Lotus Elise - a serious alternative to a Tuscan?
Discussion
Hi Folks, no I'm not thinking of parting with the Tuscan (yet) but it does get you thinking when you drive one of those little Elises. I went to Hethel on Monday as part of a corporate day for some driver training - great fun. Although getting in and out of the Elise was 'interesting' (I'm 6'1"), once you're in, there's a reasonable amount of space. Ok, so it's no Euro tourer, but then, if I'm honest, I can't remember when I needed to fill the boot? Any complaints I did have about the amount of room were soon forgotten when I slung it around the circuit. It's almost impossible to get the back end to step out. Sure, acceleration of the basic 'S' variant is not in the league of a Tuscan, but it aint no pussycat either and it's sooo much fun in the corners.
I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has considered one of these. I've no idea what to make of them as everyday cars - I guess in different ways they are as practical or impractical as the Tuscan. I'd also be interested to know whether a well set up Tuscan (i.e. after-market suspension - Gaz, Nitrons etc) would offer similar performance or is the Elise always going to offer you a lot more dynamically?
I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has considered one of these. I've no idea what to make of them as everyday cars - I guess in different ways they are as practical or impractical as the Tuscan. I'd also be interested to know whether a well set up Tuscan (i.e. after-market suspension - Gaz, Nitrons etc) would offer similar performance or is the Elise always going to offer you a lot more dynamically?
I've just come from a VX220 but have fair bit of Elise experience.
They are great car - the newer engines (ie not the rover 1.8) mean cheap, reliable fun.
Mine was a day to day drive and only probs were crap heater and demister (could now be solved with a/c in newer elises), small boot (if intending to tour in it - that said you can get a suprising amount in them).
I only changed as I wanted something faster and different.
Will probably go back to Elise/exige next but this time could not justify the £20k ish cost and felt I had to get the TVR bug out of my system.
I'm yet to upgrade the standard suspension on my Tuscan but I really miss the confidence of driving the VX - you could really throw it about and not worry.
Tuscan scares me everytime I take it out!
But I am addicted to the acceleration!
They are great car - the newer engines (ie not the rover 1.8) mean cheap, reliable fun.
Mine was a day to day drive and only probs were crap heater and demister (could now be solved with a/c in newer elises), small boot (if intending to tour in it - that said you can get a suprising amount in them).
I only changed as I wanted something faster and different.
Will probably go back to Elise/exige next but this time could not justify the £20k ish cost and felt I had to get the TVR bug out of my system.
I'm yet to upgrade the standard suspension on my Tuscan but I really miss the confidence of driving the VX - you could really throw it about and not worry.
Tuscan scares me everytime I take it out!
But I am addicted to the acceleration!
i own both. 
the tuscan is better everyday driver. tiv is much more comfortable for a long drive. the elise is a little too raw for everyday, very low, no power steering, tiny boot, stiffer suspension, etc.
the elise has a nice bit of power once the 2nd cam kicks in. it gave me a shock when i first drove it, didnt expect that much kick out of a 1.8 engine. and it has a nice growl.
but i'd keep the tuscan over a elise unless you want a track car...or the reliability of a toyota engine.
the tuscan is better everyday driver. tiv is much more comfortable for a long drive. the elise is a little too raw for everyday, very low, no power steering, tiny boot, stiffer suspension, etc.the elise has a nice bit of power once the 2nd cam kicks in. it gave me a shock when i first drove it, didnt expect that much kick out of a 1.8 engine. and it has a nice growl.
but i'd keep the tuscan over a elise unless you want a track car...or the reliability of a toyota engine.
An Elise he says! Get a Chimaera for 7K and get it chipped, you want be sorry. I have just been out in mine in the pouring rain and had a great time. It would suck the doors of a poxy Elise, sounds better as well and has a good heater. You can get 5 packs of laminate floor and a workbench and all your tools in the boot. then fill up the passenger foot well and behind the seats!
The Chimaera is a great everyday car as long as you can afford to put the super plus in.
The Chimaera is a great everyday car as long as you can afford to put the super plus in.
dynamically the elise will be better IMO, but you will *really* miss the power unless you get a beasty version (honda'd or SC'd). The elises are really underpowered for the chassis, mine could do with a good 50-100hp more to be awarded a 'remotely fast' title. That said, the modern elise SC's are absolute monsters, and I'd love to have one, but $$ disallowes.
I have an older s2 111s (rover 1.8 156hp) and its good fun chucking it around, it sounds cliched, but you really can feel what it's doing under you - getting back into 'normal' cars feels weird. This variant does have a tendancy to understeer, but I don't mind that as it keeps me on the road (hopefully) and allows you to push on happily. You can correct this with wider rubber, but I don't really plan to.
A to B its probably about 15% slower than my e46 m3 as you just don't push on into higher numbers as its too damn noisy. It's better for my licence, but worse for my ears, so I wear earplugs (sports exhaust + induction)!
I think in an elise you'll be happier to get closer to the limit than in a tusc as you'll feel safer doing so. Other benefits include cheap petrol + insurance +tyres, which is why I chopped the M3 in for one. Also, the roof is really easy to take off and put on, and you can do it sat in the car with a little practice which means you can whap the roof off in a jam if its sunny
BTW. I still need to own a TVR and either a Tusc or a cerby are next on the list, I have a strong urge to have a tusc, I Guess grass is always greener!
I have an older s2 111s (rover 1.8 156hp) and its good fun chucking it around, it sounds cliched, but you really can feel what it's doing under you - getting back into 'normal' cars feels weird. This variant does have a tendancy to understeer, but I don't mind that as it keeps me on the road (hopefully) and allows you to push on happily. You can correct this with wider rubber, but I don't really plan to.
A to B its probably about 15% slower than my e46 m3 as you just don't push on into higher numbers as its too damn noisy. It's better for my licence, but worse for my ears, so I wear earplugs (sports exhaust + induction)!
I think in an elise you'll be happier to get closer to the limit than in a tusc as you'll feel safer doing so. Other benefits include cheap petrol + insurance +tyres, which is why I chopped the M3 in for one. Also, the roof is really easy to take off and put on, and you can do it sat in the car with a little practice which means you can whap the roof off in a jam if its sunny
BTW. I still need to own a TVR and either a Tusc or a cerby are next on the list, I have a strong urge to have a tusc, I Guess grass is always greener!
I also own a tuscan S and an elise sportsracer, which is really a 111r. While I have to admit to having a bit of a thing for Lotus, I have to say I'd struggle to know which one to sell if I was forced to. Overall the 111r is easily fast enough for 95% of the time. That is, until a TVR pulls up next to you at the lights or sits behind you on a track day (or worse still a boxster S!). The appeal of the TVR is that it's faster than you need and that you want a Boxster to pull up at the lights!
I'd be more inclined to trust the toyota for longer journeys across the continent but to be fair to TVR in nearly 4 years of ownership and several trips across europe in a speed six, I've yet to have a problem. But overall yes I think the Elise is a serious alternative but you'll need at least a 111r otherwise you will probably miss the performance too much.
I'd be more inclined to trust the toyota for longer journeys across the continent but to be fair to TVR in nearly 4 years of ownership and several trips across europe in a speed six, I've yet to have a problem. But overall yes I think the Elise is a serious alternative but you'll need at least a 111r otherwise you will probably miss the performance too much.
I had a Highly modified Honda'd S1 Elise. Undoubtedly it'll kick Tuscan ass on track, but as a road car it was slightly compromised. The lack of room can be a bit irritating on Euro trips, but did Spa / Nordshlief ok in it with passenger for 5 days, so can be done! Great car, I just fancied a change! Chalk and cheese, Tuscan more GT car, and Elise more Go-Kart.
With an S2 you can go for a higher level of comfort though. you can live with it day to day generally ok. very reliable too imo, even when run on track loads.
With an S2 you can go for a higher level of comfort though. you can live with it day to day generally ok. very reliable too imo, even when run on track loads.
thanks folks. very interesting and informative posts. Driving the Elise got me thinking about making more of my Tuscan. I don't use it on a daily basis as I commute into London by train so it only gets a run at weekends and v occasionally in the week when on a corporate golf day (like yesterday). I was therefore thinking about getting in some track day time, and which of the two cars could best combine occasional road use with the occasional bit of track day fun.
IMHO Elises look great and like one of the posters, I was surprised at just how much punch there was from the 1.8 engine. That said, it soon topped out on the main straight of the Hethel test track, which was a shame, whereas the Tuscan would have still been rocketing towards the horizon. I think I'll have a word about having the suspension upgraded and see how it compares. I suspect the Elise to be quicker out of the corners, whereas the Tuscan will be quicker into them.
IMHO Elises look great and like one of the posters, I was surprised at just how much punch there was from the 1.8 engine. That said, it soon topped out on the main straight of the Hethel test track, which was a shame, whereas the Tuscan would have still been rocketing towards the horizon. I think I'll have a word about having the suspension upgraded and see how it compares. I suspect the Elise to be quicker out of the corners, whereas the Tuscan will be quicker into them.
Fimbo said:
thanks folks. very interesting and informative posts. Driving the Elise got me thinking about making more of my Tuscan. I don't use it on a daily basis as I commute into London by train so it only gets a run at weekends and v occasionally in the week when on a corporate golf day (like yesterday). I was therefore thinking about getting in some track day time, and which of the two cars could best combine occasional road use with the occasional bit of track day fun.
IMHO Elises look great and like one of the posters, I was surprised at just how much punch there was from the 1.8 engine. That said, it soon topped out on the main straight of the Hethel test track, which was a shame, whereas the Tuscan would have still been rocketing towards the horizon. I think I'll have a word about having the suspension upgraded and see how it compares. I suspect the Elise to be quicker out of the corners, whereas the Tuscan will be quicker into them.
Buy a S1 with Honda. Reliablity with Power. Very quick all around. Up to about 110 up there with the Tuscan imo. Mine topped out at 158mph, and still felt planted. Admittedly over 120mph the elise shape really drags. Usual nitrons, A048's etc on the car, which most have now along with a Honda, gives a great road track combination. Personally if that's your goal, then that's for you. I only changed as I wasn't using it on track so much and after 5yrs I wanted something different. love the Tuscan, but the Elise was a bit special also.IMHO Elises look great and like one of the posters, I was surprised at just how much punch there was from the 1.8 engine. That said, it soon topped out on the main straight of the Hethel test track, which was a shame, whereas the Tuscan would have still been rocketing towards the horizon. I think I'll have a word about having the suspension upgraded and see how it compares. I suspect the Elise to be quicker out of the corners, whereas the Tuscan will be quicker into them.
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