Lotus Elise questions

Hey Everyone,

I may be in a position to purchase an Elise. My options are limited to Canadian spec cars (US Elises cannot be registered in Canada -- they are specifically excluded). I am curious to know what options are worth looking for. The car would be used for autox and track days, and occasional fun drives. It doesn't need to do anything like commuting, or travelling vast distances.

I seem to recall that the LSD was reluctantly added to the option list to satisfy US buyers who wanted to autox the car; Lotus engineers claimed they were faster around racetracks with an open diff.

What have you experienced? What insight can you give me? Please don't direct me to an Exige -- out of my budget, and perhaps a bit too hard core.

Rob

Go for the cup holder option.

The guy who ran the design team was at LOG 26 and gave a talk. It was interesting. That's what he said about the LSD. He also said that customers buy them and think they are going to make them faster with all these mods, but anything they do makes them slower. However, if the customer is more comfortable with the car set up that way, it may be faster for him.

Also, from what I hear on teh netz, y0, there's been a few motors grenading at track days from oil starvation. You can buy a better baffled pan (advertised in The Mag) or an Accusump, which I think the later cars have standard.

From my research - limited to pestering people who own them at track days:

• oil starvation
• exhaust header flange cracking
• the occasional fuel injection fire

I have never met an owner who was not overlooking those things because they loved the car.

As for the LSD thing - I'd love to hear explanation for why its faster without it.

I have a 911 - and as long as I keep the car perfectly balanced I have no need for an LSD because there is plenty of weight on the rear wheels and the stock 250hp isn't enough to light up a slick tire unless you apply the throttle at the wrong time. However, I can see no instance when having an LSD would hurt in that situation and a few - like when you are unbalanced because of a mistake - and still need to unload the front of the car to keep yourself off the armco. The LSD will let you make the save and the open diff will just help make things worse.

The only situation I can think of is with a RR and MR car - you need maintenance throttle before the apex and maybe the LSD they used was too aggressive introducing understeer with very small throttle inputs.

Anybody know the official reason Lotus would say that?

Yes, Lotus said that LSD introduced some understeer. I have a friend who did the LSD mod and he said the same thing. In super tight Autocross corners the LSD did help him keep from spinning the inside rear tire tho.

The 05's had a funny brake pedal that sticks up a bit further than the 06's. I would shoot for an 06. They had the LED tail lights. Get a Stage 2 exhaust too, sound sooooo effing good. If you can find one with the track pack, comes with the A048s...

It makes sense that an LSD would make the rear not want to rotate as easily, thus creating more understeer. This is the same reason Carroll Shelby didn't have LSD's as standard equipment on Shelby Mustangs. In lower gears where torque multiplication is increased, like in autocrossing, the LSD may have more benefits in traction than negatives in handling. I found this to be true with my turbo CRX.

Which series? S1 or S2?

BoxheadTim wrote: Which series? S1 or S2?

I'd be looking at an S2 -- although I suppose an S1 could be imported given that they are past the 15 year rule. Not a fan of RHD, though.

Rob, if you buy one, I want a ride!

If you do get one, you should look these guys up. I have met the owner and he's a great guy. True car guy.

http://www.sector111.com/

mw wrote: Rob, if you buy one, I want a ride!

Even better, you can drive it! Just don't beat me.

I sat in an S2 last weekend. They say you should never meet your heroes. I lightly pulled a few muscles and looked like a jackass getting in and out. Once inside, it was perfect. I'm 6'3" and the top was on. I've been in some small cars, but that wide, high door sill was tough for me. I assumed that daily driving some small cars would automatically make me okay.

If you're tall, or aren't particularly flexible, make sure you can get in and out before putting too much into it. I was gutted after the experience, as it's always been in my mind as my particular flavor of automotive poison.

ZOO wrote:

BoxheadTim wrote: Which series? S1 or S2?

I'd be looking at an S2 -- although I suppose an S1 could be imported given that they are past the 15 year rule. Not a fan of RHD, though.

OK, I'll shut up then as I only have S1 knowledge to contribute...

mmosbey wrote: I sat in an S2 last weekend. They say you should never meet your heroes. I lightly pulled a few muscles and looked like a jackass getting in and out. Once inside, it was perfect. I'm 6'3" and the top was on. I've been in some small cars, but that wide, high door sill was tough for me. I assumed that daily driving some small cars would automatically make me okay. If you're tall, or aren't particularly flexible, make sure you can get in and out before putting too much into it. I was gutted after the experience, as it's always been in my mind as my particular flavor of automotive poison.

Umm... this has been a somewhat universal comment about the Elise since it was introduced.

Some consider it endearing.

You learn how to deal with the access issue, and enjoy the car. If anything it helps you use muscles that arent used on daily basis. It is funny that I can literally fly into the drivers seat but find getting into the passenger seat difficult.

fastmiata wrote: I can literally fly

fastmiata wrote: You learn how to deal with the access issue, and enjoy the car. If anything it helps you use muscles that arent used on daily basis. It is funny that I can literally fly into the drivers seat but find getting into the passenger seat difficult.

Agreed. I'm 6'2" and have had small cars all my life. Getting into a big Elise is easy peasy.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: - the occasional fuel injection fire

I'm delighted that the current Lotus designers have included this time-tested feature of Lotus cars past.

This post made me sad. I always figured some day I would nip down south and score an Elise. Now that I hear they can't import to Canada, that dream is dead.

Elises in Canada are about twice what they are in the US.

Keep an eye on the RIV list: they update it semi-regularly, and the Elise could end up on the "ok" list. I know I've been watching it....

njansenv wrote: Keep an eye on the RIV list: they update it semi-regularly, and the Elise could end up on the "ok" list. I know I've been watching it....

Here's the link to the list njansenv is talking about.

Transport Canada RIV List

I only found ingress to an Elise interesting the first time, That could have just as much to do with my excitment as the gymnastics required, Henceforth a I have litereally flew into the drivers seat of any Lotus product I ma give the pleasure to driving. Once you get the knack even a portly man like myself can get in and out with "relative" ease.

fastmiata wrote: You learn how to deal with the access issue, and enjoy the car. If anything it helps you use muscles that arent used on daily basis. It is funny that I can literally fly into the drivers seat but find getting into the passenger seat difficult.

That's funny. I can hardly get out of my Mini if I sit in the passenger seat. The driver seat no problem.

There's a $43k used exige at the Atlanta dealer. I made some comment about it and my wife said without missing a beat, "go buy it." I told her to never say anything like that unless she really means it. I could trade in my Miata and drain my savings account, but that would be dumb. I told her if she woke up this morning and I was not here not to worry I was just making the 3 hour drive to ATL.

It's always fun to dream right?

LopRacer wrote: I only found ingress to an Elise interesting the first time, That could have just as much to do with my excitment as the gymnastics required, Henceforth a I have litereally flew into the drivers seat of any Lotus product I ma give the pleasure to driving. Once you get the knack even a portly man like myself can get in and out with "relative" ease.

That's encouraging. It's a little above my range, so I didn't feel right about playing around with it any more than I did.