Best time to buy an Elise s1
Discussion
TWIT - very interested in your opinions my friend. I only really use my 172 for weekend blasts, not day to day as I work in London. How does the Elise compare to the clio in acceleration and handling. They have a quicker 0-60 time if I am not mistaken!??? I need a better handling car, my clio is full of understear and torque steer and want something that handles more like a racer. Also how does you insurance compare on the elise to the clio cup, both group 17 arn't they??????
cheers
cheers
Clio Cup Vs S1
The Clio is easier to drive fast and my guess is that straight 0-60 the elise is just quicker up to 100 the Cup would win.
Driving wise there is absolutely no comparison, the Elise is in a different league. The clio was pretty neutral verging on understeer. I felt I had got the measure of the Cup in two days and was bored of it completely by the time it went. Also, there were more groans and rattles on the Cup than on the elise. The elise has steering that is a different planet to the Clio and you know you are driving something with some depth, especially in the wet! It too seems neutral but there is no hint of understeer, I guess oversteer is on tap if you boot it off a roundabout! I am still driving miss daisy style but I really do love it. The brakes are good too. The Cups actually were good (no ABS), the elise feels similar but the bite on the elise is better! Finally the driving position of the elise is way better than the Clio, which was crap! Once you are in it and the heater is on it is really snug!
I guess living with it day to day is going to be interesting, the clio is much easier in that respect. The first day I left it outside at work in the rain I returned to a swimming pool! Having refitted the roof and scotchgarded the hood it has not leaked a drop today.
I do admit to being paranoid! So I watch the temperature guage a lot! Also, I wonder if any damage could be done by the rain going through the vents! Plenty get left outside so I guess not. Mine lives in a cover.
All in I would go for it. I can't wait for the summer and I just drive the elise for the sake of driving. By the end of the cup ownership I'd given up and had taken to driving my wifes old 1.1 106 - that is / was a much much better car than the Clio.
Twit
The Clio is easier to drive fast and my guess is that straight 0-60 the elise is just quicker up to 100 the Cup would win.
Driving wise there is absolutely no comparison, the Elise is in a different league. The clio was pretty neutral verging on understeer. I felt I had got the measure of the Cup in two days and was bored of it completely by the time it went. Also, there were more groans and rattles on the Cup than on the elise. The elise has steering that is a different planet to the Clio and you know you are driving something with some depth, especially in the wet! It too seems neutral but there is no hint of understeer, I guess oversteer is on tap if you boot it off a roundabout! I am still driving miss daisy style but I really do love it. The brakes are good too. The Cups actually were good (no ABS), the elise feels similar but the bite on the elise is better! Finally the driving position of the elise is way better than the Clio, which was crap! Once you are in it and the heater is on it is really snug!
I guess living with it day to day is going to be interesting, the clio is much easier in that respect. The first day I left it outside at work in the rain I returned to a swimming pool! Having refitted the roof and scotchgarded the hood it has not leaked a drop today.
I do admit to being paranoid! So I watch the temperature guage a lot! Also, I wonder if any damage could be done by the rain going through the vents! Plenty get left outside so I guess not. Mine lives in a cover.
All in I would go for it. I can't wait for the summer and I just drive the elise for the sake of driving. By the end of the cup ownership I'd given up and had taken to driving my wifes old 1.1 106 - that is / was a much much better car than the Clio.
Twit
Dan - if you really want a hardtop then save for an Exige 
There is only one way to drive an Elise ...and thats roof off ...the only time my roof is on is when its p*ssing down...other than that (even in winter) you cant beat driving roof off
As for the added security - have you seen the door locks on an Elise ? you can pick them with nearly anything,
The alarm and immobiliser are your best detterent, other than that never leave anything in the cabin to give any opportunists/smack heads any reason to try and get in - if they are pros then the Elise has got to be one of the easiest cars to nick.....although this is rarely heard of
>> Edited by bogie on Sunday 27th April 09:36
There is only one way to drive an Elise ...and thats roof off ...the only time my roof is on is when its p*ssing down...other than that (even in winter) you cant beat driving roof off
As for the added security - have you seen the door locks on an Elise ? you can pick them with nearly anything,
The alarm and immobiliser are your best detterent, other than that never leave anything in the cabin to give any opportunists/smack heads any reason to try and get in - if they are pros then the Elise has got to be one of the easiest cars to nick.....although this is rarely heard of
>> Edited by bogie on Sunday 27th April 09:36
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