Lotus Elise (2000 - 2022) 111S 2d (2005/55) Owner Review
Want to know everything there is to know about this car?
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Summary
What does this car say about you?
Car enthusiast who loves driving or mid-life crisis guy Depending on who is looking.
What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?
Everybody loves it and girls adore it.....great if you are single. But you'd better be worth looking at when you get out of it lol.
Would you buy this car again and why?
Yes, as it is possibly the ultimate driver's car. Unless I can afford a Ferrari of course.
What are you likely to buy next?
Hopefully a Ferrari 348 or maybe a 355.....sigh.
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Buying experience
Type of dealer you bought from?
Independent
Did you buy this car new?
No
What price did you pay?
£16,500
When did you buy the car?
May 2011
Did you get a good deal and why?
Well the car was not the cheapest I had looked at that's for sure, and they put up the price £500 from the advert when I got there! But as soon as I saw the car I had to have it...it was like new.
Is there any special reason why you bought this car?
Had to sell my Ferrari and wanted something that would give at least some of the driving experience/looks.
What was the dealer like?
He was a Lotus enthusiast himself and had just bought an Exige.
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Driving it
What's it like to drive?
Fabulous. Forget that Ferrari, save yourself £40,000 and buy one of these. On second thoughts don't forget the Ferrari...buy one of each.
What's it like to park?
Easy for a sports car. the main issue is getting in and out of the thing. If you've been on the pork pies forget it, but if you are fairly small and slim like me, no problems.
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Living with it
Have you had any problems with the car?
Not that much actually. Sorted out a fair number of rattles, replaced the anti roll bar drop links, got the cam belt changed. Nothing that i didn't expect from a six year old sports car.
What's most practical about your car?
Practical? Well it does have a boot big enough for a weekend case or two, and it's economical for the kind of car it is...but practical would not be a word I would use to describe an Elise.
Favourite gadget, option or accessory?
None really. The best accessory you can buy is a good pair of shoes to work the pedals and a pair of sunglasses to supplement the near useless sun visors.
