Just bought an Elise!
Discussion
After months of test driving various cars, asking endless questions on PH and pouring over Autocar and EVO I have just bought an Elise! 
I decided that the S2 111S was the model for me in the end, and have gone for a lovely Atlantic Blue '04 spec one. I'm very pleased - and pick it up on Friday!
I'd like to openly say how helpful the Lotus dealers have been in the whole process
. The ball was set rolling after a superb demo by Richard at Bell and Colvill in October. He chatted to me for a while about what I was after in a car, before giving me test drives in two different cars. Superb service. From that moment on I knew that the Elise was the car for me. Whilst working down in Poole I discovered that my hotel backed onto Westover Lotus, so I popped round for a chat, and they later rang me to arrange a drive of a 111R. Finally, 'Shangani' from this forum let me drive his 111S and even bought me a beer afterwards!! Thanks also to everybody on this forum who has answered my questions and also provided very informative threads for me to lurk in and read!
Everyone connected with Lotus (owners, people here on PH, dealers etc) seem to be very friendly and genuinely love their cars, so I look forward to meeting you all in the future!
Photos at the weekend when I've got it
I decided that the S2 111S was the model for me in the end, and have gone for a lovely Atlantic Blue '04 spec one. I'm very pleased - and pick it up on Friday!
I'd like to openly say how helpful the Lotus dealers have been in the whole process
. The ball was set rolling after a superb demo by Richard at Bell and Colvill in October. He chatted to me for a while about what I was after in a car, before giving me test drives in two different cars. Superb service. From that moment on I knew that the Elise was the car for me. Whilst working down in Poole I discovered that my hotel backed onto Westover Lotus, so I popped round for a chat, and they later rang me to arrange a drive of a 111R. Finally, 'Shangani' from this forum let me drive his 111S and even bought me a beer afterwards!! Thanks also to everybody on this forum who has answered my questions and also provided very informative threads for me to lurk in and read! Everyone connected with Lotus (owners, people here on PH, dealers etc) seem to be very friendly and genuinely love their cars, so I look forward to meeting you all in the future!
Photos at the weekend when I've got it
Congrats on your S2 111S thats a lovely car and Friday just a few days from now...I bet you can't sleep when the days get closer to friday
Now you have the time to get a good ensurance and to check wich is best for you!
Also now you know what type and specs car you have, you can look all up what you need to know about it...
Have fun and still be carefull exploiding the limits of you and your "new" little dreamcar during those cold days!
GTRene
Now you have the time to get a good ensurance and to check wich is best for you!
Also now you know what type and specs car you have, you can look all up what you need to know about it...
Have fun and still be carefull exploiding the limits of you and your "new" little dreamcar during those cold days!
GTRene
Woo hoo nice one buddy, seem to remember you looking at Porsche too... you made the right choice
My bus. partner bought a top spec Boxter, and although stoooopidly quick it's a bit too refined for me... plus I'd never work out how to use all the buttons on the sat nav!
Look forward to seeing you at a meet with her in the coming summer.
My bus. partner bought a top spec Boxter, and although stoooopidly quick it's a bit too refined for me... plus I'd never work out how to use all the buttons on the sat nav!
Look forward to seeing you at a meet with her in the coming summer.
Congrats Rob! 
That Lotus smile is already firmly etched on your face already isn't it? And it ain't even started yet!!
Sounds like a damned good choice fella and fair play for acknowledging those who have given assistance & influence along the way - yeah the passion runs high for sure
How many hours to go..? (about 95 but who's counting?)
That Lotus smile is already firmly etched on your face already isn't it? And it ain't even started yet!!
Sounds like a damned good choice fella and fair play for acknowledging those who have given assistance & influence along the way - yeah the passion runs high for sure
How many hours to go..? (about 95 but who's counting?)
enjybenjy said:
Nice one matey! Good choice of car. Did you drive the 'R' at all? If so, did you notice much difference between the S and the R?
Welcome to the forum
Thanks. S vs R? Yes - quite bit of difference I thought. Check out my recent thread "111S vs 111R" for a comparison. Both good cars, but the 111S is more my thing for a variety of reasons. I could afford both, so made my choice based on what suited me best.
I think you've made the right choice - and I own an R!
I test drove a Sport 135 (not driven a 111S) a few years back and remember it being fast throughout the range. I never know quite what to expect on a run with my R - e.g. hard braking into a corner and change down but it's whether or not I'm in the 2nd cam zone or not, too much to think about...
Hope you enjoy it
I test drove a Sport 135 (not driven a 111S) a few years back and remember it being fast throughout the range. I never know quite what to expect on a run with my R - e.g. hard braking into a corner and change down but it's whether or not I'm in the 2nd cam zone or not, too much to think about...
Hope you enjoy it
cheekymonkey said:
Woo hoo nice one buddy, seem to remember you looking at Porsche too... you made the right choice
My bus. partner bought a top spec Boxter, and although stoooopidly quick it's a bit too refined for me... plus I'd never work out how to use all the buttons on the sat nav!
Look forward to seeing you at a meet with her in the coming summer.
Yes, I looked at a Boxster S. At the price I wanted to pay I was limited to specialists, who were a bunch of *£$!^%*!s who didn't seem to want my money! I did eventually get to drive a car and chat to some owners. Nice cars, but ultimately I prefer the Lotus because of the feedback and interaction.
RobM77 said:
Woo hoo nice one buddy, seem to remember you looking at Porsche too... you made the right choice
My bus. partner bought a top spec Boxter, and although stoooopidly quick it's a bit too refined for me... plus I'd never work out how to use all the buttons on the sat nav!
Look forward to seeing you at a meet with her in the coming summer.
Yes, I looked at a Boxster S. At the price I wanted to pay I was limited to specialists, who were a bunch of *£$!^%*!s who didn't seem to want my money! I did eventually get to drive a car and chat to some owners. Nice cars, but ultimately I prefer the Lotus because of the feedback and interaction.
Yeah I fully agree, so much more in touch with what's going on, and no annoying traction control alarm going off every 5 mins
I say switch it off... but he's not brave enough yet ha ha cheekymonkey said:
Yeah I fully agree, so much more in touch with what's going on, and no annoying traction control alarm going off every 5 mins
I've got DSC & TC in the BMW and it's just a case of getting to know when to turn it off For example, if you try and pull away from a junction a bit quick then it cuts the power completely for about 2 or 3 seconds. Believe me, that's a long if there was a reason why you pulled out a bit quick! The answer is to just hit the button every time you want to pull away from a junction - a bit of slip at the back is no problem at all in reality! Also avoids getting .N.A.M stamped on your bootlid Good man. I sold my S2 111S nearly a year ago. In many ways one of the best secondhand buys. I still regret selling, and although I've got a Cayman S now, the Elise still has an immediacy (I may have made that word up) about it that the Porsche can't match.
An excellent choice, enjoy!
An excellent choice, enjoy!
What they've done is unbelievably stupid and incompentant, and I'd name and shame if PH allowed it! 
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