Are there many standard S2's with air-con.? Do i need it???
Discussion
Im looking at buying a standard S2 and quite like the idea of air-con as i intend to use it as my only car. I have limited my choice already by insisting on a short roof model and by only liking 2 colours. Are there many out there with air-con or will i be waiting for a car that might never come up for sale.? Do i really need it??? Is it any good.??
If i manage to find the fight car without it, is it possible to retro fit it, DIY fitting wouldn't be a problem. If so any idea how much the kit is?
Phil
If i manage to find the fight car without it, is it possible to retro fit it, DIY fitting wouldn't be a problem. If so any idea how much the kit is?
Phil
I may well be buying an S2 soon as well. I'm not that bothered about air con in an ordinary car unless it is very hot, but I did notice that the Elise that I test drove got quite hot quite quickly with the hood up. I wanted to try it without air con and the hoodup, just to see. Was this just because it was a warm day, or do Elises get that hot normally?
air con is quite rare on the 2nd hand market, and I only really like two colours as well!
any advice or thoughts greatly appreciated!
air con is quite rare on the 2nd hand market, and I only really like two colours as well!
any advice or thoughts greatly appreciated!
My S2 hasn't got air con. I don't want it enough to swap my car but I would make sure my next Elise has it.
With the roof on on a hot but damp summers day you can get very warm.
Also, the heater in the air con cars is supposed to be far superior at demisting the screen etc on cold mornings.
With the roof on on a hot but damp summers day you can get very warm.
Also, the heater in the air con cars is supposed to be far superior at demisting the screen etc on cold mornings.
Some would say that its a covertable so why would you need air con? however, personal experience dictates that I couldnt live without it. Even on a hot day with the roof off stuck in traffic, believe me, youll be glad you had it! with the roof on its essential, especially if your using it as your daily car.
have fun!!
have fun!!
yep - for a daily driver its recommended...I bought my car..and then one month later Lotus offered a deal - £1500 for aircon + hardtop 
...could have sold the hardtop !
anyways..the main advantage on the S2 when you have aircon is that you get a much more powerful heater (that can actually heat the cabin in the winter) and its great for demisting on humid wet summers days.....theres nothing worse on a hot summers day..on the way to work/client with shirt n tie on...sat in a traffic jam actually cooking...and then arriving sodden with sweat !
of course at the weekend when you are in T shirt and shorts, its nice to top up your tan and you dont really need the aircon
...could have sold the hardtop ! anyways..the main advantage on the S2 when you have aircon is that you get a much more powerful heater (that can actually heat the cabin in the winter) and its great for demisting on humid wet summers days.....theres nothing worse on a hot summers day..on the way to work/client with shirt n tie on...sat in a traffic jam actually cooking...and then arriving sodden with sweat !
of course at the weekend when you are in T shirt and shorts, its nice to top up your tan and you dont really need the aircon
I actually disagree. You do not need aircon, it is a lightweight sports car / convertable. Take the roof off. In total there have been about 3 -4 times this year when I would have used it. For those very few times I would rather not have the added weight, cost and anything that subtracts from performance is a big NO!
If it was an Exige, I would say get it, but not on a 'Liz!
If I need to cool down I get close to Twinpipe's Exige, he always has the aircon turned on.
If it was an Exige, I would say get it, but not on a 'Liz!
If I need to cool down I get close to Twinpipe's Exige, he always has the aircon turned on.
well maybe I sweat a lot...but roof off sat in traffic for 30 mins at a time its friggin hot and Id kill for aircon 
..of course its fine when you are moving
the aircon weighs 15Kg and cuts out on full throttle...thats like the weight difference of half a tank of fuel......nothing to worry about for the comfort it brings :up
..of course its fine when you are moving the aircon weighs 15Kg and cuts out on full throttle...thats like the weight difference of half a tank of fuel......nothing to worry about for the comfort it brings :up
I agree with Bogie, sat in traffic, you cook!! Over winter, its a must, like people say it will demist the windows straight away. If you get a bit wet, then get into the car, it will steam up big time. Put it this way, I wouldnt buy another elise without it. If I ever get a 111R or exige, it must have it!
dont get me wrong - if its for weekend/pleasure use and you want it as light as poss for trackdays etc then dont bother...but for a daily driver then I wouldnt buy another car of any description without it...during the summer, when I was using my Elise daily I actually took to wearing a t-shirt and getting changed into shirt and tie when I arrived !
Mine has it and I wouldn't do with out it.
As others said, on a hot summer day the A/C and the roof on makes the car a lot more usable.
Especially on long motorway journeys, where the chassis gets hot, you need the A/C even more.
Plus it demists the windows instantly.
At the end of the day, 15kg more makes no difference
and as Mark said it cuts off at full throttle-speed.
Mark, can you keep the A/C on the Honda coversions?
As others said, on a hot summer day the A/C and the roof on makes the car a lot more usable.
Especially on long motorway journeys, where the chassis gets hot, you need the A/C even more.
Plus it demists the windows instantly.
At the end of the day, 15kg more makes no difference
and as Mark said it cuts off at full throttle-speed.
Mark, can you keep the A/C on the Honda coversions?
Have driven elises with and without. I personally wouldn't mind for the demisting side of things, but having spent 20 years in South Africa, I haven't felt really hot either in the car or out for the past couple of years. Cape Town at 40+ dgress in summer - yes please. Here if its hot - take the roof off. I suppose if you have a long commute in traffic it would be handy.
If you can get one with it, get it. If not, you'll deal with it. No big deal. I've got it in mine (and I was deliberately looking for it), it's a godsend on damp dewey mornings and the windows are all steamed up - works a treat. I use mine as my only car so didn't fancy wiping down the windows every morning. However, if it gets really hot in the car I just either have the roof off or open the window. Did use it in France though where it was humid and pissing down (hence roof on) and got ver hot in the car on a 4 hour journey, then you realise how useful it is.
i managed to find one with it, which like yourself was one of the things on my wish list when looking. i would have accepted one without if one had turned up but i'm REALLY glad i did get it.
as everyone else with it says, on warm days that its raining and in traffic its a god send as it gets very warm in the cabin. and this weekend when it's been cold the de-misting is brilliant because of it.
as everyone else with it says, on warm days that its raining and in traffic its a god send as it gets very warm in the cabin. and this weekend when it's been cold the de-misting is brilliant because of it.
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