Elise, 4x4 !! Snow and Temps
Discussion
Hi guys, bought my Elise at a strange time and use it as the main car. Is there a 4 x 4 upgrade for the possible snow in the winter? Of course as you reading this you are thinking, 'is this guy for real'? Well no im not, but how do thye perform in the snow? I was told they were bad in the wet, though I disagree with that one so far.
Also, what temps are your S2's at while driving 60 - 70mpb? Mine is about 86. Is that too high. The fan comes on at 100 is that correct?
Also, what temps are your S2's at while driving 60 - 70mpb? Mine is about 86. Is that too high. The fan comes on at 100 is that correct?
Used my elise all last winter as my main car and it was okay, just used common sense and didnt give it large. I found it a bit too easy to cause the wheels to lock when braking on gritted/salted surfaces so I kept a sensible distance from the car in front.
Gone are my aggressive days of being glued to the car in front to prevent peeps pushing in - I've learned to be more chilled these days.
Gone are my aggressive days of being glued to the car in front to prevent peeps pushing in - I've learned to be more chilled these days.
ps your second point about temp - 86 is normal. Digital temperature readout used to scare the willies off me, but now I'm used to it.
Dont be alarmed when the temperature rises into 90's etc when sitting in traffic.
Just make sure it comes back down again lol.
HGF = 110+ degrees = Expenditure required lol.
Dont be alarmed when the temperature rises into 90's etc when sitting in traffic.
Just make sure it comes back down again lol.
HGF = 110+ degrees = Expenditure required lol.
Depending on tyres and skill level, you can probably expect something a little bit like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CG7sewDkR6Y
HTH
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CG7sewDkR6Y
HTHI agree, the Elise is fine in the wet - I've driven mine on road and track in all sorts of weather and it's been far more secure and stable than my old BMWs were for instance.
As for the snow, mine was surprisingly ok last winter, but the main thing that worried me was the cost of repair should someone else slide into me.
86 degrees is what my temp gauge reads all the time
As for the snow, mine was surprisingly ok last winter, but the main thing that worried me was the cost of repair should someone else slide into me.
86 degrees is what my temp gauge reads all the time
Mine goes to like 93 - 94 in traffic sits at about 86 - 88 while driving,... Went to 100 after driving across Scotland with it. I was driving at 80mph on motorways for quite a while though then was stuck in traffic. I guess this could be it? I really dont want HGF! I dodged it with my Rover, hope I can do it with this as well.
Sure my temps are ok? (This is like talking on my geek forum about watching more GPU and CPU temps after overclocking, LOL)
Sure my temps are ok? (This is like talking on my geek forum about watching more GPU and CPU temps after overclocking, LOL)
bananamana said:
Mine goes to like 93 - 94 in traffic sits at about 86 - 88 while driving,... Went to 100 after driving across Scotland with it. I was driving at 80mph on motorways for quite a while though then was stuck in traffic. I guess this could be it? I really dont want HGF! I dodged it with my Rover, hope I can do it with this as well.
Sure my temps are ok? (This is like talking on my geek forum about watching more GPU and CPU temps after overclocking, LOL)
That's fine. Mine sits at a steady 86 when driving, and then rises in traffic. I've frequently seen it at 99 or 100 in traffic queues. Mine's a 111S without servo brakes, so I often just switch the engine off in traffic if I'm going downhill.Sure my temps are ok? (This is like talking on my geek forum about watching more GPU and CPU temps after overclocking, LOL)
siwil1 said:
In last yrs snow I decided to take my wifes merc, it got stuck with all its tcs etc flashing like a disco on the dash. Left it jumped into the Elise no probs just be very gentle and drive like miss Daisy.
I drove my car to work on untreated empty roads after the above picture was taken. I found it helped if I cleared the snow off the windscreen though 
Banana - temp is absolutely fine. Lots of posts about this issue, some from me also being overly paranoid. Underlying cause seems to be digital-gauge-paranoia.
High 80's = normal operation.
90's = normal for motorway followed by traffic jam.
Low 100's = normal for larging it followed by traffic jam.
...as opposed to my experience 3 months ago...
110+ = Bad news when I started to get HGF.
120+ = sh*t sh*t sh*t I need to pull over at the lotus dealer for HGF right away.
High 80's = normal operation.
90's = normal for motorway followed by traffic jam.
Low 100's = normal for larging it followed by traffic jam.
...as opposed to my experience 3 months ago...
110+ = Bad news when I started to get HGF.
120+ = sh*t sh*t sh*t I need to pull over at the lotus dealer for HGF right away.
whygee02 said:
Banana - temp is absolutely fine. Lots of posts about this issue, some from me also being overly paranoid. Underlying cause seems to be digital-gauge-paranoia.
High 80's = normal operation.
90's = normal for motorway followed by traffic jam.
Low 100's = normal for larging it followed by traffic jam.
...as opposed to my experience 3 months ago...
110+ = Bad news when I started to get HGF.
120+ = sh*t sh*t sh*t I need to pull over at the lotus dealer for HGF right away.
that seems a fairly accurate guide - always get worried when booting it and then getting stuck in traffic, goes straight to 100.. goes back to 90 within 30 secs of free running again though.High 80's = normal operation.
90's = normal for motorway followed by traffic jam.
Low 100's = normal for larging it followed by traffic jam.
...as opposed to my experience 3 months ago...
110+ = Bad news when I started to get HGF.
120+ = sh*t sh*t sh*t I need to pull over at the lotus dealer for HGF right away.
I've not driven mine in the snow yet but I did in the worst rain of this "summer" and it was just fine. Just don't be a cock and you won't end up in a hedge
Luckily in my job I can work from home in the 'worst' of the winter. So if there's a big downpour of snow then meh...
Standing water is the biggest Elise killer so put some decent tyres on (or make sure you have plenty of tread left). The semi slicks on the Exige are a big no-no in the winter for daily driving IMO.
Luckily in my job I can work from home in the 'worst' of the winter. So if there's a big downpour of snow then meh...
Standing water is the biggest Elise killer so put some decent tyres on (or make sure you have plenty of tread left). The semi slicks on the Exige are a big no-no in the winter for daily driving IMO.
Edited by NathanE on Thursday 20th September 17:46
I might be wrong but the temp gauge is not always your friend when it comes to HGF. As I understand it, when the water/coolant starts to disapear the temp gauge will end up sat in fresh air rather than water. In this circumstance it will not give an accurate temperature as it cannot measure fresh air. Therefore you could have zero water left, be heading rapidly for HGF but the temp gauge could still say 100 degrees.
I think that is what happens though I stand to be corrected.
Si
p.s. Don't worry about HGF too much. Just warm it up before you clog it. HGF is only a £700 fix anyway, which I know is £700 but not as scary as most engine failures.
I think that is what happens though I stand to be corrected.
Si
p.s. Don't worry about HGF too much. Just warm it up before you clog it. HGF is only a £700 fix anyway, which I know is £700 but not as scary as most engine failures.
My temp gauge is all over the place. Normal driving is 89-94, if I stick me boot in, its up at 95-96, as soon as I stop at a junction or in traffic, its up to 97, and if stuck for more than a minute or two, its up at 100, but fan kicks in and sorts it out.
Before I changed the radiator and coolant, it used to stick at 89 all day long, occasionally hitting 94 in traffic. For some reason the temps have all moved to the right a bit!
Before I changed the radiator and coolant, it used to stick at 89 all day long, occasionally hitting 94 in traffic. For some reason the temps have all moved to the right a bit!
Simon813 said:
p.s. Don't worry about HGF too much. Just warm it up before you clog it. HGF is only a £700 fix anyway, which I know is £700 but not as scary as most engine failures.
Depends whats happened with the failure. Plus if you have the AA Breakdown & Parts Cover (£65) they will pay upto £475 to fixing a HGF anyway.What are the S2 exiges like in the wet? I'm really considering an Exige S as my next car, but the single biggest thing that's putting me off it is worries about those tires in the wet. It would be my only car and, whilst I don't use it that regularly (weekends only really), I do need to be able to drive it as required - i.e. it's not just a toy.
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