Elise for everyday car
Discussion
Well, I use my Elise every day. 30K in 2 years and 2 months. It is practical and economical and I pay £545 FC insurance.
A word of caution. The warranty. It is 2 years OR 20K, naturally whichever comes first. So, if like me you use your car every day doing slightly higher than average miles, you in effect have no more than an 18 month warranty tops.
My car has developed a sqeak, which despite two trips totalling 38 days with the dealer, including 2 visits from the Lotus Field Engineer, is as yet unfixed. The dealership were excellent, they really tried all they could and I'm in no doubt worked far more hours than Lotus actually paid them for. The problem is Lotus Customer Services, who have played the "goodwill" card throughout, trying to weadle out of their responsiblity. As far as they are concerned, the fact that a car they built has developed an as yet incurable and notable fault when the car is only 20 months old, is basically my tough luck, because it appears to have tipped over 20K when first reported. I am now having to do ALL the running to resolve it.
Don't let my tale put you off. The Elise is an excellent car and is a practical proposition, but if you are going to do everyday miles, be prepared for the odd build quality issue.
A word of caution. The warranty. It is 2 years OR 20K, naturally whichever comes first. So, if like me you use your car every day doing slightly higher than average miles, you in effect have no more than an 18 month warranty tops.
My car has developed a sqeak, which despite two trips totalling 38 days with the dealer, including 2 visits from the Lotus Field Engineer, is as yet unfixed. The dealership were excellent, they really tried all they could and I'm in no doubt worked far more hours than Lotus actually paid them for. The problem is Lotus Customer Services, who have played the "goodwill" card throughout, trying to weadle out of their responsiblity. As far as they are concerned, the fact that a car they built has developed an as yet incurable and notable fault when the car is only 20 months old, is basically my tough luck, because it appears to have tipped over 20K when first reported. I am now having to do ALL the running to resolve it.
Don't let my tale put you off. The Elise is an excellent car and is a practical proposition, but if you are going to do everyday miles, be prepared for the odd build quality issue.
I am also considering an Elise (or possibly Exige) as a day-to-day car. I do a lot of miles though (around 20k to 30k per annum) and am very concerned about depreciation levels. Would anyone like to hazard an educated guess on the residual on (say) a two year old 111s with 50k on the clock?
DustyC said:
Are the hard tops any good?
I really like the look of the S1 with a hard top.
Hi Adam... you ol' interloper!
Hard tops do make S1s look more exotic IMHO, security advantage - but who knowingly leaves their P&J in a dodgy area, some owners remove them at the start of the topless season and can't be arsed to re-fit them. You need a safe place to store them to avoid damage. They are a tad cosier in the winter months, reduction in certain noise levels, but if you are looking for a reduction in water ingress - forget it!
apprentice
Thanks Apprentice,
Was thinking of the hardtop for everyday reasons in the winter. I suppose noise reduction would also be useful.
I have been looking at your stock list for a while and I'll pop in with Ali to have a nose around soon.
You open over the Christmas holidays?
(Could have emailed this to you but thought a bit of free advertisement wouldn't hurt!).
On another note, mileage: What is considered high miles on an Elise?
Around 6000/year seen as OK?
Any Elises made it to high mileages?
Was thinking of the hardtop for everyday reasons in the winter. I suppose noise reduction would also be useful.
I have been looking at your stock list for a while and I'll pop in with Ali to have a nose around soon.
You open over the Christmas holidays?
(Could have emailed this to you but thought a bit of free advertisement wouldn't hurt!).
On another note, mileage: What is considered high miles on an Elise?
Around 6000/year seen as OK?
Any Elises made it to high mileages?
DustyC! Gonna get an Elise?
I use mine everyday, owned it for over three years now and although i have a 10 minute commute (not big miles) it's still my only car. My insurance was through 'competition cars' and came out at £670. Not too cheap you may think, but I'm 32, Fully Comp cover, Protected No Claims, Garaged, 6000 miles p.a. and cover for 6 track days included through any of the big name firms.
As one days cover at Goodwood cost me £130 i thought this policy was good if i do a couple of track days in the coming 12 months. Sorry i mean to say, when i do a track days in the coming 12 months.
Best of luck on your search Adam, D4V KC
I use mine everyday, owned it for over three years now and although i have a 10 minute commute (not big miles) it's still my only car. My insurance was through 'competition cars' and came out at £670. Not too cheap you may think, but I'm 32, Fully Comp cover, Protected No Claims, Garaged, 6000 miles p.a. and cover for 6 track days included through any of the big name firms.
As one days cover at Goodwood cost me £130 i thought this policy was good if i do a couple of track days in the coming 12 months. Sorry i mean to say, when i do a track days in the coming 12 months.
Best of luck on your search Adam, D4V KC
I'm babysitting an until recently "daily used" Elise at the moment. It's not doing much at the moment, hence why I've got it. It's a 98 S plate with 50k on it. I've come to this "cold" as a normal, comfy family saloon driver, so hopefully these comments will help.
To be honest, it's a lot easier to live with than I was expecting (once you master getting in and out - don't do it for the first time on a crowded petrol station forecourt!)
This example isn't very watertight either, which is a bit of a pain in the weather we've had lately. I've managed to improve it by tightening up the window regulator bolts (they'd loosened and the window had "dropped" leaving a gap at the top). I can still see a gap though. The headlights also need urgent attention - posted elsewhere in this forum.
But otherwise, very comfy once you're in, astonishingly economical (similar MPG to my company Focus diesel on cheaper fuel!
) and it's got a cracking heater. Although it's a bit cosmetically "worn" here and there, this 50,000 miler still drives brilliantly. I did 200 miles in it yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed myself!
The only think (apart from the leaks which could probably be sorted) that would make me reconsider as a daily driver would be the noise levels on the motorway, but if you don't do a lot of motorway driving, it's not an issue.
Oh, and I almost forgot - it's HUGE fun to drive. You can just feel the lack of rubber and mush between the controls and the mechanics. Warts 'n all feedback - it's wonderful. I got in the Focus today and did a corking emergency stop at the end of the road!! Bloody brake servos.
Cheers
Postie
>> Edited by Postie on Sunday 19th December 16:55
To be honest, it's a lot easier to live with than I was expecting (once you master getting in and out - don't do it for the first time on a crowded petrol station forecourt!)
This example isn't very watertight either, which is a bit of a pain in the weather we've had lately. I've managed to improve it by tightening up the window regulator bolts (they'd loosened and the window had "dropped" leaving a gap at the top). I can still see a gap though. The headlights also need urgent attention - posted elsewhere in this forum. But otherwise, very comfy once you're in, astonishingly economical (similar MPG to my company Focus diesel on cheaper fuel!
) and it's got a cracking heater. Although it's a bit cosmetically "worn" here and there, this 50,000 miler still drives brilliantly. I did 200 miles in it yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed myself! The only think (apart from the leaks which could probably be sorted) that would make me reconsider as a daily driver would be the noise levels on the motorway, but if you don't do a lot of motorway driving, it's not an issue.
Oh, and I almost forgot - it's HUGE fun to drive. You can just feel the lack of rubber and mush between the controls and the mechanics. Warts 'n all feedback - it's wonderful. I got in the Focus today and did a corking emergency stop at the end of the road!! Bloody brake servos.
Cheers
Postie
>> Edited by Postie on Sunday 19th December 16:55
bogie said:
I use mine every day - done 58K miles now since June 2002...you soon get used it...by the time its 4 years old it will have done 100-120K miles though and be worth bugger all !
You light weight Bogie!
, we had an '02' 02 Sports Tourer in the workshop with 72k on it 
stiil in good health, nothing some new shockers wouldnt sort out
...it would have been a lot more, but its been off the road for 3 months and since last feb its been sat in airport car parks mostly during the week...im trying to cut down on the mileage...Im sure Im on borrowed time with a 200 odd bhp K series ! Gassing Station | Elise/Exige/Europa/340R | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff