how many keep S2 elise/exige outside ? (i.e water leaks)

[scotte]

Hi,

Any owners around here that keep an S2 elise (any model) or exige S2 outside ?

Dont know whether to build a garage or not (it diverts cash from the lotus fund). I hear it may leak if kept outside.

Also, does a hard top make a difference ?

Cheers
Scott

[cheekymonkey]

have to keep mine outside at the moment and no prob's other than it's always dirty! unfortunately it's normally under part of a tree so bird sh*t etc is the norm!

[anonymous-user]

Mine have always been kept outside. Early 2002 Elise S2 leaked like a sieve with the softtop but it didn't have the latter door rubber mods to stop it. Hardtop dry as a bone unless coming off parking ramp with the window open when pooled water on roof would pour in as there's no rain gutter.

Exige S2 not had a drop inside.

[abz 7001]

3 years, S2, soft top only, has never got wet inside when left outside with roof on......roof off is another matter :-)

Lots you can do to remedy - waterproof seal the roof by cleaning with autoglym hood protection or similar, ensure windows aligned correctly and that rubber seals are in the right place and not compromised!
Make sure roof is fitted properly etc
Rumours are worse than the reality IMHO!!!

Stuart

[bogie]

mine lives outside, 3 years now, no leaks...get a shower cape for the winter though, just to speed up the defrosting early in the morning

[MJK 24]

Mine tends to be under the carport at night but it was been left out in torrential storms and I used to leave it outside all day in the work car park.

Make sure the front roof tensioning cable is good and tight. You want it to pull the front edge of the roof slightly lower than the screen top (less wind noise at speed too...) If the cable wont adjust, get a new one for £20 from Lotus.

Make sure your windows are adjusted correctly. (Odd screws at either end of door under interior trim).

Fit the roof properly (Make sure you don't bend / damage the seal across the top of the screen.)

Do all this and you'll be fine. Mine leaked like a sieve when I got it but it's more or less spot on now. The odd drop (one or two) on the passenger sill but that's it.

>> Edited by MJK 24 on Wednesday 7th September 19:39

>> Edited by MJK 24 on Wednesday 7th September 19:39

[gooby]

I keep my liz in a garage but when atwork she gets wet. I have found the hard top leaks more than the soft top. When I say "leak" I mean the odd drop occasionally even in the biggest downpours. Leaks is not something that I worry about.

[Jez O]

S2 Exige- kept outside al the time. Owned for 2 months and only found a small water 'stain' on the shelf behind the seats. I have a feeling I was too heavy handed with the hosepipe when washing it though as it's been bone dry ever since and there has been some heavy rain. Will get a car 'coat' for winter methinks though.

[scotte]

thats settles it then - sod getting a garage.

cheers for replies.
Scott

[kevin ritson]

No problems with my 04 reg car. It did leak in the middle of the passenger side but then I noticed the rubber seal on the roof had folded over - no problems since then.

Would echo hard-top comments about the lack of gutter - can be a bit annoying if you open the windows to help demist the car on cold damp winter mornings!

[Jimbo S2]

Have had my long-tailed roof S2 now since July 2004, always kept outdoors (garage is full of motorbikes) only ever had a spot or two of rain on the chassis rails eveen inthe worst of weathers, heh I even power-wash mine when I can be bothered and she is water-tight.

Way better than the mechants of doom would have you believe.

[Tupolev]

4 years next month with an s2 outside.

3 years with breathable car cover (about 100 notes) rest without. If the roof is tight and the car is parked level it's ok. Have a bit of damp in the boot somehow but that's about it.