New Elise SC "facelift"
Discussion
I've got an Elise R which I bought new in 2008 - absolutely love it - more than any other car I've owned ( and I've had quite a few!) - today I went for a test drive in an SC - I'd never driven one before and was really impressed with the power delivery all the way through the range rather than just towards the top end in the "R" - I did post on here a few weeks ago re changing my car for an SC, most of the replies suggested it wasn't worth the money to change, after my drive today I feel very positive towards the SC and really enjoyed driving it.
I may have asked this before but ......... has anyone else made the change ? ..... and ..... what's the general opinion of the 2011 "facelift" - my feeling is that if I'm going to change I may as well get the latest model !
Any opinions welcome !
I may have asked this before but ......... has anyone else made the change ? ..... and ..... what's the general opinion of the 2011 "facelift" - my feeling is that if I'm going to change I may as well get the latest model !
Any opinions welcome !
Frimley111R said:
As Mr D says, hold off until Sept. Last thing you want is to buy an s/c and then see something better only a few weeks later.
What's out in September ? - the cars I've looked at were termed by the dealers as 2011 models with the "facelift" - are there even newer models being produced that I'm not aware of ????????I agree the factory supercharger option is tempting and something I think about regularly to stop me trading my car in for an Exige Cup 260. I only hesitate because I'm one of these wierd people who prefers the silly top end of the n/a car to the more linear s/c powerband. That is, until I meet a pesky tuned VX220 on the track. How I'd love to have a supercharger in mine for moments like that. However, I only really use the Elise on track if its pouring with rain (I have a Caterham 7 as a dedicated track car) so it's currently not really worth it.
But if the man wants to spend the money and get a brand new one, that's fine by me. In fact I salute him and if you're the type who only ever buys 2nd hand, so should you. Without people buying new Lotuses and taking the depreciation for you, where would you be?
For what it's worth I think the new Elise SC is great. I don't prefer it to the mk 2 to look at it's still a brilliant car.
I shall be very interested in what Paris has in store. I think the yamaha/toyota engine is a fantastic choice for the Elise/Exige. If the replacement engines aren't up to scratch I'd be happy to get one of the last ones in Cup 260 form.
Even if there is an Exige V6, if it adds a ton of weight and can't rev beyond 7k it won't be preferable to the screaming 'yota four pot for me.
But if the man wants to spend the money and get a brand new one, that's fine by me. In fact I salute him and if you're the type who only ever buys 2nd hand, so should you. Without people buying new Lotuses and taking the depreciation for you, where would you be?
For what it's worth I think the new Elise SC is great. I don't prefer it to the mk 2 to look at it's still a brilliant car.
I shall be very interested in what Paris has in store. I think the yamaha/toyota engine is a fantastic choice for the Elise/Exige. If the replacement engines aren't up to scratch I'd be happy to get one of the last ones in Cup 260 form.
Even if there is an Exige V6, if it adds a ton of weight and can't rev beyond 7k it won't be preferable to the screaming 'yota four pot for me.
Edited by The Pits on Tuesday 3rd August 14:12
I have a four year old 111R which is superb. But have felt the need to upgrade to an SC for some time. So what the hell I have ordered me a white Roger Becker special edition. My wisdom behind the switch was simple.
1)Lifes to short to worry!
2)buy before the Tax hike in January
3)they stop making the 1.8 yota engines as the EU says we have to assimilate and go with a wind up one. All hail the green machine! Go hug a tree!!
The new S3 as it is called has grown on me, felt let down at first and was looking forward to a fresh elise design but at the price me thinks its a bargain!!! Maybe even a future classic hurrah!
1)Lifes to short to worry!
2)buy before the Tax hike in January
3)they stop making the 1.8 yota engines as the EU says we have to assimilate and go with a wind up one. All hail the green machine! Go hug a tree!!
The new S3 as it is called has grown on me, felt let down at first and was looking forward to a fresh elise design but at the price me thinks its a bargain!!! Maybe even a future classic hurrah!
slinkie9 said:
I have a four year old 111R which is superb. But have felt the need to upgrade to an SC for some time. So what the hell I have ordered me a white Roger Becker special edition. My wisdom behind the switch was simple.
1)Lifes to short to worry!
2)buy before the Tax hike in January
3)they stop making the 1.8 yota engines as the EU says we have to assimilate and go with a wind up one. All hail the green machine! Go hug a tree!!
The new S3 as it is called has grown on me, felt let down at first and was looking forward to a fresh elise design but at the price me thinks its a bargain!!! Maybe even a future classic hurrah!
Nice one - with this in mind I bought my new one this morning ! - Black S/C from Westover ( thanks Ben, fantastic service as always) being delivered first week of September - 60 reg' -but putting my plate E1 ESE on it - can't wait - not many days until September !!!!!1)Lifes to short to worry!
2)buy before the Tax hike in January
3)they stop making the 1.8 yota engines as the EU says we have to assimilate and go with a wind up one. All hail the green machine! Go hug a tree!!
The new S3 as it is called has grown on me, felt let down at first and was looking forward to a fresh elise design but at the price me thinks its a bargain!!! Maybe even a future classic hurrah!
Congratulations. The new car looks particularly good in black.
I'm sure you'll absolutely love it.
The S/C in particular is a car with a huge breadth of ability. It's perfectly capable of being used every day, comfortable enough to drive across Europe in and competent enough on the track to be great fun there too. There aren't many other cars you can say that about. Nissan GTR? Porsche 911? They're all at least double the money and you can't take the roof off a Nissan GTR.
A lot of people here bemoan the extra refinement of the S2 and now S3 but not many S1 purists drive theirs to Tuscany and back - something you'll be able to do with great pleasure.
I'm sure you'll absolutely love it.
The S/C in particular is a car with a huge breadth of ability. It's perfectly capable of being used every day, comfortable enough to drive across Europe in and competent enough on the track to be great fun there too. There aren't many other cars you can say that about. Nissan GTR? Porsche 911? They're all at least double the money and you can't take the roof off a Nissan GTR.
A lot of people here bemoan the extra refinement of the S2 and now S3 but not many S1 purists drive theirs to Tuscany and back - something you'll be able to do with great pleasure.
The Pits said:
Congratulations. The new car looks particularly good in black.
I'm sure you'll absolutely love it.
The S/C in particular is a car with a huge breadth of ability. It's perfectly capable of being used every day, comfortable enough to drive across Europe in and competent enough on the track to be great fun there too. There aren't many other cars you can say that about. Nissan GTR? Porsche 911? They're all at least double the money and you can't take the roof off a Nissan GTR.
A lot of people here bemoan the extra refinement of the S2 and now S3 but not many S1 purists drive theirs to Tuscany and back - something you'll be able to do with great pleasure.
Agreed! I have done almost 29k in my SC and is really a small supercar! Or so I like to think, at least for my wallet... I'm sure you'll absolutely love it.
The S/C in particular is a car with a huge breadth of ability. It's perfectly capable of being used every day, comfortable enough to drive across Europe in and competent enough on the track to be great fun there too. There aren't many other cars you can say that about. Nissan GTR? Porsche 911? They're all at least double the money and you can't take the roof off a Nissan GTR.
A lot of people here bemoan the extra refinement of the S2 and now S3 but not many S1 purists drive theirs to Tuscany and back - something you'll be able to do with great pleasure.
Thanks for the comments - confirms I made the right decision - don't want to wish my life away but roll on delivery date 3rd September - got a major -minor problem that weekend, I'm in the "Ecurie 25" Supercar club and they're delivering the new Ferrari 458 to my house on the same day, I've got it from Friday to Monday - it'll have to go some to challenge the Elise !!!!!
That's a nice problem to have and a weekend you're not likely to forget in a hurry!
But driving 'supercars' always helps me appreciate the Elise even more (particularly the steering and when you consider what they charge). It will be very interesting which is actually better to drive down your favourite road (if it's possible to take out the wow factor of driving the latest ferrari - because that won't last). The ferrari is loaded with techno wizardry but computers have yet to come up with anything that can compare with a light, agile car, unassisted steering and snicky manual gearchange. For me at least.
Regardless it will be a fascinating comparison to make, the most technically advanced sportscar versus the purest.
I look forward to your comments!
But driving 'supercars' always helps me appreciate the Elise even more (particularly the steering and when you consider what they charge). It will be very interesting which is actually better to drive down your favourite road (if it's possible to take out the wow factor of driving the latest ferrari - because that won't last). The ferrari is loaded with techno wizardry but computers have yet to come up with anything that can compare with a light, agile car, unassisted steering and snicky manual gearchange. For me at least.
Regardless it will be a fascinating comparison to make, the most technically advanced sportscar versus the purest.
I look forward to your comments!
I agree with your comment 100% - the same was true the other week when I had a 997 Turbo Cab' tiptronic for the weekend, excellent in a straight line driving on the motorway, beyond that the most tedious car I've driven in years ( and I've had lots of other 911's) couldn't wait to get back to my Elise - as you say most of the newer "sports" cars have so much technology they almost lose the requirement to actually be there to drive them. I was talking to a guy recently who was telling me how much of an improvement his PDK 911 gearchange was over his previous car as the change was "made in milli-seconds" - who cares ? I'd rather have some involvement and actually change the gears myself !
The Pits said:
That's a nice problem to have and a weekend you're not likely to forget in a hurry!
But driving 'supercars' always helps me appreciate the Elise even more (particularly the steering and when you consider what they charge). It will be very interesting which is actually better to drive down your favourite road (if it's possible to take out the wow factor of driving the latest ferrari - because that won't last). The ferrari is loaded with techno wizardry but computers have yet to come up with anything that can compare with a light, agile car, unassisted steering and snicky manual gearchange. For me at least.
Regardless it will be a fascinating comparison to make, the most technically advanced sportscar versus the purest.
I look forward to your comments!
Actually had a day out on Thursday up to the Lake District with a few friends sharing a new 458 Italia and a 430 Spider - both great cars and the 458 is absolutely incredible although as you mention it's full of "techno wizardry" , unbelievable to drive and feels like it's on rails, acceleration is like being catapulted into the the horizon. I'm sure I wouldn't have my licence for long if I owned one whereas I feel the Elise gives you an impression of speed at a more "realistic" level - i.e at 120mph in the Ferrari it feels like 40 - whereas 80 in a Lotus feels like 80 ! and also a lot more involving - can't wait for my SC to be delivered !But driving 'supercars' always helps me appreciate the Elise even more (particularly the steering and when you consider what they charge). It will be very interesting which is actually better to drive down your favourite road (if it's possible to take out the wow factor of driving the latest ferrari - because that won't last). The ferrari is loaded with techno wizardry but computers have yet to come up with anything that can compare with a light, agile car, unassisted steering and snicky manual gearchange. For me at least.
Regardless it will be a fascinating comparison to make, the most technically advanced sportscar versus the purest.
I look forward to your comments!
Sounds like an amazing day.
There is that aspect to the Elise that's rarely appreciated - the merit of a car that feels exciting and rewarding below 100 mph. So many current performance cars are getting so competent, efficient and effective at going fast they only really come alive beyond 100 mph and there are issues with that. The fashion for paddleshift only adds to encourage flat out driving. Lightning shifts seems slightly at odds with driving at say 60% effort.
For track driving I'd take a paddle or sequential shift every time. But for road driving I have yet to experience anything more enjoyable than a good manual box.
There is that aspect to the Elise that's rarely appreciated - the merit of a car that feels exciting and rewarding below 100 mph. So many current performance cars are getting so competent, efficient and effective at going fast they only really come alive beyond 100 mph and there are issues with that. The fashion for paddleshift only adds to encourage flat out driving. Lightning shifts seems slightly at odds with driving at say 60% effort.
For track driving I'd take a paddle or sequential shift every time. But for road driving I have yet to experience anything more enjoyable than a good manual box.
The Pits said:
Sounds like an amazing day.
There is that aspect to the Elise that's rarely appreciated - the merit of a car that feels exciting and rewarding below 100 mph. So many current performance cars are getting so competent, efficient and effective at going fast they only really come alive beyond 100 mph and there are issues with that. The fashion for paddleshift only adds to encourage flat out driving. Lightning shifts seems slightly at odds with driving at say 60% effort.
For track driving I'd take a paddle or sequential shift every time. But for road driving I have yet to experience anything more enjoyable than a good manual box.
+1 Great to know / mind you I might be having a 458 delivered to my house in a couple of weeks so maybe my view will be changed lol .....There is that aspect to the Elise that's rarely appreciated - the merit of a car that feels exciting and rewarding below 100 mph. So many current performance cars are getting so competent, efficient and effective at going fast they only really come alive beyond 100 mph and there are issues with that. The fashion for paddleshift only adds to encourage flat out driving. Lightning shifts seems slightly at odds with driving at say 60% effort.
For track driving I'd take a paddle or sequential shift every time. But for road driving I have yet to experience anything more enjoyable than a good manual box.
Great to know I can come back to Elise and still enjoy if it does happen!
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