I've wanted an Elise since they came out. A tutor at college had one, if I got high marks she said she would take me for a spin in it, I did and from that moment it's been the car I've always promised myself. I need a new car. I only passed my test in January so I've not got any NCB but insurance is managable, I'm now 30, no children, I could buy the car outright and buy a more practical cheap hatchback like a focus... Didn't think I would be in this position and I'm thinking why not... Since my car failed it's MOT I've been borrowing my MIL to be's mx5 and BMW 335, I can live with the impractical side of the MX5 I actually prefer the no frills of it. Before I go and buy a diesel estate, anyone had an older Elise?
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New car... Why not an Elise?
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Posted 6 months ago #
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Are you female?
Posted 6 months ago # -
Do it
Posted 6 months ago # -
Like you the Elise is my dream car. Do it whilst you can!!
Posted 6 months ago # -
Do it tomorrow.
Posted 6 months ago # -
Lol no I'm male, had a few 'gay boy' jibes while in the MX5, doesn't really bother me
Posted 6 months ago # -
dont dent or crash it though, its a tub job so will be expensive
Posted 6 months ago # -
For heavens sake why not.
Just do it. They hold value well,you won't catch a cold on resale...
Its a car. It will get you from A to B. It has Rover/Nissan mechanicals and a non rusting body with minimal electrics inside togo wrong.
If you *need* an estate occasionally, hire one. If you can aford an elise, you canafford a days hire once in a blue moon.
Posted 6 months ago # -
Its a good fun/track day car for sure... if its what you want then go for it fella.
Posted 6 months ago # -
Agree, go for it. Long time dead etc.
Posted 6 months ago # -
Do it. they are a fantastic drive.
(plus, if you have a triple jointed spine and you are under 5'2" you'll be able to get in and out of it too
)
Posted 6 months ago # -
Cracking car I'd go for it. Especially cool when running a K series V tec conversion.
Posted 6 months ago # -
Next door had one. They still have regrets about getting rid. I was very envious. Get one.
Posted 6 months ago # -
It was actually a serious question
If you like them, go for it, they are meant to be fun.
Posted 6 months ago # -
Friend had one - I never worked out how to get out of it and remain looking cool. His (quite abused and uncared for) one always felt incredibly agricultural; the clonks and groaning noises inside and smell of brakes in the cabin was slightly disconcerting but a hoot to drive.
If you don't mind me asking, what is the insurance for a newly qualified male, even a 30yr old one, set you back? Has to be painful!
Posted 6 months ago # -
It is the one car I would sell my soul for. If you can afford it, go for it.
Posted 6 months ago # -
Do it.
Posted 6 months ago # -
If you can afford it go for the toyota engined one if not check the head gasket on the rover engined one. You can get stainless water pipe kits for them as well. Go and buy one tomorrow. Only a cateram or westie comes close. I'm now very jealous!
Posted 6 months ago # -
Convert it's £1500 fully comp, £500 excess. For 4k miles a year.
Posted 6 months ago # -
Inbred it's funny you mention the gasket, my current car has similar engine and has blown the head gasket. Someone a mate knows wants to buy it as a track toy.
Posted 6 months ago # -
My mate is a petrol head - had super 7s, elises, etc.
said the handling on the elise wasn't up to the hype that top gear gave it, so give one a good try before you buy it.
Posted 6 months ago # -
I'd say give it a go - good time to buy a soft top.
But from what I hear they are WAY more impractical than an MX5 (which I own and love)
If I get to own another fancy car it'll be a Boxster or Elan M100, or if I have a Mrs who wants a Yaris/Focus etc maybe an Elise/Midget/Cooper.
Posted 6 months ago # -
Buy it! I had one of the early ones, in fact one of the original Lotus test cars and it was one of the best cars I've had, apart from the aforementioned head gasket problems, Rover K class engine. It had to go with the arrival of the first child. Still find myself looking on the internet for Elises for sale from time to time...Didnt have any hairdresser comments with the Elise though did with my previous car a MkI MR2.
Posted 6 months ago # -
It was actually a serious question If you like them, go for it, they are meant to be fun.
? Elise is about the best handling road going car available, not sure where sex has anything to do with it (apart from the fact that you could probably do without it for ages with the fun of driving one). Not exactly a "girly" car.
Posted 6 months ago # -
IME the folk making hairdresser comments drive Focuses, Mondeos, Vauxhalls etc - not Porsches or Beemers. It's just envy/inadequacy.
Posted 6 months ago # -
+1
Posted 6 months ago # -
I'd have one. Pre kids Mrs North and I seriously considered it. Only reason we didn't was her size (4'10") - not that she couldn't drive one, but that the build wad so variable, some cars fitted and some didn't!
We bought an MX5 instead and had a hoot for 5 years. The only car we've both been sad to see go (bought a hatchback when Baby North was born).
Posted 6 months ago # -
I had one. Brilliant handling cars, also go like greased shit off a teflon shovel. I will have another some day.
I had the pleasure of taking mine to knockhill a couple of times on lotus track days. When you're not worrying about blasting your license out of the water or cars coming the other way they are truly amazing cars.
Get one.
Posted 6 months ago # -
ourmaninthenorth - Member
but that the build wad so variable, some cars fitted and some didn't!
Posted 6 months ago # -
If you really want one then go for it. You'll find it hugely impractical and it'll break down every five minutes but you really need to do things you want like this.
Posted 6 months ago # -
oh no, do this do that, but **** it, get the elise. have fun. They look like a laugh. regret it later when you are old and boring.
Posted 6 months ago # -
The k series rover 1.8 has plastic dowels in the earlier engines to hold the head gasket in place. These go soft over time and the gasket fails. The later engines addressed this problem with steel dowels. Because it doesn't hold a lot of water when it goes its hard to catch before any damage is done. If its an early one get the gasket done as a matter of course, circa 400 quid. Other than that they are a fantastic engine. I had an old 200vi great car.
Posted 6 months ago # -
There was an article in an few year old copy of Banzai Jap car mag I got. Fella in there did a load of research into an Elise and ended up going for a FI mk1 MX5 with all the toys. Quicker, more fun to drive, cheaper etc (apparently).
You're not asking about what car to get - you've got an option to buy a car you've lusted after since your female tutor took you for a quickie in one. Do it.
Posted 6 months ago # -
Why not an elise? Well heres a few reasons..
Ive driven one and would love to own one (edit: for the looks,not much else ;O)) Not impressed with the power and thats coming out of a 106gti. o.k. theres 160bhp+ models.. but for 120bhp,same as the pug,it wasnt a good start.
Anyhows.. what do i know?
If Richard Burns and his two mates in this vid put the 106 gti ahead of the elise for handling.. then save 6k+ and buy the peugeot.
Problems with getting called a boy racer? Well its either going to be a boy racer or a hairdresser so take yer pick.Definitely spend 10 mins watching this and listen to what they say.
Golf VR6,"one of the best handling cars" gets a bit slated in this. "I`m afraid Golfy isnt going to win today!" - Clarkson. Check it wallowing like a hippo!
Besides looking gorgeous.. i cant think of any other reason why i`d go out and buy an elise after watching this,driving one, and owning a pug for the past 5 years.
Posted 6 months ago # -
think id rather the 335
Posted 6 months ago #
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