My First Lotus

[MazdaMark82]

I am basically looking for a bit of advice on the Lotus Elise S1 or S2,ie Running costs, practicality (if any) and just general views on your own experiences of ownership with either models.

I am looking at a budget of around £13-14k

Which model would you say is a best first buy?

[JACK6284]

S1 and S2 Rover Elises are similar mechanically. At your price point the best car is the S2 111s it is a great car. Costs are reasonable given the performance but insurance may be expensive depending upon your age and driving experience.

As you are in Essex I happy to provide a view on local cars?

[MazdaMark82]

That's great thank you,

Insurance is not that bad I am in my 30's and have had company cars for the last 10 years, so certain insurance companies have said they still take that into consideration even though its not my own policy,

I haven't driven an S2 as yet, but will look to do that when I eventually get a day off, Are the S2 cars slightly bigger than the S1 vehicles?

[Captain Muppet]

I've got an S1 with a 160 engine. I use it for commuting and leave it outside all year with a hard top. In terms of practicality (leaks, demisting, getting in and out, speed bumps, boot space) it's much the same as the MX5 I had with bucket seats.

In terms of running costs it occasionally throws up a bill for £600 (or a multiple thereof), plus routine servicing. It doesn't seem to have depreciated at all, which is a bonus.

If you can stand the noise, or don't have a long high speed commute, it doesn't really have a downside. Later cars are incrimentally less noisy, with the current Elise being as quiet as my other half's Honda Civic (as far as I could tell from a ride at normal road speeds).

S2s have lower sills, so getting in and out is easier. I think the early S2 roof is better than the S1 soft top, and certainly the later S2 soft top is much better. I've driven several Elises and none of them have been anything other than brilliant - the differences between the various spec levels is tiny compared to the differences between any Elise and normal cars.

[kambites]

My profile contains the full running costs for my S2 111S, using it as a low-mileage daily driver for the last 7 years.

[JACK6284]

My first Elise was an S2, the 111S suggested. They may be slightly bigger but its not much. Two main points with the S2 are it's easier to get into because it has a lower sill and the other is that from around 2002 onwards they have a decent soft top that is much easier to put on and take off.

I have an S1 now and love it. Its fast,nimble and economical at around 38mpg! I have just had the big "C" service done which costs around £ 500-600ish. This service includes the cambelt change and other services are much cheaper with independents providing excellent facilities. If you like to do your own spannering then they are not too difficult to work on.

[MazdaMark82]

JACK6284 said:

My first Elise was an S2, the 111S suggested. They may be slightly bigger but its not much. Two main points with the S2 are it's easier to get into because it has a lower sill and the other is that from around 2002 onwards they have a decent soft top that is much easier to put on and take off.

I have an S1 now and love it. Its fast,nimble and economical at around 38mpg! I have just had the big "C" service done which costs around £ 500-600ish. This service includes the cambelt change and other services are much cheaper with independents providing excellent facilities. If you like to do your own spannering then they are not too difficult to work on.

That helps that the sils are lower on a S2 because the S1 I drove was a bit of a squeeze to get into with the roof on lol. But im sure it is something you get use to, I know people are suggesting that the 111S is the model to go for with my budget but are the normal tourers not any good?

[MazdaMark82]

kambites said:

My profile contains the full running costs for my S2 111S, using it as a low-mileage daily driver for the last 7 years.

Your cost breakdown is really helpful,

Im hopefully going to get out and drive an S2 at some point next week, I do really like the look of the S1 but im thinking that an S2 is going to be better to get in and out of, and obviously low mileage S1 models are becoming harder to find and also higher budgets.

[SeanyD]

The normal sports tourers are absolutely fine, I ran a standard 120 k series 2 for 5 years, out on the road most loti are much of a muchness 99% of the time. Still a very capable and enjoyable car.

[rob999]

If you want to have a look around my crappy satsuma drop me a pm.

[MazdaMark82]

rob999 said:

If you want to have a look around my crappy satsuma drop me a pm.

Thanks Rob, that would be great if that's not too much trouble, will PM after 24hours, cant do them on here until then.

And your car looks far from crappy..lol

[kambites]

SeanyD said:

The normal sports tourers are absolutely fine, I ran a standard 120 k series 2 for 5 years, out on the road most loti are much of a muchness 99% of the time. Still a very capable and enjoyable car.

Certainly don't turn down a 120bhp car on the basis of its performance. They really aren't about straight line speed and it's hardly a slow car in any form. I picked a 111S for a few reasons - firstly I thought it would prove cheaper to run overall overall because the residuals would be stronger and the fuel economy and motorway manners are marginally better due to the higher final drive ratio; secondly I prefered the feel of the engine - it feels slightly more linear than the standard fixed cam version; and thirdly I wanted some of the other odds and ends that came with the 111S - the hardtop (which I subsequently haven't use), electric windows, carpets, etc. I also think the three-piece diffuser and 8 spoke wheels look better.

[Mr E]

I was in the OPs position a few years ago. I went for a s2 111s and my only regret is that it isn't driven enough.

[Mr E]

Additional comment; budget for a suspension refresh at about 50k miles.

[kambites]

Mr E said:

Additional comment; budget for a suspension refresh at about 50k miles.

Yup. Dampers (and springs because you might as well) at something like 40-50k under normal road usage and bushes will come shortly afterwards so might as well be done at the same time. Steering racks can go as early as 60-70k although more typically seem to last 100k.

Plus you'll want enough in the bank to pay for head gasket repair if necessary (only about 500 quid, and considerably less if done at the same time as a belt service).

[RowntreesCabana]

Its not really a cheap car to run, but its cheap for a sports car. Mines in having a C service (cambelt), a little bit of preventative work, new boots and you're up to £1200-1500. Next year I'll be having the suspension upgraded which is going to end up being about the same again.

Great cars though, very few cars give you the same feedback and are so suited to uk backroads.

[kambites]

Mine has cost less to run than the wife's Octavia. Mostly because of the lack of depreciation.

[un1eash]

Ignoring mods over the past 2 years my S2 111S cost less than my gen7 Celica to run.

Great cars but I wouldn't want to live with mine as a daily and only car.

[awooga]

Slight hijack thread, but very related.

I'm in the same market as the OP. I've seen a number of ads where the cars do not have a Lotus badge or lettering at the rear. I instinctively think respray and therefore possible damage to the rear, but there's a been a few ads now with unlettered / badged rears, so does anyone know if they're supposed to be like this?

[kambites]

I'd imagine people just prefer the looks without the badges.

Perhaps also worth pointing out that the vast majority of Elises which have had paintwork weren't done for accident damage but rather to fix stone chips and/or bubbling paint.