Discussion
I'm looking at replacing my existing car with something with a little more interesting. I'm not after suggestions as such, but more what an Elise is like to live with as a daily driver. Ideally I'd be looking to spend between £9k and £12k - would an S1 or S2 be better etc? Which model of which?
I've got a 7yr daughter on a weekend - or so the current timeshare rules stipulate, lol - I'm guessing it's not much more of a pain to haul a child around in the passenger seat as anything else?
Apologies if these are pain in the backside questions - I'm a little bored at work and am passing the time trying to make my mind up.
Ta in advance.
I've got a 7yr daughter on a weekend - or so the current timeshare rules stipulate, lol - I'm guessing it's not much more of a pain to haul a child around in the passenger seat as anything else?
Apologies if these are pain in the backside questions - I'm a little bored at work and am passing the time trying to make my mind up.
Ta in advance.
kambites said:
If you have 12k and it's a daily driver, I'd go for an S2. It's a more civilised (less raw) car.
I can't see a problem with having a 7 year old in the car as long as she's not scared of loony driving.
"Faster daddy, faster"I can't see a problem with having a 7 year old in the car as long as she's not scared of loony driving.
"I like this car, it's fast"
Just two quotes to have come from her mouth when I had the V6 406 coupe.
I'm sorely tempted to go for an S2. Posted up a link to a beautiful ruby red one in the General Gassing section when I was asking for alternatives to a Focus ST.
TTwiggy said:
miss notax said:
On a non-technical and girlie note, I find the seats bloody uncomfortable though, so that's the only thing that I would say look out for!!
you need a set of probax seats...miss notax said:
TTwiggy said:
miss notax said:
On a non-technical and girlie note, I find the seats bloody uncomfortable though, so that's the only thing that I would say look out for!!
you need a set of probax seats...really do recomemd them...
fathomfive said:
kambites said:
If you have 12k and it's a daily driver, I'd go for an S2. It's a more civilised (less raw) car.
I can't see a problem with having a 7 year old in the car as long as she's not scared of loony driving.
"Faster daddy, faster"I can't see a problem with having a 7 year old in the car as long as she's not scared of loony driving.
"I like this car, it's fast"
Just two quotes to have come from her mouth when I had the V6 406 coupe.
I'm sorely tempted to go for an S2. Posted up a link to a beautiful ruby red one in the General Gassing section when I was asking for alternatives to a Focus ST.
I drive a s2 111s daily.
My car has hurricane induction, 4-2-1 manifold and sports exhaust.
These are common upgrades, and why I went for the car I went for...... but I wouldnt recommend them on a daily driver.
Hurricane maybe, but the sports exhaust and 4-2-1 are blimmin' loud. Really fun on the test drive, but I tend to wear earplugs when on motorways so as not to burn the ears away. (around 3.75K rpm in 5th is a good cruising speed but quite boomy).
So I'd look for a good, stock, 111s to fit the bill. You may struggle at that price without going high miles (like I did), and high miles come with other issues in that work will need doing... in fact, sod that, get a longtail sports tourer, a good'un for the money and you'll be sorted.
I find my car physically comfy, although the wheel could be a bit closer to me (I may get a spacer). I drove it back from Glasgow to cambridge when I bought it and it was fine, im 6ft medium build.
I can certainly live with it everyday, jsut a tad noisy, but sometimes it is fun to be lairy
My car has hurricane induction, 4-2-1 manifold and sports exhaust.
These are common upgrades, and why I went for the car I went for...... but I wouldnt recommend them on a daily driver.
Hurricane maybe, but the sports exhaust and 4-2-1 are blimmin' loud. Really fun on the test drive, but I tend to wear earplugs when on motorways so as not to burn the ears away. (around 3.75K rpm in 5th is a good cruising speed but quite boomy).
So I'd look for a good, stock, 111s to fit the bill. You may struggle at that price without going high miles (like I did), and high miles come with other issues in that work will need doing... in fact, sod that, get a longtail sports tourer, a good'un for the money and you'll be sorted.
I find my car physically comfy, although the wheel could be a bit closer to me (I may get a spacer). I drove it back from Glasgow to cambridge when I bought it and it was fine, im 6ft medium build.
I can certainly live with it everyday, jsut a tad noisy, but sometimes it is fun to be lairy
stuthemong said:
I find my car physically comfy, although the wheel could be a bit closer to me (I may get a spacer). I drove it back from Glasgow to cambridge when I bought it and it was fine, im 6ft medium build.
I have a spacer fitted and it's well worth doing if you find the wheel too far away. Only problem is that it makes the indicators rather hard to reach - I'm getting some ali stalks which I'll bend in a vice to bring them closer to the wheel.I'm 6 foot too and it's the most comfortable car I've ever driven (S2 111S with lumber support).
I survived in Comfort last weekend after doing 1450 miles in 2.5 days. I would say now that it is hard to get Milan and back in the Elise in this time but the probax seats - wow perfect !
Better than my office Chair, anyone know of a conversation - not sure how they would look in the office - quite cool I think.
Oh yes, am trying some out next week (to make sure I like them!) and then i'll be ordering some asap. The original ones really are crippling though - I look like some old woman hobbing out of the car sometimes and i'm only a young 33!!I did a round trip from SE London to Silverstone, then onto Swindon and then South Wales (about 400+ miles all in) in my probax-equiped car and suffered no aches or pains at all (and I'm 36!)
really do recomemd them...
Better than my office Chair, anyone know of a conversation - not sure how they would look in the office - quite cool I think.
TTwiggy said:
miss notax said:
TTwiggy said:
miss notax said:
On a non-technical and girlie note, I find the seats bloody uncomfortable though, so that's the only thing that I would say look out for!!
you need a set of probax seats...really do recomemd them...
I've got a s2 111s (my 04) which has air con and the additional sound damping material from the 04 model year which is brilliant as my every day / commute car. It has the lotus sports 'zaust which is fine on the motorway (majority of miles are m-way). I have carried my young kids in the car (baby seats) however with the new rules I still wouldn't see an issue with a 7 year old in there - you'll just have to find someone willing to let you try out a range of booster etc seat (TMB around the back of the Lotus dealer in Swindon are brilliant) till you find one that fits the seat and child.
Go for it - hours of fun
Miles
Go for it - hours of fun
Miles
I have an early S1 with a PTP 170 kit on it, so noisy exhaust and induction, and I use it every day. I will do about 12-15k miles this year in it.
My two year old boy loves it. You get used to the seats pretty quickly if you drive it every day (a bit like riding a bike with a hard saddle all the time -it only hurts if you don't use the bike often enough).
S2 would definitely be a better bet though for every day though, and avoid loud induction and exhaust systems. I use earplugs on motorways, but that's not ideal. Other than that, it's brilliant.
HTH.
My two year old boy loves it. You get used to the seats pretty quickly if you drive it every day (a bit like riding a bike with a hard saddle all the time -it only hurts if you don't use the bike often enough).
S2 would definitely be a better bet though for every day though, and avoid loud induction and exhaust systems. I use earplugs on motorways, but that's not ideal. Other than that, it's brilliant.
HTH.
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