We've had the car, a bog standard model for about 7 months (since June '04). During this time the only problem we've had is the engine compartment cover cable breaking, thankfully when the cover was open. A new cable was obtained and fitted following excellent instructions I found on the 'net.
Performance is 'spirited' to say the least, power has to be carefully applied particularly in the wet unless you want to see the car behind through your windscreen instead of rear-view mirror! Usually you're just seeing the car behind dissapearing in the RVM!
It isn't the most practical car if you're a 'big' lad like me, particularly with the roof on. Getting in and out gracefully requires circus performer grade training. Females travelling in the car are best advised not to wear a skirt unless they want to give an impromptu audition for a job in a lap dancing bar as they get in or out!!
The colour of ours is 'Titanium' this shade has been carefully blended by the 'Lotus' factory to be an exact match for the colour of the road. Yes you've guessed, you become invisible, particularly at dawn or dusk and even more so on the motorway. I know some of the colours are garish but it's worth considering one or settling for having your lights on all the time.
One last note on practicality, unless you've got another car, think long and hard about keeping it on the road over winter, ours is 'mothballed' now until spring. Also when you insure it, check that you can drop the insurance to TPF&T when it's off the road and save a few bob, we didn't and are paying full rate for 6 months or so when it's off the road. Another 'good buy' is a hard-top if you can get one, about £600's the going rate on eBay, thinking of getting one and taking a mould off it Hmmmm....
When all is said and done, there's no car like it, it looks fantastic, it's a fantastic drive and it's relatively simple to maintain. I sincerely hope my meanderings have been of interest and a source of enlightenment.
Don't buy one as a first car! I got mine on having a baby! to replace the Volvo T5R estate and save fuel. Very ecenomical compared to the Volvo. The handling and performance are second to none.Watch out for the hose clips working loose.It is a common problem and i reckon that is the cause of a lot of the head gasket problems.Also get a hard top.Brakes tend to squeel too so upgraded them too.Roof leaks but having no carpet/absorbent material it really isn't a problem.
Had my Elise for nearly 2 months, spend £10500 on it. Had several problems already.
Leaky roof (EVERY SINGLE roof, without exception on an Elise leaks, mine leaked loads) Spark plugs (which cost £30 for a new set) High revs when idling Broken shock absorber (at 40'000 miles??) Imob. doesn't always work. Anything but the most expensive tyres and constant geo resets and this car handles like a pig. Stupid undertray bolts which corrode away. Doing an oil change is a ridiculously long winded task. Possible problem with valve seal.
Great performance, 0-60 in about 5 and a half seconds, feels much faster. Great fun to drive, cornering is fantastic. Getting in and out will be a problem for some people, but I'm quite small so OK.
Just make sure you've got a few grand to fix all the problems! Parts are pricey and it's very unreliable. Probably would've bought a VX220 instead given another chance.
Okay, there are the usual pros and cons of your average car right? This car was a problem ever since I baught it excellent performance brilliant handeling and reasonable fuel ecomomy. Yes this car does do 0-60mph in just over 5 seconds and yes I do like my elise but.. I had to send it back to the manufacturer and they refunded me all of my money back because I do not in the slightest know why it happened but unfortunately the pistons came through the engine at 7800rpms and my car was wrecked??? Only had the car about 5 weeks. I do not know how the hell this would happen I mean it is a lotus and they are meant to be reliable so I do not know though but it was bad. I just heard mmmphhhboomm. My engine was smoking like a barbeque. It must have just been a bad one I baught. £27,000 it cost it was written of though I have sent lotus umpteen letters and they said they will eather replace the car or give me £25,000 back ill take the money thanks anyway
That was the only big problen with the car apart from the odd bit of uneven idleing which gave me an idea something was not right. The car was aledgedly brand new and I checked the engine oil and it was like cream??? Head gasket??? cylinder heads away ?? well thats the last time ill be going for a lotus. Reccomended vauxhall vx220 same performance same looks and features and better reliability. Right enough it may have just been a serious manufacturing fault so its up to you what you do
Check for creamy white gunge in the engine oil and if you see any keep your distance
Ive allready suffered sorry peeps but reccomended - vx220 turbo Any comments or requests email dave at [Log in to view email]
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