Possibly replacing my Elise :(
 

I have had a Lotus Elise S2 for the last 18 monhts, which I absolutely LOVE! Its not the quickest car I've ever driven (my RB5 was a LOT faster) but it is, without doubt the most FUN car I have ever had. Cornering is just superb and so much fun even at lower speeds. It is definitely a 'cannot wipe the smile of your face' car (often before even getting in it!)

However, it is neither comfortable or practical (neither of these are exactly a surprise) and whilst we've dealt with the 'two seats' problem in general by me taking my wife's 307 when necessary that has left her driving the Lotus which she hates.

This is partially because the seat doesn't move far enough forward but mainly because she finds the steering very heavy and the lack of traction control/ABS scares her!

Also rather than the 'fun weekend car' for when we manage to offload the kids if there's forecast of bad weather or the requirement to emerge from the car with dignity then again the 307 gets used - this last weekend's forecast of heavy snow is a perfect example!

So, I'm interested in suggestions for replacements. If I am going to change it then I think another two-seater would be a bad idea though a 2+2 would be ok as most journeys with the kids (8 and 10) would be round town and anything longer that needed family+luggage would end up being done by the 307 anyway.

I could go back to an Impreza but my wife never liked the RB5 so that would be a tough battle. Budget wise I guess 15-30k and i don't want anything new as i hate the initial depreciation. So, amaze and impress me with interesting ideas - I've got my own little list but I'd like to hear other suggestions first!

How much is your Elise worth? also how much is insurance?

Er, I guess about 12k (2001 Y reg with hardtop) and the insurance was 550 for comp cover with class 1 business (as i'm now an old git and the rb5 incident was more than 5 years ago!)

oh, and i also have a bike for sunny summer fun days out, though that has had far less use since i got the lotus.

Don't do it. Instead, keep the Elise and buy a third, sensible(ish) car. So says a very happy Exige S owner (with a Toyota Aygo and Alfa 159 Q4 V6 in reserve - the latter can currently be had on 3 year contract hire direct from Alfa for £359 pm including full maintenance/tyres/RFL, with £2,900 down)!

Old shape M5 with warranty - you'd get a very nice example for £30k!

Agree with skyman.

It sounds like you have a bit of wedge, so keep the Elise for your weekend toy. Give the missus her 307 if she likes it. Then get you a work hack. Saab's are cheap and good runners.

MB

Supra TT??? Get a well tuned motor for that. 2+2 Rear wheel scariness, goes like a rocket and generally reliable, even when tuned thanks to 3.0 engine.

5t.

I work from home so have no regular commute (though hacking up to docklands with an elise stuffed full of servers has proved an interesting experience, on occasions).

I've thought of the third car option before but there's little point because I don't commute and the whole point of thinking to change is so the car gets used a bit more.

As I have a family weekend 'blast' time is limited and as I have a bike as well that often gets used.

I guess I could go for a more comfortable 2 seater so we use it at the weekends but I just think if I'm going to change it, I might as well try to find something that can be used more.

The problem is almost anything remotely more practical is going to be a let down on the driving involvement side of things :(

Audi MK2 TT.

Excellent residuals, and has been slapping the Z4 silly in car reviews. A amazing machine the MK2 TT is.

Supra I'm not too keen on - I've had two mates own them a few years back and go kaboom in a very expensive way.

M5 is actually quite appealing - before the Elise I had a 535 so that's already on my shortlist.

Afraid the TT wouldn't even make my very very long list...

Any other suggestions?!

Evo IX GT

Porsche 911 of some variety ?, 996 Carrera 2 Coupe maybe.
If you look around you should find a nice one for £30k and it seems to fit your requirements ?

Evo/Subaru are fairly similar - to be honest if I was going to get one it would probably be another scooby (thought I liked the Evos I've driven in the past)

911 - yeah I was thinking of that. Anyone who has got/had one care to comment on what age the seats become useless for kids (my daughter is 10, son is 8) - I assume they are totally pointless for adults.

A 996 does seem to fit on several counts - prices of 'approved used' ones are scary though so it would have to be a specialist dealer (same can be said of the M5 there though!)

https://www.scoobynet.com/other-marq...ur-seater.html

Integra not a bad suggestion.

(They're not as fast as a scoob, though ;))

I second that one. Elise type fun (ie great cornering and fun factor), but a bit more sensible/practical

Maybe a 968? Loads of change from 30k too.

Skyline? Driving would still be an event then!

I reckon 20k ish would get a nice M5 and they are fine cars indeed. But then so are lots of other super saloons... could get an XJR with a few more horses for less than that.

Boxster?

Very nice indeed until you take a massive hit in depreciation after owning it a short while.

Do they have rear seats ?

They may have those small 2+2 seats, can't remember now.

How about renting a car for the times you need to use one (if you don't need to use one that often)? Could be an avenue worth looking into if you really want to keep the liz?

Audi RS4?

Boxster doesn't have rear seats, and TBH the 911 seats are a very loose description of the term 'seats' :D especially if the driver is tall and needs the seat pushed back.

For £30k you could get a wife approved 996, but the poor kids may have doubts!

Yeah got to say that if I ever had £30k to spend on a car it would be an R34 GTR :)

MB

How much does a 1 y/o Monero VXR gor for?

Thanks for continued suggestions:

Skyline - hard to find one that hasn't been played with (looked before) plus warranty from local Nissan dealer was 3k per year on a 30k car (they would only give 30 days!). Suggested to me they don't think they're too reliable!

Boxster - no rear seats at all. No point changing the Elise for one I can think of.

Renting - thought about it but its a hassle plus means more time the Elise won't be used

RS4 - Audis have never really appealed

911 seats - I'm only 5' 8" so don't need to seat far back. I guess it may be a little cramped but to use as dropping them a few miles a way for football I don't think it would be too bad

Monaro is interesting, but other than price, is there much to recommend it over an M5?

M3 CSL for 30k,

It will not depreciate much more, and is way better than an old shape M5 as a drivers car.

As is the case with all these threads, you need someone to "off" your wife :)

Got to agree on the CSL - supposed to be far and away better than a normal M3.

MB

M3 CS (CSL maybe a bit too hardcore for the wife?) / E39 M5 or 996 C4 (wifey won't be scared of it being a 'sports car' with 4wd and PSM etc if you get a C4 ;) )

as an Elise owner we currently have a 3rd hack car, but it is something I think about from time to time. My criteria is that is has to be a car with Grin Factor and hopefully enjoyable even on today's congested roads. The options I have considered are:

- Various Porsches, depending on my mood!
>968 Sport Coupe is pretty high on the list because they hold their value really well, are reasonably practical, would be fun on trackdays, and does not have the image "issues" that a 911 might face when parking in dodgy places, etc.. Option to turn into a fun trackday car if funds allow.
>Having said that, various 911s do take my fancy (964,993 & 996) and currently I favour the 933 due to its small size, good packaging and involving drive. 996 offers better performance and everyday refinement but compared to an Elise the 933 is luxuary! Have a soft spot for 964s, especially if you can stretch to an RS!
>996s don't appeal as much as 993s. Their build quality seems a league away from the 993, as a lot of 996s seem to have really tatty interiors and engine faults seem common. Obviously I've never owned either so it is just an impression I get from looking at what is on the market.

- BMW M3 / M3 CSL; the image thing still gets me. I know I shouldn't be at all worried about this, but I guess I'm a bit of an inverse-snob at heart. They are a bit barge-like compared to the Elise and the brakes always seem to melt on track, but brillant cars in so many ways

- Renault Alpine A610; an off-beat choice. Rare and hold their value well. Probably still fast enough compared to more modern cars. 2+2 coupe with the engine in the back. Interior is a bit tacky, but definately something different and practical. No real boot though.

- NSX (sorry not 2+2, but I really want one!). Practical/everyday though and thrilling to drive.

- TVR Cerbera; if you are brave! Seats in the back are a joke. Maybe okay for small kids, but I almost got stuck in the back of one!

- Mazda RX-8; very spacious, interesting drive. RX-7 is much more the drivers car though. Rear seats much smaller in the RX-7 though.

- Lancia Integrale EVO 2; ok not your reliable type of everyday car, but sure as hell an event to drive. 4 doors, hatchback and 4 seats.

- Maserati 4200; lurvely Ferrari engine. Ferrari running costs. Okay if you don't commute though!

Hope some of my thoughts help, and good luck (and lots of fun) test driving them all!

Andy