What noise does an Elise make?
Discussion
I don’t know about you guys but I think a lot of the charm of these great machines we drive comes from living with its quirks and idiosyncrasies. I mean who in their right mind would buy a car that leaks, mists up and aquaplanes its way through the winter, has virtually no luggage space and should come with a list of Chiropractors alongside the list of dealers in the handbook.
However its only those nerve jangling moments that I actually find hard to bear when you suddenly discover a new rattle, nock or squeak. Panic stricken and sweating we imagine dealer bills with multiple zeros and immediately assume that said rattle will render us lizless and penniless for some time to come. Nevertheless more often than not these acoustic annoyances are never much more than that and rarely amount to anything serious.
In the 12 months that I have owned my Elise I have had several of these moments.
1)Possible removal of dash required to resolve what appears to be a large socket set banging around in my vents. Actual diagnosis - rear view mirror requires a small piece of cork jammed in the arm to prevent vibration.
2)Complete structural failure leading to floor pan falling away onto open road. Actual diagnosis - 2 chocolate toffees vibrating under seat. Section of roll mat glued to floor to prevent rattles in future.
3)Disintegration of brake pad causing fusion of calliper with disc. Actual diagnosis - piece of grit in-between disc and pad - removed by reversing.
4)Rear window falling out. Actual diagnosis - loss of tension in window tensioners resolved by lifting window 5cm and inserting two matchbox sized pieces of foam on supports.
Maybe I should just try decaf and get some earplugs
Regards,
pop
However its only those nerve jangling moments that I actually find hard to bear when you suddenly discover a new rattle, nock or squeak. Panic stricken and sweating we imagine dealer bills with multiple zeros and immediately assume that said rattle will render us lizless and penniless for some time to come. Nevertheless more often than not these acoustic annoyances are never much more than that and rarely amount to anything serious.
In the 12 months that I have owned my Elise I have had several of these moments.
1)Possible removal of dash required to resolve what appears to be a large socket set banging around in my vents. Actual diagnosis - rear view mirror requires a small piece of cork jammed in the arm to prevent vibration.
2)Complete structural failure leading to floor pan falling away onto open road. Actual diagnosis - 2 chocolate toffees vibrating under seat. Section of roll mat glued to floor to prevent rattles in future.
3)Disintegration of brake pad causing fusion of calliper with disc. Actual diagnosis - piece of grit in-between disc and pad - removed by reversing.
4)Rear window falling out. Actual diagnosis - loss of tension in window tensioners resolved by lifting window 5cm and inserting two matchbox sized pieces of foam on supports.
Maybe I should just try decaf and get some earplugs
Regards,
pop
I know what you mean Pop,
Before buying my elise, and having heard the stories, I was prepeared for a car that would drive along sounding like a bicuit tin full of spanners.
In actual fact I was impressed by what I discovered. Sure the elise comes with a wide range acoustic idiosyncrasies, but these, as far as I can gather, are mechanical and come courtesy of the car's light weight, materials, constuction method and minimalist design. (and in my case LSS Koni shocks!)
However, I would say my car has far fewer annoying squeeks and rattles than my 3 year old Fiesta that drives up and down a motorway for it's keep! Now that does piss me off!
I have been most impressed by the solidity of the elise and have come to accept the mechanical bangs and crashes as a design feature!
All part of the fun I say!
Cheers
Dunc
>> Edited by dss123 on Sunday 16th January 22:06
Before buying my elise, and having heard the stories, I was prepeared for a car that would drive along sounding like a bicuit tin full of spanners.
In actual fact I was impressed by what I discovered. Sure the elise comes with a wide range acoustic idiosyncrasies, but these, as far as I can gather, are mechanical and come courtesy of the car's light weight, materials, constuction method and minimalist design. (and in my case LSS Koni shocks!)
However, I would say my car has far fewer annoying squeeks and rattles than my 3 year old Fiesta that drives up and down a motorway for it's keep! Now that does piss me off!
I have been most impressed by the solidity of the elise and have come to accept the mechanical bangs and crashes as a design feature!
All part of the fun I say!
Cheers
Dunc
>> Edited by dss123 on Sunday 16th January 22:06
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