Pork to Lotus...

[motorheadman]

Hello guys n gals,

I’m seriously thinking of selling my pride and joy to try an Elise. I’ve currently got a Porsche 968 Sport which is a truly amazing machine, but I’ve never had a mid-engined car before and I keep coming back to the Elise. Trouble is I’m not an Elise expert and as there are so many models to choose from I could do with a little advice. My budget would be around £12k and it has to be an S2 shape. (Ideally with a Toyota engine if it fits the budget?) I should add that I’m looking for a good kick in the back acceleration!

What should I go for!???

Cheers in advance...

MHM

[21TonyK]

A quick look at the classifieds says you'll get an early rover engined S2 for the budget which is no bad thing. But, you'll not get the "kick in the back" you're after unless you go for a later supercharged toyota engined car.

Try a 111S and see what you think before worrying about acceleration.

[kambites]

You wont get a decent Toyota powered car for 12k; 12k is pushing it even for a 111S. With that budget you're basically looking at 120bhp K-series cars.

The VX220 turbo is probably your best bet.

[TIPPER]

Having done a joint Lotus/Porsche track day there wasn't a lot of difference in acceleration between a boggo 968 and my 120bhp S1. The Elise, naturally, 'ad the 968s in the corners!

[MrSimba]

kambites said:

You wont get a decent Toyota powered car for 12k; 12k is pushing it even for a 111S. With that budget you're basically looking at 120bhp K-series cars.

The VX220 turbo is probably your best bet.

That's the best advice you'll get!

A good stage 2 VXT for about £12k good for 250bhp / 280ft lb and you'll defiantly get the kick in the back your after and over a 120bhp Elise night and day difference!

Have a look over on vx220.org.uk

[bordseye]

I think you are asking too much for your budget with the " kick in the back acceleration". Lotus are not really about that anyway - its more of a car for bendswinging than outright acceleration though the performance in a straight line can be good at the expensive supercharged end or the honda converted end of the spectrum. And these cars cost.

The Elise has gone through an evolution from the day it was first announced to the present. The techwiki on seloc will give you much better info than I can ( http://wiki.seloc.org/a/SELOC_TechWiki ) but as you might expect, the cars have got better finished, more reliable, heavier and generally more useable as time has gone on. Just like Porker.

[falkster]

I have always fancied an Elise but can't imagine swapping the 968CS for one. Clearly there is a weight difference in favour of the Elise but I'm sure you won't get the experience from driving an Elise unless it's a later Toyota engined one.

[Loudman]

falkster said:

I have always fancied an Elise but can't imagine swapping the 968CS for one. Clearly there is a weight difference in favour of the Elise but I'm sure you won't get the experience from driving an Elise unless it's a later Toyota engined one.

?? surely the Elise 'experience' compared to other mainstream sportscars is light-weight, pared down, basic simplicity and is therefore more prevalent the earlier you go in the Elise lineage, and the converse is true of the later cars. I can certainly see that a later car will offer a more 'acceptable' (to most) standard of motor car, but I would not equate this to the importance of the essence of Elise driving.

[John D.]

Loudman said:

falkster said:

I have always fancied an Elise but can't imagine swapping the 968CS for one. Clearly there is a weight difference in favour of the Elise but I'm sure you won't get the experience from driving an Elise unless it's a later Toyota engined one.

?? surely the Elise 'experience' compared to other mainstream sportscars is light-weight, pared down, basic simplicity and is therefore more prevalent the earlier you go in the Elise lineage, and the converse is true of the later cars. I can certainly see that a later car will offer a more 'acceptable' (to most) standard of motor car, but I would not equate this to the importance of the essence of Elise driving.

I think he means the experience of being pushed in the back (judging by the OP). You're not going to get massive shove from any NA Elise, 'yota or not, but then thats not really the point. My 160bhp S1 certainly feels spritely enough

I agree with what you said though Loudman.

[F.C.]

I jumped from an F430 straight into an Exige 240 and while not slow
I'm afraid your not going to get a shove in the real sese of the word unless you go the lightweight and S/C Honda or Turbo Audi route.

The Exige was far and away the most fun though.
So much so I have been considering an S1/S2 Honda/Audi car just for the "shove" and the corners.

[GR4]

Might be useful to put performance into context with the OP's current car, a 968CS. I had one of them and loved it, but again they are not about straight line performance. 240bhp claimed, widely considered at the time to be a bit optimistic, and 1,320kg, so an S2 111S should definately feel quicker than the Porsche.

[motorheadman]

GR4 said:

Might be useful to put performance into context with the OP's current car, a 968CS. I had one of them and loved it, but again they are not about straight line performance. 240bhp claimed, widely considered at the time to be a bit optimistic, and 1,320kg, so an S2 111S should definately feel quicker than the Porsche.

Hi,

I see you have an elise S1. Which has been your favourite compared to the 968CS?
Interested to get an opinion on someone who's owned both.

Cheers,

MHM

[DanHCT]

MHM,

There are alot of guys on this forum who know there stuff re Lotus, but I thought I should give you my story.
I drive a Birkin 7 (540 kg and 141 kw). Today I picked up a 2003 Elise with K engine, and drove from Johannesburg to my home in Cape Town. It was about 1050 km before the first decent corner!
I believe the Rover engine is not totally understood properly. It is a great little engine, not fast like SC, but still fun on the roads. Given you budget, you'll get a good one in the UK.
WHATEVER cars you have driven before, when you drive an elise, you will find yourself saying ' I wish I had done this earlier'.

[GR4]

Hi, I did respond to your question when you asked it on the other side of the fence in the Porsche forum. Not a lot to add to that really. Chalk and cheese, both lovely cars, and I am pleased to have had the chance to own both. Personally I find the Lotus more fun to drive, it feels just as quick but has a more raucous character which I like, and it is cheaper to run. Lesser practicality and build quality are not issues for me in what is essentially a fun car. Try one and see what you think. You would get a mint S1 111S within your budget.

[doggydave]

Theres a guy on seloc selling his 2004 Elise R with 60,000 miles. He says he wants £12,000.

[bordseye]

doggydave said:

Theres a guy on seloc selling his 2004 Elise R with 60,000 miles. He says he wants £12,000.

In which case grab it. 60k on a Toyota engine isnt a lot and the car has been well developed since the early S1s.

[steve1968]

Link Please

Couldn't find it

[John D.]

steve1968 said:

Link Please

Couldn't find it

Its a recent thread in Seloc Chat. I read it this morning. Don't think its actually in the classifieds on Seloc if thats where you looked.

Can't be arsed to get you a link, sorry!

[doggydave]

Its on SELOC Chat. Title is "Time to sell" by geepee. Sorry cant put a link on.

[Herman Toothrot]

GR4 said:

Might be useful to put performance into context with the OP's current car, a 968CS. I had one of them and loved it, but again they are not about straight line performance. 240bhp claimed, widely considered at the time to be a bit optimistic, and 1,320kg, so an S2 111S should definately feel quicker than the Porsche.

Yes confused about the shove in the back and 968 mentioned in the same sentence. They are not a fast car in acceleration terms and a barge compared to an Elise.