Caterham or an Elise... which would you choose?
Discussion
I've owned both*.
The answer is: it depends on your circumstances and what you want to use it for.
For predominantly track days and occasional Sunday morning runs of up to ~50 miles, the Caterham.
For predominantly road use, including some touring, plus occasional track days, the Lotus.
They are very different cars to drive, though, so try both before you decide. The Caterham's strengths are its gearchange (the Elise's is relatively awful) and the adjustability of its handling.The Elise's strengths are the lightness and precision of its steering, grip, handling and ride on poor quality roads (where the Caterham deteriorates to being a complete shambles), plus its relative refinement and practicality.
Whisper it, but if you know what you're buying there are actually better 'Locaterfield' type cars out there than the S3 Caterham, due to its relatively crude rear suspension.
FWIIW, I can't see me ever buying another Caterham (though I do own another similarly lightweight car, and another 'Seven' type isn't impossible... just not a Caterham), whereas another Elise would be a distinct possibility.
* Actually, I've owned two Elises
The answer is: it depends on your circumstances and what you want to use it for.
For predominantly track days and occasional Sunday morning runs of up to ~50 miles, the Caterham.
For predominantly road use, including some touring, plus occasional track days, the Lotus.
They are very different cars to drive, though, so try both before you decide. The Caterham's strengths are its gearchange (the Elise's is relatively awful) and the adjustability of its handling.The Elise's strengths are the lightness and precision of its steering, grip, handling and ride on poor quality roads (where the Caterham deteriorates to being a complete shambles), plus its relative refinement and practicality.
Whisper it, but if you know what you're buying there are actually better 'Locaterfield' type cars out there than the S3 Caterham, due to its relatively crude rear suspension.
FWIIW, I can't see me ever buying another Caterham (though I do own another similarly lightweight car, and another 'Seven' type isn't impossible... just not a Caterham), whereas another Elise would be a distinct possibility.
* Actually, I've owned two Elises
Edited by Equus on Saturday 2nd December 14:58
I see a scale of practicality/usability and pure driving enjoyment. The Caterham is firmly a few places over to the left of that scale.
Depends what level of usability you need.
If both cars were sat in front of me and there was a country lane on a dry day and an hour to have fun, I would choose the Caterham. If I was going for a weekend, with the need for a roof and a tiny level of practicality, I would choose the Elise.
Neither are practical cars, but the Caterham needs an even higher level of commitment/compromise to give another notch again of pure driving pleasure.
Depends what level of usability you need.
If both cars were sat in front of me and there was a country lane on a dry day and an hour to have fun, I would choose the Caterham. If I was going for a weekend, with the need for a roof and a tiny level of practicality, I would choose the Elise.
Neither are practical cars, but the Caterham needs an even higher level of commitment/compromise to give another notch again of pure driving pleasure.
cerb4.5lee said:
Thanks Equus. I've never actually driven a mid-engined car, so the idea of an Elise really appeals. I always read great things about the way the Elise drives as well.
OOooh, you're in trouble now: the anoraks will be along in mere moments, to tell you in a nasal whine that the Cerb is mid-engined, and so is the Caterham - just front mid-engined, don't you know? They're wrong: the position of the driver's head (hence middle-ear sense of yaw) relative to the yaw axis is very different on a front mid-engined car, so they feel completely different.
They idiot-proofed the S2 Elise (as a result of which, it understeers quite badly in standard form), but be aware with the S1 Elise in particular that the rule with mid-engined cars is never to lift off mid-corner. You've got to be paying attention with the Elise to get the back end out and get away with it.
Apart from that, about the only thing that stands between the Elise and perfection is its gearchange.
Equus said:
I've owned both*.
The answer is: it depends on your circumstances and what you want to use it for.
For predominantly track days and occasional Sunday morning runs of up to ~50 miles, the Caterham.
For predominantly road use, including some touring, plus occasional track days, the Lotus.
They are very different cars to drive, though, so try both before you decide. The Caterham's strengths are its gearchange (the Elise's is relatively awful) and the adjustability of its handling.The Elise's strengths are the lightness and precision of its steering, grip, handling and ride on poor quality roads (where the Caterham deteriorates to being a complete shambles), plus its relative refinement and practicality.
Whisper it, but if you know what you're buying there are actually better 'Locaterfield' type cars out there than the S3 Caterham, due to its relatively crude rear suspension.
FWIIW, I can't see me ever buying another Caterham (though I do own another similarly lightweight car, and another 'Seven' type isn't impossible... just not a Caterham), whereas another Elise would be a distinct possibility.
* Actually, I've owned two Elises
good summary.The answer is: it depends on your circumstances and what you want to use it for.
For predominantly track days and occasional Sunday morning runs of up to ~50 miles, the Caterham.
For predominantly road use, including some touring, plus occasional track days, the Lotus.
They are very different cars to drive, though, so try both before you decide. The Caterham's strengths are its gearchange (the Elise's is relatively awful) and the adjustability of its handling.The Elise's strengths are the lightness and precision of its steering, grip, handling and ride on poor quality roads (where the Caterham deteriorates to being a complete shambles), plus its relative refinement and practicality.
Whisper it, but if you know what you're buying there are actually better 'Locaterfield' type cars out there than the S3 Caterham, due to its relatively crude rear suspension.
FWIIW, I can't see me ever buying another Caterham (though I do own another similarly lightweight car, and another 'Seven' type isn't impossible... just not a Caterham), whereas another Elise would be a distinct possibility.
* Actually, I've owned two Elises
Edited by Equus on Saturday 2nd December 14:58
I own both. prefer the Elise, by some margin, for points mentioned. the delicate mid-engined turn-in is sublime whereas the hooligan is at home in a Caterham. Both joyful, and beyond anything a modern hot hatch can offer. (it's the weight, an old Clio is far more fun imo than any modern RS, but that's another thread)
my Caterham is fully caged and my track car. it suits the track as it's lighter and more adjustable. *if* you find an empty mountain pass it'll be fun otherwise it's far more compromised and exposed to other drivers not seeing you. with earplugs the Elise is practically a GT car
The Toyo Elise is possibly rear engined! it's certainly a close call.
The Caterham resells easily at a solid price, so the alternatives aren't much cheaper as a TCO.
running costs are low and similar.
I'd say any proper petrolhead should own an Elise at some point, whereas they should at least drive a Caterham.
Anyone not familiar with the format will need a few hours to fully get it, by which I mean exploiting the feel not just the visceral nature of the wind, noise and directness.
Elise for me every time.
I had both for a couple of years and it pains me to say that I probably wasn’t hardcore enough for the Caterham. The Elise did everything I could have wanted from a sports car without the additional “hassle” that came with added impracticality and rawness of the R300.
No doubt it would be different for a track biased owner.
I had both for a couple of years and it pains me to say that I probably wasn’t hardcore enough for the Caterham. The Elise did everything I could have wanted from a sports car without the additional “hassle” that came with added impracticality and rawness of the R300.
No doubt it would be different for a track biased owner.
Dog Star said:
Elise all day long.
Caterhams are in the same club (to me) as Morgans - massive beardage. Don’t care if they drive like an F1 car.
I understand where you're coming from in fairness. However the Caterham is still a laugh to drive though I reckon. Caterhams are in the same club (to me) as Morgans - massive beardage. Don’t care if they drive like an F1 car.
Weirdly I've never got Morgans either, although I may change my mind if I had a go in one though.
I had the S1 Exige but have also driven the Elise and a few Caterhams.
If solely for fun and to attract some attention the Caterham.
If you prefer a car that you can, at a push, use all year around and also do the odd weekend away then the Elise. It is marginally more civilised.
I'm sure you already understand weight transfer dynamics so will understand the impact of throttle control.
At the limit both cars can spit you out, metaphorically speaking.
If solely for fun and to attract some attention the Caterham.
If you prefer a car that you can, at a push, use all year around and also do the odd weekend away then the Elise. It is marginally more civilised.
I'm sure you already understand weight transfer dynamics so will understand the impact of throttle control.
At the limit both cars can spit you out, metaphorically speaking.
cerb4.5lee said:
I understand where you're coming from in fairness. However the Caterham is still a laugh to drive though I reckon.
Weirdly I've never got Morgans either, although I may change my mind if I had a go in one though.
If you really want mid engine get the Exige or Noble if budget allows.Weirdly I've never got Morgans either, although I may change my mind if I had a go in one though.
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