S2 GULL-WING ROOF
Discussion
they are very rare, maybe only a few in circulation - they had big problems making them watertight and the fit n finish wasnt very good...also very expensive
why do you think you will need one? the S2 roof is waterproof enough - I did 85K miles in my old car with just thesoft top, in all weathers, UK and abroad, it never leaked.
Most people start off thinking they will need a hardtop - if you really want a hardtop, get an Exige....thats what it is now, an Elise with a hard roof and different wheels n tyres
I had a hardtop, used for about 1 month in the winter, got fed up of the inconvenience, the squeaking and the leaks, so sold it for £600
why do you think you will need one? the S2 roof is waterproof enough - I did 85K miles in my old car with just thesoft top, in all weathers, UK and abroad, it never leaked.
Most people start off thinking they will need a hardtop - if you really want a hardtop, get an Exige....thats what it is now, an Elise with a hard roof and different wheels n tyres
I had a hardtop, used for about 1 month in the winter, got fed up of the inconvenience, the squeaking and the leaks, so sold it for £600
Lotus never made them, too much hassle with the same issues mentioned above, so they left it.
Just get a regular hardtop if you live somehwere where you will worry about it otherwise.
Saying that there are thousands that just live on the street just fine without them...i guess only you can judge the area where you live...mine spent many nights out, sometimes in not so nice places !
Just get a regular hardtop if you live somehwere where you will worry about it otherwise.
Saying that there are thousands that just live on the street just fine without them...i guess only you can judge the area where you live...mine spent many nights out, sometimes in not so nice places !
I can't really see any advantages of a gullwing roof over a regular hardtop other than easier entry and then there are the obvious disadvantages that Bogie touched upon i.e. suspect build quality, non-lotus etc
I had a hardtop on my old elise and I have to admit it did stay on most of the year as I liked the way it looked.
It was a 2003 (short-tail version) and I never had any problems with leaks with either hard or soft top except in torrential rain, when the softtop would allow a few drops in the passenger corner but it was literally a few drops so no big deal really.
In short, I'd focus on finding a good car, hard-top or not as you can always buy one after in the classifieds.
I had a hardtop on my old elise and I have to admit it did stay on most of the year as I liked the way it looked.
It was a 2003 (short-tail version) and I never had any problems with leaks with either hard or soft top except in torrential rain, when the softtop would allow a few drops in the passenger corner but it was literally a few drops so no big deal really.
In short, I'd focus on finding a good car, hard-top or not as you can always buy one after in the classifieds.
Must be honest, I have the Gullwing on mine, and wouldn't be without it. It takes 30 seconds to take it off and put in the boot, the build quality is far better then people imagine, and no worse than any other part of the Elise. I also have a narrow garage, and I wouldn't be able to get out of the car if it wasn't for the roof opening, as there is little clearance between the door and the garage wall.
It leaks no more than any other roof, and is better than most. Just a small spot at the front edge of the drivers door, where the window meets.
I have no idea where you can get them, as the original manufacturer stopped making them.
It leaks no more than any other roof, and is better than most. Just a small spot at the front edge of the drivers door, where the window meets.
I have no idea where you can get them, as the original manufacturer stopped making them.
Edited by Poltergeist 666 on Sunday 15th June 00:45
Poltergeist 666 said:
It leaks no more than any other roof, and is better than most. Just a small spot at the front edge of the drivers door, where the window meets.
If it leaks at all, than it leaks more than most S2 short tail roofs, only time I ever had a leak was because the windows were about 1-2mm from being fully closed. 
LivinLaVidaLotus said:
Poltergeist 666 said:
It leaks no more than any other roof, and is better than most. Just a small spot at the front edge of the drivers door, where the window meets.
If it leaks at all, than it leaks more than most S2 short tail roofs, only time I ever had a leak was because the windows were about 1-2mm from being fully closed. LivinLaVidaLotus said:
Poltergeist 666 said:
It leaks no more than any other roof, and is better than most. Just a small spot at the front edge of the drivers door, where the window meets.
If it leaks at all, than it leaks more than most S2 short tail roofs, only time I ever had a leak was because the windows were about 1-2mm from being fully closed. Edited by Poltergeist 666 on Sunday 15th June 14:20
hueandcry71 said:
LivinLaVidaLotus said:
Poltergeist 666 said:
It leaks no more than any other roof, and is better than most. Just a small spot at the front edge of the drivers door, where the window meets.
If it leaks at all, than it leaks more than most S2 short tail roofs, only time I ever had a leak was because the windows were about 1-2mm from being fully closed. 
I quite often drive in the rain with the roof off - go fast enough and you don't get very wet.Gassing Station | Elise/Exige/Europa/340R | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff