111R need your advice...

[Val]

Hello all!

The thing is... i am turning 20 now and get a car for my birthday.

I REALLY like everything about the elise... except that I dont know if I am going to get straight line thrills.
No test-drive for me, because its winter here in Moscow now.

So, the question is - how fast is 111R? I have driven bmw M3(apparently its supposed to be close?). I am currently driving my dad's Cayenne S (7.2 sec 0-62 on paper) actually not bad at all for a 2.5 tonne monster handling-wise! Can anyone who has driven similar cars give some sort of reference?

I am really confused... Track challange tested exige at 5.6 sec (dry, normal conditions), while Road&Track did 4.8 sec in 111R with LSS. (similar conditions)

I was also looking into Noble and Tuscan. But Noble is a coupe and driving position is HORRIBLE. Too expensive as well. Tuscan just scared me once I got inside... Cant really explain it. When I got into elise the first time, I felt at home. When I got into TVR, it just felt like some sort of wierd place I want to get out of! Moreover, handling is not that good at all apparently, and it is more importaint imho then straight line pace.

So, am I going to get straight line thrills from 111R? (I feel like M3 is almost there, maybe Elise with half the size and open top will be there?)

For the record: I plan to use my car everyday during summer.

PS also an interesting observation... Cayenne with 7.2 time feels a lot faster to me then sc300 lexus with 8.2...

[Davey S1]

M3 is slightly faster 0-100 than the 111R but wont be as much fun to drive.

111R seems plenty fast for most people though and is certainly quick enough through the twisties.

I dont know what the insurance situation is like in Russia but over here you would be lucky to get any quotes to insure a 111R at your age.

[Mrs Fish]

The 111R is much better through the twisties than straight line speed but it is still a great fun car

[mark-111r]

Wish i got a car for my birthday..

[Boggy]

I agree with both Davey and Mrs Fish, the 111R is lot's of fun for the Money, It's not the fastest straight line Car in the World but it's pretty quick. I wouldn't get to baffled with figure's and 0 - 60 time's in the real world a Lotus Elise is pretty hard to beat for both fun and value for money, and just think you'll be driving a great British sport's car !!

Large !

Boggy

[DanH]

At 20 do you really want anything quicker? Dunno what your driving is like, but an Elise gives you more than enough rope to hang yourself especially if you are new to RWD sports cars.

Beyond that, its no fun starting with the fastest car in the world. There's nothing to aspire to then.

[S Works]

Please excuse my ignorance of your country Val, but what's the quality of the roads over there? If not that great then the Elise might be a bit of a bugger and the M3 a better bet.

But the 111R is a fantastic car - you'll get way more attention than in an M3 I reckon!

[DustyC]

I just posted a link to a good review of the 111R here
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=144432&f=23&h=0

Thread is about making the 111R faster so may interest you further.

[u415270]

According to Autocar magazine (a decent weekly UK magazine) in their 0-100-0 trials published in April 04 the Elise 111R posted a 0-100-0 in 16.8 against the M3 of 17:04. The time to 100 MpH was 12.33 Elise and 12.43 M3. Basiacally as you say very very close. Interestingly the old Boxster S to 100 was 13:00

[DustyC]

Some pretty surprising comparisons between the 111R and the M3.

I wonder how it would fair up to the CSL though.
I know the price difference is huge (double!) but having seen them on track days I wouldnt be surprised if it was a very tight battle on certain circuits.

[Val]

Davey, insurance is no problem here. Its just a bit more expensive then normal for me.

Boggy, you're the one with the tuscan?

DanH, not that good, but not bad at all. No tracking yet (we dont have track days here also only one worthy track), but lots of driving courses and stuff.

Works, roads are pretty good in Moscow now, so no problems with that and M3 is just SSSOOOO boring! I am almost falling asleep when I look at it...

u415270, yeah, I know. I study in a uni here in UK.

DustyC, I bet CLS is in another leage, but mostly due to the tyres apparently.


Thank you very much for replies!
However, I would still want someone who has driven both M3 and 111R to say something like "I have driven both and 111R feels faster" or "I have driven both and they are pretty similar"...

[boggy]

Hi Val,

No sorry mate I've got an Ardent Red 111R

Boggy

[cuzza]

Val said:

Boggy, you're the one with the tuscan?

That's Bogie, same consistency, different colour

[DanH]

In day to day driving I have little doubt that the m3 is faster in most situations. The Elise beating it in 0-100 will be based on it getting off the line more effectively. Up beyond 50mph I'd expect the m3 to be faster accelerating in most situations, especially if the 111R isn't in its power band.

Of course it probably won't feel faster unless you are dragging against someone else as its more insulated.

They are a different type of car though, so you should be able to decide pretty easily. You need more talent to travel swiftly in an Elise and keep it on the road. I guess you should decide if you are willing/wanting to learn/develop those skills. You'd probably get away with mistakes in an m3 that you won't in an Elise. Thats partly why its a drivers car.

[chouca]

you gave the answer yourself:

driving the M3 feels boring vs. in the 111R you felt at home



go for it! you won´t regret it!

[Val]

nonono! i wasnt considering m3 at all! its just that I drove it and I know how it feels and I want to know how elise feels comparing to M3... But never mind...

Went to a dealer today, examined every inch of the car... Boy, I love this thing! amasing car... Putting deposit down on 4th or 5th hopfully and car arrives in April. Ardant Red/Black.

I think it will look just as amasing as it will drive. Moreover we have only 3 or 4 elises in the whole Russia.... .... ... nice! and one espirit!

[chouca]

good choice!

[Sim North East]

A very good choice. I am sure you will have great fun. I have only had mine a few days and I cannot help but

[boggy]

Val said:

nonono! i wasnt considering m3 at all! its just that I drove it and I know how it feels and I want to know how elise feels comparing to M3... But never mind... Went to a dealer today, examined every inch of the car... Boy, I love this thing! amasing car... Putting deposit down on 4th or 5th hopfully and car arrives in April. Ardant Red/Black. I think it will look just as amasing as it will drive. Moreover we have only 3 or 4 elises in the whole Russia.... .... ... nice! and one espirit!

Top choice,

Same as mine Val, I know how you feel mine's the only Ardent Rad 111R in Dartford Ho Ho Ho

[NJS25]

boggy said:

Ho Ho Ho

Santa? Is that you?

Thanks for all the stuff, see you next year.

Regards, Neil