Garage/Driveway combo - Elise S2

[techyade]

Hi

I am looking to purchase an Elise - needs to be an S2 as I have a narrow garage, going to need to take the roof off/open and climb out I think.

Problem I have is my drive to the garage is slopping at quite an angle and I am not sure if it is going to ground anywhere.

I'll get some angles and measurements (maybe photos too) but does anyone have a similar issues? Drive crosses the pavement and then drops away into garage, so we've got a down slope and then it straightens for the garage, so potential to ground going over the pavement, catch the rear entering the garage (while reversing in) and once the back end is in potential for the nose to scrape too... Brilliant eh!

Have got several other cars in over the years, and the only issue I had was with a fully loaded Audi A3 which grounded on the pavement but nowhere else. Guessing the Audi was well loaded and much longer which makes the grounding more likely.

I'd really welcome any thoughts you have or similar experiences.

Thanks

[Mr_C]

A photo may help but it sounds similar to mine. Mine scraped the sills as it went over the pavement onto the drive so I had to raise the suspension 5mm.

[PTF]

Can't help regarding the slope, but in terms of fitting an Elise into a "standard" sized garage (AKA the tiny ones that newbuild houses come with), i had my S1 Elise when we rented a house on a suburban estate.

It fitted, but a few things helped.

1. Passenger cannot get out in the garage. Only the driver can.
2. Stick a piece of old carpet against the wall onto which the driver's door will open
3. When parking get the passenger side as tight against the wall as possible
4. If going in forwards, having a measure of how far in you can go is good - tennis ball on string so that it hits windscreen when you're almost kissing the far wall.
5. Do some stretching

[mickrick]

You have to move house, there's nothing else for it.
I spent years looking for a large garage, with a small house attached.
I ended up buying a small house with a massive garden, and building a double car barn
Sorry, not much help. I'll get my coat...

[Mr E]

Where are you? Someone may be able to pop round with a car.

[techyade]

Mr_C said:

A photo may help but it sounds similar to mine. Mine scraped the sills as it went over the pavement onto the drive so I had to raise the suspension 5mm.

Hello - thanks for the response and suggestion - not sure the photos do proper justice, think it is the over pavement bit that will (or could be) an issue. I'll try to measure it over the weekend but it might be a bit hit or miss. Was tasing the ride height easy enough to do? [url]

[techyade]

PTF said:

Can't help regarding the slope, but in terms of fitting an Elise into a "standard" sized garage (AKA the tiny ones that newbuild houses come with), i had my S1 Elise when we rented a house on a suburban estate.

It fitted, but a few things helped.

1. Passenger cannot get out in the garage. Only the driver can.
2. Stick a piece of old carpet against the wall onto which the driver's door will open
3. When parking get the passenger side as tight against the wall as possible
4. If going in forwards, having a measure of how far in you can go is good - tennis ball on string so that it hits windscreen when you're almost kissing the far wall.
5. Do some stretching

Thanks for suggestions - my garage seems even smaller - looking at about 220 wide. So i think climbing in out is perhaps the only option.

Carpet and Tennis Ball sounds good though.

[techyade]

mickrick said:

You have to move house, there's nothing else for it.
I spent years looking for a large garage, with a small house attached.
I ended up buying a small house with a massive garden, and building a double car barn
Sorry, not much help. I'll get my coat...

Thanks - it is an option I have considered... like your style re house and garden, it sounds like the correct set of priorities. :-)

[techyade]

Mr E said:

Where are you? Someone may be able to pop round with a car.

Now that would be stunning - I live not too far from Stroud, Glos. Thank you.

[chemistry]

I can’t help with the slope issue, but for what it’s worth, I just push mine into and out of my own narrow garage. It’s so light it’s no problem.

[Stephanie Plum]

techyade said:

Mr E said:

Where are you? Someone may be able to pop round with a car.

Now that would be stunning - I live not too far from Stroud, Glos. Thank you.

Pop onto seloc - there are lots of members down that way and most are very helpful with requests like this

[WonkeyDonkey]

If your approach the kerb from an angle you should be ok as that's what I had to do in some steep multi story car parks.

From the looks of it entering the garage itself should be ok.

[RTB]

There are ways around it if it does scrape. I store my S2 Exige at in my dad's spare garage and the gradient off the road onto his drive scrapes the front splitter/number plate. I found that if I pull up 90 degrees to the gate hole (usually approach head on) and do a full lock turn in, it doesn't scrape.

As for the size of the garage, get your measuring tape out. Providing you don't have massive long legs you don't need a lot of space to get out of a lotus. Carpet on the wall is a good shout. You will get your head trapped between the roof and the top of the side window. Wind it down before you get out

[techyade]

Thanks everyone

Chemistry - I think looking at your photo my garage stops where your mower starts in width, I'd happily push it in and out but the slope finishes that, might be good for a comedy moment for the neighbours one day (but not for me)

I'll check out seloc and see what they say - the whole thing is frighteningly close, garage door is only a couple of cms wider than needed so it is all a tight squeeze but i have always been able to park fairly accurately. (I'll regret saying that won't I? ;-))

Thanks for the advice about angles too. I can get in and out of a Caterham 7 just fine, and to be honest if I can't get an Elise in the garage I might go for a 7 instead but would really prefer an Elise.

It is all really helpful stuff - really need to try getting one in there I think to be on the safe side.

Thanks again everyone - much appreciated. :-)

[chemistry]

techyade said:

Chemistry - I think looking at your photo my garage stops where your mower starts in width, I'd happily push it in and out but the slope finishes that, might be good for a comedy moment for the neighbours one day (but not for me)

A bit of a last ditch idea, but assuming that your driveway slopes down to your garage, could you:

1) put an anchor bolt into the driveway and attach a rope to it.
2) attach the other end of the rope to the Elise's towing eye.
3) use a pulley or winch to gently lower the car into the garage (and pull it out when you want to drive it).

Something like this (not quite what I had in mind, but you get the idea...)...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WX-MM_WGc14

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rztt5vAZa8o

The more I think about it, the less crazy this seems! It would save you having to squeeze in/out of the car whilst its in the garage.
Perhaps a hand winch like this at the top of the drive could do the job? https://superpowerwinch.co.uk/product/900kg-braked...

chemistry

[techyade]

Hi Chemistry

The drive does indeed slope down into the garage.

That is great and maybe proves I am not as mad as I think I am. (honest)

A while back I was thinking something along those lines and most people I spoke to thought I was crazy - but like you I am tempted to agree it solves lots of issues. It is a slightly unconventional problem and needs perhaps an unconventional answer. :-)

Thanks for the links too - brilliant stuff.

Thank again

Cheers

[chemistry]

No problem. I think it could be quite workable and it would certainly add a sense of occasion to the process of getting the car out!

I hope it works for you (please post pictures if it does), that it allows you to get an Elise and that you enjoy it as much as I enjoy mine

[YellowCar]

Looking at the pictures, I think I have more of a slope than you do, and can JUST get over the top without grounding so long as I go over with no passengers.

More of an issue for me is the garage entrance which slopes down to meet the downward sloping drive, to create a shallow "V". I have to put a couple of off-cuts of loft board either side of the bottom of the "V" to keep the chin from scraping the drive, which is a bit of a pain, but worth it! Just something else to watch the first time you try.

[techyade]

Thanks - will indeed post pictures.

Just don't want to buy something I can't garage..

Thanks for all the help everyone.

[techyade]

Thanks YellowCar too

Have been thinking bit of tacitly placed boards might solve any problems with the drive.

A longer car (with allegedly similar ground clearance) just misses grounding so I reckon it'll be alright. Still keen to test though.

:-)