To Lotus Elise, or not Lotus Elise: That is the question.

[wemorgan]

I've been spending the last week or so reading up about Lotus Elises. There's a lot of good website on the marque and a decent forum too. Naturally on the forum the question is not so much if to buy an Elise, but which model. It seems to boil down to a second generation 111S or 111R. I wont bore you with the details of how they differ

So I thought I'd return here, to a well balanced forum, to take a step back and ask: Am I barking mad even considering an Elise as a daily driver?

There seem few other cars that quite tick all the boxes for me right now (performance, economy, no rust). Feel free to throw a few suggestions my way.

Thanks.

 

[lil.smartie]

We have a customer who was deciding between an Elise and a Smart Roadster as her daily driver, as you've prob guessed she chose the Roadie (painted Elise yellow though!) Too easy to go too fast & getting in & out were the issues iirc.

Kate

 

[Noodle-Pulp]

2nd gen - totally different engine and therefore much much more reliable.

http://www.sandsmuseum.com/cars/elise/thecar/engine/

 

[wemorgan]

2nd gen - totally different engine and therefore much much more reliable.

In style both the 111R and 111S look very similar and are second generation cars. The key difference is that the 111S has the Rover K-series engine at 160PS and the 111R the Toyota engine at 192PS. The 111S amuses and appeals to me since it falls in to a low road tax bracket and averages 40mpg yet does 0-60mph in 5s.

 

[Charles Morgan]

I don't think you are barking mad, nor would that be a problem anyway. I have driven the Elise several times (neither of your versions) and it is a superb driving experience, exquisite chassis and super performance. It isn't a practical car, so if boot space is important, forget it, and it is austere in comfort (but a good ride). I don't think I could live with one in my middle age, but it is a drivers' car par excellence.

 

[crockers]

Will - you are over 6ft - try getting in and out of one with the roof up. Also pedals are so close together - drove one around Silverstone - thought great track car but never a daily drive..

 

[npuk]

Was going to say that too. Have you actually tried driving one as your tall and as an everyday car I dont see it being comfortable. Only been in one once and I thought the ride was bit harsh.

 

[EDZ649]

In style both the 111R and 111S look very similar and are second generation cars. The key difference is that the 111S has the Rover K-series engine at 160PS and the 111R the Toyota engine at 192PS. The 111S amuses and appeals to me since it falls in to a low road tax bracket and averages 40mpg yet does 0-60mph in 5s.

Steer clear of any car with a Rover K series engine, the head gasket will go sooner or later and that's guaranteed!

 

[wemorgan]

Steer clear of any car with a Rover K series engine, the head gasket will go sooner or later and that's guaranteed!

My thoughts too. Though to add, many K-series Elises come with documented head gasket repairs and the Toyota engined cars are ~£2k more. But having said that I am leaning towards the 111R (Toyota engine) as the engine would be more reliable, it has a 6sp gearbox (good for motorways), ABS and often comes with a/c, which all counts if it's to be driven daily.

 

[A210AMG]

Hello

I guy two houses away has a one, not sure what but its almost new and has a R badge on it?

I've only tried one once the first generation ones, and getting out of it (I'm 6ft 2) would be almost impossible with the roof on I'm sure. Also if you have a partner they will not be impressed with getting in and out of it.

Little in the way of kit either, lets be honest its for the track really.


I like the idea of having a car such as this for a fun day / third car but not a daily driver, crtainly not as driver focused as the lotus for everyday. I love the ///M Roadster Z3 as had a Z3 years ago and it was great, Also like the S2000 but engine a little odd.

As for above did the not use toyota engines in the newer ones..

 

[EDZ649]

My thoughts too. Though to add, many K-series Elises come with documented head gasket repairs and the Toyota engined cars are ~£2k more. But having said that I am leaning towards the 111R (Toyota engine) as the engine would be more reliable, it has a 6sp gearbox (good for motorways), ABS and often comes with a/c, which all counts if it's to be driven daily.

Yep, the Toyota will be much more reliable. Having said that, a friend of mine has got the Exige S with the Celica engine and the oil pump went recently which was catastrophic for the engine, cost him 10K for a replacement! The original engine had only done 30,000 miles!

It's an awesome car, you need a neck brace to drive it!

 

[Druk]

Our son has the one with the Toyota engine.
He loves it to bits..... He's the only one.
It's noisy, harsh, very uncomfortable, badly built (I try to maintain it so I know ). The tyres wear rapidly and are specific to the car so cost a fortune. To do anything to it the ally undertrays have to come down (even to use a trolley jack) and they are bolted to captive (HA!) nuts in the chassis. Guess how many of them I've drilled out cos they corrode?
Son carries a roll of duct-tape in the car for when the front indicators pop out on hitting a bump. He says it's common.

Sorry to spoil the fun but I say "buy anything you fancy but not a Lotus"

 

[davidjpowell]

A former boss had one, probably a first generation I would think, although new at the time.

He shared a car parks space with his boss. Somehow every time the car was due to be parked in the public car park, it was in the garage. About once a week. To get in the office car park he had to go in at a 45 degree to avoid scraping the front.

It's the only car I have ever sat in, and looked up at a Megane exhaust. Getting in and out was an issue for me (not exactly slim and lithe). In was OK, just. Out meant crawling out. Later found out that I am not the first.

Flat tyres meant recovery. But only a certain type as it had to go flat on the floor to avoid the front.

Fast and economical, but so light that on wet or greasy roads, very likely to slip. Well remember his face as we followed a client in my pug 406. He did not believe we could go around a wet corner at some modest speed. His car would be in the trees.

Personally I'd go for a Vel Satis

 

[wemorgan]

Sorry to spoil the fun but I say "buy anything you fancy but not a Lotus"

No not at all, it's good to get a balanced view.

But what else is out there that's similar? (budget ~£14k) I did think of Porsche Boxster 3.2S and the like but they all look a bit ordinary to me.

 

[crockers]

Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious

 

[EDZ649]

No not at all, it's good to get a balanced view.

But what else is out there that's similar? (budget ~£14k) I did think of Porsche Boxster 3.2S and the like but they all look a bit ordinary to me.

Plus you can't tell which is the front or the back

 

[davidjpowell]

Plus you can't tell which is the front or the back

Until you have a prang and need a new clam!

 

[Alfie]

Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious

Totally agree with this.

Just like TVR = Terrible Vehicle Reliability

 

[wemorgan]

So what about a SLK32 AMG? But I'm not sure I could bare spending £10k and watching the arches rust away.

 

[buccal]

Until you have a prang and need a new clam!

Watch out for the lift-off oversteer:

YouTube - Lotus Elise Wreck (in car video)