Elise as daily driver?
Discussion
I'm tempted to get an Elise to replace my daily driver. Most about are low mileage ones used for weekends only, wondering if they'll be any reliability issues with running one day to day?
Don't have kids or anything so don't need rear seats or a boot. Don't use m-ways for commute so thats not a problem. Any advice?
Preferably after one with the celica engine, but they're a bit out of my price range really :S Is the K series really that bad??
Don't have kids or anything so don't need rear seats or a boot. Don't use m-ways for commute so thats not a problem. Any advice?
Preferably after one with the celica engine, but they're a bit out of my price range really :S Is the K series really that bad??
Go for it you'll never look back!
If you want a car to be useable day-to-day i'd suggest a 111S due to the more comfort-based spec (better seats, full carpets, extra soundproofing, elec windows on post-04MY cars,) but also for the torquey nature of the car which makes it a doddle to drive in traffic.
I'm sure the Toyota engined cars are good but I get the impression they are very peaky (ie you need to get up to 6k+ revs before the 2nd cam comes in) whereas a K-engined 111S is tractable from very low revs and smooth to boot.
Do it!
If you want a car to be useable day-to-day i'd suggest a 111S due to the more comfort-based spec (better seats, full carpets, extra soundproofing, elec windows on post-04MY cars,) but also for the torquey nature of the car which makes it a doddle to drive in traffic.
I'm sure the Toyota engined cars are good but I get the impression they are very peaky (ie you need to get up to 6k+ revs before the 2nd cam comes in) whereas a K-engined 111S is tractable from very low revs and smooth to boot.
Do it!
K Series is a great engine with a bad rep IMO and I'm sure others on here will back this up.
There fine as an only car, I'm the same as you - single, non motorway miles... possibly better looking though...
My tip would be get a hard top, it really has changed my motor into a usable winter coupe.
There fine as an only car, I'm the same as you - single, non motorway miles... possibly better looking though...
My tip would be get a hard top, it really has changed my motor into a usable winter coupe.
Chris49 said:
K Series is a great engine with a bad rep IMO and I'm sure others on here will back this up.
There fine as an only car, I'm the same as you - single, non motorway miles... possibly better looking though...
My tip would be get a hard top, it really has changed my motor into a usable winter coupe.
keep the services upto date and warm up before a thrash !.. just coming upto my first anniversary with the k (04) and had no problems whatsoever !There fine as an only car, I'm the same as you - single, non motorway miles... possibly better looking though...
My tip would be get a hard top, it really has changed my motor into a usable winter coupe.
its been said time and time again but get the £60 aa parts and labour aa warranty and even if the engine goes bang theres not that mutch to pay out !
went out in the cold yesterday, roof off, fleece on, sounds banging !
I've got the shortest attention span on the planet and fcuck me I love her to bits
get one and get one now !
Zebede29 said:
Chris, i've heard mixed reports about the hard-top. Some ppl have said it adds way too much resonance and interior noise and they prefer it without, what's your take on that?
I don't have a hard-top ATM and have thought about it a few times.
I've heard this too. Mine is an official Lotus job bought off Jez49 a couple of weeks ago, when we fitted it he did compliment how well it went onto mine so I can only guess the fit varies.I don't have a hard-top ATM and have thought about it a few times.
I got it, initially, just to stop the rain heaving into my car! but I've got to say its made the world of difference. Its reduced wind noise massively, but still lets enough of the engine noise in from the back which is great, the roof is lined in gray and looks the mutts nuts and the biggest bonus is the cars line. No more pram roof!, it really has changed the look of the old girl.
I'll try and put some pictures up when I get in.
I don't know how the 3rd party roofs would fair but I'm full of praise for this one.
I dont get a single drip from my car even in the most torrential downpours - and my car's out all the time (dont have a garage).
So if I opted for a hardtop it'd not be for that reason - i'm struggling to jsutify the expense to be honest, as i'd deffo want a Lotus genuine one to ensure fit and finish quality.
Think i'll leave it for now.....
So if I opted for a hardtop it'd not be for that reason - i'm struggling to jsutify the expense to be honest, as i'd deffo want a Lotus genuine one to ensure fit and finish quality.
Think i'll leave it for now.....
Chris49 said:
Zebede29 said:
Chris, i've heard mixed reports about the hard-top. Some ppl have said it adds way too much resonance and interior noise and they prefer it without, what's your take on that?
I don't have a hard-top ATM and have thought about it a few times.
I've heard this too. Mine is an official Lotus job bought off Jez49 a couple of weeks ago, when we fitted it he did compliment how well it went onto mine so I can only guess the fit varies.I don't have a hard-top ATM and have thought about it a few times.
I got it, initially, just to stop the rain heaving into my car! but I've got to say its made the world of difference. Its reduced wind noise massively, but still lets enough of the engine noise in from the back which is great, the roof is lined in gray and looks the mutts nuts and the biggest bonus is the cars line. No more pram roof!, it really has changed the look of the old girl.
I'll try and put some pictures up when I get in.
I don't know how the 3rd party roofs would fair but I'm full of praise for this one.
So ultimately it proably depends on the length of your commute, the route (M'ways bit boring & noisy) and the traffic volumes. Constant 1st-2nd can be a PITA.
.... but for that sort of money whether looking new or second-hand you can't get a better bang for your buck on 4 wheels !
The Elise S would be more comparable to the K series for power delivery with a toyota engine but id say dont just buy one cause youre concerned about reliability nout wrong with a K if you do as the others said and look after it/get the AA wty but the Toyota S has only been around since 06 iirc the 111r was available in 04. I dont see a problem with my 'S' as a daily drive comfy easy to pootle in traffic and plenty of power for some safe road based grinning. if youre on a budget id say go for the 111S cracking car with a few creature comforts(lotus wise) and nice looking wheels plus its got 160bhp and the WR gears so motorway cruising would be easy.
I've had a standard S1 for a couple of weeks now, it is my everyday car.
So far it's great fun, but my commute is only 9 miles (including a dash on a quiet dual carriageway).
Driven in torrential rain once and nothing came in from the soft top.
Go for it, it puts a great smile on your face even at low speed.
So far it's great fun, but my commute is only 9 miles (including a dash on a quiet dual carriageway).
Driven in torrential rain once and nothing came in from the soft top.
Go for it, it puts a great smile on your face even at low speed.
I have a standard(ish) S1. I don't use it everyday (no car park at work so I have to get the bus 
) but it is my only car. It's a pain in the arse now the weather has gone shitty, as climbing in with the top on in a really tight garage is quite tricky. Once you're strapped in and away it soon makes up for the agro!
) but it is my only car. It's a pain in the arse now the weather has gone shitty, as climbing in with the top on in a really tight garage is quite tricky. Once you're strapped in and away it soon makes up for the agro!crackthatoff said:
Chris49 said:
K Series is a great engine with a bad rep IMO and I'm sure others on here will back this up.
There fine as an only car, I'm the same as you - single, non motorway miles... possibly better looking though...
My tip would be get a hard top, it really has changed my motor into a usable winter coupe.
keep the services upto date and warm up before a thrash !.. just coming upto my first anniversary with the k (04) and had no problems whatsoever !There fine as an only car, I'm the same as you - single, non motorway miles... possibly better looking though...
My tip would be get a hard top, it really has changed my motor into a usable winter coupe.
its been said time and time again but get the £60 aa parts and labour aa warranty and even if the engine goes bang theres not that mutch to pay out !
went out in the cold yesterday, roof off, fleece on, sounds banging !
I've got the shortest attention span on the planet and fcuck me I love her to bits
get one and get one now !
Get one! Mines a daily friver and is easy to live eith. The hard top does bring the sound in a lot more but is still worth having and not as bad as people say.
I use my S1 every day to get to work. 30 minutes down twisty lanes. Lots of fun. It's never missed a beat (unless you count the aftermarket isolator that I didn't know had been fitted coming loose).
"Try anything once, except incest and folk dancin'" as someone clever once said.
Buy one.
"Try anything once, except incest and folk dancin'" as someone clever once said.
Buy one.
Riknos said:
Most about are low mileage ones used for weekends only, wondering if they'll be any reliability issues with running one day to day?
any car that is sat rather than used is potentially a money pit, your right to ask that question, I cant understand why people think if a car has miles on it its not worth buying.the S2 is a completly different car than the S1, the yota engine s2 I had for a month before giving it back ran hotter, was slower and felt alot heavier.
asking if a S2 is livable for a daily driver is like asking if you should buy a car, and use it daily, its rather livable to be honest.
the S1 is slightly harder to live with day to day becuase its harder to get into, the roof doesnt whip off like the short tail soft top on the S2 and it is a harder ride.
but, you dont get the full fat propper legendary elise if you buy an S2, you get a proton thats roughly based on the S1 elise.
electric windows ???
4speakers!!!!!
I mean, sheesh, cmon.
(im 6'4" fat
and have no real issues getting in and out of the S1, and it is my daily drive, even do the shopping in it)although people do point and laugh quite alot, but then again, come to think about it, they do that when im not in the elise . . . .
Edited by DucatiGary on Friday 19th October 13:26
DucatiGary said:
Riknos said:
Most about are low mileage ones used for weekends only, wondering if they'll be any reliability issues with running one day to day?
but, you dont get the full fat propper legendary elise if you buy an S2, you get a proton thats roughly based on the S1 elise.whatever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just bought a 111s (04 MY) and am using it as my only car. Prior car was a bmw mini thing. So far so good. It doesn't make the commute in London traffic any better (wishful thinking), but when you reach a stretch of empty road (perhaps 200 metres or so), it's quite nice. 
Mine has the hardtop and an aftermarket exhaust and I haven't found it too loud or boomy at all. It's quite civilised unless you press the loud pedal down a bit.
Go for it!
Stu
Mine has the hardtop and an aftermarket exhaust and I haven't found it too loud or boomy at all. It's quite civilised unless you press the loud pedal down a bit.
Go for it!
Stu
Gassing Station | Elise/Exige/Europa/340R | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff