Lotus Elise

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trebor

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My weekend toy, well the GR Yaris is a sensible daily right?

Elise_Side.webp
 
I’ve had my Elise for 15 years now, still love it but fail to drive it more than 1k a year.
 
I couldn't believe how cheap they are to run. I bought mine in 2014 (A 2004 111S) with the intention of dropping a Honda engine in. 3 weeks later we found out the Mrs is pregnant with our first so it's days were numbered. Very much still on the to-do list. Never driven anything so direct
 
Good Morning , thanks for starting a nice thread. Exige S1 since 2005 with a K series . long story... and keep em' driving ! any one doing anything special for the 75th this year?
 
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I will probably go to the lotus day at castle Combe which is usually late April. I don’t go to lotus in the peak as it’s a bit of a faff. Guess you are on seloc?
 
Orphan Boy said:
Good Morning , thanks for starting a nice thread. Exige S1 since 2005 with a K series . long story... and keep em' driving ! any one doing anything special for the 75th this year?
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Exige S1. Nice. Used to have a half share in a Exige S1 with Honda supercharged and charge cooled engine. Had about 340bhp at the time. I still get to drive it as mates with the guy who I owned it with. Now at about 360bhp. A proper race car for the road. It’s called Cato as it tries to Killy you by surprise. Great cars.

A bit of footage from each one
Elise S2.

Exige at Spa in the snow and cold wet track. On 888’s so fairly grip limited. Mostly me trying not to crash
 
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Duke said:
Such a shame that Zenos went pop, I loved the ethos behind the car and for a cottage manufacturer it was a good looking thing.
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Indeed a shame about Zenos. Was tempted by the mental R version. Seemed to be a cross between an Atom and a Elise
 
Rex said:
Indeed a shame about Zenos. Was tempted by the mental R version. Seemed to be a cross between an Atom and a Elise
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I expected the Zenos to be similar to the Elise but they are so different! Zenos is hard, hyperactive, noisy and an absolute brute to drive compared to the beautiful poise , flow and relative lightness of all the controls of the Elise.

Driving position is even lower in the Zenos, making me feel high up in the Elise! The biggest shock is the steering, where the flick of a wrist is required for a 90 degree corner in the Zenos, the Elise feels like it needs a full rotation of the wheel!

I would love to try an Atom, but I can’t actually imagine it being any more hardcore than the Zenos, which I liken more to a Formula Ford than any road car I have ever driven.
 
My S2 Sport 135 drove me insane as Ive said elsewhere and most of you have read, it was a lovely thing when it worked but that was very rare.

@trebor I did 1000miles in the first week and Lotus said I was using it too much. I just wanted to run it in.
 
JonW said:
My S2 Sport 135 drove me insane as Ive said elsewhere and most of you have read, it was a lovely thing when it worked but that was very rare.

@trebor I did 1000miles in the first week and Lotus said I was using it too much. I just wanted to run it in.
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Yeah that was my idea too, get the run-in over quickly then start having fun.
On around 4,500 miles now which I'm sure is above what the average Lotus driver does in a year, but I'm loving it.

I go to the Lotus Drivers Club monthly breakfast meeting at Hilltop Farm, Warwickshire most months. Booked on the Lotus Drivers Club Pembrokeshire weekend event in April this year plus the MLOC Lotus In The Peaks weekend event in July. Also regular MLOC drive outs in Peak District or Midlands which I try to attend when I can. Not holding back on miles this year :)
 
The Elise is without a doubt the best car I've ever owned. I miss it greatly... nice to see people here enjoying them.
 
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trebor said:
Yeah that was my idea too, get the run-in over quickly then start having fun.
On around 4,500 miles now which I'm sure is above what the average Lotus driver does in a year, but I'm loving it.

I go to the Lotus Drivers Club monthly breakfast meeting at Hilltop Farm, Warwickshire most months. Booked on the Lotus Drivers Club Pembrokeshire weekend event in April this year plus the MLOC Lotus In The Peaks weekend event in July. Also regular MLOC drive outs in Peak District or Midlands which I try to attend when I can. Not holding back on miles this year :)
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It’s fantastic to see you really enjoying the car. I think most of us start that way but you quickly realise that it’s like a competition car whereby if it’s used properly bits wear out very quickly. It’s an amazing toy and on the right tyres can pretty much drive around the outside of all but the most hardcore cars. Nothing lasts long though and you get tired of fixing it so start using it for more special occasions or not driving it as hard.
Sort of to be expected and I never drive mine in the rain. You can but not if I work on it yourself!
 
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