What's the Elise CR like to live with?
Discussion
For those of you who've experienced the CR, I'd be interested in what it's like to live with.
How does the shower cape differ to the ordinary soft-top? Have you / would you buy the soft-top as well?
What's the noise like with the reduction in noise deadening? How is that on different road surfaces?
What's it like on long (300mi) motorway journeys?
How are the seats vs normal probax ones?
Anything else you'd like to comment on?
I'm aware of how good it is to drive (from the reviews) but it's what the reviews don't tell you that are sometimes important.
How does the shower cape differ to the ordinary soft-top? Have you / would you buy the soft-top as well?
What's the noise like with the reduction in noise deadening? How is that on different road surfaces?
What's it like on long (300mi) motorway journeys?
How are the seats vs normal probax ones?
Anything else you'd like to comment on?
I'm aware of how good it is to drive (from the reviews) but it's what the reviews don't tell you that are sometimes important.
I had one for a week, my write-up is here - http://www.4lot.us/qn7x
I like the seats as much as the probax ones in my car, and I love the look of them. But I've only sat in one, not driven it.
I assume the "shower cape" is something you clip on when you're parked (like the shower cape I have for my S1), so no good at all if you drive when it's wet.
Go get a test drive, I don't think the dealers are very busy right now.
I assume the "shower cape" is something you clip on when you're parked (like the shower cape I have for my S1), so no good at all if you drive when it's wet.
Go get a test drive, I don't think the dealers are very busy right now.
Thanks, it's partly idle curiosity at this stage but (and I've been saying this for far too long) at some point I'll be in a position to move into Elise ownership and a CR would be on the list. The dealers are a fair way away but I'm not too keen on wasting their time at this tentative/early stage.
So, for the time being it's just discussion on the forums for me
So, for the time being it's just discussion on the forums for me
Bibs_LEF said:
I had one for a week, my write-up is here - http://www.4lot.us/qn7x
Nice write up. Care to comment on the roof? 
MagicalTrevor said:
Nice write up. Care to comment on the roof?
The shower cape is just to cover the car when it's parked. The roof is the same as the regular 1.6.Most seem to be fitted with the Comfort Pack and air-con, at which point you're not really saving much weight or money vs. the standard 1.6, so it's just down to the paint job (some nice exclusive colours), some stickers, and the seats (a bit marmite, having sat in them I think they're alright but other struggle with them, prefer my Pro-bax sports seats personally).
I've got a write up on the 1.6 here: http://www.seloc.org/articles/driven/elise-1-6/
By the way, just noticed you're in Bristol. There is an Autosolo on at Castle Combe this Saturday with a couple S1's and S2's competing (I'll be there taking some pictures, but probably not in my Elise) and a SELOC meet just outside Bristol on the 21st. Sure people would be happy to let you have a look round the cars if you post up in the events threads.
Edited by Thorburn on Friday 17th February 11:17
Thorburn said:
By the way, just noticed you're in Bristol. There is an Autosolo on at Castle Combe this Saturday with a couple S1's and S2's competing (I'll be there taking some pictures, but probably not in my Elise) and a SELOC meet just outside Bristol on the 21st. Sure people would be happy to let you have a look round the cars if you post up in the events threads.
Cool, thanks 
MagicalTrevor said:
That autosolo malarkey looks like fun! Might have to look into that
Give Loafingwafu a shout if you're interested. We get invites to them with the Bristol Motor Club so there are 3 or 4 a year at Castle Combe and Silverstone and possibly some other airfield ones (the CC and Silverstone ones aren't run on the circuit anyway). He wrote up a beginners guide here - http://www.seloc.org/articles/guides/a-competitive... - and should be there for a bit on Saturday, although not competing as he doesn't have his car back yet.Even if you don't pick up an Elise they run classes for all kinds of cars, the Clio 172 listed in your garage would probably be fairly competitive
Bibs_LEF said:
I had one for a week, my write-up is here - http://www.4lot.us/qn7x
Great write up. Perhaps it's just me but there seems to be a bit of Ferrari 360 from the rear view. How much is the power pack and how many more bhp does it add?Moley RUFC said:
Seems a small amount really but then I guess the Club Racer isn't pitched as a power machine
I seem to remember it's just a change of air intake and filter, so the gains are never going to be massive.Komo-tec are supercharging the 1ZR-FAE now though apparently, but it's quite pricey vs. just getting a second hand Elise SC and probably not much cheaper than the new 2ZR-FE engined Elise S will be.
The weight saving is 24kg or 2.5% - so dont expect to notice any performance difference compared to the standard car that is weight related. Put it another way, its equivalent to just 2 extra bhp.
You asked the question " what is it like to live with?" I cannot give you a direct answer never having driven one, but "living with" a car implies a lot more than just how fast does it go or how does it corner. It also asks what is it like in heavy traffic or on motorways or long journeys and personally I would want good seats, sound deadening and aircon for all these.
What I can say after doing the Lotus training at Hethel is that the 134 bhp Elise is every bit as much fun on track as my 190 bhp version. So I have no doubt that the CR will be a great weekend toy *. Just not a car I would want to take on a long continental tour doing 300 miles per day.
You asked the question " what is it like to live with?" I cannot give you a direct answer never having driven one, but "living with" a car implies a lot more than just how fast does it go or how does it corner. It also asks what is it like in heavy traffic or on motorways or long journeys and personally I would want good seats, sound deadening and aircon for all these.
What I can say after doing the Lotus training at Hethel is that the 134 bhp Elise is every bit as much fun on track as my 190 bhp version. So I have no doubt that the CR will be a great weekend toy *. Just not a car I would want to take on a long continental tour doing 300 miles per day.
- you might occasionally get a bit irritated by being blown away by big BM diesels or , even worse, kiddies in souped up Clios.
I love mine. It's an Elise, so it's Elise-like, i.e. low, basic etc. The seats are fine and comfy enough once you work out the best distance from the wheel and pedals. I got the comfort pack and a soft top, so I can't comment on what it would be without those, but, although I have the top off a lot, it wouldn't be a realistic daily without the proper top. Now it's run in I'm revving like crazy. Plenty of cars much faster around, but it's the corners, right? Only thing I don't like is the dazzling from other car headlights at night, the car being so low, and the fact that its headlights are so poor. Or maybe it's that my pupils are clamped shut with the dazzling so I can't see much!
I admit to being drawn to it initially based on the exclusive scura (matte) black colour. It looks great!
I admit to being drawn to it initially based on the exclusive scura (matte) black colour. It looks great!
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