arent they bl**dy marvellous!

[bordseye]

The current Elises I mean. Every time I get in mine it brings a big grin to an old mans face. Its cheap to run unlike a supercar, its reliable thanks to Toyota, its light weight and without unnecessary bits and pieces like back seats, its even comfortable - and it goes as fast as I want on British roads. And when the sun shines you can take the roof off.

Every car I've previously has I've been able to think of a dozen ways of improving it. But not this one

[kambites]

bordseye said:

Every car I've previously has I've been able to think of a dozen ways of improving it. But not this one

I know a way to improve it. Take out the Toyota engine and put in, ooh I dunno, say a K-series?

[ant111s]

or a supercharger or turbo? ;-)

[rico28]

Marvellous they truely are!


(although mine is a k-series )

[TonyHetherington]

Couldn't agree more!

[Fidgits]

kambites said:

bordseye said:

Every car I've previously has I've been able to think of a dozen ways of improving it. But not this one

I know a way to improve it. Take out the Toyota engine and put in, ooh I dunno, say a K-series?

• Slaps with a wet fish**

But yes, they are amazing cars (as long as they have a toyota engine that is )

[SeanyD]

Suprisingly cheap to buy and run (all relatively speaking I realise), but looks a million dollars when bathed and polished.

More fun and head turning ability per £ than any other car I've owned or can think of.

[miro]

More power doesn't improve the cars handling the only improvement I have done that I wouldnt do without are the brake pads .. the 2Bular second and id rather have my money back for the induction kit (y).

[The Pits]

I'm absolutely loving mine that I bought in April. I've owned more powerful cars but for pure driving pleasure the elise beats them all. The roof on the later cars is an excellent bit of design and is on and off just as quickly and easily as the heavy electric affair on the Honda S2000 I used to have.

I was truly astonished by the elise in the pouring rain at the Anglesey circuit back in the summer. I have never drifted a car so much or so easily. Turn in, back off the throttle and the rear breaks away but it's so progressive it's easy to get back on the throttle and ride out the drift on opposite lock. Pure magic. Fail to back off the power and the rear will stay glued, plant the throttle early and let the excellent traction control power you out. Quicker but less fun. Either way it's all up to the driver. The chassis lets you do anything you want.

There are depressing number of people on this forum who do nothing but sg the S2 toyota cars for reasons that are still beyond me. I just console myself that while they're online repeating themselves I'm out there having the time of my life, actually driving my car rather than sgging other people's! All elises have their merits and all are wonderful to drive so it's nice to see a post that reminds this forum of that obvious point.

[SeanyD]

... can't wait for the light nights and summer weather again. I know the current cool air gives you a bit more umph, but the Elise and me are definitely happiest roof down blasting around the B roads, T shirt on, in whatever sunshine nature gives us. Ah - Happy days.

[bogie]

definately the best all round package for an affordable sportscar, that you can track regularly without it costing a fortune, or breaking ...not as extreme as a Caterham type car, and not as soft as a Porker...spot on, in a niche of its own really

..I cant wait to have another, an Elise of some description is perfect for my requirements

[The Pits]

er dear mods, what's wrong with the word 'sg'? All it means is 'knock'? It's not a swear word and I wasn't using it to mean promiscuous either. Nevermind. Elises are great either way! I really wish the evora every success. The only problem is, esp as a hard top only I can't see myself enjoying one more than the elise, much as I'd love to support lotus in these difficult times.

Edited by The Pits on Friday 19th December 13:31

[R.P.M]

The Pits said:

.............There are depressing number of people on this forum who do nothing but sg the S2 Toyota cars for reasons that are still beyond me. I just console myself that while they're online repeating themselves I'm out there having the time of my life, actually driving my car rather than sgging other people's! All elises have their merits and all are wonderful to drive so it's nice to see a post that reminds this forum of that obvious point.

Absolutely agree. I have to say, I'm getting sick to the back teeth of the regular k/yota bashers on here. I have experienced most engine options in the Elise/exige and fully understand the advantages and disadvantages of all the engines, but the single mindedness of the bashing is getting very tiresome. why cant people understand that we are all different people who like and want different cars!!

:rant over:

Rpm

Ps your are indeed right, all Elise's and Exige's are bloody marvelous!

[kambites]

I wasn't being entirely serious. When did the days when smileys were used to imply a joke end, anyway?

[shangani]

You're so right. Elises are great little cars in every form they were produced. What else gives you the same "grin-factor" for anything like the money? From a 120bhp S1 to an elise S to a 260 bhp elise, they are all a giggle. I remember my first drive of an elise (S1 111s) - I couldn't stop laughing for hours.

Must admit though, the newer ones are rather better screwed together.

All the debates about different variants aside, they are ALL very good little sports cars.

[Fidgits]

kambites said:

I wasn't being entirely serious. When did the days when smileys were used to imply a joke end, anyway?

exactly - i could tell your post was tongue in cheek - hence my reply...


what happened to 'goodwill to all man'? (well, except Gordon Brown, he can whistle for his goodwill... and Livingstone, screw him... infact im going to write a list..)

[LotusACBC]

I love reading posts like this. I cant wait to get myself into an Elise!! i am hoping by summer time, but the way things are looking for me financially I dont know if that will come to light. Either way, I will get one with in a year I am sure of it.

Question, in regards to the Elise in the U.S. with the Toyota engine - Lets say I cannot afford the SC version (which is likely I will only be able to get the regular Elise being that I will probably only be able to afford an 05-06) being that it is a Toyota engine (used from the celica gts? right?) than what sort of performance bargain parts can one expect to be able to purchase for the celica engine but mat to the Elise? Is that even possible?

I know an intake with a K&N would be the first thing to do, but what else can one do inexpensively to make the Elise have more grunt?

Also, what are the major differences between the 05 and 06 model?

Edited for spelling

Edited by LotusACBC on Friday 19th December 14:51

[kambites]

I think it's quite hard to get much more power from the Toyota engine, it is, after all, already producing over 100bhp/litre. An aftermarket supercharger is probably your best bet but they aren't particularly cheap.

[Fidgits]

in the UK the 06 model was a significant upgrade... not sure with what, but you get the Probax seats, LED lights.. and probably a few other bits...

I doubt the drive is any different though


And before worrying about upgrading, try driving the elise - its not about 1/4 mile drag races, its about corners and handling (i personally much prefer my 111R to the SC anyway, even though the SC's faster)

[R.P.M]

kambites said:

I wasn't being entirely serious. When did the days when smileys were used to imply a joke end, anyway?

sorry not meant to be entirely directed at you, just a general winge about this forum of late.