Tiv and Elise... any thoughts??

[M@H]

O.K so I've got the TVR S2 (1.5) for the sunny weekend/fun car. And I've got a Puma for the everyday car.. quite fun to drive 40mpg etc etc..

Problem is... I quite fancy the look of an Elise, and with a trade-in on the Puma and a few grand I could buy an early Elise (high mileage) for 12-14k as my everyday car !! The mileage isn't really an issue as I'd clock it up anyway (60 miles a day to/from work) but what I need to know is..

is it a good idea? is it reliable enough to be an everyday car.. I know Lotus used to mean Lots of Trouble.. but I'm sure thats worn off by now... Will the thing manage 3-400 miles a week every week with minimal fuss??

All thoughts appreciated..
Cheers
Matt

[bosshog]

I lived in with an Elise for a couple of years, and it was my only car. They are reliable - I wouldn't worry about it. There are a few problems, but nothing major (check out www.elises.co.uk for loads if info). The only thing is that they are uncompromising. Its an arse when its raining , as they can leak a little, and even if they don't you can get a wet arse when you have to slide in through the tiny hole known as the door with the roof on. When the roof is off, they're great. The ride quality is good and not harsh at all. I think the worst thing about an Elise is the noise. Its not a good noise for starter (K series engine) and its VERY noisy above 60 mph, so it makes long journeys harder work. If though you don't have to do many long journeys then they are incredibly good fun - used to make my drive to work LOADS of fun.

[M@H]

Thanks bosshog.. will I get one worth buying for 12-14K..?? Anyone?

Cheers
Matt

[rick.e]

I have been driving TVR S2 followed by S3 as my every day car, commuting 45 miles round trip from the borders into Edinburgh 12 months of the year, all weather and love every minute I'm in the car. I recently test drove an Elise S2 and tried really hard to like it, but failed. In terms of handling, as many have said, nothing would touch the Elise, but I could not live with the peaky harsh engine and ropey gearchange for every day use. It wouldn't pull below 3000 rpm and above 4000 it was screaming for an upchange - why they persevere with that k series I just don't understand when there are so many much better sub 2 litre engines around. My TVR may be an early nineties car, but the old cast iron lump pulls from tickover and sounds gorgeous all the way to the red line. The Elise is quicker point to point, but needs to be worked hard, the TVR can make rapid progress and overtake most of the traffic without even touching the gearlever if you're feeling lazy or will totally transform if you want some fun. To conclude, if you want some weekend fun go for the Elise, if you want to spend a lot of time in the car in all weather and arrive at work without a headache, go for something else.

[GreenV8S]

quote:
I have been driving TVR S2 followed by S3 as my every day car, commuting 45 miles round trip from the borders into Edinburgh 12 months of the year, all weather and love every minute I'm in the car. I recently test drove an Elise S2 and tried really hard to like it, but failed. In terms of handling, as many have said, nothing would touch the Elise, but I could not live with the peaky harsh engine and ropey gearchange for every day use. It wouldn't pull below 3000 rpm and above 4000 it was screaming for an upchange - why they persevere with that k series I just don't understand when there are so many much better sub 2 litre engines around. My TVR may be an early nineties car, but the old cast iron lump pulls from tickover and sounds gorgeous all the way to the red line. The Elise is quicker point to point, but needs to be worked hard, the TVR can make rapid progress and overtake most of the traffic without even touching the gearlever if you're feeling lazy or will totally transform if you want some fun. To conclude, if you want some weekend fun go for the Elise, if you want to spend a lot of time in the car in all weather and arrive at work without a headache, go for something else.

So, is it fair to say the Elise is quicker in the corners (where you can't overtake) and the TVR is quicker on the straights (where you can)? That ties up with what I've seen on track days, where they often lap quicker than the V6 TVRs but just can't get past unless the TVR does the honorable thing and eases off.

Cheers,
Peter Humphries (and a green V8S)