RE: Why the Lotus Elise still matters | PH Footnote

[Hugh Jarse]

Assuming you have the initial wonga (or access to finance), quite curious which is the cheaper option over five years of ownership.
MX5 vs Elise inc fuel economy, insurance and depreciation (naturally).
Me feeling in me watter is that the Elise is cheaper to own.
In fact probably cheaper to own than most vehicles (a Mini convertible Diesel excepted).
In fact why dont cars come with an "true ownership costs index" "TOCI" by Which or Pistonheads?
Or perhaps this already exists and Im not aware of it.

Edited by Hugh Jarse on Wednesday 7th August 15:55

[kambites]

Initial depreciation on the Elise is pretty hefty so buying one and selling it at five years would be quite expensive.

I paid slightly more than half of new value for mine at just over three years old which was decent residuals for the original buyer but hardly astounding. It's now 15 years old and still worth roughly the same as I paid. Of course that's "the same" in absolute terms; it's lost value in real terms. Still, it's been a very cheap car to own.

Edited by kambites on Wednesday 7th August 13:23

[Shnozz]

john41901 said:

Yep if you want to pretend to be a 'proper' enthusiast on here there are only two car options you can have, this and a Caterham. Utter nonsense of course spouted by clueless idiots.

And they are the exact 2 cars I have most enjoyed driving. For the pure pleasure of driving, taking into account the width and nature of many roads in the UK and Europe, the speed limits (and the consequences of seriously breaking those), the Elise and Caterham provide one of the best pure driving experiences out there in my view.

I'd love another Exige if I had space for one.

[otolith]

Helicopter123 said:

cerb4.5lee said:

Helicopter123 said:

It never sold as it should have as it's a pain to get in and out of.

I remember struggling to get in and out of one when I was only 10 stone and a lot younger...I'd have no chance now at 12 stone and a lot older!!

My brother has one when I was in my early 20s and even then it was a real struggle.

As Kambites says, it's just a knack.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c1KgeUdrZc

I struggle to get in the passenger side, whereas the driver's side is easy.

[itcaptainslow]

I bought my 2016 Elise S new after a few years of owning a pretty raw S1 111S. It was purchased as a long term keeper, a present to myself after getting a new job but before the adulthood house/growing up had to take place.

The more and more I look at how new cars are becoming less interested in the experience they provide the driver (apart from disconnecting them from the thrill of actually driving), the more I realise my Elise is a keeper, even more so being I’ve had it from new so can keep it “just so”.

I’ve considered other options-a GT86 is more useable and would realise some useful capital for the house I’ve now bought, a Morgan 3-Wheeler would be quirky and undoubtably cool, an Evora is the ultimate dream but just out of reach without living on Lidl own brand Pot Noodles.

But really, in truth, the Elise is just perfect-the S3 is useable enough for a weekend away, it has the most comfortable seats I’ve ever experienced in a car, it’s a safe place for money thanks to tiny depreciation, the running costs are beans for the performance it provides but most of all...nothing comes close to the massive grin and butterflies it provides when I take it out, not even my bike. It’s my solace, my happy place and my stress reliever.

Cliche for the chap playing the blue rinse game; in an era of digital everything, the Elise provides one of the last remaining analogue new car experiences. Nailed on classic? For sure, and I absolutely adore it.

[anonymous-user]

One reason it's endured is that it has made use of relatively small engines so it's been immune from the larger capacity cull we've had to resort to tiny capacity engines.

However, people want (or expect) more tech and toys plus the safety pressures and even the fact most are getting bigger size wise.

[itcaptainslow]

And for anyone struggling to get in-go and do some tricep dips at the gym. You’ll be in and out like a pro in no time!

[Shnozz]

otolith said:

As Kambites says, it's just a knack.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c1KgeUdrZc

I struggle to get in the passenger side, whereas the driver's side is easy.

The steering wheel helps massively. Hand on that, hand on sill.

Caterhams aren't too bad unless you are trying to get in the passenger side of one with a diagonal roll cage bar which renders it almost bloody impossible.

[Composite Guru]

Shnozz said:

otolith said:

As Kambites says, it's just a knack.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c1KgeUdrZc

I struggle to get in the passenger side, whereas the driver's side is easy.

The steering wheel helps massively. Hand on that, hand on sill.

Caterhams aren't too bad unless you are trying to get in the passenger side of one with a diagonal roll cage bar which renders it almost bloody impossible.

I have the B-G removable steering hub in mine. I take the wheel off before I get out. Makes it so much easier with the roof on.

[bcr5784]

flukey5 said:

Vee12V said:

Depends on how you're going to use it. If it's just the WE toy It's the Elise every time. The MX5 is a bit more friendly as a daily.

Unfortunately it'd have to be a daily, though that's not stopping me convincing myself that I'm flexible enough to put up with it! haha

Unless it has to be an open car or manual the Alpine is the most obvious candidate. Much more sensible as a daily than either and much more sophisticated than the MX5. I'm not going to say it's quite as much fun down your favourite B road as the Elise but.you really ought to at least try the Alpine, it really is very seductive..

Edited by bcr5784 on Wednesday 7th August 13:59

[otolith]

Shnozz said:

otolith said:

As Kambites says, it's just a knack.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c1KgeUdrZc

I struggle to get in the passenger side, whereas the driver's side is easy.

The steering wheel helps massively. Hand on that, hand on sill.

Caterhams aren't too bad unless you are trying to get in the passenger side of one with a diagonal roll cage bar which renders it almost bloody impossible.

That probably is a factor, but I think it's just that getting in the driver's side is all muscle memory. I don't even think about it. It's easy.

[G0ldfysh]

Have driven a VX220 for the last 14 years, first 8 years was a daily driver now it lives in a warm, dry garage and I need to drive it more.
I am spoilt on anything which is supposed to be sporty now, they all feel lardy and filtered and lacking in feel.

[otolith]

ash73 said:

Now try that in a S1!

I used to get an S1 as a courtesy car, never had any trouble. But I'm not tall or fat.

[Shnozz]

otolith said:

Shnozz said:

otolith said:

As Kambites says, it's just a knack.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c1KgeUdrZc

I struggle to get in the passenger side, whereas the driver's side is easy.

The steering wheel helps massively. Hand on that, hand on sill.

Caterhams aren't too bad unless you are trying to get in the passenger side of one with a diagonal roll cage bar which renders it almost bloody impossible.

That probably is a factor, but I think it's just that getting in the driver's side is all muscle memory. I don't even think about it. It's easy.

True. I think you get used to extending the left leg to plonk it in and then swinging your arse onto the seat. For some reason that always felt far harder extending the right leg first when entering the passenger side.

I am 6'3" and never had any issues with either S1 or S2. In fact I never noticed much difference between the 2 in many respects.

[untakenname]

Looked into getting one a few years back after watching the Wheeler dealer episode, iirc they bought an S2 for around £8k?
Seems like they've held their values pretty well from that point in time, wouldn't pay £50k for a new one as would rather have a 4C or something similar.


Edit: Did a trackday with MOT a while back and the S1 and 2 elise seemed pretty even with the MX5 turbo's on track.

[anonymous-user]

Loved my Elise, only sold it as I moved to a house without a proper road, still miss it and will be scratching that lotus itch at some point in the next 18 months.

Never had a problem getting in and out at 6'3" and 15 stone, as others have said it's just a knack

[biggbn]

Elise and vx220 are my kind of cars, light, efficient, wonderful handling, relatively simple...but at 6ft and 124kg it ain't ever gonna happen...

[je777]

Brilliant in every way, as long as you can order one without flags painted on the rear wing.

[itcaptainslow]

Shnozz said:

otolith said:

As Kambites says, it's just a knack.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c1KgeUdrZc

I struggle to get in the passenger side, whereas the driver's side is easy.

The steering wheel helps massively. Hand on that, hand on sill.

Caterhams aren't too bad unless you are trying to get in the passenger side of one with a diagonal roll cage bar which renders it almost bloody impossible.

I remember seeing an Elise with a bent steering wheel-the chap who owned it previously was a little on the lardy side and used it as a lever to get in and out!

[Baldchap]

je777 said:

Brilliant in every way, as long as you can order one without flags painted on the rear wing.

You can. The dealer swapped ours for a nice carbon one without stickers FOC.