Looking for an Elise... which one?

[Mikkel]

Hello all,

I'm in the market for an Elise, well I actually wanted an Exige but can't afford one. I've done a bit of research and have been looking on Pistonheads for a car and have narrowed it down to an S2 (the newer Elise - is that right?) but there seems to be a lot of variations: 111S 111R and then special editions like the Type 72 etc... I've Googled them but would like some fisrt hand advice/opinions.

The car will be a weekend car as I use my motorbike as a commuter, so which do you think is best and what should I be looking out for? My budget is going to be in the £15k mark depending on what my current car sells for. I currently drive a Impreza STI (no, I'm not a chav ) http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1209599.htm and before that owned a 350z, so am not unaccustomed to impractical performance cars although have never owned anthing as "raw" as a Lotus, which is partly the appeal.

I'm up in the North East, rather than in Yorkshire but there doesn't appear to be a club up here, so the meets may be a bit of a stretch to get to. We do have a Lotus dealer up here though, so I will test drive when I have a clearer idea of what I am after.

Sorry for the vague newbie question and thanks in advance.

[SkipperMac]

It's a shame you're in the north-east as I would recommend visiting us at The Buckles, just south-west of York. Great opportunity to see most variations of Elise (including the TRUE Elises which some people call 'S1' ) and to talk to the petrolheads who live and play with them. But I'm sure plenty of 'ghey' S2 owners will happily eulogise you here in the forum as to why their's is the best of the best.

We're meeting tonight ... just in case you can be tempted

[PaulT]

He's right, you should pop along to our meeting tonight, I know it's a bit short notice but you'll get to see everything in one place to help you choose. It's worth the trip, honestly - we have LOTS of people from the North East coming along too.

If you're after an S2 Elise, they do indeed come in many flavours though most of the confusion comes from the trim levels and Lotus doing a bad job of naming them (an Exige S is supercharged whereas an Elise S is the base model). The older cars up to 2004 / 2005 ish (I'm not a historian) had a choice of Rover K-series engines, the 120 bhp or the 156bhp (111 / 111s). Beyond that, Lotus phased in the Toyota 190bhp engine with the 6 speed box (111R now renamed 'R') and have since added the 'S' model with the 136bhp Toyota engine.

For 15k, you'll be into a good late Rover-engined car or you might just scrape an early Toyota-engined car (04 plate I think was really early stuff). If it was a late rover engined car I would go for the 111S - the S is the higher spec trim level and the 111 gets you the 156bhp vvc engine.

And there's not a right lot of difference in performance - the 111R will start to just pull away from a 111S after about 90mph and it's very marginal. On track, you wouldn't believe how quick a 120bhp car could go ...plenty of people on here have been Scooby owners and it seems like a one-way street - they go from a Scooby to a Lotus but they don't go back.

Whatever you choose, (even if it's a kit-car S1 like SkipperMac's) you'll love it.

Again - try to make the meet (50 cars minimum), if you do, just ask for me and I'll introduce you around.

[chevronb37]

Paul is quite right about the difference between a 111R and a 111S. We had a run out together recently and I had a slight straight line advantage once it was on-cam, but marginal honestly. Speaking personally I went for a 111R because I'd come from a Civic Type-R. I like the peaky power delivery and the noise of the Jap units. The reliability factor was a major one for me, although plenty of folk have run Rover engined cars and never had a moment's bother. I understand the gearbox in the 111R is a major step forward, though I haven't driven a 111S to verify this. I'd also buy the very best you can afford - a mint 111S would be a far better bet than a ropey 111R. I drove an '04 R and it was woeful - had been kept outside, not cared for and the brakes were shocking. It would've proven expensive folly I suspect.

Whatever you get you will love and should find the step up in involvement and intimacy, as well as the "special" factor will more than make up for the loss of a few BHP from your Scooby. Hopefully see you down at the Buckles soon.

Andy

[Mikkel]

Thanks for the replies. Makes a bit more sense now and something as major as a different engine is definitely worth knowing about before you buy.

I may stick a few more quid in the pot then and look for a 111R as I do like jap engines, they really are bullet proof from my experience.

I'll not make the meet tonight but I will keep you updated on my Lotus hunt as I have a feeling it may take a while. I'm a fussy old bugger. I'd rather come in a Lotus - to a meet that is

[PaulT]

Great - but the offer of coming along is always open and you don't have to have a Lotus to be there, or even to join. I joined & came to my first 4 Nyloc meetings without a Lotus as I was looking to buy. That was 5 years ago, I still have the car and I know I made a good, informed choice.

[chevronb37]

Great - but the offer of coming along is always open and you don't have to have a Lotus to be there, or even to join. I joined & came to my first 4 Nyloc meetings without a Lotus as I was looking to buy. That was 5 years ago, I still have the car and I know I made a good, informed choice.

Sage advice, as always. If I'd have known NYLOC existed I'd have had a great time there irrespective of being Lotus-less. Very best of luck with your hunt and if you plump for either a 111S or a 111R you'll have a fantastic car.

[A7ESK]

Have a look at Paul matty .
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/list.asp?d=2983
I have been out in this car and it drives great it was a members car .
Have a look http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1204586.htm

Eddie King LDC Midlands Area Meet Co-Ordinator

Hello all,

I'm in the market for an Elise, well I actually wanted an Exige but can't afford one. I've done a bit of research and have been looking on Pistonheads for a car and have narrowed it down to an S2 (the newer Elise - is that right?) but there seems to be a lot of variations: 111S 111R and then special editions like the Type 72 etc... I've Googled them but would like some fisrt hand advice/opinions.

The car will be a weekend car as I use my motorbike as a commuter, so which do you think is best and what should I be looking out for? My budget is going to be in the £15k mark depending on what my current car sells for. I currently drive a Impreza STI (no, I'm not a chav ) http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1209599.htm and before that owned a 350z, so am not unaccustomed to impractical performance cars although have never owned anthing as "raw" as a Lotus, which is partly the appeal.

I'm up in the North East, rather than in Yorkshire but there doesn't appear to be a club up here, so the meets may be a bit of a stretch to get to. We do have a Lotus dealer up here though, so I will test drive when I have a clearer idea of what I am after.

Sorry for the vague newbie question and thanks in advance.

[Moggy]

I think you should find all the models and varients here :- http://www.elises.co.uk/models/index.php

[Mikkel]

Bit of a change of heart and think I have decided I want an S1. Get a good one in my price range plus a new bike. Plus after looking for a while I think I prefer these, although at first the S2 looked better.

Are the roofs really as leaky and annoying to add/remove on the S1 as is often made out?

[A7ESK]

Series 1 Lotus Elise
Produced from 1996 to 2000 and all have the Rover K series engine. In the standard version this produces 118bhp and although not huge amounts of horse-power, the very light weight of the car (725kg) means performance is excellent with 0 - 60mph being possible in 5.6 seconds.

For those craving extra power, which the superb chassis is well able to handle, the following derivatives are available:

Sport 135 - an extra 17bhp takes the power to 135bhp, and there's stiffer suspension and a close ratio gearbox

111S - the most popular of the uprated Elises, this has the 'VVC' head offering variable valve timing, better breathing at high revs and 143bhp. There's also a close ratio gearbox, revised springs and dampers and fatter rear tyres.This would be my choice

Sport 160 - thought by many to be the best Series 1 Elise, the engine puts out 158bhp and there's uprated suspension, close ratio gearbox and a taller rear wing.
Info from http://www.allonwhite.co.uk/lotus-information great place to buy your lotus from as well as Paul M .
as leaking roof they all leak some where its part of the fun .
Eddie King.

Eddie King

[Matt R]

Good choice, the S2 didn't even make the evo top 100 handling cars unlike the S1 with a great showing from all variants

It takes some practice does the roof, more fiddly than the S2 thats for sure, never really bothers me but then I usually just leave it in the garage with the roof off

My roof only leaks the tiniest little bit, gets more water in as I climb in than anything, I think this varies depending on the roof and how well it's fitted

[pearman00]

Series 1 Lotus Elise
Produced from 1996 to 2000 and all have the Rover K series engine. In the standard version this produces 118bhp and although not huge amounts of horse-power, the very light weight of the car (725kg) means performance is excellent with 0 - 60mph being possible in 5.6 seconds.

For those craving extra power, which the superb chassis is well able to handle, the following derivatives are available:

Sport 135 - an extra 17bhp takes the power to 135bhp, and there's stiffer suspension and a close ratio gearbox

111S - the most popular of the uprated Elises, this has the 'VVC' head offering variable valve timing, better breathing at high revs and 143bhp. There's also a close ratio gearbox, revised springs and dampers and fatter rear tyres.This would be my choice

Sport 160 - thought by many to be the best Series 1 Elise, the engine puts out 158bhp and there's uprated suspension, close ratio gearbox and a taller rear wing.
Info from http://www.allonwhite.co.uk/lotus-information great place to buy your lotus from as well as Paul M .
as leaking roof they all leak some where its part of the fun .
Eddie King.

Eddie King

there was no close ratio gearbox on the S160 , but lot of peeps have had them fitted

[SkipperMac]

Bit of a change of heart and think I have decided I want an S1. Get a good one in my price range plus a new bike. Plus after looking for a while I think I prefer these, although at first the S2 looked better.

Are the roofs really as leaky and annoying to add/remove on the S1 as is often made out?

Roofs?... Mine never leaks! Then again, I haven't had it on since Feb

Good choice going for a proper first series Elise - the torquey K-series is much more driveable if you just fancy just tootling about occassionally. It happily pulls away in 5th gear at 1000rpm which is less than 30mph.

[hesslenaylor]

Why go for the prototype the S2 has all the problems sorted out and 189 bhp

Bit of a change of heart and think I have decided I want an S1. Get a good one in my price range plus a new bike. Plus after looking for a while I think I prefer these, although at first the S2 looked better.

Are the roofs really as leaky and annoying to add/remove on the S1 as is often made out?

Roofs?... Mine never leaks! Then again, I haven't had it on since Feb

Good choice going for a proper first series Elise - the torquey K-series is much more driveable if you just fancy just tootling about occassionally. It happily pulls away in 5th gear at 1000rpm which is less than 30mph.