S1 Elise as an only car
Discussion
I'm getting an urge to sell my DC5 already and have an S1 Elise instead. Only thing I'm curious about, is how viable is it as an only car? Don't really need a massive boot as I currently still live at home. I'm aware roughly of the servicing costs, insurance etc etc. Practicality wise it's not an issue, I'm just wondering if the car will get to a point where it will annoy me having to use it every day.
All opinions, words of experience for positive and negative and both required and welcome.
Thanks.
Dan
All opinions, words of experience for positive and negative and both required and welcome.
Thanks.
Dan
S18DMW said:
I'm getting an urge to sell my DC5 already and have an S1 Elise instead. Only thing I'm curious about, is how viable is it as an only car? Don't really need a massive boot as I currently still live at home. I'm aware roughly of the servicing costs, insurance etc etc. Practicality wise it's not an issue, I'm just wondering if the car will get to a point where it will annoy me having to use it every day.
All opinions, words of experience for positive and negative and both required and welcome.
Thanks.
Dan
Plenty do it. Only you can tell us if it is going to be an issue. ie if you are fat. if you play golf. if you have / need another car in snow. if you dont mind a bit more maintenance. etcAll opinions, words of experience for positive and negative and both required and welcome.
Thanks.
Dan
I owned my S1 Elise for just over two years and drove it all year round, sun, rain, snow, well one time it was more like a blizzard 
, and any weather in between, racking up around 40K miles. It suited my wife and I at the time, she, like me, absolutely loved it, but it's not for everyone and you do need to take much more care in adverse conditions. I'd suggest trying to get some long test drives and certainly in differing weather, warm, cold, rain, etc., and see what you think.
, and any weather in between, racking up around 40K miles. It suited my wife and I at the time, she, like me, absolutely loved it, but it's not for everyone and you do need to take much more care in adverse conditions. I'd suggest trying to get some long test drives and certainly in differing weather, warm, cold, rain, etc., and see what you think.Yep, no reason why you cannot use it daily. The car can handle it.
Sadly, you might want to consider the areas you will be using it in, though. The main no-go areas for me are multi storey car parks or any busy/tight car park, to be honest. Even parking by the roadside is risky...was hit and runned twice by crap parkers, and the days of notes on windscreens with contact details are long gone.
Just be careful out there...
Sadly, you might want to consider the areas you will be using it in, though. The main no-go areas for me are multi storey car parks or any busy/tight car park, to be honest. Even parking by the roadside is risky...was hit and runned twice by crap parkers, and the days of notes on windscreens with contact details are long gone.
Just be careful out there...
The other thing to look at is the type of journey you do and the roads you use regularly.
If I was using motorway every day I think my S1 would have gone long ago ... a consistent 70-80 mph in my car manages to give me a major headache within about 20 minutes !! Take A- and B- roads however and the story changes completely ...
As said previously, take a good long test drive on roads you'll be using and see what you think.
If I was using motorway every day I think my S1 would have gone long ago ... a consistent 70-80 mph in my car manages to give me a major headache within about 20 minutes !! Take A- and B- roads however and the story changes completely ...
As said previously, take a good long test drive on roads you'll be using and see what you think.
S18DMW said:
Don't really need a massive boot as I currently still live at home. Dan
Ha, I wonder where else do you think Elise owners live - in tents, hotels ? 
It was my toy car for nearly 2 years but I actually got annoyed with it enough to swap for a Boxster, especially driving with the roof up somehow didn't feel that enjoyable (winter time). But you may be quite happy with it. No reason not to do it, they hardly depreciate and are cheap to run for the performance.
Edited by chris7676 on Thursday 22 September 09:42
I used to take between half an hour to two hours (major rush hour traffic) to get to work in my Elise everyday, same journey, part motorway, part back roads. One thing I remember was on the motorway someone kind would always let me pull in on the slip road or into the overtaking lane, sometimes encouraging me to do so just for the noise probably. I think there are a lot of fans of Lotus over other sports car marques, so it made driving on the motorway very easy and stress free.
I never enjoyed using my Elise every day, and frankly you'd have to hold a gun to my head to make me use the Exige to commute through town, but everyone's different. For me the compromises in daily use, that is to say: poor visibility; reluctance to park anywhere; relative expense compared to a hatch; guilt resulting from boring use; looking like a bit of a berk, remain whether it is S1 or S2. The S1 is less refined and a bit leakier but you have to expect that any Elise is actually fairly crap at the business of being a car. Personally I love having a shed to commute in and use when it's rainy and snowy. The Exige stays tucked up through the week and comes out to make a fuss of itself at the weekend and pleasant evenings. Suits me but might not suit everyone, I suppose...
. do it, you can always have the boring cars later. 
I used mine for around 4 years, albeit s2, with no real issues other than snow in winter being a bit of a non-starter, tried it a few times but never easy.
One thing to consider, which can be overlooked, is if you have a partner, and what their views are on it. My missus hated it with a passion, probably because I dont think she understood it, resulting in a battle every time I suggested using it. Her ideal car is quiet, comfy, luxurious etc etc, so the Elise didn't do it for her.
Good luck whatever you decide.
One thing to consider, which can be overlooked, is if you have a partner, and what their views are on it. My missus hated it with a passion, probably because I dont think she understood it, resulting in a battle every time I suggested using it. Her ideal car is quiet, comfy, luxurious etc etc, so the Elise didn't do it for her.
Good luck whatever you decide.
Used mine for about 15 or 16 months, somewhere around 13k miles in that time. Only car.
It doesn't leak at all (had a new roof from EliseParts a couple of years ago), and that's the thing that surprises me the most!!
The ventilation is probably the worst part of the car, on mine it's feeble. I've never found it to be an issue personally - once the temp inside has warmed up condensation tends to disappear, although some people struggle in the rain. Again though, that's probably worse if you get one that leaks/is damp inside.
For the record, I can also get the majority of my golf clubs in the boot!! Only the driver and 3 wood go behind the seats - collapsible pencil bag in the boot. Can even get a couple of rucksacks in there at the same time - and have taken the clubs on holiday with me in the past. It's surprisingly practical.
It is f
king noisy though. Wind, rattles, vibrations, exhaust, intake. Nice when you're pressing on, I've started wearing earplugs on the motorway. It's just like an Audi then!!! 
Edit: It's never once not started, and never failed to complete a journey. Have replaced a few things as and when, but wasn't even a member of the AA for the first year.
It doesn't leak at all (had a new roof from EliseParts a couple of years ago), and that's the thing that surprises me the most!!
The ventilation is probably the worst part of the car, on mine it's feeble. I've never found it to be an issue personally - once the temp inside has warmed up condensation tends to disappear, although some people struggle in the rain. Again though, that's probably worse if you get one that leaks/is damp inside.
For the record, I can also get the majority of my golf clubs in the boot!! Only the driver and 3 wood go behind the seats - collapsible pencil bag in the boot. Can even get a couple of rucksacks in there at the same time - and have taken the clubs on holiday with me in the past. It's surprisingly practical.
It is f
king noisy though. Wind, rattles, vibrations, exhaust, intake. Nice when you're pressing on, I've started wearing earplugs on the motorway. It's just like an Audi then!!! Edit: It's never once not started, and never failed to complete a journey. Have replaced a few things as and when, but wasn't even a member of the AA for the first year.
Have you driven an Elise? I have always wanted one since they were launched in 1996 and thought that I would replace my Integra DC2 with one. Had a drive last weekend and errr...much as I love the Lotus, I personally did not see the need for changing. I appreciate an R or Exige would have been preferable but the new 1.6 was underwhelming alongside the Honda..
Not knocking the Lotus at all but it may not be a noticeable step up..Or I just need more time in the Elise!
Not knocking the Lotus at all but it may not be a noticeable step up..Or I just need more time in the Elise!
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