Another Elise in Wellington
Discussion
After wanting one for about 15 years I have finally managed to find an S1 Elise. George was kind enough to give me a call to let me know the previous owner was thinking of selling so I swooped in and brought it back to Wellington today.
Its a 2000 with only 16,000 miles on it. It came into NZ in 2004 with only 4,000 miles on it so its extremely tidy. It also has a hardtop including its proper bag so it can be hung on the wall. Its pretty much standard other than a K&N, VVC Plenum, short shifter, HID lights (which I'll likely bin) and a diffuser. It had personalised plates on it which the owner has kept so itll be getting the ones I already have on it in the next few weeks.
Its a 2000 with only 16,000 miles on it. It came into NZ in 2004 with only 4,000 miles on it so its extremely tidy. It also has a hardtop including its proper bag so it can be hung on the wall. Its pretty much standard other than a K&N, VVC Plenum, short shifter, HID lights (which I'll likely bin) and a diffuser. It had personalised plates on it which the owner has kept so itll be getting the ones I already have on it in the next few weeks.
Edited by Bull1t on Monday 11th June 10:47
Happy to be of service 
Always nice to know an Elise has gone to a loving home
Glad the trip down was smooth and drama free. Was I right in that by the time you were back in Wellington you'd have pretty much bonded with the way it drives?
Things is do first up would be to give it a wheel alignment to just check everything's pointing in the right direction. My Exige was all over the show and was a dog to drive without me even knowing it initially. Then you can at least be sure it handles as good as it should do. Other thing to check is the type pressures, most people set them miles too high.
You're gonna have lots of fun with the Wellington boys. Book a trackday pronto!
Always nice to know an Elise has gone to a loving home Glad the trip down was smooth and drama free. Was I right in that by the time you were back in Wellington you'd have pretty much bonded with the way it drives?
Things is do first up would be to give it a wheel alignment to just check everything's pointing in the right direction. My Exige was all over the show and was a dog to drive without me even knowing it initially. Then you can at least be sure it handles as good as it should do. Other thing to check is the type pressures, most people set them miles too high.
You're gonna have lots of fun with the Wellington boys. Book a trackday pronto!
I did pretty quickly provided the roads were dry which they were about half the way, when it was wet (just intermittent wipers not overly heavy but enough the road was wet) I was being very cautious right till home. I think thatll take a lot of time to be anything else given Ive always been overly cautious anyway let alone in my first mid engined car.
I think the most fun moment of the whole journey was this intersection:
http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?q=Waitomo+Caves,+Wai...
I came to pretty much a complete stop at the first intersection then took off quickly, left it in first to get to the next intersection then booted it once I was through it. It wasn't really showing the handling ability of the car at all and I don't think I even broke the speed limit but the car just felt totally different and more purposeful compared to all the performance versions of ordinary cars Ive owned in the past.
Plus I really like the view when the wiper is going. Ive never owned anything with a single wiper before and the way the windscreen wraps around you much more than a normal car and with the front "wings" part of the clam being much higher than the centre piece it gives a view similar to how I imagine an LMP1 car is. Totally superficial but meh.
The seat surprised me, it feels hard when you first sit in it but it never really got worse. I think I was actually more comfortable by Wellington than I had been in the MX5 a couple of months ago. The only issue I had is when I have the seat where I want it my thigh doesnt touch the front of the seat which is very tiring so I had to move the seat back to the point I could only just reach the wheel which fixed the leg issue but dont feel quite as in control when it gets twisty. Could potentially be fixed by spacing the front of the seat up but thatll impact the angle of the back so I suspect getting some more padding added to the front is a better solution.
Wheel alignment is definately on my list, would be a very cheap solution to a problem I don't even know is there
I think the most fun moment of the whole journey was this intersection:
http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?q=Waitomo+Caves,+Wai...
I came to pretty much a complete stop at the first intersection then took off quickly, left it in first to get to the next intersection then booted it once I was through it. It wasn't really showing the handling ability of the car at all and I don't think I even broke the speed limit but the car just felt totally different and more purposeful compared to all the performance versions of ordinary cars Ive owned in the past.
Plus I really like the view when the wiper is going. Ive never owned anything with a single wiper before and the way the windscreen wraps around you much more than a normal car and with the front "wings" part of the clam being much higher than the centre piece it gives a view similar to how I imagine an LMP1 car is. Totally superficial but meh.
The seat surprised me, it feels hard when you first sit in it but it never really got worse. I think I was actually more comfortable by Wellington than I had been in the MX5 a couple of months ago. The only issue I had is when I have the seat where I want it my thigh doesnt touch the front of the seat which is very tiring so I had to move the seat back to the point I could only just reach the wheel which fixed the leg issue but dont feel quite as in control when it gets twisty. Could potentially be fixed by spacing the front of the seat up but thatll impact the angle of the back so I suspect getting some more padding added to the front is a better solution.
Wheel alignment is definately on my list, would be a very cheap solution to a problem I don't even know is there
You do have slimmer thighs than I so I can see how it could be an issue. One option is to perhaps space the steering wheel back 20mm or so. I'm sure there are kits out there for this, not that I've ever used one And yeah, the seats are more of a getting used to it kinda thing. You soon don't notice how little padding there is..
I'm with you on the GT1 feel of the car. I don't drive mine in the rain much but when it's missing down and the wiped is going hell for leather, I always smile to myself. The view out over the wings is very gt1.
Oh and just so you don't s
t yourself. If you're ever idling or moving slow in traffic when it's raining or just after, or just after you've washed it. Dont be alarmed to see great clouds of steam out the windscreen that condense on the windscreen as you move off. It's just water evaporating off the radiator core... Given the reputation of the K it makes many newbies st themselves first time round . Also remember the condensation's on the outside so you can use the wiper to clear it, don't need to wait for the heater/demister like I first did!
I'm with you on the GT1 feel of the car. I don't drive mine in the rain much but when it's missing down and the wiped is going hell for leather, I always smile to myself. The view out over the wings is very gt1.
Oh and just so you don't s
t yourself. If you're ever idling or moving slow in traffic when it's raining or just after, or just after you've washed it. Dont be alarmed to see great clouds of steam out the windscreen that condense on the windscreen as you move off. It's just water evaporating off the radiator core... Given the reputation of the K it makes many newbies st themselves first time round . Also remember the condensation's on the outside so you can use the wiper to clear it, don't need to wait for the heater/demister like I first did!Congratulations! I'll keep my eyes peeled for a Silver S1 with a grinning new owner behind the wheel.
My car's a little poorly at the moment, but hope to have it back in action soon. Drop myself or Mark (diggy) an email and we'll include you in the WELLOC group - it's about time we organised another run
My car's a little poorly at the moment, but hope to have it back in action soon. Drop myself or Mark (diggy) an email and we'll include you in the WELLOC group - it's about time we organised another run
Just of to lemans...literally, but had to post this quickly regarding alignment.
We (WELLOC) have tried a number of places in wellington and have found Hayden at Firestone in railway ave lower hutt to be the man to go and see. let him know that Mark with the yellow elise recomended him, he will see you right. He is another fan of the marque - he named his daughter elise!
will catchup properly when i get back in july.
Good to see another elise in wellington, guess I won't need to offer the passenger seat anymore lol!
Oh and Ian, get it to steve so we can go for a run in july ;-)
MG
We (WELLOC) have tried a number of places in wellington and have found Hayden at Firestone in railway ave lower hutt to be the man to go and see. let him know that Mark with the yellow elise recomended him, he will see you right. He is another fan of the marque - he named his daughter elise!
will catchup properly when i get back in july.
Good to see another elise in wellington, guess I won't need to offer the passenger seat anymore lol!
Oh and Ian, get it to steve so we can go for a run in july ;-)
MG
Edited by D1GGY on Tuesday 12th June 02:05
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