RE: Lotus Elise Sprint: Review
Discussion
I got 10% off a brand new 220 Sport if that helps anyone thinking of buying one.
I own two Elise and a 2-11. The other Elise is a 250 Cup. I'm afraid I just can't drive anything else these days without feeling short changed, either in steering feel, feel on the road, performance matched to the road, and feel on the track. The Exige is great but cumbersome compared to the Elise on the road and the track, it's in another league performance wise but so are a lot of things. Some cars are just emotion free now, just mega fast and no feel, OK on a track but dull dull dull driving to work. The Elise is huge fun just pottering around and is the only proper car you can buy like this IMO. A Caterham is great but it's nowhere as practical.
I wish a lot of people would stop spouting b
ks on here and actually go and make the effort to squeeze themselves inside a new Elise. The build quality is hugely improved and the drive is fantastic. Personally I think the 220 Sport is the starting point as the 1.6 doesn't do the chassis the justice it deserves. The harder you push the more the car keeps coming back for more.
I'm 6ft 3 and with a few minor adjustments I fit in an Elise perfectly, so it is doable. Getting in an out is easier once you know how.
I own two Elise and a 2-11. The other Elise is a 250 Cup. I'm afraid I just can't drive anything else these days without feeling short changed, either in steering feel, feel on the road, performance matched to the road, and feel on the track. The Exige is great but cumbersome compared to the Elise on the road and the track, it's in another league performance wise but so are a lot of things. Some cars are just emotion free now, just mega fast and no feel, OK on a track but dull dull dull driving to work. The Elise is huge fun just pottering around and is the only proper car you can buy like this IMO. A Caterham is great but it's nowhere as practical.
I wish a lot of people would stop spouting b
ks on here and actually go and make the effort to squeeze themselves inside a new Elise. The build quality is hugely improved and the drive is fantastic. Personally I think the 220 Sport is the starting point as the 1.6 doesn't do the chassis the justice it deserves. The harder you push the more the car keeps coming back for more. I'm 6ft 3 and with a few minor adjustments I fit in an Elise perfectly, so it is doable. Getting in an out is easier once you know how.
Lagerlout said:
I got 10% off a brand new 220 Sport if that helps anyone thinking of buying one.
I own two Elise and a 2-11. The other Elise is a 250 Cup. I'm afraid I just can't drive anything else these days without feeling short changed, either in steering feel, feel on the road, performance matched to the road, and feel on the track. The Exige is great but cumbersome compared to the Elise on the road and the track, it's in another league performance wise but so are a lot of things. Some cars are just emotion free now, just mega fast and no feel, OK on a track but dull dull dull driving to work. The Elise is huge fun just pottering around and is the only proper car you can buy like this IMO. A Caterham is great but it's nowhere as practical.
I wish a lot of people would stop spouting bks on here and actually go and make the effort to squeeze themselves inside a new Elise. The build quality is hugely improved and the drive is fantastic. Personally I think the 220 Sport is the starting point as the 1.6 doesn't do the chassis the justice it deserves. The harder you push the more the car keeps coming back for more.
I'm 6ft 3 and with a few minor adjustments I fit in an Elise perfectly, so it is doable. Getting in an out is easier once you know how.
Totally agree. The cars are brilliant and there is nothing to match them for the price. Porsches, Ferraris, GT86s are all lacking in one way or another compared to an Elise. I own two Elise and a 2-11. The other Elise is a 250 Cup. I'm afraid I just can't drive anything else these days without feeling short changed, either in steering feel, feel on the road, performance matched to the road, and feel on the track. The Exige is great but cumbersome compared to the Elise on the road and the track, it's in another league performance wise but so are a lot of things. Some cars are just emotion free now, just mega fast and no feel, OK on a track but dull dull dull driving to work. The Elise is huge fun just pottering around and is the only proper car you can buy like this IMO. A Caterham is great but it's nowhere as practical.
I wish a lot of people would stop spouting b
ks on here and actually go and make the effort to squeeze themselves inside a new Elise. The build quality is hugely improved and the drive is fantastic. Personally I think the 220 Sport is the starting point as the 1.6 doesn't do the chassis the justice it deserves. The harder you push the more the car keeps coming back for more. I'm 6ft 3 and with a few minor adjustments I fit in an Elise perfectly, so it is doable. Getting in an out is easier once you know how.
For a single guy or couple, they are a brilliant all rounder.
Cold said:
limpsfield said:
DPSFleet said:
The car scene would be poorer without Lotus but why can't they go back to basics a bit more without it costing more? A base Elise should be £25k.......
Agree with all that. The base Elise had 120hp and Todays car has err 130 odd, if the car had 160/170 bhp the near 40k tag might not seem such a rip off for the performance on offer. Theirs a reason the base cars sales as a % of the total has dropped from being a very big % in the early days to next to nothing. It's become massively overpriced relative to the performance it offers.
Olivera said:
Pumpsmynads said:
Imagine if lotus did an engine deal with a decent manufacturer? Instead of using Toyota's 20 year old snotter.
Or just shelled out a few more quid per car and got access to the latest lineup of Toyota shopping car engines.But lotus have form here, the 165hp Elan had a N/A model no one bought for obvious reasons and the Stevens refreshed turbo Esprit had an N/A version too, supercar running costs and GTI performance. See that flawed logic is still their
CABC said:
SidewaysSi said:
For a single guy or couple, they are a brilliant all rounder.
a little optimistic!if you don't have to endure too much motorway or traffic then GT86 for daily and Elise for w/ends and occasional use.
I would happily drive my S1 Sport 160 everyday if needed and the new cars are a lot more comfortable/useable than that!
SidewaysSi said:
Lagerlout said:
I got 10% off a brand new 220 Sport if that helps anyone thinking of buying one.
I own two Elise and a 2-11. The other Elise is a 250 Cup. I'm afraid I just can't drive anything else these days without feeling short changed, either in steering feel, feel on the road, performance matched to the road, and feel on the track. The Exige is great but cumbersome compared to the Elise on the road and the track, it's in another league performance wise but so are a lot of things. Some cars are just emotion free now, just mega fast and no feel, OK on a track but dull dull dull driving to work. The Elise is huge fun just pottering around and is the only proper car you can buy like this IMO. A Caterham is great but it's nowhere as practical.
I wish a lot of people would stop spouting bks on here and actually go and make the effort to squeeze themselves inside a new Elise. The build quality is hugely improved and the drive is fantastic. Personally I think the 220 Sport is the starting point as the 1.6 doesn't do the chassis the justice it deserves. The harder you push the more the car keeps coming back for more.
I'm 6ft 3 and with a few minor adjustments I fit in an Elise perfectly, so it is doable. Getting in an out is easier once you know how.
Totally agree. The cars are brilliant and there is nothing to match them for the price. Porsches, Ferraris, GT86s are all lacking in one way or another compared to an Elise. I own two Elise and a 2-11. The other Elise is a 250 Cup. I'm afraid I just can't drive anything else these days without feeling short changed, either in steering feel, feel on the road, performance matched to the road, and feel on the track. The Exige is great but cumbersome compared to the Elise on the road and the track, it's in another league performance wise but so are a lot of things. Some cars are just emotion free now, just mega fast and no feel, OK on a track but dull dull dull driving to work. The Elise is huge fun just pottering around and is the only proper car you can buy like this IMO. A Caterham is great but it's nowhere as practical.
I wish a lot of people would stop spouting b
ks on here and actually go and make the effort to squeeze themselves inside a new Elise. The build quality is hugely improved and the drive is fantastic. Personally I think the 220 Sport is the starting point as the 1.6 doesn't do the chassis the justice it deserves. The harder you push the more the car keeps coming back for more. I'm 6ft 3 and with a few minor adjustments I fit in an Elise perfectly, so it is doable. Getting in an out is easier once you know how.
For a single guy or couple, they are a brilliant all rounder.
CABC said:
SidewaysSi said:
For a single guy or couple, they are a brilliant all rounder.
a little optimistic!if you don't have to endure too much motorway or traffic then GT86 for daily and Elise for w/ends and occasional use.
I'd never buy an Elise as a weekend car - the way it drives is just too compromised by its (relative) practicality.
Great review of what sounds to be a brilliant car and looks great too 
It is perfect for drivers who really enjoy the process of cornering a light weight car with adjustable handling and good feedback. On the road, a small engine allows you to work it hard, and enjoy changing gear manually without getting to ridiculous speeds too quickly. Narrow tyres allow a normal driver to approach the limit of grip at lower speeds and have a chance of catching a slide without super human reflexes.
I was tempted by the 1.6 Elise 6 years ago, but decided to buy a 1.6 125bhp Caterham Road sport. Cheaper, but I did build it myself! On Uniroyal Rain Expert tyres and low gearing it is a hoot to drive on UK roads.
I just can't see the point of very high powered modern cars with driver aids, where is the fun at road speeds?
It is perfect for drivers who really enjoy the process of cornering a light weight car with adjustable handling and good feedback. On the road, a small engine allows you to work it hard, and enjoy changing gear manually without getting to ridiculous speeds too quickly. Narrow tyres allow a normal driver to approach the limit of grip at lower speeds and have a chance of catching a slide without super human reflexes.
I was tempted by the 1.6 Elise 6 years ago, but decided to buy a 1.6 125bhp Caterham Road sport. Cheaper, but I did build it myself! On Uniroyal Rain Expert tyres and low gearing it is a hoot to drive on UK roads.
I just can't see the point of very high powered modern cars with driver aids, where is the fun at road speeds?
downsman said:
Great review of what sounds to be a brilliant car and looks great too
It is perfect for drivers who really enjoy the process of cornering a light weight car with adjustable handling and good feedback. On the road, a small engine allows you to work it hard, and enjoy changing gear manually without getting to ridiculous speeds too quickly. Narrow tyres allow a normal driver to approach the limit of grip at lower speeds and have a chance of catching a slide without super human reflexes.
I was tempted by the 1.6 Elise 6 years ago, but decided to buy a 1.6 125bhp Caterham Road sport. Cheaper, but I did build it myself! On Uniroyal Rain Expert tyres and low gearing it is a hoot to drive on UK roads.
I just can't see the point of very high powered modern cars with driver aids, where is the fun at road speeds?
Totally agree. Took my Caterham out yesterday for a blast. 140 bhp Superlight and it was truly wonderful. Great damping, more fast enough everywhere (the shift lights were flashing in most gears), able to drive it hard and be very quick when needed, oversteerable at will. Truly immersive and after 15 years of driving Sevens, I am still thinking of the thrill it gave me nearly 24 hours later. There are very few if any cars that can give the thrill of something small and lightweight. Modern stuff are largely too competent and dull unless you are willing to push incredibly hard. Personally I love to have a driving challenge every time I get on the road at sane speeds and without taking liberties. That makes a car mote thrilling and accessible more of the time.It is perfect for drivers who really enjoy the process of cornering a light weight car with adjustable handling and good feedback. On the road, a small engine allows you to work it hard, and enjoy changing gear manually without getting to ridiculous speeds too quickly. Narrow tyres allow a normal driver to approach the limit of grip at lower speeds and have a chance of catching a slide without super human reflexes.
I was tempted by the 1.6 Elise 6 years ago, but decided to buy a 1.6 125bhp Caterham Road sport. Cheaper, but I did build it myself! On Uniroyal Rain Expert tyres and low gearing it is a hoot to drive on UK roads.
I just can't see the point of very high powered modern cars with driver aids, where is the fun at road speeds?
As Kambites says, a standard Elise is not really a weekend car if you like your machines hardcore. However a tweaked Elise can be every bit as much fun as a Caterham. Mine has Nitrons, faster rack, 2ubular exhaust, carbon induction, upgraded brakes etc.
With the addition of a close/ultra close ratio 'box, LSD and some race seats and harnesses, it would be the perfect all rounder IMO - parkable and practical yet more than able to thrill on a quick road or track. Costs little to run, looks fantastic etc.
Edited by SidewaysSi on Sunday 30th April 12:47
FourRingedDonuts said:
Okay it's not cheap but come on people..........
...We live in a world where a beer or a cup of coffee can cost over a fiver and a fast saloon over £100K, get some perspective.
And as others have said the lifetime cost probably makes it one the best value cars you can buy today.
Exactly right. It's still a cheap car when you consider how it is made and that it has no real economies of scale. The issue is not that the car is expensive because it catagorically is not but that for the last decade the income of the typical U.K. buyer has effectively fallen. By moving all the models up market they are simply aiming to get more into the radar of those whose incomes have risen. Partly why trade outside of the EU is so important to them and doing so well. ...We live in a world where a beer or a cup of coffee can cost over a fiver and a fast saloon over £100K, get some perspective.
And as others have said the lifetime cost probably makes it one the best value cars you can buy today.
peter450 said:
... The base Elise had 120hp and Todays car has err 130 odd, if the car had 160/170 bhp the near 40k tag might not seem such a rip off for the performance on offer. Theirs a reason the base cars sales as a % of the total has dropped from being a very big % in the early days to next to nothing. It's become massively overpriced relative to the performance it offers.
...
The base supercharged Elise with 220hp is around £37k. I think that's an absolute bargain....
The base 130hp car is around £30k. It's only in Sprint spec that you add £5k and then with more options get to mid-high 30s with the lower powered car. A Golf GTI is £26k with zero options.
As other people have said, cars like the Sport 135, 111s and Sport 160 were over £30k back in the late 90s - nearly TWENTY YEARS AGO!!!
The supercharged car still compares well to that.A serious question for current S3 owners. How does the car stack up from a quality point of view. I bought a 5 year old/40k miles Elise S2 from a lotus dealer back in the late noughties for just over £12k. It was great to drive but the quality was not great - it made my MGB GT seem a paragon of solidity. The 2 x HGF didn't help either.
However, I miss the car and my wife loved it. I now have a garage that a replacement could reside in (leaks no longer an issue!) and the Toyota engine combined with the new gearshift sound really appealing. However I would like to know how the latest cars stack up in terms of paint finish/durability/refinement. I am not expecting miracles but would a garaged, low mileage car still look pretty fresh after 4/5 years. My Focus ST still looks fresh after 10 years and the MGB survives well in the garage so I would hope that a new Elise should still look pretty good after careful ownership. What are your experiences?
However, I miss the car and my wife loved it. I now have a garage that a replacement could reside in (leaks no longer an issue!) and the Toyota engine combined with the new gearshift sound really appealing. However I would like to know how the latest cars stack up in terms of paint finish/durability/refinement. I am not expecting miracles but would a garaged, low mileage car still look pretty fresh after 4/5 years. My Focus ST still looks fresh after 10 years and the MGB survives well in the garage so I would hope that a new Elise should still look pretty good after careful ownership. What are your experiences?
They have improved, but you'd have to put some effort in to keep one feeling genuinely fresh after 5 years (or not use it, which would rather defeat the point). In my experience, even the latest cars develop rattles and squeeks and things like the sill covers still scratch just as easily. None of the problems are particularly major, but I think keeping on top of niggles would drive you mad if you're OCD inclined.
Alex P said:
A serious question for current S3 owners. How does the car stack up from a quality point of view. I bought a 5 year old/40k miles Elise S2 from a lotus dealer back in the late noughties for just over £12k. It was great to drive but the quality was not great - it made my MGB GT seem a paragon of solidity. The 2 x HGF didn't help either.
However, I miss the car and my wife loved it. I now have a garage that a replacement could reside in (leaks no longer an issue!) and the Toyota engine combined with the new gearshift sound really appealing. However I would like to know how the latest cars stack up in terms of paint finish/durability/refinement. I am not expecting miracles but would a garaged, low mileage car still look pretty fresh after 4/5 years. My Focus ST still looks fresh after 10 years and the MGB survives well in the garage so I would hope that a new Elise should still look pretty good after careful ownership. What are your experiences?
MY11 S3However, I miss the car and my wife loved it. I now have a garage that a replacement could reside in (leaks no longer an issue!) and the Toyota engine combined with the new gearshift sound really appealing. However I would like to know how the latest cars stack up in terms of paint finish/durability/refinement. I am not expecting miracles but would a garaged, low mileage car still look pretty fresh after 4/5 years. My Focus ST still looks fresh after 10 years and the MGB survives well in the garage so I would hope that a new Elise should still look pretty good after careful ownership. What are your experiences?
no major problems as of 2017 and 18k miles.
Paint is 100%. AC has had niggles and a few rattles here and there.
irreplaceable.
i enjoy Toyota reliability. However, i do consider the K series to be a classic in waiting, hgf not withstanding. seriously, if you're a petrolhead then a K series in a lightweight is heaven.
Many thanks for the replies and useful feedback. I can live with rattles (my Focus rattles, my MGB deosn't...) and I would rather have an Elise without A/C simply because I never needed it in the last one (remove roof) and there will be periods when the car is put away for winter (to avoid corrosion) which can play up A/C seals etc. A battery charger/management is clearly a must.
There are key aspects of the S3 that seem to be an improvement over my early S2. The release mechanism for the washer reservoir is much better than than bolts and the boot opening system looks better. The short roof looks easier to store in the boot too. The central air vents will be much better and the radio is positioned centrally rather than offset to the left. These were all annoyances with the old car. I am pleased to hear that quality and fit/finish have been raised. The prospect of a reliable, simple, manual sports car is becoming increasing appealing to me once again.
There are key aspects of the S3 that seem to be an improvement over my early S2. The release mechanism for the washer reservoir is much better than than bolts and the boot opening system looks better. The short roof looks easier to store in the boot too. The central air vents will be much better and the radio is positioned centrally rather than offset to the left. These were all annoyances with the old car. I am pleased to hear that quality and fit/finish have been raised. The prospect of a reliable, simple, manual sports car is becoming increasing appealing to me once again.
Alex P said:
Many thanks for the replies and useful feedback. I can live with rattles (my Focus rattles, my MGB deosn't...) and I would rather have an Elise without A/C simply because I never needed it in the last one (remove roof) and there will be periods when the car is put away for winter (to avoid corrosion) which can play up A/C seals etc. A battery charger/management is clearly a must.
There are key aspects of the S3 that seem to be an improvement over my early S2. The release mechanism for the washer reservoir is much better than than bolts and the boot opening system looks better. The short roof looks easier to store in the boot too. The central air vents will be much better and the radio is positioned centrally rather than offset to the left. These were all annoyances with the old car. I am pleased to hear that quality and fit/finish have been raised. The prospect of a reliable, simple, manual sports car is becoming increasing appealing to me once again.
I think you're overthinking it There are key aspects of the S3 that seem to be an improvement over my early S2. The release mechanism for the washer reservoir is much better than than bolts and the boot opening system looks better. The short roof looks easier to store in the boot too. The central air vents will be much better and the radio is positioned centrally rather than offset to the left. These were all annoyances with the old car. I am pleased to hear that quality and fit/finish have been raised. The prospect of a reliable, simple, manual sports car is becoming increasing appealing to me once again.
FocusRS3 said:
Digging up an old thread but anyone use an Exige S3 as a daily ?
If you're seriously considering it you'd probably be best off joining SELOC and asking any questions you have there. Be prepared for the typical single-marque-forum cliquishness, but if you can learn to filter that out it's a fantastic source of experience and information. I run an S2 Elise as a daily and have a small amount of experience of the difference between the i4 and V6 cars (in terms of usability they're more similar than not, really) so happy to try to answer any questions but you'd be better off finding someone who actually uses an Exige.
Edited by kambites on Tuesday 29th January 09:44
kambites said:
If you're seriously considering it you'd probably be best off joining SELOC and asking any questions you have there. Be prepared for the typical single-marque-forum cliquishness, but if you can learn to filter that out it's a fantastic source of experience and information.
I run an S2 Elise as a daily and have a small amount of experience of the difference between the i4 and V6 cars (in terms of usability they're more similar than not, really) so happy to try to answer any questions but you'd be better off finding someone who actually uses an Exige.
Most kind tks.I run an S2 Elise as a daily and have a small amount of experience of the difference between the i4 and V6 cars (in terms of usability they're more similar than not, really) so happy to try to answer any questions but you'd be better off finding someone who actually uses an Exige.
Edited by kambites on Tuesday 29th January 09:44
I do read the pages of Seloc will start asking around.
I had an S240 a few years back and woudl have happily used that as a daily although my knees were in better shape in those days :-)
FocusRS3 said:
I had an S240 a few years back and woudl have happily used that as a daily although my knees were in better shape in those days :-)
In terms of usability they're not much different. The tub dimensions are the same and the steering wheel and pedals sit at the same point so the driving position feels much the same (although the seats are slightly different). The suspension tuning of the standard V6 Exige is not far away from the Elise in terms of comfort; the longer wheelbase makes it feel a bit more composed. The Exige's steering is appreciably heavier so it's a bit more effort to park and it's a wider car although still pretty narrow by modern standards. I think the boot is broadly the same size but the opening on the Exige is appreciably bigger.
I haven't driven an Exige in the wet but I suspect the wider tyres will make it more prone to aquaplaning. It has a far better traction control system than older Elises (not sure if Lotus upgraded the traction control on later Elise models).
Fuel economy on the Exige is quite a lot worse than the Elise (or at least than my Elise, I don't know about the 240) if that matters to you.
Edited by kambites on Tuesday 29th January 10:27
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