Im looking at buying an Elise as a 3rd car mainly for track days but also for a bit of fun then the weathers right.
At the moment Ive been looking at either an S2 111s or a 135 up to about £15k, what are peoples opinions on either of these 2 models ?.
Also even though its a 3rd car and doesnt need to be to practical does any one know if a child seat will fit in the passenger side of and Elise ?, it would be nice to be able to drop my 5 year old off at his Grandparents on the way to a track day or two without having to do a 30 mile round trip to go back home and pick the Elise up .
Even though im sure I want an Elise has anyone got any other suggestions for a nice track day car ? VX220 ?.

thanks

Andy

 

I'd go for the VX220 turbo over the Elise, shame about the badge but it'd be quicker and has a better engine than the Lotus, certainly more reliable.

 

Normally I'd agree with the VX220 turbo argument but I'd reserve full agreement till I'd driven them back to back. I fear the turbo delivery would take away from the essence of that sort of car. I drove my mates exige at the weekend and razor sharp n/a responses are what these cars are all about.

 

Why not go for something a bit different like one of these
The Ariel Atom
More fun than a Lotus and a VX.

 

With regards the child seat in the front, my boy (who was 5 when I had my Elise) used to ride in the passenger seat all the time, he loved it! The seat actually fitted in the Elise bucket very well.....


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y35...r/IMG_0360.jpg

 

Brave man letting him in there with that highlighter pen!!!

 

Luckily he's a good boy and the lid stayed on, not sure I would have let his little sister in there with a highlighter though!

 

Good thing about an Elise is that it's so light - so doesn't need much torque.
The 111R I tested has the Toyota VVTi engine - 190(ish)bhp but not much torque (130ish lb/ft) yet it felt perfectly matched to the car (unlike in the Corolla!).
Not tried a VX220T but I'd be nervous of that turbo shove kicking in mid bend in the rain!

 

https://www.scoobynet.com/other-marq...ne-done-2.html

 

for just under 10 grand you can get a 2 litre vtec engine fitted, so if you can find one with engine problems going cheap then you could have a monster (and with a brand new engine and associated bits).

They are much much quicker with the honda engine than the toyota (there is a vid on you tube I think).

 

Aye, but you could buy a whole VX220 for £10k, with a cracking engine already fitted...

Ex VX owner here, awesome car. Drove N/A and Turbo back to back: preferred the N/A out of the two. Yes it's slower, but it's alloy blocked motor is lighter than the iron blocked Turbo, so weight distribution is better & handling and steering are sharper. And it's still plenty quick enough.

Never driven a Mk2 Elise (drove a couple of Mk1's) so can't compare. Personally, and even without driving one I'd rather have the rarer VX and plenty of change, and let the badge snobs have the Lotus.

 

Roojai - We do PR for your town!

Heard great things about VTEC engined Elises...

 

Thanks for the replies. Its nice to know a child seat will fit into an Elise , it means I my son and I can pop out for a drive when ever we want (while my wife is at work) and ill be able to drop him off and my parents on the way to Donnington for a track day or two.
My initial thought was an Elise 111s or 135 but then thought a VX220T would be easier to live with as I could get it serviced at the local Vauxhall dealer not realising they cant all service the VX220 so it wouldnt really be and easier to live with than the Elise.
I think ill have to get out there and test drive both and see what I think of them

 

It's the best way Attu - I'm thinking about an Elise too (111S is my preferred option) - also considering a VX220. I've had a thing about them for ages and I'm going to have to buy one! Look on Pistonheads and SELOC too - there is loads of good advice and plenty of choice (there are always at least a 100 Mk2 Elises on Pistonheads for sale).

C

 

I know someone selling an X reg 111S titanium with red roof (I think) very low mileage (about 30k ish might even be less than that). PM me if you want to know more (except seller is away until about the 12th...) Car located in Bournemouth.