S2 elise, what edition

[Davislove]

Toying with the idea of a liz among other things, but what version? Standard, 111S, 135R, special editions?

111R is out of the running on cost and it's close proximity to an Exige

I'd appreciate comments from current / previous owners on engine / power performance, driveability and ownership experience, as I'm unlikley to get to drive them all!

Cheers

[bogie]

road use - 111S with aircon

Lots of track use 135R

cant afford either - S2 Sports Tourer or Race Tech (just trim levels)

everything else is just a paint job etc - Type 25/49/72

www.elises.co.uk for info

[theweeninjaguy]

i've got the S2 sports tourer and it's plenty fast as it is! nice trim level inside, not to mental on petrol and i still get people wanting their picture taken with it!

really depends on your budget i would say. if you just want an S2 elise for a reasonable price then get the sports tourer or racetech, if you have more cash then move onto a newer or better spec model but to the man in the street they're all the same! they're all mental fast, exotic, expensive and something he want's but could never afford (so he thinks). only the hardened lotus buff will know any different....

so basically i'm saying get the best you can afford but even if it's the oldest most basic elise possible you'll still love it and everyone else will envy you something awesome!

i was driving along yesterday with my gf in the elise and a ing ferrari flashed his lights and waved at me! what other £16k car gets that kind of attention?!?!

ninja

[tanman]

theweeninjaguy said:

i've got the S2 sports tourer and it's plenty fast as it is! nice trim level inside, not to mental on petrol and i still get people wanting their picture taken with it! really depends on your budget i would say. if you just want an S2 elise for a reasonable price then get the sports tourer or racetech, if you have more cash then move onto a newer or better spec model but to the man in the street they're all the same! they're all mental fast, exotic, expensive and something he want's but could never afford (so he thinks). only the hardened lotus buff will know any different.... so basically i'm saying get the best you can afford but even if it's the oldest most basic elise possible you'll still love it and everyone else will envy you something awesome! i was driving along yesterday with my gf in the elise and a ing ferrari flashed his lights and waved at me! what other £16k car gets that kind of attention?!?! ninja

I'd agree with everything here that ninja has written. however, if you do get an Elise, don't forget if you like picking your nose in the car on a drive, go somewhere really quite otherwise someone will spot you doing it because EVERYONE looks at you in a Lotus
Great cars, love it to bits, no regrets, get one!
Good luck
Tanman

[stoker]

Davislove said:

Toying with the idea of a liz among other things, but what version? Standard, 111S, 135R, special editions? 111R is out of the running on cost and it's close proximity to an Exige I'd appreciate comments from current / previous owners on engine / power performance, driveability and ownership experience, as I'm unlikley to get to drive them all! Cheers

It completely depends what you want the car for - I own a standard S2, bought it new and owned it for the last 3 years and I can't believe how much enjoyment I still get from driving it on a daily basis after all this time.

At the time I bought it I asked the dealer his opinion on if it was worth spending an extra £1500 or so on a 111S when all I could see in the specs was a couple of tenths of a second difference in the 0-60 times. He said "No" and driving the car in the context of just you and the car, I'd agree with him. However, driving the car in the context of chavved-up civic-type R's having a go on the motorway, you'll be left for dead as soon as you approach a 3 digit number. I gather the 111S doesn't run out of breath so early!

A few years ago this bothered me, and I really wish I'd gone for something with a few more beans, and every now and then I think of upgrading the power, but as soon as I have to drive an "ordinary" car for a while I realise that what I have is special enough and plenty fast enough for road use. If I ever track it (keep saying I will, but haven't for the last 3 years) then it might be a different story!


Stoker

ps - If it was a choice between standard S2 with aircon, or a 111S without then I'd still do what I've done and go for the aircon! Some might say I'm a philestine for that, but I'm cool in the summer and demisted in the winter! I don't know how guys without it get by in the winter as I've tried not using it but it seems a job to keep the windscreen clear without it??? In fact, if the aircon is off then I have to turn the fan off otherwise the windscreen mists over in minutes.

>> Edited by stoker on Wednesday 17th August 17:11