Running costs of an Elise? Viable as a daily driver?
Discussion
Plenty of us use them as daily drivers.
Running costs are reasonable, as long as you don't use main dealers for servicing. Servicing is ever 9k miles or year and has generally cost me around 400 quid a year. I average around 37mpg but that would be higher if I did longer trips.
Suspension does wear - I suppose you'll be looking at a refresh every 60k miles or so. Geometry needs correcting regularly if you want it to drive properly - say once a year at your mileage at 150 quid a time. Tyres are around 500 quid a set.
If your 80 miles a day is on the motorway/dual carriageway, there are (much) better cars than the Elise to do it in. If it's 40 miles of B-roads, I can't think of a vehicle I'd rather be driving.
Running costs are reasonable, as long as you don't use main dealers for servicing. Servicing is ever 9k miles or year and has generally cost me around 400 quid a year. I average around 37mpg but that would be higher if I did longer trips.
Suspension does wear - I suppose you'll be looking at a refresh every 60k miles or so. Geometry needs correcting regularly if you want it to drive properly - say once a year at your mileage at 150 quid a time. Tyres are around 500 quid a set.
If your 80 miles a day is on the motorway/dual carriageway, there are (much) better cars than the Elise to do it in. If it's 40 miles of B-roads, I can't think of a vehicle I'd rather be driving.
Edited by kambites on Thursday 15th July 10:54
Not totally relevant, because it was a good few years ago, but a previous boss had one.
You could tell when he could not get a parking space in the building, because the car would be in the garage. To get in the building car park he had to wait for a clear time to get in at an angle, to avoid scraping his spoiler/diffuser
If he went out on business he always took a pool car...
You could tell when he could not get a parking space in the building, because the car would be in the garage. To get in the building car park he had to wait for a clear time to get in at an angle, to avoid scraping his spoiler/diffuser
If he went out on business he always took a pool car...
kambites said:
Plenty of us use them as daily drivers.
Running costs are reasonable, as long as you don't use main dealers for servicing. Servicing is ever 9k miles or year and has generally cost me around 400 quid a year. I average around 37mpg but that would be higher if I did longer trips.
Suspension does wear - I suppose you'll be looking at a refresh every 60k miles or so. Geometry needs correcting regularly if you want it to drive properly - say once a year at your mileage at 150 quid a time. Tyres are around 500 quid a set.
If your 80 miles a day is on the motorway/dual carriageway, there are (much) better cars than the Elise to do it in. If it's 40 miles of B-roads, I can't think of a vehicle I'd rather be driving.
Sounds a fairly expensive car to maintain, although the commute is all B roads in the peak district, couldn't be better Running costs are reasonable, as long as you don't use main dealers for servicing. Servicing is ever 9k miles or year and has generally cost me around 400 quid a year. I average around 37mpg but that would be higher if I did longer trips.
Suspension does wear - I suppose you'll be looking at a refresh every 60k miles or so. Geometry needs correcting regularly if you want it to drive properly - say once a year at your mileage at 150 quid a time. Tyres are around 500 quid a set.
If your 80 miles a day is on the motorway/dual carriageway, there are (much) better cars than the Elise to do it in. If it's 40 miles of B-roads, I can't think of a vehicle I'd rather be driving.
Edited by kambites on Thursday 15th July 10:54
Here is my impression of runing the Elise.
I have owned mine for just over 3 years now and even though I have other cars its the elise that I use more than any other. Yes its impractical to run everyday as sooner or later your going to curse it for some reason or another but you can always forgive it for this as the pleasure of driving it is simple fantastic.
Its the only car that I know that you can kick its arse and it will still return 35mpg! Which is just as well as it only holds 40 notes worth of petrol. The car gets serviced every year at a local garage (not a specialist as its just a toyota engine in there at the end of the day) and its costs me 100 plus parts. It only needs to go to a specialist when there is suspension issues or as mine is modded when something breaks but in general my local mechanic can handle most stuff. The only thing that needs replaced very often is tyres - mine last about 6 months (5K - 6K) rear and about 1yr front and at near on 200 a pop isn't that cheap.
The insurance was pretty cheap but I have accumlated points so now not so much - I pay 600 fully comp , 6 yrs NCB with 6PTS. Oh well can't expect to drive ethustatically and get away with it all the time.
The ride is comfortable enough though you will find yourself zig zagging across the road avoiding pot holes and man hole covers so it doesn't crash through them though the nitrons on my car might be the cause of this but if I cast my mind back and thing of the original suspensions it was a tad worse.
All in all, get one, they are cheap to run, great fun and if your hardcore enough suitable for everyday use as long as you are willing to lose some practicality.
I have owned mine for just over 3 years now and even though I have other cars its the elise that I use more than any other. Yes its impractical to run everyday as sooner or later your going to curse it for some reason or another but you can always forgive it for this as the pleasure of driving it is simple fantastic.
Its the only car that I know that you can kick its arse and it will still return 35mpg! Which is just as well as it only holds 40 notes worth of petrol. The car gets serviced every year at a local garage (not a specialist as its just a toyota engine in there at the end of the day) and its costs me 100 plus parts. It only needs to go to a specialist when there is suspension issues or as mine is modded when something breaks but in general my local mechanic can handle most stuff. The only thing that needs replaced very often is tyres - mine last about 6 months (5K - 6K) rear and about 1yr front and at near on 200 a pop isn't that cheap.
The insurance was pretty cheap but I have accumlated points so now not so much - I pay 600 fully comp , 6 yrs NCB with 6PTS. Oh well can't expect to drive ethustatically and get away with it all the time.
The ride is comfortable enough though you will find yourself zig zagging across the road avoiding pot holes and man hole covers so it doesn't crash through them though the nitrons on my car might be the cause of this but if I cast my mind back and thing of the original suspensions it was a tad worse.
All in all, get one, they are cheap to run, great fun and if your hardcore enough suitable for everyday use as long as you are willing to lose some practicality.
6k miles for a set of types Feck me you must drive hard or on tracks often. Had mine since may 09 14k miles on needed one service at £200 from main dealer. Types at front hardly worn rear tyres could do with replacing but will still be legal and there put back on after winter. If I drive it hard I get around 35 mph if driven slowly just under 40 mph as to drive it hard you don't need to accelerate that much just stop braking for the corners.
As for getting tired of it can't see it happening I'm a bit of a giffer so a bit of a struggle to get in and out but absolutely impossible to get out and not look back at it.
Very comfortable for long journeys often do Derby to bristol in it with no problems.
Insurance for me at 29 new elise s never had a similar car before, unlimited miles cover in Europe for 30 days costs me £400 from cci.
Lots of good feeling from others and keep finding people slow down and pull over to let me past.
As you can probably tell I absolutely love mine and if your in the Derby area feel free to ask for a ride in one of you've not been in one. Just remember I drive it like a girl!
As for getting tired of it can't see it happening I'm a bit of a giffer so a bit of a struggle to get in and out but absolutely impossible to get out and not look back at it.
Very comfortable for long journeys often do Derby to bristol in it with no problems.
Insurance for me at 29 new elise s never had a similar car before, unlimited miles cover in Europe for 30 days costs me £400 from cci.
Lots of good feeling from others and keep finding people slow down and pull over to let me past.
As you can probably tell I absolutely love mine and if your in the Derby area feel free to ask for a ride in one of you've not been in one. Just remember I drive it like a girl!
I run one as a toy - couldn't live with it on a daily basis simply due to the noise (it's modified and very loud).
For weekends, it's perfect.
Light on tyres, light on brakes, light on fuel. More comfortable and has a better ride than you'd think.
I'm seeing 40mpg on the old K-series, the A-service is about to cost me 180 quid and insurance is cheap.
For weekends, it's perfect.
Light on tyres, light on brakes, light on fuel. More comfortable and has a better ride than you'd think.
I'm seeing 40mpg on the old K-series, the A-service is about to cost me 180 quid and insurance is cheap.
Byard said:
Sounds a fairly expensive car to maintain, although the commute is all B roads in the peak district, couldn't be better
Well you can't expect it to cost the same as a Focus to run, but it's probably cheaper than anything else with the same performance that isn't a bike or a kit car. Oh, insurance tends to be expensive, though.
Edited by kambites on Thursday 15th July 12:32
kambites said:
Byard said:
Sounds a fairly expensive car to maintain, although the commute is all B roads in the peak district, couldn't be better
Well you can't expect it to cost the same as a Focus to run, but it's probably cheaper than anything else with the same performance that isn't a bike or a kit car. Oh, insurance tends to be expensive, though.
Edited by kambites on Thursday 15th July 12:32
But the cupra was just a car the elise is a lotus.
kambites said:
Byard said:
Sounds a fairly expensive car to maintain, although the commute is all B roads in the peak district, couldn't be better
Well you can't expect it to cost the same as a Focus to run, but it's probably cheaper than anything else with the same performance that isn't a bike or a kit car. And Darcy has it about right but my rears are 9k and require changing.
i've got a st2 exhaust and do 25 miles a day... dont get one if your doing 80 unless you've got ear plugs as the drone is annoying but on a B road the pops and bangs are great.
kazste said:
6k miles for a set of types Feck me you must drive hard or on tracks often.
It does depend on the sort of tyres you put on. Mine did 30k with the original pirellis (hard as a rock, never wear, but no grip either) with the original owner, and between 10k and 4k with me driving on toyos and Advans (the Advans wore quickest, but also had tons of grip).Ironically, I did more miles on the toyos which had a walshy day and a few other things on them, and they lasted longer than the advans (which were only ever used on road)
C
CraigyMc said:
kazste said:
6k miles for a set of types Feck me you must drive hard or on tracks often.
It does depend on the sort of tyres you put on. Mine did 30k with the original pirellis (hard as a rock, never wear, but no grip either) with the original owner, and between 10k and 4k with me driving on toyos and Advans (the Advans wore quickest, but also had tons of grip).Ironically, I did more miles on the toyos which had a walshy day and a few other things on them, and they lasted longer than the advans (which were only ever used on road)
C
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