What to replace the Elise with...
Discussion
Lately I've been thinking about selling my 01 Elise S2. After using it as a daily driver 2/3 of the year since june 2005 a few things are starting to bother me from time to time. To summarize I'd like a roadster I can use all-year (in Norway), which offers a bit more practibility (i.e. easier roof) and a bit more comfort for the daily commute but on the other side is almost as fun to drive as the Elise. It will be my everyday and only car all year.
Out of curiousity, what would be your choice given these requirements? My alternatives so far are these:
- Honda S2000: Fantastic engine, automatic roof, good build quality and reliability.
- Mazda MX-5 (latest model): Extremely simple roof, fun to drive, good build quality and reliability.
- Mini Cooper S: Fun to drive, cool design but fixed roof (not a fan of the convertible version).
Not on the list, but maybe it should be? Mercedes SLK, BMW Z4, Alfa Romeo Spider.
I should mention that I haven't driven any of these yet so my comments are based primarily on reviews in the press.
If anyone has some experience with one or more of these it would be interesting to here about some pros and cons. And of course; are there other alternatives I should consider as well ?
Out of curiousity, what would be your choice given these requirements? My alternatives so far are these:
- Honda S2000: Fantastic engine, automatic roof, good build quality and reliability.
- Mazda MX-5 (latest model): Extremely simple roof, fun to drive, good build quality and reliability.
- Mini Cooper S: Fun to drive, cool design but fixed roof (not a fan of the convertible version).
Not on the list, but maybe it should be? Mercedes SLK, BMW Z4, Alfa Romeo Spider.
I should mention that I haven't driven any of these yet so my comments are based primarily on reviews in the press.
If anyone has some experience with one or more of these it would be interesting to here about some pros and cons. And of course; are there other alternatives I should consider as well ?
trondhb said:
The Europa is way too expensive here in Norway; it would probably cost around £60k... Another disadvantage is that the nearest Lotus workshop is 1100 kms away in southern Sweden... But yes, if I lived in the UK it might have been an option.
You don't have to take it to a Lotus shop. I take mine to an old friend of mine who's a specialist in Porsche and Ferrari and he has no problems servicing an Elise. And a lot of things I do myself. Very simple car
trondhb said:
Lately I've been thinking about selling my 01 Elise S2. After using it as a daily driver 2/3 of the year since june 2005 a few things are starting to bother me from time to time. To summarize I'd like a roadster I can use all-year (in Norway), which offers a bit more practibility (i.e. easier roof) and a bit more comfort for the daily commute but on the other side is almost as fun to drive as the Elise. It will be my everyday and only car all year.
Out of curiousity, what would be your choice given these requirements? My alternatives so far are these:
- Honda S2000: Fantastic engine, automatic roof, good build quality and reliability.
- Mazda MX-5 (latest model): Extremely simple roof, fun to drive, good build quality and reliability.
- Mini Cooper S: Fun to drive, cool design but fixed roof (not a fan of the convertible version).
Not on the list, but maybe it should be? Mercedes SLK, BMW Z4, Alfa Romeo Spider.
I should mention that I haven't driven any of these yet so my comments are based primarily on reviews in the press.
I had the BMW Z4 before the Lotus and it was a cracking car. Roof was simple, very comfortable and very luxurious compared to the Lotus. But it isnt a Lotus and i have not regretted swapping it at all.
If anyone has some experience with one or more of these it would be interesting to here about some pros and cons. And of course; are there other alternatives I should consider as well ?
Out of curiousity, what would be your choice given these requirements? My alternatives so far are these:
- Honda S2000: Fantastic engine, automatic roof, good build quality and reliability.
- Mazda MX-5 (latest model): Extremely simple roof, fun to drive, good build quality and reliability.
- Mini Cooper S: Fun to drive, cool design but fixed roof (not a fan of the convertible version).
Not on the list, but maybe it should be? Mercedes SLK, BMW Z4, Alfa Romeo Spider.
I should mention that I haven't driven any of these yet so my comments are based primarily on reviews in the press.
I had the BMW Z4 before the Lotus and it was a cracking car. Roof was simple, very comfortable and very luxurious compared to the Lotus. But it isnt a Lotus and i have not regretted swapping it at all.
If anyone has some experience with one or more of these it would be interesting to here about some pros and cons. And of course; are there other alternatives I should consider as well ?
Hate to say it, but a Boxster ought to be on your shopping list as well. Not my choice but reliable, a good, insulated hood, you can have air con / heated seats and if you go for a Boxster 'S' you get a decent lick of power as well. Have to say I'm a big fan of the MX5 as well - the new Roadster Coupe could be an option depending on your budget.
I have a S1 Sport 160 and I had use of a Z4 2.2 for 2 and a half months. I loved that car and would love to buy one. It needed to have more power so I'd say the 3 litre would be spot on. A very nice car to live with day to day and a lot of fun when you turn the traction control off! well worth putting on the list.
if you like ragging your cars, get the S2000, nothing else out there is quite as much fun...
if you like ragging your cars, get the S2000, nothing else out there is quite as much fun...
I had a Cooper S for 2 months, and loved the thing. I'd been very biased against the Mini before that, seeing it as a 'lifestyle' car, but it is a proper fast car with cracking handling and lift-off oversteer by the bucketload. The run flat tyres ruined it though, so they'd be ditched sharpish, and the standard pads overheat quickly and would have to be replaced. You can chip them up for a reasonable outlay too.
Tina K said:
Hate to say it too, but the only thing that could tempt me away from the Elise if/when I got too old and arthritic to enjoy it would be a well-specced Boxster S.
It was the Boxter i was thinking of when i was changing my Z4. Once i drove the Elise there ws no decision to make. The S2000 would be my choice from those you listed. It has a marvellous gearbox which makes each gear change an absolute pleasure. The VTEC engine loves to rev and has a very similar power delivery to the later Toyota engined S2 Elise. The Honda has 50 bhp more than the 111R but feels a touch slower in the first three gears as its carrying another 400kg of mass. The build quality is terrific, but the car is let down by the steering which as standard is very numb compared to the Lotus. I would recommend you drive the S2000 on some non-straight roads before purchase to see if you could live with the steering. A careful tyre and geo selection will improve the deficiency somewhat, but it'll never match an Elise for feedback.
Could you not, however, buy a later top-equipped Elise with a supertouring pack on it complete with hardtop, insulated softop along with a few more creature comforts? I reckon any of the choices so far will fall some way short of the Lotus as drivers cars.
Could you not, however, buy a later top-equipped Elise with a supertouring pack on it complete with hardtop, insulated softop along with a few more creature comforts? I reckon any of the choices so far will fall some way short of the Lotus as drivers cars.
The Cooper S is brilliant to drive but the supercharged model is horrendously thirsty, the new model is better but I'm not a big fan of the interior.
Personally, it's a new MX5 that occasionally tempts me to sell the Lotus - I have a Clio as a daily driver and the Lotus for fun but I do sometimes think about selling both of them and just buying a new MX5 but the main reason for a new MX5 over a used S2000 is that I do too many miles and the Honda would be ruined quite quickly, probably the wrong side of 100k miles within a couple of years.
Personally, it's a new MX5 that occasionally tempts me to sell the Lotus - I have a Clio as a daily driver and the Lotus for fun but I do sometimes think about selling both of them and just buying a new MX5 but the main reason for a new MX5 over a used S2000 is that I do too many miles and the Honda would be ruined quite quickly, probably the wrong side of 100k miles within a couple of years.
Thanks for all the replies 
Unfotunately, the prices on cars here in Norway are not quite at the same level as in the UK... To give you an idea, here's a rough idea of the (minimum) cost of the cars mentioned, listed in decreasing price...
2005 Mercedes SLK 3.5: £55.000
2006 Exige S2: £47.000
2004 Nissan 350Z: £46.000
2003 BMW Z4 3.0: £38.000
2000 Porsche Boxster S: £34.000
2006 Mini Cooper S: £34.000
2001 Porsche Boxster S 3.2: £32.000
2005 Mercedes SLK 2.0: £31.000
2004 BMW Z4 2.2: £30.000
2006 MX-5 2.0: £28.000
2001 Lotus Elise S2 (mine...): £26.000
2000 Honda S2000: £24.000
1997 Porsche Boxster: £23.000
2006 Mazda MX-5 1.8: £22.000
2003 Mini Cooper S: £18.000
Given my budget the S2000 and the MX-5 tops the list at the moment.
Even the cheapest Elise S would be at least £35k, about the same for a 2-3 years old 111R. And are the newer versions really that different to my S2 Race Tech making it a suitable all-year car in snow and ice like a S2000 or a MX-5 ? I seriously doubt it.
If I lived in the UK, though, I would have had a 111R long time ago and probably driven it every day all year long. No doubt about it.
Unfotunately, the prices on cars here in Norway are not quite at the same level as in the UK... To give you an idea, here's a rough idea of the (minimum) cost of the cars mentioned, listed in decreasing price...
2005 Mercedes SLK 3.5: £55.000
2006 Exige S2: £47.000
2004 Nissan 350Z: £46.000
2003 BMW Z4 3.0: £38.000
2000 Porsche Boxster S: £34.000
2006 Mini Cooper S: £34.000
2001 Porsche Boxster S 3.2: £32.000
2005 Mercedes SLK 2.0: £31.000
2004 BMW Z4 2.2: £30.000
2006 MX-5 2.0: £28.000
2001 Lotus Elise S2 (mine...): £26.000
2000 Honda S2000: £24.000
1997 Porsche Boxster: £23.000
2006 Mazda MX-5 1.8: £22.000
2003 Mini Cooper S: £18.000
Given my budget the S2000 and the MX-5 tops the list at the moment.
Even the cheapest Elise S would be at least £35k, about the same for a 2-3 years old 111R. And are the newer versions really that different to my S2 Race Tech making it a suitable all-year car in snow and ice like a S2000 or a MX-5 ? I seriously doubt it.
If I lived in the UK, though, I would have had a 111R long time ago and probably driven it every day all year long. No doubt about it.
Edited by trondhb on Tuesday 21st August 18:01
trondhb said:
Thanks for all the replies
Unfotunately, the prices on cars here in Norway are not quite at the same level as in the UK... To give you an idea, here's a rough idea of the (minimum) cost of the cars mentioned, listed in decreasing price...
2005 Mercedes SLK 3.5: £55.000
2006 Exige S2: £47.000
2004 Nissan 350Z: £46.000
2003 BMW Z4 3.0: £38.000
2000 Porsche Boxster S: £34.000
2006 Mini Cooper S: £34.000
2001 Porsche Boxster S 3.2: £32.000
2005 Mercedes SLK 2.0: £31.000
2004 BMW Z4 2.2: £30.000
2006 MX-5 2.0: £28.000
2001 Lotus Elise S2 (mine...): £26.000
2000 Honda S2000: £24.000
1997 Porsche Boxster: £23.000
2006 Mazda MX-5 1.8: £22.000
2003 Mini Cooper S: £18.000
Given my budget the S2000 and the MX-5 tops the list at the moment.
Even the cheapest Elise S would be at least £35k, about the same for a 2-3 years old 111R. And are the newer versions really that different to my S2 Race Tech making it a suitable all-year car in snow and ice like a S2000 or a MX-5 ? I seriously doubt it.
If I lived in the UK, though, I would have had a 111R long time ago and probably driven it every day all year long. No doubt about it.
when it comes to selling my car Norway it is then!! LOLUnfotunately, the prices on cars here in Norway are not quite at the same level as in the UK... To give you an idea, here's a rough idea of the (minimum) cost of the cars mentioned, listed in decreasing price...
2005 Mercedes SLK 3.5: £55.000
2006 Exige S2: £47.000
2004 Nissan 350Z: £46.000
2003 BMW Z4 3.0: £38.000
2000 Porsche Boxster S: £34.000
2006 Mini Cooper S: £34.000
2001 Porsche Boxster S 3.2: £32.000
2005 Mercedes SLK 2.0: £31.000
2004 BMW Z4 2.2: £30.000
2006 MX-5 2.0: £28.000
2001 Lotus Elise S2 (mine...): £26.000
2000 Honda S2000: £24.000
1997 Porsche Boxster: £23.000
2006 Mazda MX-5 1.8: £22.000
2003 Mini Cooper S: £18.000
Given my budget the S2000 and the MX-5 tops the list at the moment.
Even the cheapest Elise S would be at least £35k, about the same for a 2-3 years old 111R. And are the newer versions really that different to my S2 Race Tech making it a suitable all-year car in snow and ice like a S2000 or a MX-5 ? I seriously doubt it.
If I lived in the UK, though, I would have had a 111R long time ago and probably driven it every day all year long. No doubt about it.
Edited by trondhb on Tuesday 21st August 18:01
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