Lotus Elise S: PH Carpool
A couple of creature comforts make this Elise a perfect compromise for this PHer
Car: Lotus Elise S 220
Owned since: March 2016
Previously owned: 2x Lotus S1 Elise, Ford Focus ST170, MG ZT260, MG ZS180, plus various other MG Rover products with different reliability levels
"I've always been one for handling accuracy and precision over raw power. Driving in a straight line is boring! Whenever I've changed to a more powerful car, it soon becomes something your brain considers 'normal', whereas feeling how minute inputs affect my Elise and how it behaves never fails to thrill. Two S1 111S' (not at the same time, that's just greedy...) ticked all those boxes and more but the shortcomings of the cars that I glossed over (poor heater, immense heat soak from the engine/coolant pipes in the sills, lack of ability to actually go somewhere in it) became more significant. The S3 with Air conditioning, cruise control (I know, I know, I'm a weak and worthless person) and more comfy seats but crucially retaining that Lotus DNA was the obvious step."
"That buying a brand new car would turn me from a mild car OCD sufferer into a borderline psychopath! On the flip side, it's lovely to have a car that I can mollycoddle from day one; it's a keeper so in ten years time hopefully, it'll be one of the best examples around. No, it doesn't get driven in the wet..."
Things I hate:
"Apart from the above, it's minor stuff. The dealer's after sales experience has been pretty average (being diplomatic!) and the top engine cover has a weird fuzzy finish that clings onto micro fibre cloths. The availability of Lotus parts is also a disgrace - components for a brand new car being on back order over a year isn't uncommon. Jean-Marc Gales looks to be doing wonders for the company attracting new customers but he really needs to have a word about looking after Lotus' existing clients too."
"It's been to the Nurburgring (a month and a half after purchase, needless to say, the laps were a nervous experience) and is going on a Euro tour soon. I try to keep the mileage down to 3,000 per annum so it only gets driven on special occasions or when the sun is shining and I fancy some Hethel based therapy. I'm fortunate to live close to the B660! The car makes me smile even just catching a glimpse of it waiting under its cover when popping into to the garage."
What next?
"When it's out of warranty I wouldn't mind an engine ECU remap to make the most of the obvious potential of the standard car and the full 2Bular exhaust system I've fitted. Some UK track days are also planned. Apart from that-just polish, enjoy, love and drive it!"
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Great car, lovely spec, OP has bought the car he wants for the reasons he has. Nice write up too.
Lovely car though it is, it's not a rare exotic, and come 10 years old the price difference between 30k and say 50k miles will be, what £2 or 3k at most?
So I figure when you are old and at the end, you're never going to think about £2k, but you'd remember all those memories with fondness of the extra 20k miles
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