Could a Elise be used for extensive touring ??
Discussion
Hi guys my name is Stephen and me and my wife have a plan and would like to know if its possible or been done before, could a Elise be used to tour Europe for 6 months ??
I know it could be done in a Seven as they have a bigger boot and racks can be made that can hold extra bags plus you can get lots of options for storage from Softbits for Sevens, now we own a Lotus 7 replica in NZ and have done many camping trips in it and plan on taking it to Australia when we move there and we are looking to take a six month break in between the move and head to Europe to go on tour, with the limited boot space and I see no place for luggage racks could a Elise have a towball fitted to it are there options for that in the UK so it could tow a small trailer full of camping gear ??.
Now I know there will be guys who say what the hell would you want to tow a trailer for in a Elise but its a car we have always want to own and it would also have a good resale value at the end of the trip and it also would be a fantastic car to see Europe in while pitched up at camping spots for a week or two between countries.
So can it be done, anyone have any links to info about touring in a Elise.
Cheers Stephen
I know it could be done in a Seven as they have a bigger boot and racks can be made that can hold extra bags plus you can get lots of options for storage from Softbits for Sevens, now we own a Lotus 7 replica in NZ and have done many camping trips in it and plan on taking it to Australia when we move there and we are looking to take a six month break in between the move and head to Europe to go on tour, with the limited boot space and I see no place for luggage racks could a Elise have a towball fitted to it are there options for that in the UK so it could tow a small trailer full of camping gear ??.
Now I know there will be guys who say what the hell would you want to tow a trailer for in a Elise but its a car we have always want to own and it would also have a good resale value at the end of the trip and it also would be a fantastic car to see Europe in while pitched up at camping spots for a week or two between countries.
So can it be done, anyone have any links to info about touring in a Elise.
Cheers Stephen
You can get luggage racks for the Elise.
S1: http://www.eliseparts.com/products/show/16/85/s1-e...
S2: http://www.eliseparts.com/products/show/16/610/s2-...
The boot isn't THAT small though, and you have a surprising amount of space behind the seats. I'd certainly think you have more space than in a Seven.
S1: http://www.eliseparts.com/products/show/16/85/s1-e...
S2: http://www.eliseparts.com/products/show/16/610/s2-...
The boot isn't THAT small though, and you have a surprising amount of space behind the seats. I'd certainly think you have more space than in a Seven.
Hi Stephen, I recognise your name from the kiwi seven site, I've got an early Exige. Before that I had an early Elise and did plenty of touring (up to a week) in the car with my girlfriend at the time and managed it. I can't now with my current girlfriend as her health issues mean we have to take an arsenal of paraphernalia with us when we go away, and the Exige is a little more hardcore.
So long as you pack everything in soft bags that can squash into spaces you can get a surprising amount into an Elise in the boot and behind the seats. Then add a luggage rack and you could carry enough gear to resupply an army platoon. One of the bloke on Aussie Elises is taking his car from the gold coast to the Arctic circle using just that technique!
As for practicality and comfort the later cars are better, and get progressively better the later they are, but being a seven pilot you'll be more than comfortable enough in even an early Elise.
Elises do leak a little in the rain to varying degrees with the later ones being generally better but I've also been in some early cars that didn't leak even in monsoon conditions. Again I'm sure the weatherproofing will be at least he equal of a seven.
Sorry to hear we're losing another one to Oz
So long as you pack everything in soft bags that can squash into spaces you can get a surprising amount into an Elise in the boot and behind the seats. Then add a luggage rack and you could carry enough gear to resupply an army platoon. One of the bloke on Aussie Elises is taking his car from the gold coast to the Arctic circle using just that technique!
As for practicality and comfort the later cars are better, and get progressively better the later they are, but being a seven pilot you'll be more than comfortable enough in even an early Elise.
Elises do leak a little in the rain to varying degrees with the later ones being generally better but I've also been in some early cars that didn't leak even in monsoon conditions. Again I'm sure the weatherproofing will be at least he equal of a seven.
Sorry to hear we're losing another one to Oz
When we can get childcare my wife and I do camping trips in native Switzerland with the Elise. Of course you need to think carefully about what kit you take but it can be done, and we generally get the tent and stuff in with enough remaining space in the boot to put the rolled roof in there as well. Mine is a '09 SC
As noted you need to pack in soft bags and think about what you need. We take a 3 man Hilleberg tent (small and light), the inflatable mats and a set of goose-down sleeping bags. What we don't take is cooking equipment and I'm not sure I'd want to put a gas bottle in the boot as it gets rather warm. We only carry a small bag with wallets etc inside the car so can leave it with the roof off.
They're surprisingly comfortable cars with the biggest negative being road noise on long legs / motorways.
As noted you need to pack in soft bags and think about what you need. We take a 3 man Hilleberg tent (small and light), the inflatable mats and a set of goose-down sleeping bags. What we don't take is cooking equipment and I'm not sure I'd want to put a gas bottle in the boot as it gets rather warm. We only carry a small bag with wallets etc inside the car so can leave it with the roof off.
They're surprisingly comfortable cars with the biggest negative being road noise on long legs / motorways.
Cheers for the replies guys I thought it could be done but wasn't sure, I know it can be done in a Seven as I have read many stories and it's our other choice of car as both would have a good resale value at the end of the trip if price correctly and both makes of cars seem to be in demand. I still would like to know if a toward could be fitted to a Elise as I know one can be fitted to a Caterham to tow a small camping trailer.
I'd put good money on you getting more stuff in an Elise than a 7 - you can pack behind the wheel arches as well in an Elise, whereas the 7 you're restricted to the width of the cabin itself.
I'm pretty certain the boot in the Elise is also longer (front to back) by a couple of inches, and a few inches deeper.
There's also a surprising amount of space above the fuel tank behind the seats, and behind the driver's seat as well if you're not too lanky. Plus space on top of the pax foot brace.
Add in a boot rack as well if necessary, and you can get more than enough crap in the Elise!
Plus the boot has a lock as well (at least if you leave the roof on the car).
I'm pretty certain the boot in the Elise is also longer (front to back) by a couple of inches, and a few inches deeper.
There's also a surprising amount of space above the fuel tank behind the seats, and behind the driver's seat as well if you're not too lanky. Plus space on top of the pax foot brace.
Add in a boot rack as well if necessary, and you can get more than enough crap in the Elise!
Plus the boot has a lock as well (at least if you leave the roof on the car).
I'm sure being from NZ you are used to travelling and don't really need me to give advice on travelling light, but as the towing of a trailer is out, this has to be top of your list now.
Also, the more you carry the more you may advertise yourself to a car break-in.....especially in certain areas of Europe.
I guess all I am saying is what Chapman said when he founded Lotus - keep it as light as possible!! I have toured Europe many times now in my S1 and the boot holds more than enough for me. Tent was able to be fitted behind seats. Just need to wash clothes often, or even buy a new set at Oxfam for a fiver, then junk them.
Also, the more you carry the more you may advertise yourself to a car break-in.....especially in certain areas of Europe.
I guess all I am saying is what Chapman said when he founded Lotus - keep it as light as possible!! I have toured Europe many times now in my S1 and the boot holds more than enough for me. Tent was able to be fitted behind seats. Just need to wash clothes often, or even buy a new set at Oxfam for a fiver, then junk them.
It's not so much whether it could be done (anything's possible), more a case of why on earth any sane person would want to! It's small, rattly, noisy as hell at speed, and has absolutely no creature comforts. Don't get me wrong, it's a great car and a fantastic to drive in the way that it was intended, but a comfortable long distance tourer it ain't! Better off with an MX5 or similar if touring is your thing.
Before anyone says, I know that it can be done and I know that many people have done so before, but it's analogous to using a hammer to fit screws - it's the wrong tool for the job imo.
Before anyone says, I know that it can be done and I know that many people have done so before, but it's analogous to using a hammer to fit screws - it's the wrong tool for the job imo.
RYH64E said:
It's not so much whether it could be done (anything's possible), more a case of why on earth any sane person would want to! It's small, rattly, noisy as hell at speed, and has absolutely no creature comforts. Don't get me wrong, it's a great car and a fantastic to drive in the way that it was intended, but a comfortable long distance tourer it ain't! Better off with an MX5 or similar if touring is your thing.
Before anyone says, I know that it can be done and I know that many people have done so before, but it's analogous to using a hammer to fit screws - it's the wrong tool for the job imo.
Hmmmm let me see because it would be cool and a challenge to do it and we are always up for that, I drive a Lotus 7 replica in NZ as a daily driver so actually going from that to a Elise would be a step up, I also have a MX5 too but would still have more fun touring in a Elise if it could be done. I have looked at many cars to tour Europe with but they all seem pretty boring to be in on the roads im thinking of driving on.Before anyone says, I know that it can be done and I know that many people have done so before, but it's analogous to using a hammer to fit screws - it's the wrong tool for the job imo.
Im not too worried about the leaking roof issue that has also been mentioned as you get used to a small amount of dampness with a Lotus 7, I have a mate with a S1 here so next time I see him im going to start having a good look around the car, as for packing stuff behind the wheel arches do you have to pull any boot liners out to do that ??.
Edited by Kiwibirkin on Tuesday 20th March 08:41
Kiwibirkin said:
Hmmmm let me see because it would be cool and a challenge to do it and we are always up for that, I drive a Lotus 7 replica in NZ as a daily driver so actually going from that to a Elise would be a step up, I also have a MX5 too but would still have more fun touring in a Elise if it could be done. I have looked at many cars to tour Europe with but they all seem pretty boring to be in on the roads im thinking of driving on.
Im not too worried about the leaking roof issue that has also been mentioned as you get used to a small amount of dampness with a Lotus 7, I have a mate with a S1 here so next time I see him im going to start having a good look around the car, as for packing stuff behind the wheel arches do you have to pull any boot liners out to do that ??.
Not on my late model S1, I think earlier ones were different. You have some space behind the seats, the front passenger footwell is quite spacious, and there is the small space behind the engine. If you want to take the roof off you will need to leave some space somewhere to store the various components, the side bars, cross bars and roof itself pretty much fill my boot, but I'm crap at packing.Im not too worried about the leaking roof issue that has also been mentioned as you get used to a small amount of dampness with a Lotus 7, I have a mate with a S1 here so next time I see him im going to start having a good look around the car, as for packing stuff behind the wheel arches do you have to pull any boot liners out to do that ??.
Edited by Kiwibirkin on Tuesday 20th March 08:41
Don't forget to pack your earplugs!
RYH64E said:
It's not so much whether it could be done (anything's possible), more a case of why on earth any sane person would want to! It's small, rattly, noisy as hell at speed, and has absolutely no creature comforts. Don't get me wrong, it's a great car and a fantastic to drive in the way that it was intended, but a comfortable long distance tourer it ain't! Better off with an MX5 or similar if touring is your thing.
Before anyone says, I know that it can be done and I know that many people have done so before, but it's analogous to using a hammer to fit screws - it's the wrong tool for the job imo.
I disagree - all you need is a pair of earplugs, and you sort out the only major problem. Before anyone says, I know that it can be done and I know that many people have done so before, but it's analogous to using a hammer to fit screws - it's the wrong tool for the job imo.
It's no worse than plenty of classics, again which people go touring in, with the advantage of it being reliable. Check out the amount of people in 50s and 60s exotica making the pilgrimage to Le Mans with headsets and intercoms - there's a surprising amount!!
The seats are fantastic when it comes to comfort, the ride is better than most modern hatchbacks, and I'd trade that additional elbow room for the handling and fun factor every day of the week.
They're a brilliant laugh for touring round Europe, and I think they're a world apart from the MX5. Sod it, going off your criteria, I think you should bin the MX5 as well and just take an S-MAX!
Edited by pthelazyjourno on Tuesday 20th March 09:51
RYH64E said:
Not on my late model S1, I think earlier ones were different. You have some space behind the seats, the front passenger footwell is quite spacious, and there is the small space behind the engine. If you want to take the roof off you will need to leave some space somewhere to store the various components, the side bars, cross bars and roof itself pretty much fill my boot, but I'm crap at packing.
Don't forget to pack your earplugs!
If you roll the roof up properly, the roof, bars and cant rails all fit at the very back of the boot - where it rolls up towards the top of the clam. It's pretty dead space due to the shape of it, so the roof needn't actually take up a great deal of space at all. I can get the roof, a set of golf clubs, couple of pairs of shoes and a week's worth of crap in the boot, without even resorting to the interior.Don't forget to pack your earplugs!
That's without the boot box mind you, with the later design.
And granted, it's no estate, but in 30,000 miles I've never once had to borrow another car to move stuff around, go on holiday or do anything else.
Obviously people have different expectations and needs, but the boot is genuinely a useable space. 100+ litres? 115 litres in later cars. Take the shelf behind the seats into account and you're getting on for 150 litres.
Worst bit about it is the shape of the opening - it doesn't extend anywhere near the rear of the boot, and is heavily curved - that does restrict the size of hard bags, but you can work around this with soft bags..
http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f...
Anyway, my rant is obviously a bit of a moot point, as you're accustomed to packing stuff into a 7, so you genuinely won't struggle with an Elise
And no, you don't have to take the arch liners off to get behind the wheel arches. There's not loads of space, but certainly enough for your socks / pants etc! That's in the later S1s though, the early cars had a plastic boot box, which restricted space to between the arches.
Edited by pthelazyjourno on Tuesday 20th March 09:54
pthelazyjourno said:
Sod it, going off your criteria, I think you should bin the MX5 as well and just take an S-MAX!
For covering long distances with luggage I probably would, for a quick blast around the lanes I certainly wouldn't. My Elise is great, unbeatable even - when I'm in the right mood, on the right roads, and with the right weather. I'm not enough of a masochist to want to use it every day, or go touring in it. I know that you can, and I know that some people do, I just wouldn't, just like I don't go out wearing shorts in the winter and don't eat roast beef for breakfast.
On a separate but related note, I don't see the point of tents when there are perfectly comfortable hotels available. Maybe I'm just soft.
RYH64E said:
For covering long distances with luggage I probably would, for a quick blast around the lanes I certainly wouldn't.
My Elise is great, unbeatable even - when I'm in the right mood, on the right roads, and with the right weather. I'm not enough of a masochist to want to use it every day, or go touring in it. I know that you can, and I know that some people do, I just wouldn't, just like I don't go out wearing shorts in the winter and don't eat roast beef for breakfast.
On a separate but related note, I don't see the point of tents when there are perfectly comfortable hotels available. Maybe I'm just soft.
Yeah next time I go to Le Mans I'm hoteling it!! My Elise is great, unbeatable even - when I'm in the right mood, on the right roads, and with the right weather. I'm not enough of a masochist to want to use it every day, or go touring in it. I know that you can, and I know that some people do, I just wouldn't, just like I don't go out wearing shorts in the winter and don't eat roast beef for breakfast.
On a separate but related note, I don't see the point of tents when there are perfectly comfortable hotels available. Maybe I'm just soft.
Have only been camping once in the Elise, and even then a friend let me use her shower and stuff in the mornings, certainly made things more pleasant.
Thing is, a lot of it depends on the Elise in question. My cousin's S1 leaked like a sieve, that wouldn't be nice to use on a daily basis. Mine doesn't leak at all (new EliseParts roof), it's genuinely more waterproof than the coupe I had before!!
So there's nothing to make you a masochist - it's just like any other car. OK, it's been breathed on and has a lumpy idle, but it's just as tractable as any other car, it doesn't overheat, doesn't stall, doesn't break down - irrespective of weather or temperature.
The only thing I struggle with is getting out on a camber, as the door spring has gone again.
Would I do 50 miles a day in it? No, probably not, it's too f
king noisy - but as a motoring and driving holiday? Hell yes, it's perfect IMO. It's even efficient on petrol. Edited by pthelazyjourno on Tuesday 20th March 10:04
I guess the other thing depends on your expectations and car history.
I've come from a long line of tinny French hot hatches, or cars like the MK1 MR2.
All of them have suffered from horrendous amounts of wind noise, all apart from the MR2 were relatively cramped inside, and none featured Passat-sized boots.
I've never required anything else - as long as I can get a set of golf clubs and a couple of rucksacks in it, I'm happy.
I've only owned one refined a-road cruiser, and absolutely hated it.
I'd personally take the narrow, loud, small and responsive car over a big, wide barge of a car anyday.
Like I say - depends what you want out of a car I guess.
I've come from a long line of tinny French hot hatches, or cars like the MK1 MR2.
All of them have suffered from horrendous amounts of wind noise, all apart from the MR2 were relatively cramped inside, and none featured Passat-sized boots.
I've never required anything else - as long as I can get a set of golf clubs and a couple of rucksacks in it, I'm happy.
I've only owned one refined a-road cruiser, and absolutely hated it.
I'd personally take the narrow, loud, small and responsive car over a big, wide barge of a car anyday.
Like I say - depends what you want out of a car I guess.
bobo said:
you could have her luggage shipped from hotel to hotel at bigger jump intervals, so keeping bare bones in the car for 3 to 5 nights etc ... allows you to visit stuff safely w/o the risk of loss in the event of a break in ? ... park up, explore, bugger off again .. stress free ...
...or just come to Switzerland and don't worry about car crimeKiwibirkin said:
Hi guys my name is Stephen and me and my wife have a plan and would like to know if its possible or been done before, could a Elise be used to tour Europe for 6 months ??
If people can cross the Atlantic in a 7 foot boat, then sure you could tour Europe with an Elise. Would it be comfortable? No. Would it be practical? Not really. Is it a good choice? No way.I love my Elise but its a toy and not serious long term long distance transport in my view. What you need for your plans is a campervan, as you see people using in NZ and Oz for the same thing.
bordseye said:
If people can cross the Atlantic in a 7 foot boat, then sure you could tour Europe with an Elise. Would it be comfortable? No. Would it be practical? Not really. Is it a good choice? No way.
I love my Elise but its a toy and not serious long term long distance transport in my view. What you need for your plans is a campervan, as you see people using in NZ and Oz for the same thing.
Thanks for the imput, I find campervans a bit boring and there is no challenge in touring europe in one and as we plan on staying in 1 spot for maybe upto 2 weeks at a time while looking around the areas we are in I see no need to take my home with me everytime I head out for the day. As it happens I have found a company that do towbars for Elises in the USA and after talking with them they have told me they would easiley tow a small camping trailer when bolted up correctly and would be willing to post one too me in the UK if the plans go ahead so this now opens the possible option that this would work.I love my Elise but its a toy and not serious long term long distance transport in my view. What you need for your plans is a campervan, as you see people using in NZ and Oz for the same thing.
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