Elise? S1? S2? Compared to TVR Chimaera?

Elise? S1? S2? Compared to TVR Chimaera?

Author
Discussion

Gavstar

Original Poster:

1,305 posts

247 months

Monday 14th February 2011
quotequote all
Hi guys
I've started toying with the idea of looking to replace my TVR Chimaera with something different, and have started considering an Elise. Now I know very little about them, so am looking for some initial pointers please.
S1 or S2? I've heard the S1 is a more raw, drivers car than the S2. Is that true?
What are running costs like? My TVR costs me no more than the annual service cost nowadays, although I don't use it as much as I should - up to 3k a year.
Am I going to get the same silly grin with an Elise that I still get with the TVR after 6 years of ownership??
Edited to add - I use the TVR for the odd track day too, and that's part of the draw of an Elise is it's superior handling, but I expect it won't have the same grunt or out and out pace will it?
What is the torque curve like on an Elise? I love the TVR's low end grunt and steady torque delivery.
Thanks guys!

Shnozz

28,008 posts

278 months

Monday 14th February 2011
quotequote all
The torque in any of the non-supercharged Elises is hopeless (Honda/Audi cars of course excluded). First drive coming from a TVR I thought the performance was woeful as I had got used to relying on the torque of TVRs. Having owned TVR's for 5 - 6 years I had to totally adjust my driving style to realise that the Elise was not a slow car after all. It needs to be driven by the scruff of the neck to get that performance.

Running costs wise I found them all pretty comparable to be honest. My S1 needed a fair amount of money throwing at it in the first 12 months. I bought a low mileage garage queen and it turned out to be worse than a well used car in that as it had sat unused I needed to replace expensive things such as the suspension almost straight away and a load of other niggles that I dare say wouldn't have been so plentiful if the car had turned a wheel more often.

Very different car and I'd suggest a long test drive to see if you gel with it. Don't write it off if your first drive is a disapointment though and I'd try and get in the passenger seat of one first owned by an experienced driver before driving the car yourself for that reason.

Herman Toothrot

6,702 posts

205 months

Monday 14th February 2011
quotequote all
If you want torque a VXT maybe a better bet with about 200lbs