Can You Daily A Lotus Elise? | Long Term Owner Review

[@chasekrusko8596]

'"When you do start driving it, and you start that engine up, everything else is forgotten. And when you really hear that exhaust popping, you're in your element." That's the answer to the "Can I daily drive an Elise?" If you get it, then the answer is yes. If you don't... Cheers - hats off for posting this. There isn't a car on the road like an Elise.

[@eddieingalls534]

A good review. I have been using my S1 for daily commute and as that includes some nice A roads, it is indeed a drive that makes me smile. When I do it in my runabout commuter car, the drive is bland and boring. I agree one of the real annoyances is how often you need to get in and out of the car - the really tough thing for me is we have electronic barriers to our car park where you need to get out and touch the key pad beside it. Adds two get ins and outs to my day :) The S1 as I am sure everyone knows, has sills that touch the clouds. So I would say you can use it daily so long as the drive is a decent distance but not too far or on motorways. As you say, you are not going to be able to listen to the radio once above 40 mph or so. I do find it is very hard to keep the Lotus to the speed limits, particularly the 20 mph zones on my route. By hard I mean you do have to keep checking the speedo, this car was not made to be driven at 20 mph. If you do run into a traffic jam, it can be a challenge to keep the car moving slowly - it wants to run. Feels like trying to get a wild horse to calm down. And an added bonus is commuting as I do on 50 mph average zones, 30 and 20 zones (just a little stretch of 70) the mpg return is really quite good. I think I am getting 40-45 mpg. So my conclusion is look at the roads you will be on and if not unlit roads to be used in the dark, too much motorways or with the need to get in and out too much, go for it. Remember though, if you buy a S1 you will need the dexterity of an Olympic gymnast to get out of the car smoothly. (Much easier with the roof off but when commuting you don't want to get caught out by the rain so the roof tends to stay on)

[@jacquelinetaylor9794]

Another well presented review. Excellent filming, especially the drive by 😉😊 You just get better and better x

[@DrivingBex]

Thank you so much!!! Great video skills!!! X

[@SJ-bk1zm]

I daily my BMW E89 Z4 for almost 8 years now and it's perfect... Two seater car, little boot, low to the ground (lovely in a decade where SUV's rule the world) and six cilinders as a soundtrack. No leaky roof however :-)

[@DrivingBex]

Rain safe🤣🤣

[@AdamBuckley1964]

I had an S1 that I used for 7 years as my daily, and for quite a while it ran on lowered LSS. Didn't find it an issue (my roof never leaked that badly) but the MMC brakes were pretty bad in the wet, you especially noticed it on motorways. Also, on wet motorways an Elise lives in the wall of spray thrown up by others. When it snows, the radiator can get packed with snow and the car can overheat! When it really snowed badly the car could lift on the snow and get the front wheels off the ground, which is hairy!

[@LauraWhittleMUA]

We wouldn't be off on a two week vacay with this boot space 🤣 a beautiful car, best saved for weekend driving or the track! This is an absolutely amazing review 👏

[@DrivingBex]

Don’t think the suitcases would fit🤣 thank you so much!!!

[@spacedrifter1961]

A good review Bex. I could daily it. I'm also missing it already!

[@DrivingBex]

Thank you so much! I miss it too!

[@robertredden1790]

Honest review, yes it is a compromise to daily. My 240 FE has just arrived at the dealer after a long wait and delays, going off for PPF in a week or 2 then I will be collecting it. It is basically a weekend car but I will use it for some daily work when the mood takes me😀 So looking forward to this, been wanting one for 20+ years and finally made it happen

[@DrivingBex]

Thankyou!! I bet you really can’t wait! I hope you have a fabulous time with it and get some amazing drives with it! Highly recommend getting it on track at least once!

[@BlatentlyFakeName]

I have a 16 year old S2 I dailed for a while. The main issue is they are quite loud. It's fine for short commutes though. There are a few trimmers around who will trim the interior to be more plushy and fit more sound dampening etc if you want. You can actually make them very nice. Mine had the sills, doors, steering wheel and a few other parts done using nice English leather, memory foam in the seats. It's quite easy to do on these cars.

[@singlesprocket]

Good point about night driving! I also generally avoid driving mine in bad weather and the roof leaks. Bex, if your circumstances permitted, would you have kept your Elise, maybe even SORN’d over winter? I think you’re going to miss it!

[@DrivingBex]

I definitely would of kept it as a weekend toy!

[@JonnyGTi180]

I was lucky enough to have a company car with my first and ended up buying a cheap hot hatch with the second. I never liked leaving it anywhere, that was the biggest issue for me

[@DrivingBex]

It’s always a worry isn’t it as they’re so different and attention grabbing!

[@keithgreen4752]

Can you do a video of the seats and the padding?

[@DrivingBex]

i sadly do not own this car anymore, but i did do a tour of the car a couple months ago where it shows the seats if that helps :)

[@nomessininc.]

can daily anything if your brave enough 😎

[@DrivingBex]

🤣👏🏼

[@MassiveLib]

You buy lotuses like shoes 😉

[@DaveDVideoMaker]

I wouldn’t daily drive a Lotus.

[@DrivingBex]

It is difficult!

[@1HeatWalk]

Get the Miata or s2000. Don't think I can drive an Elise for 1 hour in stop and go traffic in the US.