More Refined Elise?

[LotusACBC]

I am going to try to make this as short as possible because I usually have a problem of writing too much. I love Lotus and especially the Elise and I would love to own one as a second car but on every nice day use the Elise. Do you think they would build an Elise with a full interior? I am not saying it has to look like the inside of a Caymen S, but why not something more useable for people who WANT to use more often? Beef up the engine to dust the heavier weight or turbocharge/supercharge it, and sell LIMITED numbers so it wont become a symbol car like porsche elitists with too much money LOL But lets be honest, Lotus no time soon would ever be at the disposal of people with too much money and ego and have no idea what their driving, atleast not on the level of any other manufactuerers; (porsche, BMW, etc.)

All I am saying is that it would be nice and I would be much more obliged to purchase one. I know the Lotus philosophy is light weight etc etc, but what is a fuller interior going to add really where beefing the engine A BIT, like say 220hp cant help it?

I would like the whole inside of the door wrapped in leather like the little bit in the middle that it has just extended to cover the whole inside. Carpet the entire interior complete with floor mats. The wide door sills would have to remain the same or they would take too much abuse from ingress/egress, but it would be elegant to have the chrome sill panels like in the Esprit saying of course LOTUS or ELISE. The whole dash section is fine if you ask me and could remain but how about some heated seats, i think that would be great considering the open/touring driving it evokes.

Now before I get the whole wiplash and upset about "why dont you just ask for a cup holder" NO i DONT want or need a cup holder. Yes I realize it would be very hard to put heated seats in because of the space restriction being paper thing but I am sure somehow some mechanism could be fitted. Also I just realized that the touring model does have the inside door fully clothed. I also realize all I am asking for is a carpet with floor mats and heated seats. I believe that could be a simple enough custom job no?

I dont know the inside of the Elise well so any owners opinion would be greatly appreciated.

I realized again that I wrote too much and said too little.

[Mattt]

So the only things you want are carpets and heated seats? Both of which are easily retro fitted though by any decent interior shop.

[LotusACBC]

Mattt said:

So the only things you want are carpets and heated seats? Both of which are easily retro fitted though by any decent interior shop.

yes sir, in writing that whole thing I realized it all LOL

[jondude]

Lotus have carved a name and image for themselves as untraditonal, a bit wild - different.

What you are requesting was no doubt put to Lotus by every American driver or business out there....yet even they could only get Lotus to throw in some power windows and....yeah, what???


It's a tough one, really. Lotus seem to me to revel ( as do owners of the cars ) in their quirky little differences....they remove us from the crowd.

Although having said all that, didn't they make the Europa as the 'answer' to those requesting more comfort?

[roger.daltrey]

Europa S with super touring pack leather should do it ?

[Esprit]

roger.daltrey said:

Europa S with super touring pack leather should do it ?

Which you could (presumably) retrofit to a VX220T if you REALLY wanted to?

[rfoster]

Expect the 'Eagle' will also help to accomodate these luxuries. Completely pointless on the Elise, the whole idea is that it's a track car that you can drive home at the end of the day. Might as well fit cruise control to a Caterham.

[RobM77]

Have you tried a 111S or a touring spec 111R? I use mine everyday and my only complaint is that it's a bit noisy on the motorway.

I'm not happy doing what most of my friends do, driving some front drive eurobox everyday and then having a Caterham, Atom or Elise for the weekend. I want to experience driving pleasure every time I get in a car. I used to have the same wish as you, and when the S1 was around I just owned a Caterham for the weekends. When the S2 came out I test drove one but it still wasn't enough for everyday use. When the S2 111S came out I was smitten within minutes and bought one.

Heated seats are a great idea for an open top car like the Elise though. I'd never thought of that before. What a great idea Like the electric windows, I'm sure they'd hugely improve the car (I have windows down under 60mph, and up over 60mph on the motorway; so with electric windows you can switch as you drive) and Lotus could engineer them to not weigh any more.

[jb111s]

Like the other user said, get a Europa with luxury pack fitted which fulfils your criteria. They're going for as little as 22-25k with it fitted these days.

Heated seats ? Stop being soft. You want to warm your seat up just fart.

[clarencegi77]

NOT in an exige with the windows up, lol, you'll suffocate! and, you're getting soft you! heated seats? unheard of...

[clarencegi77]

Not in an exige with the windows up! lol, you'll suffocate in no time...
heated seats in a lotus? unheard of... really, i'd rather not

[miles_stylus]

jb111s said:

Like the other user said, get a Europa with luxury pack fitted which fulfils your criteria. They're going for as little as 22-25k with it fitted these days.

Heated seats ? Stop being soft. You want to warm your seat up just fart.

I've just fitted a CF drivers seat and oh boy does my bum get cold in the mornings now - it's OK after a bit but then gets blessed cold on the m Way - At that point I would really like a heat mat on the rear of the seat (so that it is not visible).

Apart from that with the S2 111s I find the car more comfortable than my wifre's 05 Hoonda civic and have all the carpets I could want

Try a 111s and see if this meets your needs (with the normal seats you don't even have to worry about having a cold bum)!

Miles

[hahithestevieboy]

Seems like the europa se would be just the ticket for you and is pretty much exactly what you have described. However with its new wheels, tires and lowered suspension, no one seems to have seen one or driven one.

I suppose, the only dissadvantage (perhaps?) for you is that it is a coupe and not a roadster and the looks might not be to your taste (personally I like it).

The seat cushion on some elises (i dont know about europas) comes off and I suppose that heat mats (kits available online) could be inserted into them....

[bencollins]

roger.daltrey said:

Europa S with super touring pack leather should do it ?

You have described a Europa.

[jazzyjeff]

bencollins said:

roger.daltrey said:

Europa S with super touring pack leather should do it ?

You have described a Europa.

Not all Europas have the super luxury touring pack (even though some dealers have trouble telling the difference, or make out they don't know the difference!)

JJ

P.S. I find it highly unlikely that a Europa interior could be retro-fitted to a VXT. They are different dimensions for a start, plus one car has a fixed roof and the other doesn't.

[hahithestevieboy]

jazzyjeff said:

bencollins said:

roger.daltrey said:

Europa S with super touring pack leather should do it ?

You have described a Europa.

Not all Europas have the super luxury touring pack (even though some dealers have trouble telling the difference, or make out they don't know the difference!)

JJ

P.S. I find it highly unlikely that a Europa interior could be retro-fitted to a VXT. They are different dimensions for a start, plus one car has a fixed roof and the other doesn't.

Isnt there a titanium one with the pack in the classifieds? (although it does look in the pictures of "its" interior like they were taken of a black car???

[edoardo]

RobM77 said:

Have you tried a 111S or a touring spec 111R? I use mine everyday and my only complaint is that it's a bit noisy on the motorway.

I'm not happy doing what most of my friends do, driving some front drive eurobox everyday and then having a Caterham, Atom or Elise for the weekend. I want to experience driving pleasure every time I get in a car.

Heated seats are a great idea for an open top car like the Elise though. I'd never thought of that before. What a great idea .

I'm with you 100% Rob, the Elise has evolved in a very usable every day car if you like it.
I love it the way it is, however for the many that complain about getting heavier and losing the original spirit, I think that Lotus should also offer an Elise kind of 2-11 variant with roof and doors, alongside the current ones.
To each his own.

for LotusACBC, i think you won't be dissatisfied with an Europa or a 2008 Elise.
have you tried a whole-day-test-drive (I did)

... and as Rob says, just add some aftermarket luxury if you really need it!

[Movano]

hahithestevieboy said:

Seems like the europa se would be just the ticket for you and is pretty much exactly what you have described. However with its new wheels, tires and lowered suspension, no one seems to have seen one or driven one.

I don't think any SE versions of the Europa will be delivered until June - I don't think the spec has been finalised yet by Lotus.

Movano.

[LotusACBC]

Well let me just say while the Europa S seems fitting I do not have access to it as I live in the U.S., also I dont find it particularly appealing. A black or white Elise is to drool over however.

I dont really need any of the things I mentioned but I think retrofitting a bit of carpeting to cover the floor panels (leaving the aluminum transmission tunnel exposed is a must) and somehow retrofitting a thin layer of material on the bottom of the seat to heat it with a tiny toggle switch you can mount anywhere would be a nice feature for those cool spring/summer nights with the top down. I dont think that is blasphemy or against the Loti philosophy. It would hardly add 50lbs of weight I would venture to say. So just do some cardio and shed some of your own body weight LOL

Hmm, I may make my own retro fit heated seat inserts to sell for Elise owners. Sorry guys I got the copyright on this one! Stay tuned for prices and availablity!

By the way I realize the original title of my post as the word "refined" in it, but adding those two things I mention would hardly refine it, plus who needs that. I really meant make it more complete? Comfortable? Fun? I dont know. You get the point.

Edited by LotusACBC on Friday 18th April 18:10