Driving normally
Discussion
Hi guys,
Im looking to get my long talked about Elise S2 in the coming weeks. I jsut have a few questions remaining and a brief description of the car. Its a 2002 S2 with 10,500 miles on the clock. The price? €16000 (VRT Not paid). First is this a good price? Should I be worried about the car at this price? The normal price over here for a S2 with more mileage would be €25K for a S2 with VRT paid. Think the VRT would be about €4K.
Aside from all that, whats this car like if you drive it normally ie the speed limit?
I would be using it as my only car, is it unwise to do this?
Does anyone drive theirs in icy conditions?
Do you have to crawl during them or can you drive normally ie the speed limit?
Whats the wind noise like?
Is it like having the window down in a different car?
How comfortable are they on long journeys, say 40 min - 1 hour journeys? Then ocassionally 3 or 4 hours ones
Is it warm inside the car during winter?
When people talk about warming up the engine, is that for when you want to go out and have a bit of fun or when you just want to drive normally ie at the speed limit to work?
What does letting it cool down properly entail?
If I want to get someone with a powerhose and wax to wash the car is it assured that there will be leaks with either hardtop or soft?
Thanks!
Im looking to get my long talked about Elise S2 in the coming weeks. I jsut have a few questions remaining and a brief description of the car. Its a 2002 S2 with 10,500 miles on the clock. The price? €16000 (VRT Not paid). First is this a good price? Should I be worried about the car at this price? The normal price over here for a S2 with more mileage would be €25K for a S2 with VRT paid. Think the VRT would be about €4K.
Aside from all that, whats this car like if you drive it normally ie the speed limit?
I would be using it as my only car, is it unwise to do this?
Does anyone drive theirs in icy conditions?
Do you have to crawl during them or can you drive normally ie the speed limit?
Whats the wind noise like?
Is it like having the window down in a different car?
How comfortable are they on long journeys, say 40 min - 1 hour journeys? Then ocassionally 3 or 4 hours ones
Is it warm inside the car during winter?
When people talk about warming up the engine, is that for when you want to go out and have a bit of fun or when you just want to drive normally ie at the speed limit to work?
What does letting it cool down properly entail?
If I want to get someone with a powerhose and wax to wash the car is it assured that there will be leaks with either hardtop or soft?
Thanks!
Edited by bananamana on Monday 10th September 00:29
Aside from all that, whats this car like if you drive it normally ie the speed limit?
>>just fine
I would be using it as my only car, is it unwise to do this?
>>just fine - I did 55K miles in the 1st 2 years in mine
Does anyone drive theirs in icy conditions?
>> yes - Ive even driven it in (light) snow quite a few times...its not much fun, but if you are smooth and careful you will be ok
Do you have to crawl during them or can you drive normally ie the speed limit?
>>in icey conditions? ...drive to the conditions as you would in any car
Whats the wind noise like?
>> quite a bit worse as the soft top is not insulated
Is it like having the window down in a different car?
>> not that bad at all - lots of ambient noise though due to lack of sound deadening
How comfortable are they on long journeys, say 40 min - 1 hour journeys? Then ocassionally 3 or 4 hours ones
>> fine - Ive driven mine for 10 hours a day before 1 hour is no probs..you run out of fuel before you get uncomfortable
Is it warm inside the car during winter?
>>depends - standard K series S2 with early heater = no...it takes ages to warm up ...later cars (S2111S with aircon/HVAC) are MUCH better
When people talk about warming up the engine, is that for when you want to go out and have a bit of fun or when you just want to drive normally ie at the speed limit to work?
>>it warms up quicker if you drive it - so just get in it and drive...keep the revs under 3.5K for first 10 miles or so
What does letting it cool down properly entail?
>>only really applies to track use - do a couple of cool down laps, then let the engine run for a few mins before switching off
If I want to get someone with a powerhose and wax to wash the car is it assured that there will be leaks with either hardtop or soft?
>>yep - if you use high pressure around the window to roof seal...I wouldnt let anyone wash my car unless they are a pro detailer though
>>just fine
I would be using it as my only car, is it unwise to do this?
>>just fine - I did 55K miles in the 1st 2 years in mine
Does anyone drive theirs in icy conditions?
>> yes - Ive even driven it in (light) snow quite a few times...its not much fun, but if you are smooth and careful you will be ok
Do you have to crawl during them or can you drive normally ie the speed limit?
>>in icey conditions? ...drive to the conditions as you would in any car
Whats the wind noise like?
>> quite a bit worse as the soft top is not insulated
Is it like having the window down in a different car?
>> not that bad at all - lots of ambient noise though due to lack of sound deadening
How comfortable are they on long journeys, say 40 min - 1 hour journeys? Then ocassionally 3 or 4 hours ones
>> fine - Ive driven mine for 10 hours a day before 1 hour is no probs..you run out of fuel before you get uncomfortable
Is it warm inside the car during winter?
>>depends - standard K series S2 with early heater = no...it takes ages to warm up ...later cars (S2111S with aircon/HVAC) are MUCH better
When people talk about warming up the engine, is that for when you want to go out and have a bit of fun or when you just want to drive normally ie at the speed limit to work?
>>it warms up quicker if you drive it - so just get in it and drive...keep the revs under 3.5K for first 10 miles or so
What does letting it cool down properly entail?
>>only really applies to track use - do a couple of cool down laps, then let the engine run for a few mins before switching off
If I want to get someone with a powerhose and wax to wash the car is it assured that there will be leaks with either hardtop or soft?
>>yep - if you use high pressure around the window to roof seal...I wouldnt let anyone wash my car unless they are a pro detailer though
Never driven mine on ice yet, but being relatively light and mid-engined I would ensure any inputs are small, super smooth and progressive. An Elise can bite hard if driven too quickly in the wet, I would take it very easily on icy roads.
Warm in winter? If its dry, my roof is off. I have driven long distances in temperatures around 0c. I was WELL wrapped up, though! The heater on my 2007 Elise is very effective. Earlier S2's may not be as efficient, though. An '04 courtesy Elise I drove had a noticeably poorer heater on it than my car.
I wouldn't jetwash it myself, out of concern for the paintwork. Gentle rinsing of the car plus handwashing is the order of the day for me, although mine ain't used daily so it stays clean for quite a while between washes.
Warming the engine? I would always drive for at least 15 minutes (longer in cold weather) before really thrashing the engine. You should wait until the oil is at operating temperature before utilising the full performance. This is particularly critical if you have a K-series Rover powerplant.
Long jorneys? More comfortable than they look, although i'm a short arse with a slight frame. I have racked up 9 hours driving during a day without any problems. I find the driving position really intuative and everything (bar the stereo!) easily falls to hand.
Driving it normally? Feels quicker and more exciting than most other cars on the road. Obviously the fun increases as the speed builds, but you CAN have low speed fun in an Elise, unlike my last car which had to be ragged to death to obtain much sensation (Civic Type R).
Cool Down? If you've been driving 'enthusiastically', the last few minutes of your journey should be driven slowly and sympathetically - low revs, etc. More of an issue again with K-series engined cars, something to so with thermal shock loads within the engine block.
Wind noise? A lot less if you have the side windows up. I always have mine down 'cos its noisier and makes me feel i'm going faster!
Good luck mate, you'll love it!
Warm in winter? If its dry, my roof is off. I have driven long distances in temperatures around 0c. I was WELL wrapped up, though! The heater on my 2007 Elise is very effective. Earlier S2's may not be as efficient, though. An '04 courtesy Elise I drove had a noticeably poorer heater on it than my car.
I wouldn't jetwash it myself, out of concern for the paintwork. Gentle rinsing of the car plus handwashing is the order of the day for me, although mine ain't used daily so it stays clean for quite a while between washes.
Warming the engine? I would always drive for at least 15 minutes (longer in cold weather) before really thrashing the engine. You should wait until the oil is at operating temperature before utilising the full performance. This is particularly critical if you have a K-series Rover powerplant.
Long jorneys? More comfortable than they look, although i'm a short arse with a slight frame. I have racked up 9 hours driving during a day without any problems. I find the driving position really intuative and everything (bar the stereo!) easily falls to hand.
Driving it normally? Feels quicker and more exciting than most other cars on the road. Obviously the fun increases as the speed builds, but you CAN have low speed fun in an Elise, unlike my last car which had to be ragged to death to obtain much sensation (Civic Type R).
Cool Down? If you've been driving 'enthusiastically', the last few minutes of your journey should be driven slowly and sympathetically - low revs, etc. More of an issue again with K-series engined cars, something to so with thermal shock loads within the engine block.
Wind noise? A lot less if you have the side windows up. I always have mine down 'cos its noisier and makes me feel i'm going faster!
Good luck mate, you'll love it!
I know mine's not used as a daily driver, but i'd question the necessity of air conditioning. If its hot, keep the top on to provide shade and have both side windows down. The cabin's tiny so cools down very quickly. There's little crap inside these cars to retain heat, too. Plus you don't have acres of glass creating a mobile greenhouse with the Lotus.
Some will claim its good for demisting. Never bought that argument myself. As long as you keep the inside of your glass properly clean and make sure the blower's running if its raining outside, you'll prevent condensation from forming in almost any conditions.
S1 pilots never had the option of air conditioning. I don't notice many posts from them moaning about its non-existence!
If you do insist on having a/c, i'd highly recommend purchasing an Elise with it installed. Retro-fitting a/c in any car is difficult and expensive; i'm not sure its even possible to do it on the Elise.
Some will claim its good for demisting. Never bought that argument myself. As long as you keep the inside of your glass properly clean and make sure the blower's running if its raining outside, you'll prevent condensation from forming in almost any conditions.
S1 pilots never had the option of air conditioning. I don't notice many posts from them moaning about its non-existence!
If you do insist on having a/c, i'd highly recommend purchasing an Elise with it installed. Retro-fitting a/c in any car is difficult and expensive; i'm not sure its even possible to do it on the Elise.
Soft top? As long as its fitted nice and snug (wires correctly tensioned, etc) leaks shoouldn't be a problem. You may get the odd drip during really heavy rain, but that should be about it.
Get the hood really clean then treat it with a water repelling product. I use AutoGlym's cabriolet care kit. Any water beads really nicely on the surface when it rains.
Get the hood really clean then treat it with a water repelling product. I use AutoGlym's cabriolet care kit. Any water beads really nicely on the surface when it rains.
I wouldn't worry about A/c. We've got it on both chuggabugs but I haven't (obviously) on my S1. Never felt the need for it or missed it.
Bogie and Saied have given you good answers to your questions but only you can answer if the car is right for you. It does require compromises to be made if its your only car. If I were single then I could manage OK with it.
I'm quite happy driving my Elise from one side of the country to the other and S1s are rawer than S2s (plus mine has a close ratio gearbox). It all depends on what your prioirities in a car are.
Bogie and Saied have given you good answers to your questions but only you can answer if the car is right for you. It does require compromises to be made if its your only car. If I were single then I could manage OK with it.
I'm quite happy driving my Elise from one side of the country to the other and S1s are rawer than S2s (plus mine has a close ratio gearbox). It all depends on what your prioirities in a car are.
Banannaman, is this Elise in Kildare by any chance? If so...mail me through my profile, you'll appreciate it, believe me....not a good deal...btw, I'm in Ireland too, just imported a Series 2 Type 72, I might be able to help.
Hag
Edited to add, get thee to Octane, we'll look after you
Hag
Edited to add, get thee to Octane, we'll look after you
Edited by Hag on Monday 10th September 22:10
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