S1 vs early S2 roof - allen key

[amwt]

Test drove a S1 and a S2 this weekend. Both with K engine. Still undecided but beginning to form a view.

S1 and early S2 roofs look similar, both with those triangle flaps stretching over the C pillars. But are allen keys required only on the S1s?

If I decide to go for base S2, is it much preferable to get a new enough model with the neater roof without those C pillar flaps in terms of ease of use and leakage?

[Loudman]

I've got an early short tail roof from an 03 Elise, its pretty easy to use but does suffer slightly from a leak from the front corners, a common fault. Apparently this can often be fixed by 'tuning' the window heights to get the fit right but I've never bothered because the car is kept in a garage normally. The reason that I mention this is that the later short tail ones have a redesigned seal arrangement at the front corners, with little 'ears' on the seals to channel water run-off, so I'm guessing that these don't leak at all.

[kambites]

There's no significant difference between the short-roof S2 and long-roof S2 in terms of leaks. What finally fixed the leaks at the front corners of the roof was the addition of a pair of little drip-catchers to the top of the windscreen to door-glass seal (in MY04).

The only real advantage in the short roof is you can take it off (and probably fit it if you're coordinated enough) from inside the car, as long as you have no passenger.


The long S2 roof is much quicker to remove and refit than the S1 roof.

[SJobson]

Long tail S2 roof definitely doesn't require allen keys. I think it's arguably quicker to fit than the short S2 roof, since only the front of the roof has a wire to fit into a guide.

[Gavola]

I have a Y Reg Series 2 Elise and it has different roof to my previous W reg Series 1. No key required on S2. Roof is off and in boot in 60 secs.

[saaby93]

Gavola said:

I have a Y Reg Series 2 Elise and it has different roof to my previous W reg Series 1. No key required on S2. Roof is off and in boot in 60 secs.

Do you have to fold it up much or does it go in a bag?

[Gavola]

If you 'roll' it neatly it fits in bag and then in boot.......does not leave much room for more than one sports bag in the boot though once in there :-)

[SJobson]

A rolled long-tail S2 roof will fit behind the seats, on that little shelf bit. Useful if you're on holiday and the boot is full.

[kambites]

SJobson said:

A rolled long-tail S2 roof will fit behind the seats, on that little shelf bit. Useful if you're on holiday and the boot is full.

I've heard people say that a short-tail will as well, although it doesn't look like it to me.