Dual purpose Elise?
Discussion
I had an elise as a daily driver for years - used to commute > 80 miles each way every day in it. Also commuted in a Caterham Superlight for 12 months but wouldn't do that again!
The elise is (IMO) worth the compromise. Do it! It's better to regret something you DID do than something you DIDN'T do.
Jonny
The elise is (IMO) worth the compromise. Do it! It's better to regret something you DID do than something you DIDN'T do.
Jonny
I used mine as a daily driver for 4 years and it found it fine. I've seen comments from other owners who clearly would find it completely unacceptable.
It really depends on you and your tolerance to its issues vs how you prioritise the dynamic advantages.
Would the awkward entry/exit bother you?
General noise/vibration/crashyness over bumps bother you?
Lack of interior features & toys?
Aircon?
Would you be 'precious' about scratches from supermarket trolleys etc?
None of these things bothered me in the slightest so it was well worth having a car thats so rewarding when driven the intended way.
I found it also brings some nice moments in daily use such people letting me out from side roads etc as the public mostly respond positively to the elise. People seem to consider 'fun & cute' rather than pretentious as some sportcars are seen.
The biggest downside for me was that you get accustomed to the car and it becomes less special. The best performance upgrade I ever bought for the elise was a crap old BMW 5 series, now when I get in the elise it feels ten times sharper than it did before.
The car clearly can be used as a daily driver without problem. It has a run of the mill Rover drivetrain that was designed for that kind of use and won't put up a fuss. It has a small but useful boot space to keep things secure and out of sight. Its very cheap to run. If the roof/windows are adjusted properly leaks aren't a problem.
Based on your trackday intentions I'd say its an excellent choice but the question is really more about you and how you'd feel about the pros / cons.
It really depends on you and your tolerance to its issues vs how you prioritise the dynamic advantages.
Would the awkward entry/exit bother you?
General noise/vibration/crashyness over bumps bother you?
Lack of interior features & toys?
Aircon?
Would you be 'precious' about scratches from supermarket trolleys etc?
None of these things bothered me in the slightest so it was well worth having a car thats so rewarding when driven the intended way.
I found it also brings some nice moments in daily use such people letting me out from side roads etc as the public mostly respond positively to the elise. People seem to consider 'fun & cute' rather than pretentious as some sportcars are seen.
The biggest downside for me was that you get accustomed to the car and it becomes less special. The best performance upgrade I ever bought for the elise was a crap old BMW 5 series, now when I get in the elise it feels ten times sharper than it did before.
The car clearly can be used as a daily driver without problem. It has a run of the mill Rover drivetrain that was designed for that kind of use and won't put up a fuss. It has a small but useful boot space to keep things secure and out of sight. Its very cheap to run. If the roof/windows are adjusted properly leaks aren't a problem.
Based on your trackday intentions I'd say its an excellent choice but the question is really more about you and how you'd feel about the pros / cons.
I use mine all the time - it's a great drive!
You quickly get used to the getting in and out...and its amazing how much you can put up under the rear wings.
For the winter I recommend rainclear too for all the glass, makes a huge difference to your road traffic awareness when its throwing it down.
I always feel special in my Elise too -and I think its great to make that every day!
You quickly get used to the getting in and out...and its amazing how much you can put up under the rear wings.
For the winter I recommend rainclear too for all the glass, makes a huge difference to your road traffic awareness when its throwing it down.
I always feel special in my Elise too -and I think its great to make that every day!
I, (well me and a mate) share an elise as a track car and for that use it is superb. Faster then your average sports hatch but not so stupidly fast to make it difficult to learn and be constantly held up by slower cars. You stay warm and dry in the wet (unlike the caterfield boys) and have a light car with a cheap to maintain and tunable engine. Add some uprated suspension and a set of Toyo 888's or the like and you'll soon be a trackday god 
.
Now as an everyday drive i'm not sure i wouldn't start to crave for an ordinary easy to use car after a while, but hey life's a compromise.
.Now as an everyday drive i'm not sure i wouldn't start to crave for an ordinary easy to use car after a while, but hey life's a compromise.
SpeedyDave said:
I used mine as a daily driver for 4 years and it found it fine. I've seen comments from other owners who clearly would find it completely unacceptable.
It really depends on you and your tolerance to its issues vs how you prioritise the dynamic advantages.
Would the awkward entry/exit bother you?
General noise/vibration/crashyness over bumps bother you?
Lack of interior features & toys?
Aircon?
Would you be 'precious' about scratches from supermarket trolleys etc?
None of these things bothered me in the slightest so it was well worth having a car thats so rewarding when driven the intended way.
I found it also brings some nice moments in daily use such people letting me out from side roads etc as the public mostly respond positively to the elise. People seem to consider 'fun & cute' rather than pretentious as some sportcars are seen.
The biggest downside for me was that you get accustomed to the car and it becomes less special. The best performance upgrade I ever bought for the elise was a crap old BMW 5 series, now when I get in the elise it feels ten times sharper than it did before.
The car clearly can be used as a daily driver without problem. It has a run of the mill Rover drivetrain that was designed for that kind of use and won't put up a fuss. It has a small but useful boot space to keep things secure and out of sight. Its very cheap to run. If the roof/windows are adjusted properly leaks aren't a problem.
Based on your trackday intentions I'd say its an excellent choice but the question is really more about you and how you'd feel about the pros / cons.
It really depends on you and your tolerance to its issues vs how you prioritise the dynamic advantages.
Would the awkward entry/exit bother you?
General noise/vibration/crashyness over bumps bother you?
Lack of interior features & toys?
Aircon?
Would you be 'precious' about scratches from supermarket trolleys etc?
None of these things bothered me in the slightest so it was well worth having a car thats so rewarding when driven the intended way.
I found it also brings some nice moments in daily use such people letting me out from side roads etc as the public mostly respond positively to the elise. People seem to consider 'fun & cute' rather than pretentious as some sportcars are seen.
The biggest downside for me was that you get accustomed to the car and it becomes less special. The best performance upgrade I ever bought for the elise was a crap old BMW 5 series, now when I get in the elise it feels ten times sharper than it did before.
The car clearly can be used as a daily driver without problem. It has a run of the mill Rover drivetrain that was designed for that kind of use and won't put up a fuss. It has a small but useful boot space to keep things secure and out of sight. Its very cheap to run. If the roof/windows are adjusted properly leaks aren't a problem.
Based on your trackday intentions I'd say its an excellent choice but the question is really more about you and how you'd feel about the pros / cons.
No, No, No and Yes - but that's me sold... I like quirky 
What about motorway trolling in heavy rain/high speed? Visibility?
ETA: am thinking Exige also?
Edited by Fallen Angel on Wednesday 26th September 09:26
Heavy rain & standing water require care, even if on road tyres. Its a very light car so even though the tyres aren't big in an absolute sense they are relative to the weight.
Motorway cruising is a little noisy of course, and you're bound to want a sports exhaust, filter, etc which only makes things worse. Stereo has to be turned well up to compete which works for rock & heavy stuff, forget listening to anything relaxing though :-)
I've done all day motorway journeys, never bothered me but as above plenty of people would object.
Visibility is a bit limited out the back "3/4" angles due to the rear buttress, but its not a big problem. Rear vis can be a bit annoying at night due to reflections off the vertical rear window, again not a big problem. Forward vis is excellent and you get a good sense of where the wheels are making whats already a small car feel even more compact when blasting down narrow lanes etc. Rear vis is a bit rubbish close in (parking) as the back is high relative to your seating but its a small car so never really hard to manouver.
Motorway cruising is a little noisy of course, and you're bound to want a sports exhaust, filter, etc which only makes things worse. Stereo has to be turned well up to compete which works for rock & heavy stuff, forget listening to anything relaxing though :-)
I've done all day motorway journeys, never bothered me but as above plenty of people would object.
Visibility is a bit limited out the back "3/4" angles due to the rear buttress, but its not a big problem. Rear vis can be a bit annoying at night due to reflections off the vertical rear window, again not a big problem. Forward vis is excellent and you get a good sense of where the wheels are making whats already a small car feel even more compact when blasting down narrow lanes etc. Rear vis is a bit rubbish close in (parking) as the back is high relative to your seating but its a small car so never really hard to manouver.
SpeedyDave said:
Heavy rain & standing water require care, even if on road tyres. Its a very light car so even though the tyres aren't big in an absolute sense they are relative to the weight.
Motorway cruising is a little noisy of course, and you're bound to want a sports exhaust, filter, etc which only makes things worse. Stereo has to be turned well up to compete which works for rock & heavy stuff, forget listening to anything relaxing though :-)
I've done all day motorway journeys, never bothered me but as above plenty of people would object.
Visibility is a bit limited out the back "3/4" angles due to the rear buttress, but its not a big problem. Rear vis can be a bit annoying at night due to reflections off the vertical rear window, again not a big problem. Forward vis is excellent and you get a good sense of where the wheels are making whats already a small car feel even more compact when blasting down narrow lanes etc. Rear vis is a bit rubbish close in (parking) as the back is high relative to your seating but its a small car so never really hard to manouver.
Cheers - thanks for that. Noise etc doesn't worry me, being comfortable in a car doesn't really worry me either and am used to falling in and out of cars (well at least with a little bit of decorum)...Motorway cruising is a little noisy of course, and you're bound to want a sports exhaust, filter, etc which only makes things worse. Stereo has to be turned well up to compete which works for rock & heavy stuff, forget listening to anything relaxing though :-)
I've done all day motorway journeys, never bothered me but as above plenty of people would object.
Visibility is a bit limited out the back "3/4" angles due to the rear buttress, but its not a big problem. Rear vis can be a bit annoying at night due to reflections off the vertical rear window, again not a big problem. Forward vis is excellent and you get a good sense of where the wheels are making whats already a small car feel even more compact when blasting down narrow lanes etc. Rear vis is a bit rubbish close in (parking) as the back is high relative to your seating but its a small car so never really hard to manouver.
Sounds the bizz and just what I am looking for
Hi there... I use my car everyday and do some long journeys too, I personally find the car great on short and long journeys... Thursday I did South Coast to Norwish (Lotus) and back in a day and felt fresh as a daisy afterwards... 400 miles in very heavy rain and sunshine... varying speeds from slow trawling traffic to blasting along motorway and A roads... My car has covered 83k miles now, has S2 suspension, stainless exhaust and K&N intake plus Toyo (cheese) road tyres... Still does well on the track
Croix - July this year:-
http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-5286851...
All I can say is go for it, you won't regret it!!
Croix - July this year:-
http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-5286851...
All I can say is go for it, you won't regret it!!
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