how can anyone not love the elise !
Discussion
Its articles like this that make it the car for me :)
Scott
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Lotus Elise: Autocar Elise vs Ferrari
Surely the L28K Elise doesn’t stand a chance against the L133K 360 CS? Don’t count aginst the go-dart coming before the pracncing hourse, says David Vivian.
'ELISE 111R fights 360 Challenge Stradale.’ Sounds absurd, doesn't it? Well absurd is better than contrived. And what makes this face-off so intriguing is that the Lotus is good enough to keep the Ferrari honest.
FULL ARTICLE
http://www.sandsmuseum.com/cars/elise/information/press/magazine/magazine2004/autocar30304/elisevsferrari.html
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Scott
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Lotus Elise: Autocar Elise vs Ferrari
Surely the L28K Elise doesn’t stand a chance against the L133K 360 CS? Don’t count aginst the go-dart coming before the pracncing hourse, says David Vivian.
'ELISE 111R fights 360 Challenge Stradale.’ Sounds absurd, doesn't it? Well absurd is better than contrived. And what makes this face-off so intriguing is that the Lotus is good enough to keep the Ferrari honest.
FULL ARTICLE
http://www.sandsmuseum.com/cars/elise/information/press/magazine/magazine2004/autocar30304/elisevsferrari.html
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I think there's a little bit of rose-tinted specs there:-
For:
- The Elise, as a driving machine, is probably without par under £40k. ALL the driving dynamics are focused on involvement, tactility, balance, etc.
-It also looks good.
That's a really strong start.
Against:
- There is virtually no boot, so, for example, you could not take the missus away for the weekend. Let alone do the weekly shop together.
- Build quality and reliability aren't best-in-class...which for an owner who isn't a mechanic and doesn't have deep pockets to pay mechanics, is an issue (more S1 than S2, but even there).
- It doesn't sound as good as much of the competition. Even with a sports exhaust, it's still only a 4-pot K-series, the S2000 sounds better, and as for many 6-pot competitors... (May appear a small thing...but sound is a notable factor in how much you "get" from a car.)
- The basic version is woefully underpowered...any hot-hatch is quicker in a straight line. Which while they're nowhere near as cool, it'd still be embarassing to be seen in an Elise being beaten "off the lights". So you need a 160 or a 111S/R.
Now, the "for" points count for a lot more than each individual "against", and it's rightly a legend. But I can see real arguments AGAINST owning an Elise.
So...I don't think anyone can not "like" the Elise...but "love"?!? Nah, it's still a niche motor...and as such will have both detractors and exponents.
But look at it this way...everyone has an opinion on the Elise!!! Can you imagine a similar thread about the Mondeo!!!
For:
- The Elise, as a driving machine, is probably without par under £40k. ALL the driving dynamics are focused on involvement, tactility, balance, etc.
-It also looks good.
That's a really strong start.
Against:
- There is virtually no boot, so, for example, you could not take the missus away for the weekend. Let alone do the weekly shop together.
- Build quality and reliability aren't best-in-class...which for an owner who isn't a mechanic and doesn't have deep pockets to pay mechanics, is an issue (more S1 than S2, but even there).
- It doesn't sound as good as much of the competition. Even with a sports exhaust, it's still only a 4-pot K-series, the S2000 sounds better, and as for many 6-pot competitors... (May appear a small thing...but sound is a notable factor in how much you "get" from a car.)
- The basic version is woefully underpowered...any hot-hatch is quicker in a straight line. Which while they're nowhere near as cool, it'd still be embarassing to be seen in an Elise being beaten "off the lights". So you need a 160 or a 111S/R.
Now, the "for" points count for a lot more than each individual "against", and it's rightly a legend. But I can see real arguments AGAINST owning an Elise.
So...I don't think anyone can not "like" the Elise...but "love"?!? Nah, it's still a niche motor...and as such will have both detractors and exponents.
But look at it this way...everyone has an opinion on the Elise!!! Can you imagine a similar thread about the Mondeo!!!
excellent reply havoc ...... i laughed so much it hurt.
Totally agree that every Elise is no GT... Not sure why you're discussing the reliability of any other Elise than the 111R since that's what the article is about! As for sound, surely nobody would be put off a car by the exhaust note - agreed a 1.8 is never going to sound like a Ferrari but the addition of a low cost exhaust transforms this, right? As for being beaten off the lights, please let me know which hot hatch is capable of circa 5 secs to 60 which every Elise is capable of?
havoc said:
Against:
- There is virtually no boot, so, for example, you could not take the missus away for the weekend. Let alone do the weekly shop together.
- Build quality and reliability aren't best-in-class...which for an owner who isn't a mechanic and doesn't have deep pockets to pay mechanics, is an issue (more S1 than S2, but even there).
- It doesn't sound as good as much of the competition. Even with a sports exhaust, it's still only a 4-pot K-series, the S2000 sounds better, and as for many 6-pot competitors... (May appear a small thing...but sound is a notable factor in how much you "get" from a car.)
- The basic version is woefully underpowered...any hot-hatch is quicker in a straight line. Which while they're nowhere near as cool, it'd still be embarassing to be seen in an Elise being beaten "off the lights". So you need a 160 or a 111S/R.
Boot - Fits my PC bag for every day - Weekend away, Done many times including bedding and formal wear. Shopping no problem, New lawn mover, 6 bags of soil. Even bought a load of sand to build a garden wall.
My S1 had from new - AA flat bed twice so far, throtle linkage 1000 miles HGF 86,750 miles. Other than the service extra cost has been Pads & Disks, Down pipe, 1 x exhaust tyres. Still running original clutch and original shocks with the second exhuast (std lotus mild steel).
Maybe a four pot but my S1 can return 45mpg on motorway at 70mph
I have the standard 118bhp, hot hatch quicker in at straight line - dont make me laugh - my car has 91,000 miles and 6 years old and pulls like a train quicker that most new modern hot hatches. With respect to the 111R it will leave hot hatches in the gutter crying.
Done Hot hatches, done family cars. Havoc buy one drive one you will love it.
Honda Integral is not Hot Hatch, thats a special car and yes it can run around a standard elise. Hot Hatches better NOOOO WAAAAY.
But the fact is, remove straight-line grunt from the equation, and the Elise 111 R is a more rewarding steer than the Ferrari. Savour the moment. Cars that change your life view don't come along every day.
Auto Car Magazine 30 March 2004
If they bring out a version with more grunt i'll defenitly sell my S2000 and buy one.
Auto Car Magazine 30 March 2004
If they bring out a version with more grunt i'll defenitly sell my S2000 and buy one.
garyDVO said:
Boot - Fits my PC bag for every day - Weekend away, Done many times including bedding and formal wear. Shopping no problem, New lawn mover, 6 bags of soil. Even bought a load of sand to build a garden wall.
That weekend away was presumably using the passenger seat for luggage space...when I looked at an S1 I'd have struggled to fit more than a hiking day-pack in the rear-boot! I'm talking about taking two people away...sure if you're solo it's fine...but it struck me as a very "selfish" car...nothing wrong with that per-se, but it depends on your requirements was the point I was trying to make.
garyDVO said:You've done well then. I never said ALL were unreliable, but you can't deny that there are several "known" build quality and reliability issues around the Elise...seen a few adverts which say "£'000s spent" - hardly a good advert for the car in question.
My S1 had from new - AA flat bed twice so far, throtle linkage 1000 miles HGF 86,750 miles. Other than the service extra cost has been Pads & Disks, Down pipe, 1 x exhaust tyres. Still running original clutch and original shocks with the second exhuast (std lotus mild steel).
garyDVO said:Ah...a man who loves his Elise for it's fuel economy!!!
Maybe a four pot but my S1 can return 45mpg on motorway at 70mph
Bet you can't wait for the diesel version!!!
garyDVO said:
I have the standard 118bhp, hot hatch quicker in at straight line - dont make me laugh - my car has 91,000 miles and 6 years old and pulls like a train quicker that most new modern hot hatches. With respect to the 111R it will leave hot hatches in the gutter crying.
In my original post I was referring only to the K-series versions...the 111R is IMHO a substantial leap for the Elise in a number of areas...and yes it's performance is finally what the Elise was crying out for for years.
As for hot-hatch vs. Elise...I've seen hot-hatches, on-track, pull away clearly down the straights from boggo Elises (CTR and Cooper S Works most notably, but naturally Focus RS also...and I saw a 1.9 engined 205GTi keep up with one on the straight at Donington). Away from lights was a bad example...I was trying to refer to bhp/tonne.
Anyway, debating aside, it's interesting that whenever you point out the negatives in a car, the owners always jump into the argument with both feet...not just Elises, pretty much any car.
PS - cheers for the comments on the 'teg...it's rare enough that a lot of people don't really know it. Now the 111R / eRise is a real beast - Jap power in a Hethel chassis!!!
They do not compete in anywhere near the same market so its a bit silly comparing them.
Its well know that for handling and steering feel not much comes close to the Elise / Exige but other than that its not got much of a chance against a car costing £100k more.
Its like comparing a Pug 206CC against a Merc SL55 AMG because they both have folding roofs (the verdict would still be they are both gay though
)
Its well know that for handling and steering feel not much comes close to the Elise / Exige but other than that its not got much of a chance against a car costing £100k more.
Its like comparing a Pug 206CC against a Merc SL55 AMG because they both have folding roofs (the verdict would still be they are both gay though
) Davey S1 said:
Its like comparing a Pug 206CC against a Merc SL55 AMG because they both have folding roofs (the verdict would still be they are both gay though
I think the article was typical Autocar hyperbole...in anything with much more than 200bhp/tonne, on-road pace (esp. cross-country) will be dictated to more by driver ability than by the car's ability.
...which I suppose is an argument against spending the extra £100k!!!
...but if you've that sort of money you want the best...and at least you can fit a suitcase in the 360!
...and look elegant getting in and out! Can you imagine pulling up at a 5* hotel in a 111R with a stunning blonde (wearing a little black number) in the passenger seat...then she tries to get out of the car!
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