should i buy an elise?
Discussion
Guys...
I was thinking of buying a TVR chimaera but im afraid that after all my research im not willing to take the risk!
So then i thought - hmm, elises are nice and i guess they are cheap to run too...comparatively.
What do you all think? I can spend about £13k on a car and ill have a loan for that so i dont want too many other expenses other than fuel and normal servicing.
Are they cheap to run?
Are they reliable?
Are they good everyday cars?
Are they ok on motorways??
Help!!
Should i buy an elise?
I was thinking of buying a TVR chimaera but im afraid that after all my research im not willing to take the risk!
So then i thought - hmm, elises are nice and i guess they are cheap to run too...comparatively.
What do you all think? I can spend about £13k on a car and ill have a loan for that so i dont want too many other expenses other than fuel and normal servicing.
Are they cheap to run?
Are they reliable?
Are they good everyday cars?
Are they ok on motorways??
Help!!
Should i buy an elise?
Thats a very old joke and now is total B**l*cks. Most modern lotuses (loti?) are reliable. I have driven my 10 year M100 for the last 4.5 years and no problems. Elises equally have very few problems on reliability. Occasionally there are "cr@p cars" but all manufacturers have these.
Lotuses that are "Loads of trouble" are usually the ones that have been serviced by hamfisted mechanics or DIYers. Check for a proper service record and you should have no problems.
Jamie you should check out the BBS buletin board on
www.british-cars.co.uk/cgi-bin/gen5?runprog=lotusbbs&access=31844495006021
They can give you good advice re what to look for etc. Go for the Elise you won't regret it.
Edited by smeagol on Saturday 15th December 23:59
Lotuses that are "Loads of trouble" are usually the ones that have been serviced by hamfisted mechanics or DIYers. Check for a proper service record and you should have no problems.
Jamie you should check out the BBS buletin board on
www.british-cars.co.uk/cgi-bin/gen5?runprog=lotusbbs&access=31844495006021
They can give you good advice re what to look for etc. Go for the Elise you won't regret it.
Edited by smeagol on Saturday 15th December 23:59
The only thing I have had to replace on my nov 99 elise is brake pads and tyres, which would have probably lasted longer but for a couple of track days and a weekend trip to the Nurburgring. Servicing is as cheap as a mid-priced saloon (if you shop around), and fuel economy is around 35 mpg. Theres enough room in the boot for a weekend's worth of luggage for 2 people, and with a bit of mild tuning it goes like shit off a greasy stick - what more do you need ?.
Jim
Jim
Hello Jamie,
Blatant self plugging here but if you want a much more useable everyday road car still with good track capabilities, please consider us. As for reliability, we use Ford engine and electronics; the T5 gearbox; and T5 transmission. Before doing this, we engineered cars for BMW so know how to do it right.
Joe90
www.fbscars.co.uk
Blatant self plugging here but if you want a much more useable everyday road car still with good track capabilities, please consider us. As for reliability, we use Ford engine and electronics; the T5 gearbox; and T5 transmission. Before doing this, we engineered cars for BMW so know how to do it right.
Joe90
www.fbscars.co.uk
Jamie if you have'nt taken the plunge yet, drive the cars back to back.i did this a month ago and I was all for an Exige/Elise until I drove my Cerbera. The engines are the major difference i.e. the TVR has a real supercar engine, the Lotus has a overpowered hairdryer (in comparison) Drive em. The TVR will sell itself every time. In defence of the Lotus from what I have heard it would definately be cheaper to run and breakdown less than a TVR, but once you hear that engine all that won't matter a toss IMHO
Jamie
I had the same dilema as you. Wife suggested on honeymoon this summer "why dont we get a sports car" (had m8's elise s2 for wedding car when they were v.rare on road - wife loved it). This obviously confirmed that this was the right woman to marry !!!!
Therefore went and did exactly what Hazy suggested and drove my 2 prefered options (Chimp and Elise S1) back to back at Hawthorns TVR (Farnham). I loved both cars, for different reasons obviously, but again Hazy is right as I too fell in love with the awesome power of the Tiv engine (and was only 4l Chimp)as well as its thunderous roar (still smile when thinking of it). For sheer grin factor the Chimp certainly scores highly.
HOWEVER - I too am making a purchase on a budget although with 20k (including servicing)a little more than u. Therefore, having weighed up the pro's and cons I went for an Elise S1 and a little more piece of mind. I was able to spend 18k on a W plate with 5000 miles (Lotus Dealer + Warrenty) wheras I probably would have only wanted to spend 15k max on the Chimp which would have got me an older and leggier car.
It all comes down to personal preferences and you will only be able to make your decision having driven both and if this is back to back so much the better. Having driven them both u will be able to decide based on what u personally feel is most important for your driving enjoyment. I came to the decision that running costs would be higher for the Tiv (strikes me fuel costs alone would be almost twice as much)and i would always have a nagging concern about reliability. I'm obviously not blinkered to the fact that the elise could be problematic but thats why I bought from a dealer and have a warrenty (plus there are some really competativly priced vehicles around at the moment, same with Tivs mind).
I also found that I enjoyed both cars immensly but that I could live without the TVR burble - just (elise will have sports box on though). Decision was helped when my 5'4" wife had difficulty reaching the Tivs pedals on the test drive (I know the set up can be changed but it kinda tainted her 1st impression).
So, the answer is drive some, but if your on an even tighter budget than me think about how much and for what u actually want to use this car. For us its a third car for leisure use but when i thought about how much fuel would cost for my considered run to whichever european GP i choose this year I knew the elise was the car to go for. It is very easy to fall in love with a car but it must be even more heart breaking reallising you cant afford to fix it or take it where you want.
In case you hadnt picked up, I havnt yet taken delivery of my elise but am picking it up hopefully this week or next weekend at the lateset. I am absolutely wetting myself with excitement - boyhood dream realised and all that. It's just a shame i will have to drive it with the respect that the current weather demands, but hey, I dont doubt these machines are a little pricier in the spring/summer so i wont complain.
Anyhow, let us know if you've made a decision, driven anything or even made a purchase.
Enjoy
Mrol
I had the same dilema as you. Wife suggested on honeymoon this summer "why dont we get a sports car" (had m8's elise s2 for wedding car when they were v.rare on road - wife loved it). This obviously confirmed that this was the right woman to marry !!!!
Therefore went and did exactly what Hazy suggested and drove my 2 prefered options (Chimp and Elise S1) back to back at Hawthorns TVR (Farnham). I loved both cars, for different reasons obviously, but again Hazy is right as I too fell in love with the awesome power of the Tiv engine (and was only 4l Chimp)as well as its thunderous roar (still smile when thinking of it). For sheer grin factor the Chimp certainly scores highly.
HOWEVER - I too am making a purchase on a budget although with 20k (including servicing)a little more than u. Therefore, having weighed up the pro's and cons I went for an Elise S1 and a little more piece of mind. I was able to spend 18k on a W plate with 5000 miles (Lotus Dealer + Warrenty) wheras I probably would have only wanted to spend 15k max on the Chimp which would have got me an older and leggier car.
It all comes down to personal preferences and you will only be able to make your decision having driven both and if this is back to back so much the better. Having driven them both u will be able to decide based on what u personally feel is most important for your driving enjoyment. I came to the decision that running costs would be higher for the Tiv (strikes me fuel costs alone would be almost twice as much)and i would always have a nagging concern about reliability. I'm obviously not blinkered to the fact that the elise could be problematic but thats why I bought from a dealer and have a warrenty (plus there are some really competativly priced vehicles around at the moment, same with Tivs mind).
I also found that I enjoyed both cars immensly but that I could live without the TVR burble - just (elise will have sports box on though). Decision was helped when my 5'4" wife had difficulty reaching the Tivs pedals on the test drive (I know the set up can be changed but it kinda tainted her 1st impression).
So, the answer is drive some, but if your on an even tighter budget than me think about how much and for what u actually want to use this car. For us its a third car for leisure use but when i thought about how much fuel would cost for my considered run to whichever european GP i choose this year I knew the elise was the car to go for. It is very easy to fall in love with a car but it must be even more heart breaking reallising you cant afford to fix it or take it where you want.
In case you hadnt picked up, I havnt yet taken delivery of my elise but am picking it up hopefully this week or next weekend at the lateset. I am absolutely wetting myself with excitement - boyhood dream realised and all that. It's just a shame i will have to drive it with the respect that the current weather demands, but hey, I dont doubt these machines are a little pricier in the spring/summer so i wont complain.
Anyhow, let us know if you've made a decision, driven anything or even made a purchase.
Enjoy
Mrol
jamie,
Buy an Elise, they are cheap to run, look beautiful and excellent to drive. TVR's are nice but too expensive from the word go plus, nobody lets you out at junctions!!
I have a S1 and the only problem is getting in & out of it but if you are fit & nimble like me then you'll have no problems!!
Jon
Buy an Elise, they are cheap to run, look beautiful and excellent to drive. TVR's are nice but too expensive from the word go plus, nobody lets you out at junctions!!
I have a S1 and the only problem is getting in & out of it but if you are fit & nimble like me then you'll have no problems!!
Jon
I went the other way, I really wanted a performance sports car and was seriously considering an Elise. I then saw, and worse still heard a Chimaera! - No dilema! I test drove some and was absolutely gobbsmacked. Bought mine in the end from Adrian Blyth at Grayshot, near Hindhead. Check him out at www.adrianblyth.co.uk He is very helpful, has a beautiful selection of sports cars and will help you decide. Can only say that the TVR Chim is in a totally different league.
quote:
jamie,
Buy an Elise, they are cheap to run, look beautiful and excellent to drive. TVR's are nice but too expensive from the word go plus, nobody lets you out at junctions!!
Got to say chappers this is absolutely right but you buy a sports car for the way it makes you feel...the grin factor. TVR's have triple the quantity of this element and all you need to access this is a squeeze of the loud pedal, on any road,on any day and at any speed. The Elise only completely satisfies on a dry twisty road with the top off.Yeah TVR's are expensive to run (18mpg coz I keep gunning the engine to hear it pop and crackle
) but the best things in life are rarely cheap.Choose life....choose T V R!!!!!! 
P.S. Have you actually made your choice yet Jamie?
Its horses for courses guys. I prefer the lotus (m100) and wouldn't hesitate on an Elise or Exige (driven both serious grin factor as is my car). I don't like the TVR front engine rwd system and the "gill" on the side. I agree they sound nice but it doesn't handle like a Lotus. (I think the Elise/Exige also sounds excellent with sports exhaust) I like to drive a car that handles well with enough punch to satisfy. I live in an area with lots of country lanes so top speed is mostly irrelavant. Hence I choose Lotus. If you prefer raw power/grunt choose a TVR.
BOTH ARE EXCELLENT CARS WITH CHARACTER. I wave at both TVRs and Lotus 'cos they have the same feelings about driving (ie its a pleasure). Lets not start a debate on who's car is best.
BOTH ARE EXCELLENT CARS WITH CHARACTER. I wave at both TVRs and Lotus 'cos they have the same feelings about driving (ie its a pleasure). Lets not start a debate on who's car is best.
quote:
BOTH ARE EXCELLENT CARS WITH CHARACTER. I wave at both TVRs and Lotus 'cos they have the same feelings about driving (ie its a pleasure). Lets not start a debate on who's car is best.
I agree with you..Vive La Difference as some French git once said!
TVR still rules tho'...............
Shame, me and the GLW went and test drove a 135 Sport last Saturday. Awesome in a word. Steering like no other car I have ever driven, go kart like springs to mind, there was so much feel.
Only downside (and its a major downer) is that Mrs T didn't like getting in and out of it. Something along the lines of "I'll show my religion every time I try and get out of the thing" I think she said. Crying shame because aside from that, it was a perfect 10.
I tried to persuade her to buy trouser suits for work, but that had no effect. Sadly, the only other alternative is another '5 (but everyone's got one) or a Boxster.
So in summary....if you can get in and out of it - buy one.
Only downside (and its a major downer) is that Mrs T didn't like getting in and out of it. Something along the lines of "I'll show my religion every time I try and get out of the thing" I think she said. Crying shame because aside from that, it was a perfect 10.
I tried to persuade her to buy trouser suits for work, but that had no effect. Sadly, the only other alternative is another '5 (but everyone's got one) or a Boxster.
So in summary....if you can get in and out of it - buy one.
I bought a L-reg TVR Chimera 4.0l (after crashing my dad's 6 week old Chimera 500 into a tyre wall!) and I owned it for about two years. I eventually gave it up because of the huge running costs and dreadful dealer and factory experiences. Getting banned for speeding on an empty motorway just pushged me over the edge. During my two years of ownership the TVR depreciated by about 40%. Great to drive, pain to own.
I bought an Elise this August and have had an excellent time. The first service was reasonable and I'm excited about further upgrades.
I've driven both cars on the track and particpated in both TVR and Lotus car clubs. The TVR defintely sounded better and had more umph. The Lotus handles sweeter and is easier to own.
Your choice.
I bought an Elise this August and have had an excellent time. The first service was reasonable and I'm excited about further upgrades.
I've driven both cars on the track and particpated in both TVR and Lotus car clubs. The TVR defintely sounded better and had more umph. The Lotus handles sweeter and is easier to own.
Your choice.
On nomral British B roads (i.e fast roads but not motorway) the TVR's extra power will mean diddly squat. Yes it does sound fantastic but whack a sports exhaust + cat rep on your Elise and that will sound OK..not better..but OK.
Look at every single magazines review of the Elise....it is 10/10 everywhere. They cannot all be wrong. Buy an uprated version and you will love it. Hardly anything can live with you on the road and when you do come up against a TVR just wait until you get to a roundabout and then say goodbye to him.
Have fun whichever you go for...but remember that 6 months of the year the TVR will be in the workshop :-)
Look at every single magazines review of the Elise....it is 10/10 everywhere. They cannot all be wrong. Buy an uprated version and you will love it. Hardly anything can live with you on the road and when you do come up against a TVR just wait until you get to a roundabout and then say goodbye to him.
Have fun whichever you go for...but remember that 6 months of the year the TVR will be in the workshop :-)
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