Elise Questions
Discussion
If you dont feel like reading this whole thing, is there a site strictly for U.S. Elises that I can read peoples reviews on owning an Elise. I want to know everything there is to know about living with an Elise U.S. (series 2) model
I am in a bit of a jam here. You see, my dream car is an Esprit. They can now be had for less money than an Elise. However, given my current living situation, I cannot see myself being able to comfortably work on and store an Esprit. Plus, being that my life is very hectic at the moment I wonder if being able to properly spend time enjoying and maintaining an Esprit would be possible. I really dont want to wait much longer for an Esprit because I dont want it to be 30 years old by the time I get it.
Lately i have taken an almost ossessive liking to the Elise. I used to want it in white with the soft black top and powder coated wheels, but now I am ga-ga over the triple black. It just seems more appropriate given my hectic lifestyle at the moment. I want an Esprit more than anything in the world, but I also want to be able to have time to maintain it properly and with an Esprit I would love to become an official member of my local Lotus Club Organization which is very large at the moment. This whole time I have been an unnofficial member, i.e. no Lotus, but they are great people who accept me as one of their own as if I did own one.
Thing is, like I said, my life is so busy at the moment, the Elise seems like the perfect solution. You see, I always buy a new car about every 6 months. its a sickness, I know. The last two cars I had were a 350Z followed by an Infiniti G35 coupe. Now, it is time to get into Lotus territory I feel.
The Elise seems perfect in the sense that I can get one with low mileage and still under warranty. Plus, it seems like a car you can just get into and go, not having to worry about the finesse and care needed if I had an Esprit. I can use it everyday, it gets good gas mileage and I would imagine being a blast to drive. I have another car so it wouldnt be my everyday driver, but I do plan on driving it everyday that is nice. Plus, its comforting to know that they are reliable, especially being it has an engine from Toyota.
Just look at this beautiful example: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Lotus-Elise-Elise-T...
Now with that said, I do want to shoot for the supercharged version, but I am afraid I may not be able to afford it. right now I am leaning towards an 05-06, but would prefer an '06.
Question is simple:
1. Are there aftermarket turbos or blowers for the Elise, or can you use one aftermarket made for a Celica GTS? Also, how much would a turbo be?
2. I want to customize it by putting full black carpeting and heated seats, is there a kit for the Elise to do this? If so where? And does anyone know if anyone has put heated seats in an Elise using the stock seats? if so, where and how much?
3. I want to put carbon fiber to replace the black fins on the side and front hood of the Elise. Are there aftermarket places to purchase these sort of things?
I am in a bit of a jam here. You see, my dream car is an Esprit. They can now be had for less money than an Elise. However, given my current living situation, I cannot see myself being able to comfortably work on and store an Esprit. Plus, being that my life is very hectic at the moment I wonder if being able to properly spend time enjoying and maintaining an Esprit would be possible. I really dont want to wait much longer for an Esprit because I dont want it to be 30 years old by the time I get it.
Lately i have taken an almost ossessive liking to the Elise. I used to want it in white with the soft black top and powder coated wheels, but now I am ga-ga over the triple black. It just seems more appropriate given my hectic lifestyle at the moment. I want an Esprit more than anything in the world, but I also want to be able to have time to maintain it properly and with an Esprit I would love to become an official member of my local Lotus Club Organization which is very large at the moment. This whole time I have been an unnofficial member, i.e. no Lotus, but they are great people who accept me as one of their own as if I did own one.
Thing is, like I said, my life is so busy at the moment, the Elise seems like the perfect solution. You see, I always buy a new car about every 6 months. its a sickness, I know. The last two cars I had were a 350Z followed by an Infiniti G35 coupe. Now, it is time to get into Lotus territory I feel.
The Elise seems perfect in the sense that I can get one with low mileage and still under warranty. Plus, it seems like a car you can just get into and go, not having to worry about the finesse and care needed if I had an Esprit. I can use it everyday, it gets good gas mileage and I would imagine being a blast to drive. I have another car so it wouldnt be my everyday driver, but I do plan on driving it everyday that is nice. Plus, its comforting to know that they are reliable, especially being it has an engine from Toyota.
Just look at this beautiful example: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Lotus-Elise-Elise-T...
Now with that said, I do want to shoot for the supercharged version, but I am afraid I may not be able to afford it. right now I am leaning towards an 05-06, but would prefer an '06.
Question is simple:
1. Are there aftermarket turbos or blowers for the Elise, or can you use one aftermarket made for a Celica GTS? Also, how much would a turbo be?
2. I want to customize it by putting full black carpeting and heated seats, is there a kit for the Elise to do this? If so where? And does anyone know if anyone has put heated seats in an Elise using the stock seats? if so, where and how much?
3. I want to put carbon fiber to replace the black fins on the side and front hood of the Elise. Are there aftermarket places to purchase these sort of things?
http://www.sector111.com/
Never used them myself but have got some products you may be interested in.
Never used them myself but have got some products you may be interested in.
Edited by Vlad. on Wednesday 17th December 17:17
Vlad. said:
http://www.sector111.com/
Never used them myself but have got some products you may be interested in.
thanks, i'll check it out.Never used them myself but have got some products you may be interested in.
Edited by Vlad. on Wednesday 17th December 17:17
theres a big following in the US and yes, lots of aftermarket conversions too - some of the guys there are running 350bhp + in their Elises 
www.elisetalk.com
www.elisetalk.com
bogie said:
theres a big following in the US and yes, lots of aftermarket conversions too - some of the guys there are running 350bhp + in their Elises
www.elisetalk.com
excellent, thanks!www.elisetalk.com
noodleman said:
Please don't put heated seats in...that's a horrible thing to do to an Elise.
Also, if it's cold enough to really need heated seats, then you live somewhere with too much ice to make owning a fast Elise fun.
I dont get why everyone is so against heated seats in an Elise? Whats the big deal? its not like it is adding a ton of weight to the car. I think its a nice little feature that would go over well with the open top feel of the car on a cool night.Also, if it's cold enough to really need heated seats, then you live somewhere with too much ice to make owning a fast Elise fun.
And I ask that with no trace of resentment. I am just curious as to why so many people are against such a thing.
'Purists', I believe they like to be known as 
Enjoy the car as you see fit. Everyone has different expectations, which is why Lotus made loads of different varieties of Elise, and the aftermarket modification scene with the Elise-variant cars is up there with the Max Power crew in terms of variety and sheer number of bits and bobs you can fit to your Lotus.
In terms of the heated seats, personally I hate open top cars so I don't really need them... but there's a big thread on SELOC at the moment regarding an aftermarket heated seat kit that apparently fits nicely in the S2 Elise seats. And no, it doesn't add that much weight (you'll probably find the people who get all sniffy about adding weight to the Elise are a couple of stone heavier than you... well I do
)
Enjoy the car as you see fit. Everyone has different expectations, which is why Lotus made loads of different varieties of Elise, and the aftermarket modification scene with the Elise-variant cars is up there with the Max Power crew in terms of variety and sheer number of bits and bobs you can fit to your Lotus.
In terms of the heated seats, personally I hate open top cars so I don't really need them... but there's a big thread on SELOC at the moment regarding an aftermarket heated seat kit that apparently fits nicely in the S2 Elise seats. And no, it doesn't add that much weight (you'll probably find the people who get all sniffy about adding weight to the Elise are a couple of stone heavier than you... well I do
)cyberface said:
'Purists', I believe they like to be known as
Enjoy the car as you see fit. Everyone has different expectations, which is why Lotus made loads of different varieties of Elise, and the aftermarket modification scene with the Elise-variant cars is up there with the Max Power crew in terms of variety and sheer number of bits and bobs you can fit to your Lotus.
In terms of the heated seats, personally I hate open top cars so I don't really need them... but there's a big thread on SELOC at the moment regarding an aftermarket heated seat kit that apparently fits nicely in the S2 Elise seats. And no, it doesn't add that much weight (you'll probably find the people who get all sniffy about adding weight to the Elise are a couple of stone heavier than you... well I do )
Enjoy the car as you see fit. Everyone has different expectations, which is why Lotus made loads of different varieties of Elise, and the aftermarket modification scene with the Elise-variant cars is up there with the Max Power crew in terms of variety and sheer number of bits and bobs you can fit to your Lotus.
In terms of the heated seats, personally I hate open top cars so I don't really need them... but there's a big thread on SELOC at the moment regarding an aftermarket heated seat kit that apparently fits nicely in the S2 Elise seats. And no, it doesn't add that much weight (you'll probably find the people who get all sniffy about adding weight to the Elise are a couple of stone heavier than you... well I do
)
Do you have a direct link to that discussion with the seat kit?You will need to join up at www.SELOC.org
It looks like quite an easy mod, if you're vaguely handy with a spanner.
Something I am considering doing.
As for the purists, it's your car, do what you want to it. I have been criticised many times for modifying my TVR, but I'm the one driving it.
It looks like quite an easy mod, if you're vaguely handy with a spanner.
Something I am considering doing.
As for the purists, it's your car, do what you want to it. I have been criticised many times for modifying my TVR, but I'm the one driving it.
Wildfire said:
You will need to join up at www.SELOC.org
It looks like quite an easy mod, if you're vaguely handy with a spanner.
Something I am considering doing.
As for the purists, it's your car, do what you want to it. I have been criticised many times for modifying my TVR, but I'm the one driving it.
Thanks for the link, appreciate it!! And I agree, its our car so who cares right? Purists LOLIt looks like quite an easy mod, if you're vaguely handy with a spanner.
Something I am considering doing.
As for the purists, it's your car, do what you want to it. I have been criticised many times for modifying my TVR, but I'm the one driving it.
LotusACBC said:
Wildfire said:
You will need to join up at www.SELOC.org
It looks like quite an easy mod, if you're vaguely handy with a spanner.
Something I am considering doing.
As for the purists, it's your car, do what you want to it. I have been criticised many times for modifying my TVR, but I'm the one driving it.
Thanks for the link, appreciate it!! And I agree, its our car so who cares right? Purists LOLIt looks like quite an easy mod, if you're vaguely handy with a spanner.
Something I am considering doing.
As for the purists, it's your car, do what you want to it. I have been criticised many times for modifying my TVR, but I'm the one driving it.
cyberface said:
LotusACBC said:
Wildfire said:
You will need to join up at www.SELOC.org
It looks like quite an easy mod, if you're vaguely handy with a spanner.
Something I am considering doing.
As for the purists, it's your car, do what you want to it. I have been criticised many times for modifying my TVR, but I'm the one driving it.
Thanks for the link, appreciate it!! And I agree, its our car so who cares right? Purists LOLIt looks like quite an easy mod, if you're vaguely handy with a spanner.
Something I am considering doing.
As for the purists, it's your car, do what you want to it. I have been criticised many times for modifying my TVR, but I'm the one driving it.
http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f3/i-got-t-v-s-put...
LotusACBC said:
noodleman said:
Please don't put heated seats in...that's a horrible thing to do to an Elise.
Also, if it's cold enough to really need heated seats, then you live somewhere with too much ice to make owning a fast Elise fun.
I dont get why everyone is so against heated seats in an Elise? Whats the big deal? its not like it is adding a ton of weight to the car. I think its a nice little feature that would go over well with the open top feel of the car on a cool night.Also, if it's cold enough to really need heated seats, then you live somewhere with too much ice to make owning a fast Elise fun.
And I ask that with no trace of resentment. I am just curious as to why so many people are against such a thing.
Got to remember that most posters on this forum live in the UK where the summer temperature of 15 deg C drops down to a winter one of 5 deg C and the rain changes from tepid to cold. In other words we dont really need heated seats or aircon or in many cases even a heater.
Its your car - you do what you want to it!
Edited by bordseye on Friday 19th December 09:35
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