First few days of ownership
Discussion
Sorry for the long post but just wanted to write about my first few days of owning my new car 
.
I picked up my Magnetic Blue 111R on Saturday from Bell & Colvill
and after a couple of v tentative miles getting use to the feel of the car and trying to sort out the correct positioning of the wing mirrors I finally managed to start to relax and enjoy my new pride and joy. The first few miles were some bendy b-roads but unfortunately I quickly had to move on to the motorway in order to get to a wedding reception near Reading in time. Having arrived after an extremely comfortable and enjoyable hour on the road I think the bride and groom may have been a little annoyed with me. This was cause by the continuous stream of friends leaving the drinks to come and have a look and sit in the car. It really does get a great reception from the majority of people who see it.
On the way back from the reception I had my first stone chip and unfortunately it’s quite a large one. As I was driving along the M4 there was a large bang on the bottom right of my car
and I pulled over as soon as I could just to check everything was ok. As I got out I noticed one inch scratch at the bottom of the front of the back wheel arch (if that makes sense). I think the front wheel must have thrown the stone at it. The scratch has gone through the protective layer and so it’s time to buy my first batch of touch up paint. I suppose these things do happen – it’s just a shame for it to happen in the first day of ownership.
After that I took a few back roads that I normally take from work and again felt how well the car holds the bends and took me back to the test drive that persuaded me to buy the car. Where I would have felt a slight roll in my old car, the elise held to the bend like it wasn’t there. It’s amazing it can be so sure footed. Though I think having to run in the car may be a saviour for me. Instead of potentially going into corners a little too enthusiastically in the first few weeks it will allow me time to start to get use to the car and it’s behaviour before being able to use more of the power.
The next day the top came off and it was a brief journey up to my parents. It’s my first soft top car and I love driving with the top off. Yes it was a little cold on Sunday morning but the heater did it’s job perfectly. Then on Monday it was off to heathrow to pick up my girlfriend and found the boot is surprisingly big. Overall I’ve now done over three hundred miles in the first three days (which is a lot for me) and I’ve loved every single one of them. And it’s certainly true I’ll be finding any excuse to drive the car.
Nevertheless, there are a few issues with the car. I’m not able to put the car under cover (I am not fortunate enough to own a garage) so after several hours of rain on Saturday night I found that water was dripping into the car via the four holes where you move the mechanism to the side to release the soft top. Rest of the top was fine, just these four points. Is this normal? Looks like I’ll be buying a shower-cover – any suggestions for good ones?
According to my GPS TomTom reading the speedo on the car is at least 10% off. For example when the speedo on the car reads 70 mph the TomTom states the car is travelling at 62/63 mph.
When reversing at slow speed and then taking my foot off accelerator and pushing down on to the clutch pedal the engine then very nearly stalls.
Nevertheless, these points have certainly not put me off the car. It’s fantastic and a pleasure to look at, get into and drive. Only 700 miles to the second cam ...
Christian
. I picked up my Magnetic Blue 111R on Saturday from Bell & Colvill
and after a couple of v tentative miles getting use to the feel of the car and trying to sort out the correct positioning of the wing mirrors I finally managed to start to relax and enjoy my new pride and joy. The first few miles were some bendy b-roads but unfortunately I quickly had to move on to the motorway in order to get to a wedding reception near Reading in time. Having arrived after an extremely comfortable and enjoyable hour on the road I think the bride and groom may have been a little annoyed with me. This was cause by the continuous stream of friends leaving the drinks to come and have a look and sit in the car. It really does get a great reception from the majority of people who see it. On the way back from the reception I had my first stone chip and unfortunately it’s quite a large one. As I was driving along the M4 there was a large bang on the bottom right of my car
and I pulled over as soon as I could just to check everything was ok. As I got out I noticed one inch scratch at the bottom of the front of the back wheel arch (if that makes sense). I think the front wheel must have thrown the stone at it. The scratch has gone through the protective layer and so it’s time to buy my first batch of touch up paint. I suppose these things do happen – it’s just a shame for it to happen in the first day of ownership. After that I took a few back roads that I normally take from work and again felt how well the car holds the bends and took me back to the test drive that persuaded me to buy the car. Where I would have felt a slight roll in my old car, the elise held to the bend like it wasn’t there. It’s amazing it can be so sure footed. Though I think having to run in the car may be a saviour for me. Instead of potentially going into corners a little too enthusiastically in the first few weeks it will allow me time to start to get use to the car and it’s behaviour before being able to use more of the power.
The next day the top came off and it was a brief journey up to my parents. It’s my first soft top car and I love driving with the top off. Yes it was a little cold on Sunday morning but the heater did it’s job perfectly. Then on Monday it was off to heathrow to pick up my girlfriend and found the boot is surprisingly big. Overall I’ve now done over three hundred miles in the first three days (which is a lot for me) and I’ve loved every single one of them. And it’s certainly true I’ll be finding any excuse to drive the car.
Nevertheless, there are a few issues with the car. I’m not able to put the car under cover (I am not fortunate enough to own a garage) so after several hours of rain on Saturday night I found that water was dripping into the car via the four holes where you move the mechanism to the side to release the soft top. Rest of the top was fine, just these four points. Is this normal? Looks like I’ll be buying a shower-cover – any suggestions for good ones?
According to my GPS TomTom reading the speedo on the car is at least 10% off. For example when the speedo on the car reads 70 mph the TomTom states the car is travelling at 62/63 mph.
When reversing at slow speed and then taking my foot off accelerator and pushing down on to the clutch pedal the engine then very nearly stalls.
Nevertheless, these points have certainly not put me off the car. It’s fantastic and a pleasure to look at, get into and drive. Only 700 miles to the second cam ...
Christian
Balls about the stone chip - what a p*sser after just a day's driving, but congrats on the car. Can't wait to be in your current position when mine finally arrives. Don't have too much fun, as that would be unfair to those of us still on tenterhooks. 
Edit - post photos. How am I supposed to vicariously enjoy your car without photos???
>> Edited by colin5577 on Tuesday 2nd May 16:50
Edit - post photos. How am I supposed to vicariously enjoy your car without photos???
>> Edited by colin5577 on Tuesday 2nd May 16:50
Stone chips become easier to accept as you go along, belive me! Was like you myself, then the more you drive ( when, of course, you cannot see the body ) the more you get your priorities right!
Stone chips will and do happen....go a few steps back and you won't notice as much. This is where the girls stand to admire the car, so all is well!
As far as the idling is concerned, is this when the car is just started, or when fully warm? It should not happen at all at fully warm.
However, when I start my Elise ( S1), the idle is held high enough by the ECU for me to reverse out of my drive ( including a ramp ) WITHOUT touching the gas. Until the ECU has sorted out the engine temperature, you may find blips on the gas upset it.
If you must use the gas, keep it steady, do not blip.
As said though, this is only ( somewhat ) acceptable on a cold engine.
Stone chips will and do happen....go a few steps back and you won't notice as much. This is where the girls stand to admire the car, so all is well!
As far as the idling is concerned, is this when the car is just started, or when fully warm? It should not happen at all at fully warm.
However, when I start my Elise ( S1), the idle is held high enough by the ECU for me to reverse out of my drive ( including a ramp ) WITHOUT touching the gas. Until the ECU has sorted out the engine temperature, you may find blips on the gas upset it.
If you must use the gas, keep it steady, do not blip.
As said though, this is only ( somewhat ) acceptable on a cold engine.
colin5577 - a picture has now been uploaded to my profile 
Davey S2 - not sure my neighbours will appreciate that. though the stage 2 does sound awesome. the test car at Bell & Colvill had one and i just loved the pops as i changed gear.
Gooby - thanks for the info re the roof. I'll check i fitted it properly and if it still happens then it will be one of the points for the 1000 mile service.
jondude - the reversing / nearly stalling issue happened a couple of times in the first one hundred miles and this morning at work (320 miles on the clock), both times when fully warm. It might be my clutch control - will keep an eye on it and mention it at the 1000 mile check - looks like there might be a long list of things. nevertheless still loving the car.
Davey S2 - not sure my neighbours will appreciate that. though the stage 2 does sound awesome. the test car at Bell & Colvill had one and i just loved the pops as i changed gear.
Gooby - thanks for the info re the roof. I'll check i fitted it properly and if it still happens then it will be one of the points for the 1000 mile service.
jondude - the reversing / nearly stalling issue happened a couple of times in the first one hundred miles and this morning at work (320 miles on the clock), both times when fully warm. It might be my clutch control - will keep an eye on it and mention it at the 1000 mile check - looks like there might be a long list of things. nevertheless still loving the car.
gooby said:
Great choice, great car - Congratulations!
The dripping is not right, ask the dealer to sort it. sorry about the stone chip, I hate to say this to you but it will be the first of many.
I am happy to hear your are enjoying her!
When we were up at Hethel I was astonished to see that Lotus have a giant shower to test the watertightness of each car. Apparantly dribbles down the inside of the windows means a pass. On the way home it crossed my mind that someone at Hethel probably has a job to put a hole in any car that doesn't have any drips at all
Anyway nice post, good to hear you're enjoying the car. Get used to the attention.
>> Edited by TIPPER on Tuesday 2nd May 21:47
I was hoping to be first to congratulate you on the best car purchase you will ever make, 
unfortunately after creating the post below the computer system had been taken down at work so I saved my draft for later. It wasn’t raining yet so I took the roof off the car and went the long way home. 
Certainly does, plenty of waves and thumbs up from others, not to mention the friendly flashes and waves from other Lotus owners (and the occasional VX, 7, other British classic).
Pretty annoying but unfortunately a fact of life with the Elise, the front of my car after 5 years and 25,000 miles looks like it's been shot blasted, stand back a few paces and they are far less obvious.
Sure I won't be the last to advocate driver training and warn you about the pitfalls of the mid engine rear wheel drive layout at the limit, get yourself on a Walshy day. Great thread by JANITOR here on his recent visit.
Never mind the corner shop for milk, most people on here cover at least 100 miles going for milk or the Sunday paper.
Eliseparts or Elemental, I have the former which I bought second hand, great on its own but it has a silvered inside (I guess that the idea is inside out on hot days to keep temp down incockpit) and the silver tends to rub off on the soft top. Not familiar with the S2 roof but careful fitting on the S1 alleviates most leaks and I just accept them and keep a towel in the car.
>> Edited by turnamere on Wednesday 3rd May 10:04
>> Edited by turnamere on Wednesday 3rd May 10:09
unfortunately after creating the post below the computer system had been taken down at work so I saved my draft for later. It wasn’t raining yet so I took the roof off the car and went the long way home. cjfc said:
It really does get a great reception from the majority of people who see it.
Certainly does, plenty of waves and thumbs up from others, not to mention the friendly flashes and waves from other Lotus owners (and the occasional VX, 7, other British classic).
cjfc said:
On the way back from the reception I had my first stone chip and unfortunately it’s quite a large one.
Pretty annoying but unfortunately a fact of life with the Elise, the front of my car after 5 years and 25,000 miles looks like it's been shot blasted, stand back a few paces and they are far less obvious.
cjfc said:
Though I think having to run in the car may be a saviour for me. Instead of potentially going into corners a little too enthusiastically in the first few weeks it will allow me time to start to get use to the car and it’s behaviour before being able to use more of the power.
Sure I won't be the last to advocate driver training and warn you about the pitfalls of the mid engine rear wheel drive layout at the limit, get yourself on a Walshy day. Great thread by JANITOR here on his recent visit.
cjfc said:
The next day the top came off and it was a brief journey up to my parents. It’s my first soft top car and I love driving with the top off. Yes it was a little cold on Sunday morning but the heater did it’s job perfectly. Then on Monday it was off to heathrow to pick up my girlfriend and found the boot is surprisingly big. Overall I’ve now done over three hundred miles in the first three days (which is a lot for me) and I’ve loved every single one of them. And it’s certainly true I’ll be finding any excuse to drive the car.
Never mind the corner shop for milk, most people on here cover at least 100 miles going for milk or the Sunday paper.
cjfc said:
Nevertheless, there are a few issues with the car. I’m not able to put the car under cover (I am not fortunate enough to own a garage) so after several hours of rain on Saturday night I found that water was dripping into the car via the four holes where you move the mechanism to the side to release the soft top. Rest of the top was fine, just these four points. Is this normal? Looks like I’ll be buying a shower-cover – any suggestions for good ones?
Eliseparts or Elemental, I have the former which I bought second hand, great on its own but it has a silvered inside (I guess that the idea is inside out on hot days to keep temp down incockpit) and the silver tends to rub off on the soft top. Not familiar with the S2 roof but careful fitting on the S1 alleviates most leaks and I just accept them and keep a towel in the car.
>> Edited by turnamere on Wednesday 3rd May 10:04
>> Edited by turnamere on Wednesday 3rd May 10:09
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