Thats it, i now know i need an Elise!!
Discussion
Took the father in law to Prestwold on Saturday for a driving experience - and they had a S2 111s on their fleet. I paid up for 3 laps to see what it was like on track, as it was an opportunity to good to be missed as the 111s is the model i have been looking at.
What a fantastic experience
!! It stuck to the track, the only car i have ever driven that has been close is a Caterham. I found the Lotus to be as communicative as the Caterham, but it felt more planted, as at speed the Cat can feel a bit skittish sat over the back axel.
I am a novice on track (only having done a couple of track days before) but i was amazed that through the twisties i had 2 F430's and a Gallardo !! I know that if the expensive Italian metal was in the hands of decent drivers the Lotus wouldn't keep up, but it still suprised me how brilliant the little Elise was !!
I was also pleased to find that the ride wasn't crashy, so i could definatley see that it would be useable on the road. The K series was at its best when revved towards the red line, but the engine still had plenty of torque. I was also pleased to see that when it started to drissle getting the roof on was only a 2 minute job, as i was worried it could be a nightmare.
Other interesting thing from the day was that all the ARDS instructors were saying that if you were going to drive any car there, make sure it was the GTR. They also had a Viper, Gallardo, 360, f40, Conti GT, GT3 and DB9 on the fleet, but all of them were in agreement that the GTR was streets ahead of all the others. Father in law drove the DB9 and GTR and was in agreement that the GTR was something else. Not the prettiest car, but at £60k i can see why they GTR is such an attractive proposition - but only if you want to track it - you wouldn't be able to get it out of 2nd on British roads without losing your license!!
Just need to keep on saving those pennies up for the 111s now. Was so impressed with the Elise on Saturday it has made me more determined than ever to have one outside the house by Christmas!!
Cheers
What a fantastic experience
!! It stuck to the track, the only car i have ever driven that has been close is a Caterham. I found the Lotus to be as communicative as the Caterham, but it felt more planted, as at speed the Cat can feel a bit skittish sat over the back axel. I am a novice on track (only having done a couple of track days before) but i was amazed that through the twisties i had 2 F430's and a Gallardo
!! I know that if the expensive Italian metal was in the hands of decent drivers the Lotus wouldn't keep up, but it still suprised me how brilliant the little Elise was !!I was also pleased to find that the ride wasn't crashy, so i could definatley see that it would be useable on the road. The K series was at its best when revved towards the red line, but the engine still had plenty of torque. I was also pleased to see that when it started to drissle getting the roof on was only a 2 minute job, as i was worried it could be a nightmare.
Other interesting thing from the day was that all the ARDS instructors were saying that if you were going to drive any car there, make sure it was the GTR. They also had a Viper, Gallardo, 360, f40, Conti GT, GT3 and DB9 on the fleet, but all of them were in agreement that the GTR was streets ahead of all the others. Father in law drove the DB9 and GTR and was in agreement that the GTR was something else. Not the prettiest car, but at £60k i can see why they GTR is such an attractive proposition - but only if you want to track it - you wouldn't be able to get it out of 2nd on British roads without losing your license!!
Just need to keep on saving those pennies up for the 111s now. Was so impressed with the Elise on Saturday it has made me more determined than ever to have one outside the house by Christmas!!
Cheers
taustin said:
I was also pleased to find that the ride wasn't crashy, so i could definatley see that it would be useable on the road.
Not a sensible comparison, track against road. The Elise is a bit crashy and rattly on our pothole and manhole infested roads. Whether that makes is every day useable or not is very much a personal question. For me, I wouldnt want to use mine for the daily commute / shopping etc. There are many cars that do the nose to tail daily crawl better. There are many cars that do the motorways much better.An Elise is for country back roads with plenty of bends and good visibility. IMO its a toy not transport. And dont get me wrong - I love mine. It's just not an every day car unless you are young and thats the only way you can have one.
I don't know what you call young but mine was an everyday car until earlier this year (I'm 37), and I loved it. Its a bit tight if 2 of you are going away for a bit but other than that no real issues, perfectly usable as regular transport. My commute can range from 4 miles to 130 miles, it does either just as well, not very relaxing, but then thats the idea of an elise.
I concur with bordseye. I'm youngish (27) and find the Elise to be a general pain for everyday use. The vicious throttle response, the inability for other road users to see you, the aquaplaning when you're heading home in the rain, the glare of van lights in the mirrors while you're sat in traffic, the reluctance to park it anywhere, etc. However, liberate it for weekend-only use and it is the best friend you'll ever have. I do 10,000 miles a year in mine just pleasure driving and it is wonderful. Last month, on consecutive weekends I did a 230 mile blast of North Yorkshire, then 250 miles south to Goodwood, then another 250 miles south for Le Mans Classic where it completed track laps at significant pace before 500 miles home without blinking. They really are marvellous machines but I'd never again use mine as an everyday car. However, each to his/her own and keep us posted on what you end up with.
taustin said:
Thanks for all the replies.
The plan is to get a run around for commuting, and keep the elise for weekends and the odd track day.
I will keep you posted on how i get on - just need to keep on saving and get a few test drives in.
Some folk (like Kambites) love using theirs every day but the over-riding majority of owners I know prefer to keep them for best. I'm afraid I fall firmly into that camp, but then I will always find excuses to take it out whenever possible so still spend a lot of time in it. It's nice to have a car you can park anywhere and take family and friends out in as well. Good luck! The plan is to get a run around for commuting, and keep the elise for weekends and the odd track day.
I will keep you posted on how i get on - just need to keep on saving and get a few test drives in.
I think Elises are about 50/50 daily drivers vs weekend toys. Personally, I know far more people who use them as daily drivers (there's around ten where I work) than who have them as toys but that might say more about the kind of people who work for IBM than general Elise owners.
It's also worth pointing out that whilst the Elise is my only car, the wife has a sensible vehicle and I only drive around 3-4000 miles a year. I very rarely drive on the motorway (maybe once a month at most), which also helps.
It's also worth pointing out that whilst the Elise is my only car, the wife has a sensible vehicle and I only drive around 3-4000 miles a year. I very rarely drive on the motorway (maybe once a month at most), which also helps.
Mr E said:
A barge with creature comforts for those drives that are to be endured.
There are no drives for me that are "to be endured". There's always a fun route you can take from anywhere to anywhere if you look hard enough, even if it does sometimes involve going a significant distance in the wrong direction. 
I love the concept of taking back roads everywhere, but I often simply need to get from A-B in the shortest time, sometimes in the Elise. I actually rather like it for motorways as it's quicker than just about everything else and it's so direct that it's very intuitive at motorway speeds. If you're travelling at night with the roof off, it's awesome fun. However, I have always had guilt over using it for short journeys, or those where driver enjoyment is lacking. I love my Rallye for just getting about town - I can use it for shopping, the visibility is great and we can take friends places. The Elise is a private indugence - my missus doesn't much like it and it's best enjoyed by myself. On that basis, it is superb. I'll likely never sell mine.
kambites said:
Mr E said:
A barge with creature comforts for those drives that are to be endured.
There are no drives for me that are "to be endured". There's always a fun route you can take from anywhere to anywhere if you look hard enough, even if it does sometimes involve going a significant distance in the wrong direction. Mine is used as a daily driver for any journey which doesn't necessitate using one of the other cars. I work from home, so it doesn't get used for commuting, but if I need to go to one of the neighbouring villages or into town for something that will fit in the Elise, that's what I take. It's surprising how often our village shop won't have quite what I had in mind, requiring a quick blast in the Elise... 
When occasionally I do go into the office, it's a 250 mile round trip of M4 and M25. I don't take the Elise, because I don't think it would go up the ramp into the garage, but apart from that I'd be happy to do so. That's occasional, though, I wouldn't want to do that in the Elise every day. Too noisy.
The main reason for having the 4wd estate car is that the Elise won't take most of my fishing rods (though my fly rods and my four piece spinning rod do fit in the boot) and it wouldn't get down some of the muddy, rutted and potholed farm tracks that the Impreza takes in its stride.
When occasionally I do go into the office, it's a 250 mile round trip of M4 and M25. I don't take the Elise, because I don't think it would go up the ramp into the garage, but apart from that I'd be happy to do so. That's occasional, though, I wouldn't want to do that in the Elise every day. Too noisy.
The main reason for having the 4wd estate car is that the Elise won't take most of my fishing rods (though my fly rods and my four piece spinning rod do fit in the boot) and it wouldn't get down some of the muddy, rutted and potholed farm tracks that the Impreza takes in its stride.
I've taken mine to work twice this year.
I drive a Mitsubishi L200 as a daily car and a Transit when the need arises.
There's no way I would have wanted to use the Elise in some of the weather we had last winter.
It also makes it all the more special when I jump into the Elise.
That's not to say it isn't usable or uncomfortable, I've been to Le Mans twice in it and the Med and Spain on another occasion with no problems at all.
When I drive the L200 nothing worries me, the nutters on the road, the potholes, where I leave it parked up, it's pretty stress free motoring really.
I drive a Mitsubishi L200 as a daily car and a Transit when the need arises.
There's no way I would have wanted to use the Elise in some of the weather we had last winter.
It also makes it all the more special when I jump into the Elise.
That's not to say it isn't usable or uncomfortable, I've been to Le Mans twice in it and the Med and Spain on another occasion with no problems at all.
When I drive the L200 nothing worries me, the nutters on the road, the potholes, where I leave it parked up, it's pretty stress free motoring really.
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