M100 Elan to 160 sport or S2 Elise
Discussion
Very different cars, other than the odd leak (which you get with Elises also!) the Elan is far far more practicial.
All a question of what you use the car for and whether you want to make the sacrifices for the increased more seat of your pants performance.
S2 Elise is a lot smoother riding and more comfortable than an S1, but is still no Elan.
Also in bad weather and rain where the Elan excels, the Elise by its very nature (RWD and very light weight) requires a degree of care or things start to go sideways!
All a question of what you use the car for and whether you want to make the sacrifices for the increased more seat of your pants performance.
S2 Elise is a lot smoother riding and more comfortable than an S1, but is still no Elan.
Also in bad weather and rain where the Elan excels, the Elise by its very nature (RWD and very light weight) requires a degree of care or things start to go sideways!
What is it you are looking to improve on by switching? If it is simply the fact that the Elan is a little underpowered by today's standards then there is a well established upgrade / modification programme. You can get power up over 200bhp relatively easily.
Perhaps that might be an alternative?
Perhaps that might be an alternative?
I switched from an Elan to an Elise a few years ago - two completely different animals. Both certainly hell of a lot of fun but the elise is significantly more 'hardcore' whilst the Elan is much more comfortable & practical. My only problem with the Elan was the appaling roof (the 1990 original had lasted 10 years and was showing its age). Now I'm on my second Elise (via Esprit) and I wouldn't swap it for any other car. I think once you are used to the ride of the Elise on a daily basis, everything else seems much less involved.
Mine was a Stevens shape N/A - The Esprit (and particularly your one) will be much more comparable to the elise in terms of handling, as it's rear engined and rear wheel drive. No doubt you have to watch your back end sliding on the Esprit. I find the Elise a much easier car to live with & drive on a daily basis - once you are in the driver's seat it's pretty much perfect - the Esprit was always an effort to drive (but I still loved it.)
My brother has a modified 160 Sport.
It is a hoot to drive but, I took a trip to the Lakes with him in the car last year and my back nearly broke.
Although I love the look and the performance I am not sure about even medium distance runs of approx 60 miles or so.
I know the seats in the 160 Sport are unforgiving, so has anyone any experience of the 135 Sport, 111S, and standard Elise over say 60 - 100 miles. Thats the sort of run out I like over twisting undulating roads.
I know the performance is excellent but would it be any of them be as good as the Elan at the A & B road capabilities of the Elan in varying weather and surface conditions, or are they simply as it says on the tin track day cars.
Regards Mike
It is a hoot to drive but, I took a trip to the Lakes with him in the car last year and my back nearly broke.
Although I love the look and the performance I am not sure about even medium distance runs of approx 60 miles or so.
I know the seats in the 160 Sport are unforgiving, so has anyone any experience of the 135 Sport, 111S, and standard Elise over say 60 - 100 miles. Thats the sort of run out I like over twisting undulating roads.
I know the performance is excellent but would it be any of them be as good as the Elan at the A & B road capabilities of the Elan in varying weather and surface conditions, or are they simply as it says on the tin track day cars.
Regards Mike
Well the Esprit was much more comfortable than the Elises for certain - my first was a standard 118 bhp S1 which I covered 14,000 miles in, comfort wise it's identical to my current Super 160 S1. The standard leather seats have next to no padding at all, but these can be swapped for either S1 cloth seats which had more padding, or for the latter S2 seats which are again much more comfortable over long distances (I tend to get a numb bum and sore lower back over long distances in the standard seats.)
G_Reaper said:
My brother has a modified 160 Sport.
It is a hoot to drive but, I took a trip to the Lakes with him in the car last year and my back nearly broke.
Although I love the look and the performance I am not sure about even medium distance runs of approx 60 miles or so.
I know the seats in the 160 Sport are unforgiving, so has anyone any experience of the 135 Sport, 111S, and standard Elise over say 60 - 100 miles. Thats the sort of run out I like over twisting undulating roads.
I know the performance is excellent but would it be any of them be as good as the Elan at the A & B road capabilities of the Elan in varying weather and surface conditions, or are they simply as it says on the tin track day cars.
Regards Mike
I've spent over 4 hours in my Sport 160 and had no back problems
The seats look uncomfortable but actually are much better than the standard S1 seats as they have a lot mor padding at the base of the seat.
Interesting.
I am 6ft 1 and a half and my brother is 6ft 3 and a half. A few people who have travelled in his 160 passenger seat have been fine but they are a good bit shorter than me. My brother gets stiff driving the car over long distance but does not suuffer as badly as tall people in the passenger seat I think this must be because of the bracing the steering wheel and general concentration while driving. I do like the 160 and really quite fancy one.
thanks for your comments everyone.
Cheers Mike
I am 6ft 1 and a half and my brother is 6ft 3 and a half. A few people who have travelled in his 160 passenger seat have been fine but they are a good bit shorter than me. My brother gets stiff driving the car over long distance but does not suuffer as badly as tall people in the passenger seat I think this must be because of the bracing the steering wheel and general concentration while driving. I do like the 160 and really quite fancy one.
thanks for your comments everyone.
Cheers Mike
I have an Elan SE and my girlfriend has an Elise.
I couldn't put up with just the Elise as its an absolute nightmare to get in and out of with the roof on - I'm 6'2".
When you are driving them, the Elise gets more attention and is better at slower speeds, but the Elan excels once it is doing 60mph or more as you can hear the stereo and you get a full convertible rather than the targa effect of the Elise.
Alos, for short journeys I always put the roof down on the Elan, whereas its too much of a chore in the Elise so I end up driving it more with the roof on than I ever do the Elan.
I insure the Elan for just over £200 on a classic policy, whereas a S160 or 111S would be 4 or 5 times more expensive to insure.
And the S160 isn't great if you are using it in in traffic, whereas the 111S is much more user-friendly and with an induction kit, crp and sports exhaust will be running almost 160bhp anyway.
Early Elan's are going for as little as £5k. Can you afford to keep it and get the Elise as well? Although the Elise is more hardcore, you will miss the Elan when conditions aren't perfect.
SOOTY
I couldn't put up with just the Elise as its an absolute nightmare to get in and out of with the roof on - I'm 6'2".
When you are driving them, the Elise gets more attention and is better at slower speeds, but the Elan excels once it is doing 60mph or more as you can hear the stereo and you get a full convertible rather than the targa effect of the Elise.
Alos, for short journeys I always put the roof down on the Elan, whereas its too much of a chore in the Elise so I end up driving it more with the roof on than I ever do the Elan.
I insure the Elan for just over £200 on a classic policy, whereas a S160 or 111S would be 4 or 5 times more expensive to insure.
And the S160 isn't great if you are using it in in traffic, whereas the 111S is much more user-friendly and with an induction kit, crp and sports exhaust will be running almost 160bhp anyway.
Early Elan's are going for as little as £5k. Can you afford to keep it and get the Elise as well? Although the Elise is more hardcore, you will miss the Elan when conditions aren't perfect.
SOOTY
I changed my Lotus Elan in spring for an elise 111R. I can assure you that i drives much better than the Elan does, though I was quite one with my Elan.
Pro's for the Elan were the trunk, the boot (easier to open/close) than the Elise's. Started to have some leaks in the roof (prob. the rubbers) at the end. Before that I didn't had problems with it (app. very rare
. Def more suited for trips and journeys then the Elise/
The comfort in the Elise 111R is imho very decent, airco, carpet, extra isolation for the roof. But the engine noise ... well that does it !!! Gives such a kick ... I enjoy that every day.
Pro's for the Elan were the trunk, the boot (easier to open/close) than the Elise's. Started to have some leaks in the roof (prob. the rubbers) at the end. Before that I didn't had problems with it (app. very rare
. Def more suited for trips and journeys then the Elise/ The comfort in the Elise 111R is imho very decent, airco, carpet, extra isolation for the roof. But the engine noise ... well that does it !!! Gives such a kick ... I enjoy that every day.
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