Looking to buy an Elise

[cm2k]

Hello,

Saw a collection of Elise's/Europas on the Ripon Bypass this weekend which encouraged me to join...I am currently in talks to buy an Elise and getting very excited.

I am looking at a Toyota and a K series engine Elise at the moment trying to pick; could somebody possibly let me know if there are any servicing cost differences between the two engines?
Also is an Elise suitable as a daily driver especially in the Yorkshire winter or is it best to park it up?

Thanks

[RFM]

Hello,

Saw a collection of Elise's/Europas on the Ripon Bypass this weekend which encouraged me to join...I am currently in talks to buy an Elise and getting very excited.

I am looking at a Toyota and a K series engine Elise at the moment trying to pick; could somebody possibly let me know if there are any servicing cost differences between the two engines? Also is an Elise suitable as a daily driver especially in the Yorkshire winter or is it best to park it up?

Thanks

If you saw them on Sunday morning, there were 3 Exiges too! One was covered in stickers to stand out from the crowd - strategy not working then!

I'm sure someone with more knowledge than me will be along to help with your question soon.

[cm2k]

Lol...My Bad! It was Sunday Morning....I did notice the Exiges (Talk about putting my foot in it!) and the one covered in stickers ...However was rather busy controlling my excitement as well as telling my wife that this awesome convoy is passing us by and that "I want...no...NEED one!"

[Matt R]

Welcome to NYLOC cm2k, can't help on the questions but either will put that huge grin on your face

[chevronb37]

I'm not the best person to answer re servicing costs but bear in mind that you will likely get better fuel consumption with a K-engined car than a Toyota. Perhaps if you could offer a few thoughts on how you intend to use the car, budget, what you want out of it then we can help with some specifics.

Re daily use, well everyone will have a different take on this. I used my Elise 111R every day for about 3 months and loved the driving experience but soon tired of the grind. My major considerations were:

- Poor visibility
- Reluctance to park it anywhere around the general public
- Looking like that idiot in the sportscar with the gay moustache
- Feeling like I was wasting it by using it in traffic/on motorway

However, the car was perfectly capable of completing every journey without incident, I just felt more comfortable keeping it for fun so I bought an old Clio for £100 and went to work in that instead, still clocking up 9k miles a year fun time in the Elise. I'm sure other members can offer their perspectives on the above as well.

[PaulT]

Welcome to the forum!
I suppose the first question's got to be the ugly one regarding money - what's your budget?

As for a Winter car - yes, depends on the person but you'll find a fair few of us have no other transportation or at least it's the only one left when you need to get to work / visit clients / go shopping. They're not fantastic in really bad snow, but if it's a case of getting a bit of ballast in the boot (alternative: eat pies) and manning up... surprisingly not the end-swapper you might be expecting but has to be driven with care. Also, the roof comes off in Winter - specially those crisp, cold sunny days. Marvellous.

The grin it will put on your face when you buy one is something it doesn't stop doing during ownership. You also stop looking at other cars on the road and thinking 'might try one of those next' - unless it's another Lotus. As someone said to me when I got mine only 7 years ago... "it gets in your blood".

Again, welcome to the forum and even if you don't have one before our next meeting Tuesday 25th Oct, turn up and I'll introduce you to some owners of the Elise variants for a massive argument an informed discussion.

[sjw]

I am looking at a Toyota and a K series engine Elise at the moment trying to pick; could somebody possibly let me know if there are any servicing cost differences between the two engines? Also is an Elise suitable as a daily driver especially in the Yorkshire winter or is it best to park it up?

Generally the K series engine was fitted to the S1 Elise, and the Toyota engine is in the S2
So then it comes down to :
If you have a preference for the look of an S1 or an S2
Whether you need the "easier to live with" S2 meaning getting in/out, roof, heater, and reliability
The depth of your pockets - again generally - newer = more expensive
There are a lot more considerations when buying, such as loads of different models within the S1 or S2 range, so get yourself along to the Buckles sometime and begin chatting to owners.

[RFM]

Lol...My Bad! It was Sunday Morning....I did notice the Exiges (Talk about putting my foot in it!) and the one covered in stickers ...However was rather busy controlling my excitement as well as telling my wife that this awesome convoy is passing us by and that "I want...no...NEED one!"

I don't think the nice people of Helmsley were as impressed when we rolled through!

[cm2k]

Thanks for all the responses!

I was thinking of around £15k max for my first Elise; i've found some good looking 2002-2005 S2 11S models (preferred choice I think) some including Touring Pack with about 30k on the clock. Really the car will just be used by me for commuting to and from office - 30 mile roundtrip mostly country driving and weekend drives out.

It's really good to hear the car is usable in the general cold,rainy,frosty winter, that was my biggest concern and was making me consider waiting until Spring. Think when snow falls the Elise would be parked up

Cheers all.

[MartL]

Welcome

I've been using mine as a daily driver for 6 years now. The fun and smiles it's genetated have far outweighed the inconveniences it may have thrown at me over the years. Just approaching 100,000 miles in it. many of thosecwrre accumulated doing a commute between Leeds and Newcastle, before i moved 'south' and changed employers. If i'm honest, i'm not sure i could have managed those stats in an S1, but in an S2, if you're 30 years younger than the expected demographic of a beard wearing lotus owners club, you'll be fine.

K series elise's of the S2 variety didn't die out til 2004, so with your budget, you should be able to pick up a very good example.

[chevronb37]

A really good late 111S would be an excellent purchase. I'd recommend looking at seats as the Probax seats in my Elise were infinitely superior to the older versions in my Exige, for both driver and passenger. It won't be long before you start thinking about modifications of your own as well...

[Andy JCT]

Hi and welcome,

without coming across and sounding all salesman like, have a look on our website (on signature below), or pop in and view our used Loti stock. no pressure sales at all from us here

We are always open and happy to spend some time showing you all the different models and sharing our lotus knowledge. Although you really can learn alot from the guys on this forum as they are the ones living and breathing the brand

we have recently moved to some new premises on Geldard Rd Leeds Postcode is Ls12 6by or call on 0113 2440600

Good Luck

Andy

[2eleven]

Ignore logic - BUY BOTH - you will fit in perfectly!

welcome

[RichD]

I've been using mine as a daily driver for the last year and a bit. Driven in all weather (though not the worst of the snow last year - took the wife's Polo as she won't drive in the snow ) I only drive Wakefield to Leeds, so not a massive commute, but plenty of options to drive in - motorway and countryside, so some variety. I also have the luxury of working at a place with a big secure car park and I get in early enough to park in a corner space and the spaces are wide, so slim chance of a numpty opening a door into me! Demisting the windscreen and not being seen by other cars of the half asleep rush hour traffic are the only issues for me (despite bright red car and I always have the lights on...)

[The Scotts]

Hello,

Saw a collection of Elise's/Europas on the Ripon Bypass this weekend which encouraged me to join...I am currently in talks to buy an Elise and getting very excited.

I am looking at a Toyota and a K series engine Elise at the moment trying to pick; could somebody possibly let me know if there are any servicing cost differences between the two engines?
Also is an Elise suitable as a daily driver especially in the Yorkshire winter or is it best to park it up?

Thanks

had both its toyota all day long for me k series far to unrelaible and underpowered but depends on budget.

i have a elise 111r for sale as were after an exige its in the for sale section on here.