Thinking of replacing S2 elise with bimmer
Discussion
1) Don't do it! I had a 330 coupe and it was the worst car I've ever owned. I thought that the legendary ride and handling, RWD and balance were going to be great, but the whole thing's ruined by controls that would be better placed in a dodgy arcade game. Utterly hideous to drive! And don't go thinking that the TC is annoying, but when you buy it you'll just turn it off, because when you do you'll discover that there's no limited slip diff and it relies on the electronic gubbins to be driveable. As for the throttle having a delay between input and output, that's just so wrong I can't see why BMW even bother selling cars any more. This feature would be dangerous and frustrating on a sewing machine, let alone a car!
2) If you're still not convinced, drive your Elise down a twisty road to your nearest BMW dealer, then take the Z4 on a decent test drive (at least 30 minutes) down the same twisty road. If you're not convinced, take up fishing instead. I can guarantee that within ten minutes of the test drive starting you'll be wrestling with the sat nav trying to find your way back to where you parked your Elise.
Sorry, rant over
Seriously though, I've had my Elise S2 for two years now and it's been totally reliable and not a problem at all. If you're after something quieter and more refined for Z4 money, try a Boxster or, better still, a Cayman, they do the job exceedingly well.
2) If you're still not convinced, drive your Elise down a twisty road to your nearest BMW dealer, then take the Z4 on a decent test drive (at least 30 minutes) down the same twisty road. If you're not convinced, take up fishing instead. I can guarantee that within ten minutes of the test drive starting you'll be wrestling with the sat nav trying to find your way back to where you parked your Elise.
Sorry, rant over
Seriously though, I've had my Elise S2 for two years now and it's been totally reliable and not a problem at all. If you're after something quieter and more refined for Z4 money, try a Boxster or, better still, a Cayman, they do the job exceedingly well.Edited by RobM77 on Tuesday 23 October 10:08
kambites said:
Gooby said:
jb111s said:
Not to mention beemer servicing costs & those stupid run flat tires knocking out your fillings.
Um .. the lotus uses run flats..
I was tempted also by the Z4 Coupe Ci - DON'T DO IT.
I took it on an extended test drive over some of my favourite B roads - it was useless compared with an Elise. Lack of feel from the steering wheel, even in 'sport' mode, was unbelievable - not very confidence inspiring. It understeers badly and just feels too bloated to be any substitute for a light sports car. Even in a straight line it didn't amaze me, despite the 265bhp 3.0l.
It costs well over £30k for a decent spec. and if you want this sort of pace, plus practicality, AND cheap parts - buy a Focus ST for half the money.
I took it on an extended test drive over some of my favourite B roads - it was useless compared with an Elise. Lack of feel from the steering wheel, even in 'sport' mode, was unbelievable - not very confidence inspiring. It understeers badly and just feels too bloated to be any substitute for a light sports car. Even in a straight line it didn't amaze me, despite the 265bhp 3.0l.
It costs well over £30k for a decent spec. and if you want this sort of pace, plus practicality, AND cheap parts - buy a Focus ST for half the money.
Interesting replies.
I think it unfair to compare the Z4 coupe with the Elise in terms of steering feel and response. And furthermore handling. The engines are in different places for a start and the BMW weighs almost twice as much. I have not yet test driven one, but from what I learn it does a good job of what it was designed to do: be a 2 seater GT.
I have no love for boxsters, and a cayman with a decent spec is just ridiculous money.
At the moment I am just considering a change. Probably around the new year. The BMW is certainly not as focused as the Elise, but you do get a hell of a lot more car. The engine I understand is a cracker. Servicing costs will be more yes.
I have been through 2 radiators with the Elise so far in about 10,000 miles, and since I live hundreds of miles away from anyone that has any elise experience (mechanics included), the thought of a 3rd going is dreadful. Add to this the possibilty of HGF and well it just doesnt sit well with me. Sure I might never ever see either, but the risk appears to be too great for me. Getting the car to a dealer will be costly. I have a Mitsubishi that is 10 years old and has been mechanically sound so far; and that gets driven 7 days a week & parked outside 24 hours a day.
It is good to get your opinions. I am considering owning both, but that would be just too much thinking with the heart and not the head! If I get a good trade-in I see no reason not to go ahead.
I think it unfair to compare the Z4 coupe with the Elise in terms of steering feel and response. And furthermore handling. The engines are in different places for a start and the BMW weighs almost twice as much. I have not yet test driven one, but from what I learn it does a good job of what it was designed to do: be a 2 seater GT.
I have no love for boxsters, and a cayman with a decent spec is just ridiculous money.
At the moment I am just considering a change. Probably around the new year. The BMW is certainly not as focused as the Elise, but you do get a hell of a lot more car. The engine I understand is a cracker. Servicing costs will be more yes.
I have been through 2 radiators with the Elise so far in about 10,000 miles, and since I live hundreds of miles away from anyone that has any elise experience (mechanics included), the thought of a 3rd going is dreadful. Add to this the possibilty of HGF and well it just doesnt sit well with me. Sure I might never ever see either, but the risk appears to be too great for me. Getting the car to a dealer will be costly. I have a Mitsubishi that is 10 years old and has been mechanically sound so far; and that gets driven 7 days a week & parked outside 24 hours a day.
It is good to get your opinions. I am considering owning both, but that would be just too much thinking with the heart and not the head! If I get a good trade-in I see no reason not to go ahead.
I didn't realise that you were after a GT. That's something that obviously a BMW is going to do a lot better than an Elise, which is obviously a sports car.
I'm still not sure that you'll find servicing more expensive on the BMW than the Lotus - I'd expect it to be cheaper.
Strange regarding your Elise reliability issues. I'm up to 23,000 miles in my Elise now and nothing's gone wrong other than my indicator popping out at speed.
I've been toying with the idea of a more GT based car to go alongside the Elise, and have considered various options. Every post year 2000 BMW that I've driven has had a delay on the throttle, so I wouldn't even consider owning one. That feature alone puts me off as it's totally laughable on any car, let alone a so called driver's car - BMW are in the sin bin for me (and plenty of my friends) until they can sort that out. Despite a car being a GT, I think it should retain some driveability. Even the cruise control couldn't cope with it on the 330 that I had!
It's a shame you're not keen on Boxsters, as they really are superb cars. Good controls, excellent handling, comfortable, there's not a bad word to say about them. They have every box ticked really. The alternatives I suppose are the 350Z, (which I didn't like because of the clumsy controls and throttle delay), Z4 (throttle delay), 968 Sport (a bit old maybe?), RX8 (again, a bit old, and a bit thirsty), and a secondhand NSX (amazing car, but maybe a bit old, and I find it hard to get comfortable in them). a 996 or 993 is an option I suppose (think of the rear seats as another boot and they're quite practical), but they can be expensive to run. The S2000 is a very well built car, but not a true driver's car, the boot's small, and I can't get comfy in it. There's not a lot of choice really!
I'm still not sure that you'll find servicing more expensive on the BMW than the Lotus - I'd expect it to be cheaper.
Strange regarding your Elise reliability issues. I'm up to 23,000 miles in my Elise now and nothing's gone wrong other than my indicator popping out at speed.
I've been toying with the idea of a more GT based car to go alongside the Elise, and have considered various options. Every post year 2000 BMW that I've driven has had a delay on the throttle, so I wouldn't even consider owning one. That feature alone puts me off as it's totally laughable on any car, let alone a so called driver's car - BMW are in the sin bin for me (and plenty of my friends) until they can sort that out. Despite a car being a GT, I think it should retain some driveability. Even the cruise control couldn't cope with it on the 330 that I had!
It's a shame you're not keen on Boxsters, as they really are superb cars. Good controls, excellent handling, comfortable, there's not a bad word to say about them. They have every box ticked really. The alternatives I suppose are the 350Z, (which I didn't like because of the clumsy controls and throttle delay), Z4 (throttle delay), 968 Sport (a bit old maybe?), RX8 (again, a bit old, and a bit thirsty), and a secondhand NSX (amazing car, but maybe a bit old, and I find it hard to get comfortable in them). a 996 or 993 is an option I suppose (think of the rear seats as another boot and they're quite practical), but they can be expensive to run. The S2000 is a very well built car, but not a true driver's car, the boot's small, and I can't get comfy in it. There's not a lot of choice really!
Gooby said:
kambites said:
Gooby said:
jb111s said:
Not to mention beemer servicing costs & those stupid run flat tires knocking out your fillings.
Um .. the lotus uses run flats..
No Lotus has runflat tyres.
The runflats in the BMWs make the ride feel "busy" and harsh at all times
Bridgies are generally marked RFT if they are run flats, as has been said, non of them are run flats on Lotus cars - I think someone somewhere has got mixed up because there is no spare, so assumed they are run flats, they aren't, which is why there's a can of sealant/inflator in the boot.
I had a Z4 before the Elise and they are SO different. A Z4 has beautiful quality and engineering, is refined, quick and very grippy. It is a great car but it is no alternative to an Elise simply because they are so different. The other thing is I LOVE my Elise but the Z4 was no more special than a 3 Series and no more interesting to drive. It was like som nay cars, good but dull.
Rob the throttle delay in BMW's you mention is interesting. I have not come across it before, but perhaps it is a software/ECU issue? What it an auto you drove?
I have driven a 350z and if the BMW is like that then I know what to expect: it felt like I was driving a barge. Total lack of feel.
It is good that you have not experienced any mechanical problems at 23k miles! My indicator was also dodgy...it did not pop out though; I decided to silcone it in.
Yes I agree the Lotus is a lot more special than the BM
I have driven a 350z and if the BMW is like that then I know what to expect: it felt like I was driving a barge. Total lack of feel.
It is good that you have not experienced any mechanical problems at 23k miles! My indicator was also dodgy...it did not pop out though; I decided to silcone it in.
Yes I agree the Lotus is a lot more special than the BM
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