+ if you're very careful and just doing motorway miles and wear and tear just doesn't seem to be too much of a problem. It's a little small on space, but if you can live with that, it's your only problem. Mine's not my daily driver, but only because I have a sh1tbox at my disposal that costs me nothing, no point putting boring miles on the Elise... especially when it's wet...... trying not to affect my residuals too badly
You'll see 50mpg+ if you're very careful and just doing motorway miles and wear and tear just doesn't seem to be too much of a problem. It's a little small on space, but if you can live with that, it's your only problem. Mine's not my daily driver, but only because I have a sh1tbox at my disposal that costs me nothing, no point putting boring miles on the Elise... especially when it's wet...... trying not to affect my residuals too badly
I used to use mine as a daily drive when it was newer and someone else was paying the fuel.
The last few years I have had the luxury of only putting fun miles on it, but that has now changed.
I do 85 miles a day minimum, and it is not the reliability that worries me but the cost of fuel.
I am surprised to read that some of your cars are so frugal.
On an average journey I get 27 - 31 mpg.
The last few years I have had the luxury of only putting fun miles on it, but that has now changed.
I do 85 miles a day minimum, and it is not the reliability that worries me but the cost of fuel.
I am surprised to read that some of your cars are so frugal.
On an average journey I get 27 - 31 mpg.
Use my S2 every day - only a 20 mile round trip - used to drive a bmw - now even the thought of that bores me to death!
In winter I have a hard top - a little more secure and slightly less chilly - after 20 years of driving and about 15 cars, the Elise is without doubt the best in regard to pure driving fun, excellent economy and friendly forums such as this one
Warning - driving an Elise is very addictive!!
In winter I have a hard top - a little more secure and slightly less chilly - after 20 years of driving and about 15 cars, the Elise is without doubt the best in regard to pure driving fun, excellent economy and friendly forums such as this one
Warning - driving an Elise is very addictive!!
More of the same: daily driver, around 35 miles each way in an S2. Love it and can't face driving anything else.. And the drive home is something special!
I'm getting an average of around 36-37mpg (standard 118bhp) which does include >4000rpm on the motorway and thrashing it on the B roads back home - not bad I reckon.
I'm getting an average of around 36-37mpg (standard 118bhp) which does include >4000rpm on the motorway and thrashing it on the B roads back home - not bad I reckon.
I drive a 1998 S1 on a daily 130 round trip commute and have been doing so for nearly 7 years. Its got a 160 upgrade and I get avg. 35 mpg on a mixed urban / motorway cycle. After a head gasket failure at 57k miles it has been reliable, requiring only replacements for bits that have worn out (its got 154k miles on it now....) The worst thing is the screen misting in the winter and if that's the worst thing.... When I've had to do the commute in something else for a couple of days whilst the Elise is having a worn out bit replaced, even though the "something else" has been a modern Audi or Merc (with all due thanks to the chums who've lent them) it is always a pleasure and huge relief to get back in to my FANTASTIC car!
Get one - you won't regret it!
Get one - you won't regret it!
Yeah - talking to a guy at Bell & Colvill who told me they regularly service a customer's car with over 200k miles on it!!! Who said K series don't last?
I did call Lotus when mine reached 100k miles, thinking that they might be interested. Wrong!
I've been told by various dealers that they have fewer problems with the high milers than the low milers. I bought mine new knowing that I would do more than 30k in the first year and that any major problems were likely therefore to surface whilst it was still under warranty (only 1 year warranty back in those days..... ). None did in fact and it has been nothing but a pleasure and a delight to own and drive =:-)
I did call Lotus when mine reached 100k miles, thinking that they might be interested. Wrong!
I've been told by various dealers that they have fewer problems with the high milers than the low milers. I bought mine new knowing that I would do more than 30k in the first year and that any major problems were likely therefore to surface whilst it was still under warranty (only 1 year warranty back in those days..... ). None did in fact and it has been nothing but a pleasure and a delight to own and drive =:-)
Cannot agree more.
Had an S1 last year for my commute from Harrogate to Leeds & back, about 35 miles in total. Never have I enjoyed a car so much, the handling, the poise, the feeling through the seat of your pants (& yes I admit it, the looks). The sheer unadulterated joy of driving such a beautiful machine (& knowing you were getting better mpg than most other people in their Mundanos).
Sadly had to sell the car about 8 months after I bought it to buy a flat, regret it every day, but will always remember just getting up early before work, just for the sake of driving.
Believe me, you will not regret it. As for the costs, well servicing will be a little steeper than your used to so, but as its an S1 you wont have to have it serviced by a franchised dealer, just pick a good specialist. Anyway, the vast majority of the actual cost of running a car isnt the insurance, isnt the servicing, isnt even the fuel, its depreciation. Chances are on an early S1, your only likely to lose a £1000 to £1500 a year (at most) on the initial purchase price.
I envy you fella, I really do.
Had an S1 last year for my commute from Harrogate to Leeds & back, about 35 miles in total. Never have I enjoyed a car so much, the handling, the poise, the feeling through the seat of your pants (& yes I admit it, the looks). The sheer unadulterated joy of driving such a beautiful machine (& knowing you were getting better mpg than most other people in their Mundanos).
Sadly had to sell the car about 8 months after I bought it to buy a flat, regret it every day, but will always remember just getting up early before work, just for the sake of driving.
Believe me, you will not regret it. As for the costs, well servicing will be a little steeper than your used to so, but as its an S1 you wont have to have it serviced by a franchised dealer, just pick a good specialist. Anyway, the vast majority of the actual cost of running a car isnt the insurance, isnt the servicing, isnt even the fuel, its depreciation. Chances are on an early S1, your only likely to lose a £1000 to £1500 a year (at most) on the initial purchase price.
I envy you fella, I really do.
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