Elise as all year daily driver?

[Benspickup]

I,m looking at selling my beloved mini pick up, which is in as new condition and buying preferably a early s2 elise( budget allowing) It would be used for pleasure as well as a 20 mile commute to work. This would be all year round. I'm used to old minis etc so don't mind a bit of rough. Is this realistic in other people's views? Cheers Ben

[otolith]

Totally.

[Benspickup]

If I'm honest I much prefer the s2, are they much more suited to everyday use?

[RobM77]

My 2003 S2 111S was my only car for three years and yes, it was great with no issues at all. If you're used to old minis etc then you'll be absolutely fine. The only advice I'd give would be to try and get one with aircon for demisting (if not, a towel and absorbant cloth will do the trick, it just takes longer), and the later shorter hood design is quicker to put up and down so you'll tend to enjoy top down more often on shorter trips etc.

[Thorburn]

Got a bit tired of my S1 after a couple years as a daily driver and now use it as a second car. S2 is more usable with the lower sill and better roof design.

[otolith]

Not that much difference between a late S1 and an early S2, but generally speaking later cars are easier to live with as dailies. If you are used to driving minis, though, I think you will find any S2 perfectly habitable.

[pthelazyjourno]

otolith said:

Not that much difference between a late S1 and an early S2, but generally speaking later cars are easier to live with as dailies. If you are used to driving minis, though, I think you will find any S2 perfectly habitable.

Early S2s are still easier to live with in terms of entry and egress - they all have lower sills. Although that's obviously in keeping with the latter half of your statement.

To be honest you can live with any of them. The Elise is no Audi, but providing you can put up with the noise they're perfectly habitable.

[otolith]

I don't find the S1 noticeably harder to get in and out of, but I guess that's one of those things that depends a lot on what shape and size the driver is.

[otolith]

Wind and tyre noise is a given, exhaust and intake noise will also depend on what aftermarket components are fitted.

[pthelazyjourno]

otolith said:

I don't find the S1 noticeably harder to get in and out of, but I guess that's one of those things that depends a lot on what shape and size the driver is.

I get the impression it's a LOT harder if you're particularly tall - specifically in terms of getting your right leg into or out of the car, and over the sill.

A couple of people have really struggled with mine, physically having to hold their foot to try and get it over the sill. Just a couple of inches makes all the difference (that's what she said!) here.

Then again it's not something that has an impact on me as I'm short and thin, so it could have been designed for me!

[pthelazyjourno]

otolith said:

Wind and tyre noise is a given, exhaust and intake noise will also depend on what aftermarket components are fitted.

It's the wind, road and tyre noise that kills me - at least on motorways etc - and I'd say my exhaust/intake is louder than most.

Obviously when on it things are a lot different, with all manner of noises when you floor it. I tend to wear foam ear plugs.

[grumpy]

Has this question been asked before? Oh yes, every month for the last 10 years.

[kambites]

I've been using my Elise to commute for six years and haven't had a problem with it except in the snow (and that's more the fault of the tyres than the car).

[otolith]

pthelazyjourno said:

otolith said:

I don't find the S1 noticeably harder to get in and out of, but I guess that's one of those things that depends a lot on what shape and size the driver is.

I get the impression it's a LOT harder if you're particularly tall - specifically in terms of getting your right leg into or out of the car, and over the sill.

A couple of people have really struggled with mine, physically having to hold their foot to try and get it over the sill. Just a couple of inches makes all the difference (that's what she said!) here.

Then again it's not something that has an impact on me as I'm short and thin, so it could have been designed for me!

Yep, I don't have any trouble, but large/tall unpractised passengers can be a different matter. I've only driven an S1 alone, so I've only my own experience of getting in and out of that to compare. Being able to easily roll back the roof on the later S2s also helps to get beanpoles into the car, which is another thing the OP may want to consider - the later roof is a lot less tent-like.

S1 / early S2 roof (admittedly really making a meal of it)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ozDw8Tbzfg

Later S2 roof:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIN6JxkXaXQ

[RobM77]

A friend of mine is 6'3" and had no issue getting into his S1 - he used it as a daily driver for years. Perhaps flexibility is a factor also?

Thorburn said:

Got a bit tired of my S1 after a couple years as a daily driver and now use it as a second car. S2 is more usable with the lower sill and better roof design.

It's worth clarifying that the re-designed hood wasn't an S2 thing from the start - it only came out a few years into S2 production.

[kambites]

RobM77 said:

It's worth clarifying that the re-designed hood wasn't an S2 thing from the start - it only came out a few years into S2 production.

That's only partially true. The "short tail" roof came in in 2004ish but early S2s still had a much simpler design than the S1.

[walm]

kambites said:

That's only partially true. The "short tail" roof came in in 2004ish but early S2s still had a much simpler design than the S1.

[beard] Techwiki says March/May 2002 [/beard]

Certainly my '03 reg 111s had a short one.

http://wiki.seloc.org/a/Hardtop#Elise_S2_Shortop_R...

In answer to the OP - you'll be fine and love every minute of it.

[lukedon]

I have just bought an exige, and i'll being using this as a daily driver.

I wasn't sure I could to be honest, but I wanted it so much, I though i'd just give it a try.

If it turns out to be a bit of a pain, i'll buy a beater!

[RobM77]

kambites said:

RobM77 said:

It's worth clarifying that the re-designed hood wasn't an S2 thing from the start - it only came out a few years into S2 production.

That's only partially true. The "short tail" roof came in in 2004ish but early S2s still had a much simpler design than the S1.

I didn't know that - thanks for the correction.

[chevronb37]

I didn't enjoy using my Elise as a daily but then my commute was city centre and motorways. Thoroughly enjoyed it as a weekend car though, with a snotter to park on building sites and the like.

Remarkably, I've only just started wearing earplugs in the Exige. Makes such a difference - all that background noise just disappears. You can actually enjoy the induction and exhaust better because all of those rattly aluminium sounds are no longer in evidence.