Bye Bye Elise.

[Izzimad]

After just 6 months I have decided to say goodbye to my 06 Elise 111R. I thought I'd share my thoughts on my experience with the car.

 

 

PROS

 

Without doubt it is the best car I have ever driven and likely to be the best I will ever drive. On the dry days when I've had the roof off and a bit of road stretches out in front that is just asking to be properly driven I swear it feels like the closest thing to flying without actually flying. It is is sensory overload turned up to 11. Just incredible!!!

 

..and it's pretty good on fuel too

 

CONS

 

Unfortunately my garage is full of kids stuff, kitchen appliances, and a cross trainer so Ive had to keep it outside all winter. I considered getting a decent cover but I was told so many negative things about using them - don't put it on if the car is dirty as you'll scratch it, watch out for trapped moisture causing the paint to bubble etc.

 

The roof leaks, I'm sick of having to wipe the water off the sill pretty much every time I drive it after rain. It's not much but enough.

 

The carpet under the drivers seat is constantly damp, the car often smells damp, most times when there is a frost the windscreen freezes up on the inside as well as outside. Despite having aircon, for half of my 45 minute commute the side windows are misted up. The dealer that sold it to me checked the underside for leaks and said it was fine.

 

MIL light came on a few weeks back and just about managed to get home. Despite it being the covered Toyota engine, water still managed to get in and my spark plugs were soaked after some snow. The dealer from whom I bought it fixed it under the warranty but pretty much suggested it was my fault for leaving the car in the snow uncovered. This is the same dealer who told me that they are fine to keep outside.

 

Within a week of having the car, my offside indicator fell out, this happened 3 times in all(not good at 90 quid for a replacement). Everytime I drove it, I was constantly worried about it happening and scratching the front clam. Ended up doing the bungee modification. I eventually found out (on this forum) about an official lotus service bulletin that detailed a fix. Neither the Authorised Lotus repairer that I bought the car from or my local Lotus dealer had any idea about it this fix. And Lotus it seems were more than happy to send out the same poorly designed, overpriced unit each time.

 

The locks and door handles would freeze up on frosty days. I'd splash a bit of teppid water on the lock and it'd be ok, by the time I'd return the empty jug back to the house it'd freeze up again.

 

The brakes would lock on if parked up for a few days.

 

I felt that I couldn't arm the alarm for a few days for fear of draining the battery.

 

The digital fuel gauge is terrible.

 

The windscreen wiper is terrible.

 

The lights are terrible.

 

The heater is terrible. The controls are poorly designed as its hard to see exactly where the flow setting is set.

 

The tyres are expensive to say the least.

 

The standard brakes could have a bit more feel.

 

extremely headache inducingly loud with the roof on.

 

Everytime I washed the car I'd notice there was a screw missing, a mudflap hanging off, or a new stone chip.

 

I got sick of being selective about where to park it. Now I'm average build and height and to get out with the roof on requires having to open the door a fair way. I would be constantly worried that I wouldn't be able to get back in if cars parked too close on both sides. I was always having to try to park on the end spaces, bloody annoying.

 

Seeing to pull out at junctions with a car next to you is a pain due to the low height as the view is blocked.

 

The radio is terrible, when attempting to listen to the football results on radio 5 everytime I pressed the brake peddle it caused interference. Discovered that it happens with all MW stations. The iPod menu navigation is terrible, takes far too long to search through. For some reason it would always set my iPod to repeat mode.

 

Driving the car in anything other than dry conditions demands a heightened sense of alertness than for most cars. Because you get so much feel through the steering you can feel where the grip is less due to ice or rain. Usually a good thing but sometimes it gets too much, there were times when I'd feel drained and be sweating buckets when driving in poor conditions, whereas in my Impreza, to drive quickly is a doddle by comparison. (perhaps you get used to it) After a long, hard day at work 1 time out of 3 I just wasn't in the mood for the Elise.

 

CONCLUSION

 

I'm sure that many of you have encountered much of the above. I know it is horses for courses. For me if the car was just an occasional Sunday drive that I could garage, I could forgive some of these issues. I purchased the car to drive as much as possible and for me it's not the everyday car that many a salesperson/enthusiast/the odd forum said that it would be. It pains me that a car thats cost me the money I paid is often as good as useless to me.

 

I really wish that I'd have read something like this somewhere on a forum before I decided to buy one. It may have made me thing again.

 

It is the best car I have ever driven but in many ways the worst I ever owned. It's let me down more in 5 months than any of my other cars have put together in over 20 years of driving.

 

Still. I have no regrets about any of it. At least I know now after years of dreaming about owning one.

 

It's a bit like that stunning girl (or guy just to keep it p.c.) that you've been after for a while and finally get your chance, you find that she is incredible between the sheets but in the morning you find out that she is barking made and tries to kill you.

 

Anyway she's going on Saturday, to be traded in for something far more boring but one that can be driven everyday. Goodbye lotus, and goodbye forum. Thanks for everything and I really do mean it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[DeanB]

Hey, you don't need to say goodbye to this forum!

You will still be welcome here, Lotus or no Lotus, I'm sure. Always good to hear a man with an intelligent opinion.

 

You have my sympathies. I would feel exactly the same if I had to use mine every day and park it outside. I did it with my vx, but that was 8 years ago now, when I was in my early thirties. It's a young man's game I reckon.

[chrislane]

I loved driving mine everyday, for most of the reasons above. But i admit it is a lot easier now it is tucked up in the garage, and all the more special when i do get out in it.

 

Really interesting to see a different opinion rather than the usual "its fine as an everyday drive". Best of luck.

[Martin R]

You have been a tad unlucky. The S2 is normally relatively water tight compared to an S1. Owning a Lotus is a mixture of fantastic drives and fustration.

 

I have not driven anything more rewarding. However i can fully understand anyone getting browned off if you do not enjoy and or do your own spannering. They are not for everyone and an aquired taste. For me the sunny days out and trackdays more than make up for the Winters working in the garage.

 

The friends and people we have met through it have also been a added bonus You either end up loving or hating the plastic from deepest Norfolk. Hating is cheaper in the long run no doubt.

 

Edit " Barking mad and tries to kill you " Made me smile.

 

Another edit, leave the hand brake off and they dont lock on.Leave it in gear. ( do not do this on a hill )

[AL.]

It's interesting to see all of those written down in one list. I've thought about all of them at some point during my ownership, but the first point you made "Without doubt it is the best car I have ever driven and likely to be the best I will ever drive." overrules any negative feeling I have ever had about it.

 

As you said, at least you've had the experience.

[mneil]

Sorry to hear your woes must have been a Friday car, friend just had his new range rover replaced after unbeliea

Viable problems so its not just lotus. Had a 2009 Elise R as my everyday car with no problems Part from headaches from the noise and back ache and leg ache, the car was a dream, however since buying an Evora it's a different world ,it's a grown up car and would surely change your mind about Lotus. Enjoy your new car.

[jonnyfox]

Sorry to hear your woes must have been a Friday car, friend just had his new range rover replaced after unbeliea

Viable problems so its not just lotus. Had a 2009 Elise R as my everyday car with no problems Part from headaches from the noise and back ache and leg ache, the car was a dream, however since buying an Evora it's a different world ,it's a grown up car and would surely change your mind about Lotus. Enjoy your new car.

 

Never mind that, get yourself along to a Sutton Chapter meet, its only at the Horse and Jockey....you can walk ;-)

[rocketian]

I have a 06 111R too, had it for 4 years, and driven about 30k miles in it. My experience is completely different.

 

It lives outside all year round, the engine vents do get blocked by snow, but it is never been a problem.

 

The heater is not great, and yes you do get ice inside the windows, but it scrapes off. My drive to work is only 20-25mins but everything is ice free and demisted by half way. and if you set the heater to dash vents (knob full to left) it gets nice and toasty in no time - though strangely it doesn't if you send the air to the footwells.

 

Tyres are not expensive - they are cheaper than my wifes C-max - of course you can buy more expensive ones, but even the Advans are only £150.

 

I don't have the ipod connection, but the Woodstock DAB radio works great - but being a DAB radio I wouldn't know about MW - and you can stick an SD card in it with your entire music collection.

 

I haven't had problems with bits dropping off - but I do collect stone chips !

 

Yes you do need to be able to open the doors wide to get in and out "gracefully"- but I still squeeze it into gaps in carparks and wriggle out

 

The digital fuel gauge is OK when you are used to it - reads full for the first 100 miles , then about 25 miles a block

 

I agree the standard wiper is terrible, but for £12 you can get a Bosch aero duo thing that works a treat.

 

As for the indicator, yes it pops out when you get a buffet from a lorry going the other way, yes it is crap design and overpriced - so stick it back down with some silicon sealant - like everyone else.

 

 

At the end of the day - all cars are compromises, the Elise is towards one extreme - and not for everyone. You pay for the perfomance by a lack of frills and luxury - but when the cam shifts at 6200rpm and the road ahead goes narrow - I know it is all worth it !

[chris_h]

I also think you have run the car for 6 months over winter. Run it for 6 months over summer and you'd not have loads of issues.

 

Does sound like you've been unlucky. My exige lived outside for 5 years and never had water problems with engine or cabin. There is a minor mod u can make to the indicator and they never pop out again.

[scatty]

It must be said, I hate mine over the winter.

[DeanB]

Hardtops are good for winter. Don't leak as much and the car gets much warmer.

Your misting problem will be because of the perpetually wet carpet, because of the leaky roof........

[jimbo07g41]

When I use to run mine as my main car, the hardtop was a must for winter.

 

I am sorry it didnt meet your needs, but as you say, they are fantastic cars to drive.

 

A lot of your 'cons' are 'pros' for me and thats before I have even mentioned tracks.

 

My Honda starts when asked and is very reliable, but god it makes me feel like a sleep,

[a7esk]

It's a Lotus it's fun can't say it's boring owning a lotus all are we all mad ??

[IAN G]

I was advised to go for the 2010 facelift or s3 ,i dont use mine as a daily but apparently lots of your con s have been put right on these newer models , with the hard top on mine is great in colder weather , wind noise is minimal and the heater is as good as any hatch back

[HABC]

Used my S1 for 3 years as an every day, yes had issues with leaks, rattles, noise, etc. but the 17 miles of country roads on the way to work allowed me to enjoy the bast attributes of the car. Track days and summer events have been absolutely brilliant and allowed us to make some great friends in MLOC.

 

It is however loads better with it being parked in the garage as a fun car for the summer and a backup (recently).

 

Each to their own and the Lotus does not fit for everyone / family / situation, I am sure you will look back fondly on your ownership and will consider another sometime in the future when circumstances change.