Quick elise question

[kazste]

so then thinking of getting my first elise have driven and fallen in love with it and even got the ok from the wife!! Just need an answer to a question though. I'm thinkng of the elise s and it would have to be left outside n a driveway overnight. I have heard stories of the s1's leaking and water getting into the engine. Will I be okay with the s2 being left outside or should I try and put it in the garage which is a little full at the moment! Any help greatly appreciated and I look forward to joining a new part of the pistonheads forum

[Andy G Bmth]

Hi

only picked up my s2 tonight but had a s1 before.

mine will be living outside too and i'm pretty sure they are fully waterproof so you shouldn't have any problems

[TIPPER]

My S1 has lived outside since I bought it 3.5 years ago. Its got to be raining very heavily for me to get a few drops of water inside. If I put the shower cape on then it stays completely dry. It always starts first time too.
Get the car you prefer, look aftyer it and it will look after you.

[bogie]

mine lived outside for 86K miles and 6 years, and got driven most days, dont worry, just buy and enojoy it

[jondude]

My S1 was parked outside by the previous owner for 3 years or so, and I have sometimes had to leave it out in torrential rain.

So far, always started on first crank.


However, if you can cover the engine cover, it may be a good idea. When I came to change the spark plugs, the water edging down the wells had welded the HT lead to the plug, and it took ages and lots of frustration to remove one in particular. The wells were full of gunge and rust flakes, too.

Of course, you could just remove the HT leads and clean the wells, clean the plugs every year, rather than wait as long as we/I did.

[SeanyD]

s2's are reasonably water tight. Theres mixed stories of some leaking a little, some leaking none at all. Mine leaaks a bit during the heaviest of torrential rain, but nothing too serious, an occasional small puddle on the door sills and thats it. I just consider it a *feature*.

[kazste]

Thankyou very much for the responses am going back today to make sure the wife likes it and then buy it. Just now have to decide between old dash board or new dash board as old one is cheaper and still new

[matc]

My old S2 lived outside for 2 years, and was very rarley used. It always started 1st time though and never let in any water. The only issue I had was being scared I would come home one day and the car wouldn't be there....but I guess that's the same with any car really.

Good luck with whichever you choose; make sure you post some pictures when you get it.

Edited by matc on Saturday 25th April 10:26

[kazste]

I promise to post some photos of it. Going to have a look again later today and as befre if wife likes just have to decide if go for silver with black wheels or blue and White with black wheels. Are there any differences between the updated elise s or is it just the dashboard?

[EliseNick]

My S2 lives outside and is absolutely fine.

Cheers,

Nick

[wantalotus]

If you park on an incline, just try to park nose down, otherwise the boot floods.

Just enjoy.................

[The Bandit]

kazste said:

I promise to post some photos of it. Going to have a look again later today and as befre if wife likes just have to decide if go for silver with black wheels or blue and White with black wheels. Are there any differences between the updated elise s or is it just the dashboard?

The newer dash is fitted to 2008 model year cars onwards,basically you get twin airbags and repositioned speakers/vents,the 'hidden' warning symbols and 3 shift lights on a black backround.

Some don't like it,some do-personal preference to your taste really.
I like it.

[kazste]

I prefer the look of the newer model and I went for the newer version but can see why people would like the simpler design of steering wheel and the alcantara dash. Where are the shift lights completely missed them on my drive. Will have to look next time I drive an elise which should all being well on friday evening whoop whoop. If you see a blue and White elise being driven timidly by a large chap with a larger grin in the notts Leicester area please giveme a toot. Guessing can of worms here but any suggestions on how to run them in? And finally a massive thanks to mark and andy at stratstone Leicester for their patience and help. Even though I do owe them an icecream!

[The Bandit]

kazste said:

I prefer the look of the newer model and I went for the newer version but can see why people would like the simpler design of steering wheel and the alcantara dash. Where are the shift lights completely missed them on my drive. Will have to look next time I drive an elise which should all being well on friday evening whoop whoop. If you see a blue and White elise being driven timidly by a large chap with a larger grin in the notts Leicester area please giveme a toot. Guessing can of worms here but any suggestions on how to run them in? And finally a massive thanks to mark and andy at stratstone Leicester for their patience and help. Even though I do owe them an icecream!

The 3 shift lights light up sequentially in red on the rev counter.

You need to keep below 4500 revs for the first 1000 miles when running in.I was told not to sit on a motorway cruising along but to do lots of shifts up and down the rev range and to do a lot of engine braking.
When your car has done 1000 miles you have to take it back to have the oil changed and have the diagnostic tool plugged in(if they find you have over-revved it significantly you could void your engine warranty).They could of course be talking bks but it stops you over-revving it i can tell you!!

It is AGONY doing that first 1000 miles as you might expect!

Good luck buying from there.