Winter exodus out of Elises?

[Stitch]

With the clocks now set back and snow fall in London we Elise owners seem to fall into three camps

1) Use the car come rain or shine
2) Park it up for the winter
3) Move it on and get something with a decent heater

Which camp do you fall in to?

(From the owner of a SORN'd S2)

[Fatrat]

I've owned my S1 for about 4 months and use it every day and at the moment it is my only car. It is a bit cold and damp these mornings for about 5/10 mins then the car and cabin warm up and I remember why I bought the car.

SORN?? Pah!

[NathanE]

I use it every day. Sun, rain or snow.

Once its warmed up its a very snug place to be in the winter.

[braddo]

I was driving mine in the snow last night! I'll be using it year round as an everyday car, although it has a hardtop and I don't need it for commuting. I find the heater fine, and turning the fan on as soon as you get in the car seems to prevent the windows fogging up.

My concessions are that I'll try to keep it under a cover during prolonged rain and I'll give it a regular power wash underneath.

Brad

[R-Racer]

Polished her and fixed Hard Top on last week end ready for the long hard winter ahead,all part of the Lotus ownership to drive them all year round.Who wants to miss that feeling on a -4 morning, of your hand sticking to the gear shifter as you select a cog,who wants to miss that experience of leaving work in the dark,in the pissing rain,blinded by the on-coming traffic when blating down a fast A road home,I don't,bring it on!

[DamienCBR]

To be honest i dont fit into of those. My car is a weekend toy but is taxed all year. It does not come out in the rain unless in needs to but over the winter you can get some of the best sunny days of year.

D

[SeanyD]

1) Use the car come rain or shine. Its my only car, so used daily regardless of conditions.

If the wintery conditions get too bad ..... I may put the ragtop back on

Edited by SeanyD on Wednesday 29th October 13:22

[Chadders]

same as damiancbr

[nsm3]

Exige is my only car and I had all the fun of exiting B'ham Int train station car park last night with 3" snow on it, to enjoy a 2hour - 30 mile trip home - Jeez, why is it in this country, as soon as the weather turns less than perfect, everyone loses the ability to drive in a steady and flowing manner??

Only difference to a "proper car" was that I had to stop after 20 seconds to let the windows at least partially demist - apart from that it was a snug as they come - although the back of the legs did feel the cold aluminium tub after a while!

This morning, on my country lane run to the office, I had to control my enthusiasm a bit, but only had a couple of warnings from the almost worn out A048's.

I quite like the fact that people seem amazed that you have the audacity to drive such a contraption in this weather.

Oh and another thumbs up to the driver of the dark blue or purple, 55 plate Elise on the M5/M42 yesterday morning, who obviously has the same winter driving policy?

[Gooby]

Use it all year, I have done over 85k miles.
Today was the first time I have thought twice. Wasnt the 'Liz it was the idiots around me. One ended up on the roof and a motor cyclist was taken off his bike in front of me. His cat like reflexes were incredible, he dived over a barrier while a lorry was bearing down on him. The bike was still sliding down the m'way...

I really did think "sod it", turned around and went home. There was no way I was going to battle home in that snow after it had time to freeze and get dark.

[kambites]

Don't care how cold it gets, there's nothing else I'd rather be driving.

[Russ H]

Same as Damiancbr too, just a toy and feels more special the
less it gets used these days.

[Thorburn]

Trying to cut down the usage on mine, but its my only car so will still be using it when I need to.

Mostly just use it for fun anyway so not a lot of point slithering around and risking damage when its cold and icy.

Edited by Thorburn on Thursday 30th October 08:04

[wacattack]

I dont get these people that say get a car with a decent heater. I cannot complain about mine, im lovely and warm in my S1 even on the coldest of days

[boobles]

I use mine everyday regardless of weather.

[Talkwrench]

I'm fortunate enough to be able to tuck my Elise away for the Winter. I say fortunate for several reasons....
Firstly it allows me time to service the car thoroughly, do the major items that are starting to show and sort out all the niggly little problems that occur over the Summer. This Winter for example, its all the wheel bearings, the clutch pedal bush, the replacement driving lights, a decent stereo and new front disks. It also encourages me to carefully clean the wheels, under the arches, the suspension arms, the hood that is starting to fray at the stitching etc and properly prep the car for Winter.
Secondly and probably most importantly, it really does make a huge different to the overall condition the car stays in. Ive used my car pretty well every day over the last six months and really, the summer is very gentle on the car, condition wise. Its Winter salt that hammers the underside and the suspension. Damp, condensation and Winter dirt is fairly hard on the interior too.
Thirdly, when it comes round to April or May and the car is brought out of hibernation and put back on the road, its like having a new car and sampling the truly wonderful Elise experience for the first time all over again. I still get excited at the prospect!
Sure, they're useable all year round but the perpetual steamy windows, the continual wet right arm and the dampness takes the edge off the pleasure. Maybe I'm getting old! I must say though, the cars road manners and behaviour in all conditions has never put me off in the slightest. The feedback makes driving in all conditions an entertaining and exciting pleasure.

[Spunagain]

4 days a week 80 miles each day rain, snow or shine, 93k miles now!
1 day a week I use the V8, althought usually late in the week as I save it for really bad weather.

[Altrezia]

Its my daily car.

[Gallandro]

yep drive it no matter what the weather...

[Mr_C]

Every day for the last 4 years.

It's exciting in the snow.