Thinking Lotus Elise/Exige - anyone got experience?

[TimDogg]

Guys,

With the RS4 still stored I'm hankering after a plaything - the RS will come out in the summer probably...(but we all need more toys, right?)

Thinking of dropping £15k on an Elise S2 or Exige but I know very little about them I'd like the post-2005 Toyota engine and have been through wiki - the 111R puts out 190 bhp but I'd like a hard-top so thinking Exige.

Anyone ever owned one? Would you go high mileage Exige or lower mileage Elise 111R - what would be your choice and is there any 'must haves'?

I'll probably keep the car for life, maybe turn it into track use after a year or so - probably do some crazy wrap also and start modding a little.

Do I need it supercharged or is that just a bit stupid?

I need this experience on the cheap! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q547mgSI_UE and I afford a stripped out V8 BMW Z4 or GT3 RS!!!!!!!! I assume the Elise/Exige is this raw - I will test drive this weekend hopefully.

I'd really appreciate some advice - thanks guys

[535dboy]

Yes I've had one since Sep 2006.

Started with an Elise S (134bhp toyota) which was a fantastic little car and got me started

The only downside was that I was running a BMW 535d at the time too which was remapped to 340bhp and it always made the Elise feel so slow on a straight road. On the twisties it was much more fun of course.

However I couldn't resist so in April 08 I bought my new exige S (220bhp). Over the five years I've uograded the engine and ancilleries (now running about 280bhp) it has a big brake kit and I've just changed the suspension over to nitrons.

It is mainly a track car with occasional weekend use.

I absolutely love it and touch wood it has done 23k hard miles now without a problem.

Depends on what you want it for. If just a weekend car I would go a Elise as it is marginally more comfortable but if more track you may find the exige better suited.

Let me know what else you want to know or pop over to seloc.org.uk

[535dboy]

Ps I found the supercharged one just a little more pleasurable because you just don't have to work it as hard

[TimDogg]

Wow, you are certainly the oracle I was looking for, I had no idea. I am alright to work the car hard and want a very tactile and feral driving experience but you make a good point, I don't want it to feel slow in comparison to my RS4. I couldn't afford a new one right now so was thinking the Elise 111R which is pushing 190 bhp - seems a good place to start - I'll go to seloc.org.uk as you advise as I have a few questions that I need to clarify. Thanks for your help

[TimDogg]

Lol, seloc.org.uk is an orienteering club! You meant seloc.org, just for others following

[535dboy]

Whoops sorry, it is always on my phone!!!

I'll look out for you.

The lotus experience more about the cornering and brakes than the outright speed so 190 will be fine and you can supercharge it easier enough later

It is a totally different experience to the Audi.

I barely used mine when mrs got her porker and took hers for the early morning blasts instead

I've fallen for mine again and you can't beat the experience

adsgreen on here is an ex lotus chap too and he really knows his stuff.

[TimDogg]

Yeah I was going to speak to ads, he's driven everything and is normally my go to guy.

[adsgreen]

Good choice
I have a soft spot for Elise cars... Had quite a few over the years.
The best 'Experience' Elise I've had was an s2 sport 190 with a highly strung rover engine.
Very light (under 750kgs) fast but a great race based engine.
Don't believe the horror stories - it's a great car and I used it as a daily driver for 4 years.
There's something about a very basic engine being pushed to 110bhp per litre. Lumpy at idle, misfires at low revs but by crickey its got charisma.

Don't get hung up on hard top or not. Trivial to make an exige soft top or Elise hard top.
My 190 hard hard top and it does make it good for long journeys.

Toyota cars are good but heavier than the rover counterparts. Reliable though but gearboxes a little weak. At 190 pa it's fine but if you go up over 280 its a bit hit and miss.superchargers do make things more flexible - less need to work the gear box.

As above - Elise cars are for the drive not the straights. Even a 211 at 300 ps and under 600kgs will be murdered by an rs4 once off the line. 0-60 is fine but once at seed aero kills the Elise cars and you feel it hit a wall at 80 and after 100 progress is slow.

[adsgreen]

Aha
Tad to late but this is the type if car I'd go for
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/ ... es/1155950

135r is a great car. Same as 190 but less stressed out. Full lightweight wheels and lotus sport suspension, harnesses etc.
The other bonus with the rover cars is that later down the line you can easily replace it with a Honda unit for bonkers performance.

[535dboy]

Aha
Tad to late but this is the type if car I'd go for
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/ ... es/1155950

135r is a great car. Same as 190 but less stressed out. Full lightweight wheels and lotus sport suspension, harnesses etc.
The other bonus with the rover cars is that later down the line you can easily replace it with a Honda unit for bonkers performance.

Or Audi turbo....

[adsgreen]

Only if you want crazy bonkers performance

[535dboy]

Only if you want crazy bonkers performance

I remember being mullered by one down the back straight of Bedford once when mine was std

It was a real WTF moment, I thought I'd left the handbrake on

I had to go and have a look then saw the four rings

Bar steward!!!

[adsgreen]

Then you bought one too

Power to weight gets you so far... Then it's just raw ower after that!

[TimDogg]

Guys - you both have awesome knowledge and I really appreciate that - this is a great community - I was thinking something more like this http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/ ... ry/1194870

...again, too late - would that mileage be an issue?

Thanks again.

[Ian_C]

Personally I'd go for a 134 bhp Lotus Elise S as 535dboy mentioned - launched Sept 2006 on a 56, 1.8 Toyota Corolla engine which replaced the k series as the 'entry' Lotus, some handy model year changes including better seats.

Another Seloc fanboy here with adsgreen and 535dboy, different [random] username on there because Ian_C was already taken lol, I'm yet to take the plunge and buy a Lotus, but the above is the one I still hanker after (preferably a non Touring with manual window winders and pre airbag dash that arrived around 57 plate)

Something like this....

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/ ... ed/1096534