Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Just pondering that I bought my 1st Elan in 1987, it was 20 years old at the time. The 1st of the Elises are now older than my 1st Elan was. Time definitely accelerates as you get older.

regards

Andy

Know what you mean. I bought my '68 +2 in 1976 so it was about 8 years old. It actually felt quite old at the time and had a rusted out chassis to prove it. If I had an 8 year old Lotus now it would feel really new.

When I bought my Elan in 1975 it was 7 years old. The engine was stuffed, half the electrics did not work and the chassis was bent, broken and cracked and poorly repaired and the body not much better. But I was 23 and it was a LOTUS !!!!. They certainly were used hard back then and that made time go fast. I use it even harder now as 1,000 race miles in a year is about equivalent to 20,000 road miles in both fun and wear and tear

cheers
Rohan

Time to get an Elise now then!

"Time to get an Elise now then!"

No swearing on here please..................................

TBG wrote:"Time to get an Elise now then!"

No swearing on here please..................................

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I went from 3 Elan’s and a Europa back to an Elise. I know, blasphemy. But it was my first Lotus, brings me many memories and it’s virtually bullet proof. After 6 years of doing frame off restorations I wanted to just go for a drive instead of having to fiddle with something on the car. Truth be known, I do miss my S1 Elan.

Certified Lotus wrote:I went from 3 Elan’s and a Europa back to an Elise. I know, blasphemy. But it was my first Lotus, brings me many memories and it’s virtually bullet proof. After 6 years of doing frame off restorations I wanted to just go for a drive instead of having to fiddle with something on the car. Truth be known, I do miss my S1 Elan.

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Truth be told, they can be reliable if you can just leave well enough alone. Face it, you're Certified! Nine Lotus, I rest my case!

An Elise is still a Lotus. As a fan of the Marque, I'd have umpteen Lotuses. Fact is, (A) I could not afford more than the Plus 2 I have owned for 28 years, and (B) I'd have no where to put them!

Have owned a Mk1 Elise for the past 11 years, brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. They’re so much better than later marks which became more grown up and sophisticated. Faster, but less fun. Now appreciating and worth more than my +2 which is costing me about 3 times what I paid for the Elise. But it’s not about money, it’s about fun and a hobby!

Dave

What is the consensus between the Mk1 Elise, and the Toyota engine Elise.
I sort of thought weight was more, & hp was up. This is all pre Evora stuff, though it seems the aftermarket is making good progress on the track in Evoras?

1996 Lotus Elise weighed 725 kg (1,598 lb) 118hp
Last edition Elise is just over 2000lbs but 220hp

Probably only those in the UK have good experience with both?

I have a Mk1 and a very good friend has a 2 year old Elise 220. We have driven them back to back for comparison. The newer one is much faster in straight line but you feel the weight. The Mk1 is more delicate, slower in a straight line, more raw, but on the road there is not a huge difference. The big difference is that fun in the Mk1 is more accessible, unless you’re on a track.

h20hamelan wrote:What is the consensus between the Mk1 Elise, and the Toyota engine Elise.
I sort of thought weight was more, & hp was up. This is all pre Evora stuff, though it seems the aftermarket is making good progress on the track in Evoras?

1996 Lotus Elise weighed 725 kg (1,598 lb) 118hp
Last edition Elise is just over 2000lbs but 220hp

Probably only those in the UK have good experience with both?

So the best car I have ever driven is my daughters K series Elise. Packing around 158bhp its just fantastic, light agile and quick. I’ve also owned a Toyota engine Elise 220, which compared to the K series engine, I thought was soulless. My current “new” Lotus is a 380 Sport Exige V6, but actually packs a Komotec Ex 460 conversion, and is really really quick, but heavy, not a B road car like the Elan and Elise, tbh It’s just not as good as the S2 111S Elise for fun on a normal road. I have to agree with the earlier poster re the S1 Elise and I can see exactly where he is coming from. So where does my Elan fit? To be honest, not as good as the Elise. But a great car still....

Just my 2p