Lotus Elise Stories - where did yours start?
Discussion
Nice. No getting away from the Lotus brand it seems. Love the history.
Must say I do prefer the brighter colours. A Krypton Green Exige S has been on my bucket list since they came out. Yellow/orange/green always look so right. I've ended up with a dark silver/metallic grey and it has quickly growed on me, which is good.
It's a bit tatty so a re-spray isn't out of the question though!
Must say I do prefer the brighter colours. A Krypton Green Exige S has been on my bucket list since they came out. Yellow/orange/green always look so right. I've ended up with a dark silver/metallic grey and it has quickly growed on me, which is good.
It's a bit tatty so a re-spray isn't out of the question though!
John D. said:
Nice. No getting away from the Lotus brand it seems. Love the history.
Must say I do prefer the brighter colours. A Krypton Green Exige S has been on my bucket list since they came out. Yellow/orange/green always look so right. I've ended up with a dark silver/metallic grey and it has quickly growed on me, which is good.
It's a bit tatty so a re-spray isn't out of the question though!
That was always my plan with the silver Exige. Got quotes from a few sprayers but it never happened. Must say I do prefer the brighter colours. A Krypton Green Exige S has been on my bucket list since they came out. Yellow/orange/green always look so right. I've ended up with a dark silver/metallic grey and it has quickly growed on me, which is good.
It's a bit tatty so a re-spray isn't out of the question though!
Monty1502 said:
Many years ago I rented a one way hire car and drove 250 miles to the South coast to buy a Ferrari 308 GTSi - it was so long ago that I had a bankers draft ( pre on-line money transfer) for £28,000 ( I think they're now about £80,000-ish ) burning a hole in my pocket ready to hand to the dealer and drive home in it. On driving I felt completely underwhelmed, on reflection perhaps because the dealer was sitting next to me and we pootled around at 35 mph !
I drove home in record time to make sure I could return the hire car same day and thought about what I could buy, once I get the bit between my teeth re buying another car I don't hold back ! The next day I was in Sheffield at Gordon Lamb Lotus dealer ( not sure if they are still around ) and drove an Elise for the first time - ten minutes later I ordered a new one and took delivery a month later. I've been completely absorbed by them ever since and have now owned six Elise's.
I've also owned a number of Ferrari's since but don't feel that they compare to a good Elise.
A couple of month's ago I made a big mistake by selling my SC 220 to fund divorce legal fees. Now realising the error of my ways I'm on the hunt for another Elise, I've had a lot of cars but the Elise is the standout car as the most fun and rewarding to drive. I've driven down to Italy for the Mille Miglia and back over the Alps a couple of times in Elises and absolutely loved it. If there's only a small amount of luggage space, you can only take a small amount of luggage !
Definitely going to make sure I have another in time for the summer.
As a brief update to my previous post ( above ) - I bought a 220 SC "Roger Becker" Ltd Edition a few months ago ( My seventh Elise ) and absolutely LOVE IT ! I've done about 500 miles in it so far, I have some other cars (mainly classics ) and the constant thought I have when I'm driving them is " I'd rather be in my Elise " . I think it may be time to sell a few so I use the Elise more often.I drove home in record time to make sure I could return the hire car same day and thought about what I could buy, once I get the bit between my teeth re buying another car I don't hold back ! The next day I was in Sheffield at Gordon Lamb Lotus dealer ( not sure if they are still around ) and drove an Elise for the first time - ten minutes later I ordered a new one and took delivery a month later. I've been completely absorbed by them ever since and have now owned six Elise's.
I've also owned a number of Ferrari's since but don't feel that they compare to a good Elise.
A couple of month's ago I made a big mistake by selling my SC 220 to fund divorce legal fees. Now realising the error of my ways I'm on the hunt for another Elise, I've had a lot of cars but the Elise is the standout car as the most fun and rewarding to drive. I've driven down to Italy for the Mille Miglia and back over the Alps a couple of times in Elises and absolutely loved it. If there's only a small amount of luggage space, you can only take a small amount of luggage !
Definitely going to make sure I have another in time for the summer.
I’ve just sprung mine from its winter slumber. A mate of mine has been storing it whilst I’ve been working on my Corrado in my garage.
It’s still an absolute buzz to drive, even after 22 years of ownership. The sensation never distills. One of the most ultimate driving machines. It’s difficult to hide a grin when driving.
It’s still an absolute buzz to drive, even after 22 years of ownership. The sensation never distills. One of the most ultimate driving machines. It’s difficult to hide a grin when driving.
Jim H said:
I’ve just sprung mine from its winter slumber. A mate of mine has been storing it whilst I’ve been working on my Corrado in my garage.
It’s still an absolute buzz to drive, even after 22 years of ownership. The sensation never distills. One of the most ultimate driving machines. It’s difficult to hide a grin when driving.
Looks stunning! Lots don't seem keen on the red on a Lotus, but looks really good to me.It’s still an absolute buzz to drive, even after 22 years of ownership. The sensation never distills. One of the most ultimate driving machines. It’s difficult to hide a grin when driving.
Jim H said:
I’ve just sprung mine from its winter slumber. A mate of mine has been storing it whilst I’ve been working on my Corrado in my garage.
It’s still an absolute buzz to drive, even after 22 years of ownership. The sensation never distills. One of the most ultimate driving machines. It’s difficult to hide a grin when driving.
Looks awesome I really dont think they ever made anything better than this. Different yes but they really nailed it with the early S2. We dont see many any more but its the one car that I'll probably go home in if we got one in PXIt’s still an absolute buzz to drive, even after 22 years of ownership. The sensation never distills. One of the most ultimate driving machines. It’s difficult to hide a grin when driving.
The Elise was my first Lotus but I've always been a Lotus fan.
As a young petrolhead I sat in the cinema with my Dad on the Isle of Wight, whilst we were on holiday. The Spy who loved me, was on. At one point Q drove a white Esprit off a small boat and my tiny mind was blown away! I became an instant Lotus fan for life, it just took couple of decades to become and owner.
I suspect, looking at the ages of many owners, that I may not be alone on that front
As a young petrolhead I sat in the cinema with my Dad on the Isle of Wight, whilst we were on holiday. The Spy who loved me, was on. At one point Q drove a white Esprit off a small boat and my tiny mind was blown away! I became an instant Lotus fan for life, it just took couple of decades to become and owner.
I suspect, looking at the ages of many owners, that I may not be alone on that front
I built 7 or 8 kitcars over 20 years, so I always looked up to Lotus and TVR.
About 10 years ago I was knee-deep in my most involving project, a Reliant Scimitar restomod. It was so long-winded that I got fed up not having a fun car to actually drive that I started looking for alternatives.I wasn't set on an Elise. I guess I thought they were out of reach. However, there was an S2 111S in Starlight Black advertised locally (rare in my corner of the UK) that I kept coming back to. I never want to be that time-waster buyer so I delayed but after a month I realised it's worth a viewing if I'm looking at the advert everyday.
On first glance I'd already made up my mind to buy it. It had no service book and the EML was on, but driving it was eye-opening. That was May 2015 when through no foresight of my own, these seem to have been as cheap as they've ever been.
I do just about all of my own maintenance on it, including a full suspension rebuild (nothing fancy, just Bilsteins and OEM bushes etc. for road fun) in 2018. It's never let me down. It's no show car. It doesn't do many miles now as a 3rd car but every metre travelled in it makes me grateful for existing at the same time as the Lotus Elise
Despite some interest in other Lotus models old and new, I can't imagine this going anywhere.
About 10 years ago I was knee-deep in my most involving project, a Reliant Scimitar restomod. It was so long-winded that I got fed up not having a fun car to actually drive that I started looking for alternatives.I wasn't set on an Elise. I guess I thought they were out of reach. However, there was an S2 111S in Starlight Black advertised locally (rare in my corner of the UK) that I kept coming back to. I never want to be that time-waster buyer so I delayed but after a month I realised it's worth a viewing if I'm looking at the advert everyday.
On first glance I'd already made up my mind to buy it. It had no service book and the EML was on, but driving it was eye-opening. That was May 2015 when through no foresight of my own, these seem to have been as cheap as they've ever been.
I do just about all of my own maintenance on it, including a full suspension rebuild (nothing fancy, just Bilsteins and OEM bushes etc. for road fun) in 2018. It's never let me down. It's no show car. It doesn't do many miles now as a 3rd car but every metre travelled in it makes me grateful for existing at the same time as the Lotus Elise
Despite some interest in other Lotus models old and new, I can't imagine this going anywhere.
My Elise story is really an Exige story but I hope you'll let me get away with that!
I was 18 when the S2 Exige was first released and I decided I just had to have one. I of course already knew of the Elise but the more hardcore nature of the Exige coupled with the more aggressive styling just hooked me. I devoured every magazine road test I could, imagining what it would be like to drive.
I worked a part time job throughout school and university with a view to buying one and in 2011 I spent virtually every penny I had on what in hindsight was a really nice one. It was an early 2006 NA in Chilli Red. It was previously a dealer demo car and had virtually every option as well as the later LED rear lights.
I owned the car for a year and a bit, using it as my daily driver as well as regularly driving it on weekends (the Evo triangle wasn't an average speed camera infested loop back then). I sold it (to Australia!) as a job change meant that owning it was no longer practical but I knew it could never be a forever thing, I had almost all my money tied up in it after all!
I've finally just managed to get back in an Exige after 13 years away (and a couple of years of looking). This one is a 2008 S with the 260 upgrade. It's everything I remember the old one to be like in the handling department but the engine is in a different league, I'm still getting used to it to be honest! This one I do intend to keep as long as I can; there's nothing on the immediate horizon that should cause me to sell it.
That's my story...so far!
I was 18 when the S2 Exige was first released and I decided I just had to have one. I of course already knew of the Elise but the more hardcore nature of the Exige coupled with the more aggressive styling just hooked me. I devoured every magazine road test I could, imagining what it would be like to drive.
I worked a part time job throughout school and university with a view to buying one and in 2011 I spent virtually every penny I had on what in hindsight was a really nice one. It was an early 2006 NA in Chilli Red. It was previously a dealer demo car and had virtually every option as well as the later LED rear lights.
I owned the car for a year and a bit, using it as my daily driver as well as regularly driving it on weekends (the Evo triangle wasn't an average speed camera infested loop back then). I sold it (to Australia!) as a job change meant that owning it was no longer practical but I knew it could never be a forever thing, I had almost all my money tied up in it after all!
I've finally just managed to get back in an Exige after 13 years away (and a couple of years of looking). This one is a 2008 S with the 260 upgrade. It's everything I remember the old one to be like in the handling department but the engine is in a different league, I'm still getting used to it to be honest! This one I do intend to keep as long as I can; there's nothing on the immediate horizon that should cause me to sell it.
That's my story...so far!
Being a total car guy from before I could walk, was always aware of Lotus (road cars and F1 in the 70s as a kid)
My car fascination always leant towards British, Italian & French cars (only owned 2 Germans in 37yrs of car ownership)
As a student in the late 80s went through rough Minis, Fiats, Peugeots, Alfas etc, and with my first decent earnings I got a Phase 1 R5 GT Turbo followed by a shoddy Integrale (at 21!) but the British sports car buzz started with a TVR Griff 500 at 26 followed by Caterhams and another TVR, a Cerbera. No Lotuses!
My first Lotus drive was a mates early standard S2 Elise which left me a little underwhelmed (I think I had a Caterham at the time), and the second was the same mates 340R which was far more enjoyable!
Fast forward to Autumn 2023 and was about to release some equity from selling the house and downsizing so fancied more lightweight fun to accompany my classic Alfa in the garage, but now in my 50s a Caterham was perhaps a bit too much
I tried a 111R NA but whilst very nice, it didn't quite give me the "fizz"
So upon much research decided a more-than-118bhp S1 was the way forward to give me some rawness and feel but not as extreme as my Caterhams
Picked up my silver S160 December '23 in York, had a lovely drive home north of the border, and other than a few minor niggles (propshaft CV boot & a misfire which was resolved with new plugs, leads, dizzy cap & rotor arm) has been great fun, very useable, my wife much prefers it to the bright yellow Cerbera, and most importantly I can get in and out with some element of grace
(I never put the roof on )
My car fascination always leant towards British, Italian & French cars (only owned 2 Germans in 37yrs of car ownership)
As a student in the late 80s went through rough Minis, Fiats, Peugeots, Alfas etc, and with my first decent earnings I got a Phase 1 R5 GT Turbo followed by a shoddy Integrale (at 21!) but the British sports car buzz started with a TVR Griff 500 at 26 followed by Caterhams and another TVR, a Cerbera. No Lotuses!
My first Lotus drive was a mates early standard S2 Elise which left me a little underwhelmed (I think I had a Caterham at the time), and the second was the same mates 340R which was far more enjoyable!
Fast forward to Autumn 2023 and was about to release some equity from selling the house and downsizing so fancied more lightweight fun to accompany my classic Alfa in the garage, but now in my 50s a Caterham was perhaps a bit too much
I tried a 111R NA but whilst very nice, it didn't quite give me the "fizz"
So upon much research decided a more-than-118bhp S1 was the way forward to give me some rawness and feel but not as extreme as my Caterhams
Picked up my silver S160 December '23 in York, had a lovely drive home north of the border, and other than a few minor niggles (propshaft CV boot & a misfire which was resolved with new plugs, leads, dizzy cap & rotor arm) has been great fun, very useable, my wife much prefers it to the bright yellow Cerbera, and most importantly I can get in and out with some element of grace
(I never put the roof on )Every trip to the shops should be like that one!
A bloke saw me pull up and said: “what a day to own a Lotus”.
I thanked him.
Jeez it gets the adrenaline flowing, I’m still a bit shaky. Blipping the throttle on the down changes, Smashing Pumkins blaring on the stereo. It’s like strapping a rocket on your back.
What a hoot that car is. It takes me back to age 30.
I Just love it!
A bloke saw me pull up and said: “what a day to own a Lotus”.
I thanked him.
Jeez it gets the adrenaline flowing, I’m still a bit shaky. Blipping the throttle on the down changes, Smashing Pumkins blaring on the stereo. It’s like strapping a rocket on your back.
What a hoot that car is. It takes me back to age 30.
I Just love it!
My Lotus journey started probably as a child, growing up watching the JPS liveried F1 cars in the 70 s
After a few hot hatches, I got my first proper sports car in 2002, after seeing the 111S in Autocar, I just had to have one
Owned this for three years, did a few Le Mans trips before going to the dark side and owning about 15 Porsche's over the past 20 years, plus a few silly quick Italians along the way.
Modern cars do nothing for me these days, they're all too quick, too grippy and just too capable in every way, meaning you can't get anywhere near their limits on the roads to have fun.
Luckily, bought an S1 Elise with a mate in 2016, which we tracked extensively over 9 years, had a huge amount of fun, but now have moved on to other hobbies that are a tad more sedate (golf) .
However, I m keeping the Elise, have returned it to standard (ish), adding a few more nice bits like a MOMO wheel, Carbon side scoops, sport 190 rear diffuser .
It s just sooooo much fun on the road & you don t have to do silly speeds to enjoy it. I just love this little thing and I ll never sell, not now. Almost did a few weeks ago, glad I didn t now, I would have regretted it massively.
After a few hot hatches, I got my first proper sports car in 2002, after seeing the 111S in Autocar, I just had to have one
Owned this for three years, did a few Le Mans trips before going to the dark side and owning about 15 Porsche's over the past 20 years, plus a few silly quick Italians along the way.
Modern cars do nothing for me these days, they're all too quick, too grippy and just too capable in every way, meaning you can't get anywhere near their limits on the roads to have fun.
Luckily, bought an S1 Elise with a mate in 2016, which we tracked extensively over 9 years, had a huge amount of fun, but now have moved on to other hobbies that are a tad more sedate (golf) .
However, I m keeping the Elise, have returned it to standard (ish), adding a few more nice bits like a MOMO wheel, Carbon side scoops, sport 190 rear diffuser .
It s just sooooo much fun on the road & you don t have to do silly speeds to enjoy it. I just love this little thing and I ll never sell, not now. Almost did a few weeks ago, glad I didn t now, I would have regretted it massively.
Edited by MrVert on Tuesday 1st July 12:57
Edited by MrVert on Tuesday 1st July 13:00
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