RE: Lotus Elise Sport 135 PH Fleet
Discussion
I had the same issue, I had a 944s2 which was a Great driving car but, as me and the misses love camping and Adventures it became clear that it had to go.
I bought a WRX wagon, the SL version. Great car that is pratical and fun!
We drove around Europe in it last yr an it did not miss a beat!
It's worth a look
Hope this helps.
I bought a WRX wagon, the SL version. Great car that is pratical and fun!
We drove around Europe in it last yr an it did not miss a beat!
It's worth a look
Hope this helps.
t loads of room for 2 bikes and other gear with the back seats down and huge fun to drive, and I want an Elise. Win-win. :-D
I had a Sport 190 a few years ago - almost the same situation as you I think, I used to do a lot of mountain biking and had to borrow 'her' car when I wanted to take the bike or more than one mate anywhere. She didn't like the 190 - too temperamental and twitchy. So I sold it and bought an Impreza wagon.
Missed that car every time there was a chance of some decent driving.
So a couple of years later, on the way home from racing in the 2CV 24 hours I gave in and bought a S2 Exige (I blame sleep deprivation). I spent a fair bit of time (and money) with a Ferrari race engineer fettling until I had the sweetest handling and stopping car on both road and track - but one my wife would happily drive - still having the Impreza meant I could still carry loads (and the dog), I think at that time I'd found the perfect 2 car combination.
A couple of years back I sold the Exige and it's the only car that I continually regret selling - it owed me nothing, I didn't have to sell it but wanted the garage space for a race car and somehow convinced myself that with a race car for track work, the already seldom-used Exige would just rot in a corner of the garden through neglect.
We've engineered a superb race car, but it's only fun at 10/10th on track and I now drive a Saab on the road, in their own ways a good combination but not a patch on the Exige - every time I come across a deserted country road (which happens quite a lot, living in the Dales) I hanker for the car I'd probably only use 20 times a year but that on the right road is peerless.
I have a family now, so it's a bit of a stretch to justify racing and a 'play' car, but every now and again I look in the PH classifieds.....
Missed that car every time there was a chance of some decent driving.
So a couple of years later, on the way home from racing in the 2CV 24 hours I gave in and bought a S2 Exige (I blame sleep deprivation). I spent a fair bit of time (and money) with a Ferrari race engineer fettling until I had the sweetest handling and stopping car on both road and track - but one my wife would happily drive - still having the Impreza meant I could still carry loads (and the dog), I think at that time I'd found the perfect 2 car combination.
A couple of years back I sold the Exige and it's the only car that I continually regret selling - it owed me nothing, I didn't have to sell it but wanted the garage space for a race car and somehow convinced myself that with a race car for track work, the already seldom-used Exige would just rot in a corner of the garden through neglect.
We've engineered a superb race car, but it's only fun at 10/10th on track and I now drive a Saab on the road, in their own ways a good combination but not a patch on the Exige - every time I come across a deserted country road (which happens quite a lot, living in the Dales) I hanker for the car I'd probably only use 20 times a year but that on the right road is peerless.
I have a family now, so it's a bit of a stretch to justify racing and a 'play' car, but every now and again I look in the PH classifieds.....
Edited by Mark Benson on Friday 10th May 09:45
Teamnj said:
Cant believe you're thinking this.
As a voice of experience - owned a beautiful S1 Elise about 10 years ago, then sold it, regretted every minute.....thinking what have I done as she rolled off the driveway in the hands of her new owner.
From that day for the following 9 years I looked on Pistonheads pretty much every day, just thinking......should I shouldn't I......the answer was always Yes, I should, but at the time it wasn't practical
Tried to fill the gap with other sports cars, E92 M3 being one of them....but nothing really cut it from a thrills perspective, connectivity, exclusivity, value for money....
own right. The Defender is usually full of bikes, mates on the way to the pub, garden rubbish or full of shopping..... The Elise has been kept wax'd up in the garage ready for the long summer days....and the pilgrimage to Le Mans this year....
]
Nice. Think I'd still want a mile muncher thoughAs a voice of experience - owned a beautiful S1 Elise about 10 years ago, then sold it, regretted every minute.....thinking what have I done as she rolled off the driveway in the hands of her new owner.
From that day for the following 9 years I looked on Pistonheads pretty much every day, just thinking......should I shouldn't I......the answer was always Yes, I should, but at the time it wasn't practical
Tried to fill the gap with other sports cars, E92 M3 being one of them....but nothing really cut it from a thrills perspective, connectivity, exclusivity, value for money....
own right. The Defender is usually full of bikes, mates on the way to the pub, garden rubbish or full of shopping..... The Elise has been kept wax'd up in the garage ready for the long summer days....and the pilgrimage to Le Mans this year....
]
pboyd said:
Nice. Think I'd still want a mile muncher though
I drove my S1 111S from the New Forest to Budapest in one day (via the tunnel) back in 2002. Wearing earplugs the whole way, of course, but no probs with seat comfort (standard not leather seats).I've still got it and likely to keep it until I can no longer get in and out.
I know exactly how you feel albeit with different circumstances but the principle of trading in a loved trustworthy car for a bit of the unknown is hard to decide especially when you want something equal to or better than the current steer in question. I partially regret changing in my cupra for example for the Octavia (don't tell the wife this i drove her nuts pontificating) but the suspension was driving me nuts and i wanted something a bit bigger. Different scenario for you but all i can say is don't do something you may regret as loosing a good honest faithful car is hard to stomach no matter what you replace it with.
edit: buy a fast banger estate also.....the old S4 is cheap these days?
edit: buy a fast banger estate also.....the old S4 is cheap these days?
Edited by Andy ap on Friday 10th May 12:49
I sold my first S1 Elise after I suffering from a constant feeling of inferiority. It wasn't fast enough, It wasn't a Porsche, It was made of plastic, It was powered by Rover. Truth be told, I instantly missed it once it was gone.
Fast forward 6 months and I found myself back in S1 Elise. It occurs to me now that bar a Caterham nothing made by any of the main car manufacturers comes close to the rawness and undiluted driving experience you get in an S1 Elise. No power assistance of any type, no electronic intervention of any sort. As modern cars become more and more cosseted, even the ones that claim to offer raw driving pleasure; I genuinely think the S1 driving experience becomes something to be savored.
In short, don’t sell. You’ll regret it.
Fast forward 6 months and I found myself back in S1 Elise. It occurs to me now that bar a Caterham nothing made by any of the main car manufacturers comes close to the rawness and undiluted driving experience you get in an S1 Elise. No power assistance of any type, no electronic intervention of any sort. As modern cars become more and more cosseted, even the ones that claim to offer raw driving pleasure; I genuinely think the S1 driving experience becomes something to be savored.
In short, don’t sell. You’ll regret it.
I loved my S2 exige but hated it at the same time (daily driver)- it was the most utterly useless car for uk roads and just about any type of travel.
I sold it and probably miss it around 1 day a year- when i'm on my own, it's very sunny and there are no cars on surrey's back roads.
I can't imagine how people manage with S1s.
If you want the same feeling but total practicality, check out the boxster spyder. They're in the region of 30k sadly but suffering near zero depreciation and as a lightweight, very special edition they are just like driving a better-built exige.
I think if you're looking at the toybaru's though you should check out the 350/370z's as I think they offer more fun for similar cash (and is what I went for).
I sold it and probably miss it around 1 day a year- when i'm on my own, it's very sunny and there are no cars on surrey's back roads.
I can't imagine how people manage with S1s.
If you want the same feeling but total practicality, check out the boxster spyder. They're in the region of 30k sadly but suffering near zero depreciation and as a lightweight, very special edition they are just like driving a better-built exige.
I think if you're looking at the toybaru's though you should check out the 350/370z's as I think they offer more fun for similar cash (and is what I went for).
I've never thought about having to use a car in order to justify owning it. Sometimes "I just have to have it" and the inner joy I get from just knowing its sitting on my drive is priceless. And to make sure the finances stack up I usually have an economical banger for sitting in the daily traffic jams.
So, I'm saying keep it!
So, I'm saying keep it!
Si_man306 said:
I can't imagine how people manage with S1s.
I just managed a three day tour of Scotland in an S1 with my 8 month pregnant wife. We packed light and had a fantastic time. I must admit though it's a fun car for me, comes out on sunny days only, I doubt I could be bothered with it as daily drive.But on the right day I'm not sure driving can get much better.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff