d5hof

Thinking about buying one in the next 6 month or so, my budget is around 8k. Any information would be appreciated.

Cheers

Shof

Andy M3

Lotus Elise Buyers Guide
Elise Family - Lotus FAQ

etc

HTH

dunx

iTrader: (3)

They are awful if you are tall !
They leak water....
They are not good if you are old like me.... too stiff ! too cramped !
They go like stink, and grip like an Impreza, even in the wet.

HTH

DunxC

RRH

Sorry to contradict, but they're a real handful in the wet.

They don't grip, they slide, and usually unpredictably.

They leak, they steam up, they break down. A traditional british sportscar.

Loads of fun in the dry though

The Chief

Agree with above so get a VX220 then

drb5

iTrader: (4)

VX220 isn't much different tbh, but i'm 6 foot 2 and don't find it bad to get in/out of and sit in...


Will admit the VX is defo more reiable than the series 1 Elise.

The Chief

Its a pain with the roof on to be honest but i think they are no matter what your size, my mate is 9 stone wet through and 5'6" and he struggles, i am over double that and it is a pain.

If it is gonna be a second car i'd say go for it, they are nippy but the handling is fantastic and it has great steering feedback.

They are a lot more involving then a Scoob but a VX is handbuilt and can be a bit rattly.

Ok to sum up.

Quick but not rapid - probably standard newage WRX quick!

Quite a torquey engine with not a lot to lug about and good throttle response.

Handling - amazing in the dry with great feedback, undesteers due to the 175 front tyres (Vauxhall insited on this after too many Elise's ended up in ditches) only oversteers when booted - but in all very neutral.

Brakes so, so, ok in the dry not so in the wet, pads apparently cure this.

Great fuel economy, easily over 30mpg.

Hard to get into when roof on (i cant) but quite a snug cosy feel once in.

If its gonna be a second car and a weekend plaything then go for it, if you commute and would use it everyday and do a fair bit of mileage then i'd say buy something else. My mate does 60 miles a day and it p***es him off when its raining.

d5hof

Thanks guys, it will be a weekend car as I work in the city so never get to drive weekdays as it were.

Been thinking about the VX as an option, I will leave it until beginning of next year then I will test drive both cars and see which feels better.

As for getting in and out of the car I don't think I would have a problem, i'm only 5'6.

Any first hand info on running cost etc will be much appreciated.

Cheers

Shof

fivetide

iTrader: (1)

Weren't the S1 cars Rover K series head gasket munching motors? The revised car with the Toyota powerplant should be much more reliable.

5t.

The Chief

Cant comment on an Elise but my mates VX is pretty good, easlily 30mpg and the engine is as tough as old boots, remember the elise is a 1.8 where as the VX is a 2.2 16 valve unit that was designed for the heavier Vectra where reps battered them up and down the motorway racking up loads of miles. They only put out 145 bhp so are not stressed at all even more so in a lighter car.

Nothing and i mean nothing has gone wrong, if its a second car then go for it - trust me you wont be dissapointed.

RobEvo5

iTrader: (9)

Or go for the 2ltr turbo vx as used in the GSI's. Still a strong engine, and the stage2 one I had went like stink. But have to say I still prefer the styling of the Elise.

The later Toyota Elises are now a very cracking car and very,very quick.

Either are great, but they are both toys - and a car you just want to take for a drive just for the hell of it.

white scooby

I had an S2 135R from October last year til mid June this year. Awesome car!!! In fact, I've just had a flick through some old pics of it and I want another

As for running costs, I found it surprisingly cheap. Easily did 30 mpg, closer 40 on a run. Did'nt use hardly any oil, servicing was done by a local specialist, at a cost of £140 for a basic A service. B services are the middle, with C services the major ones.

Service plan goes A,A,B,A,A,C and follows on like that. Its every 9k on the Rover engined cars like the 135R I had. I fell on right with the servicing, and only had to put mine through two A services.

I test drove mine back to back with one of the newer 190hp 'yota powered one's, but I preferred the raw feel of the 135R. Tax was cheap, at £165 for 12 months, but I believe this is due to go to 170, then 260 over the forthcoming years.

As for handling easily the best thing I've driven. Mine did'nt suffer as much from the understeer issues as standard cars, as the 135R has Bilstein dampers, Lotus Motorsport adj anti roll bars and the wider 195 section front tyres. Mine ran with Yoko A048 semi slicks on, which were awesome in the dry, but pretty scary in the wet. Fond memories of full opposite lock slides at Elvington - it was just so much fun on track.

Over the 8 months I owned mine, it was a daily driver and did 18k road miles, inc 2.5k miles around the Alps just before I sold it and three trackdays, where its fair to say I gave it some stick - and it NEVER missed a beat.

Just watch where you park it, and the fibreglass body can crack quite easily, as I found out when someone reversed into mine after two weeks . . .

Eliseparts and Eliseshop are both useful for sourcing replacement parts and upgrades at good prices.

They're a helpful bunch over on SELOC | Lotus Enthusiasts Club if you need any more info

dunx

iTrader: (3)

You didn't mention it's nickname....

The bathtub !

LOL

DunxC

P.S. I had a play with a VX last summer after catching one up.... he went mental, taking silly risks so I backed off and left him alone.

Then caught him up again before turning off, guess it was a 2.2 as I had no trouble cornering with him, but doubt I would have got past very easily !

rb5_336

Man you are TAAAAAALLLLL