Scottish Elises

I give thanks to Evo. They gave me the education regarding fun cars I craved at the time ie. when I was about 18, when i first took a real interest in sports cars.

For years, the Lotus' were ever predictably the best performers in all the issues of Evo IMHO.

Then it dawned on me that this is a chapter in life and motoring that may never be seen again....and I almost panicked

That was it! Sold....

I always knew it was what I wanted/needed!

In retrospect, I'd have waited a few weeks after the decision - to build up the excitment! (instead of just a couple of days)


Did anyone here cause the other members to get theirs?

I had been looking for some time at getting rid of my saxo VTS and upgrading to a car that was quicker and handled better also something that was a little diff. to other cars, although I was still only 21 and budget for both a car and insurance was a concern.

A cousin of the other half was over one day and had brought his brother in laws S2 Elise, in bright yellow !

After an hours blast with the hood off and the sun shining I decided this is what I wanted looked at the S2's but at that time were just a little over my budget so decided to go for a S1, 2 months later I had found 1 in London, flew down on a saturday morning collected it and drove home with a very big grin on my face, from the driving experience and everyone pointing and staring Never looked back

I had just put an order in for a Civic Type R and went up to Knockhill to see some Civic's going round the track . On that day there was one unfortunate Elise there which I think really sparked my curiosity in the glamorous dangerous sports car .

I read a few poor reviews on the mechanics ( Which were wrong) that put me off then last year I found the forum read some more and decided life was too short .

Below are some pics of that first car, apoligies if I bring up any bad memories .

Bond. James Bond

For me it was also a magazine. Before I got my first Elise I hadn't owned a proper sports car and TBH wasn't really thinking I wanted one either. Then I saw the picture of the first S1 elise and had to go see one in the flesh.

Went into Murrays - no demo cars in those days so went and sat in one in the workshop (a customer's car) - was immediately sold on the rawness of the thing and ordered one. 12+ months later, it arrived So I cheated and bought one second hand while I waited for the proper one!

6 elises on, it would be fair to say they (and the people who own them) have changed my life in a huge way (as well as an expensive way!).

Elises and their owners do their own "viral" marketing - I remember once we were on a Fish and Chip run down in the borders and we stopped somewhere along Hadrian's Wall for some touristy stuff - the rest went off to look at stuff, but I got chatting to a couple in a BMW that we had overtaken earlier and had stopped in the same place. Two years later I met them again - this time on a Stelvio trip in an Elise which they had bought because they met us and loved the cars and all that went with it!

Cheers,
Robin

I was behind the above Elise when it went into the tyres at Clarks

I suppose there are 3 people here responsible for my Lotus.

!. Tut
Not long after Tut Honda'd his Elise he invited himself along to a TRS run. I remember being behind Tut on the single tracker from Lochinver past Achmelvich and round the point of Stoer. I was having to really throw the car about whereas the Elise just seemed so effortless around the corners. That and the fact that I was never off the high cam in 2nd and 3rd and still couldnt keep up. Tut told me later he had been in 6th the whole time

2. Davie Hay
For letting me have a go in his VX220.
I actually got a bit carried away and buggered off for over an hour. He still pulls me up about that

3. Ed
barsteward turned up at KH with a brand new Exige when he knew I wantd one. Seeled my fate.

sorry for dat!

I have to thank rag_it also for getting me into a proper car!

A couple of paxes with him(vx) and a test drive later(lotus of course) i was hooked!

My brother in-law was a member of a classic car club which had various different cars including a yellow S1 Elise. After a shot in that, I wanted one. Took me a year but I got one in the end although missing it badly now as it's been in for repair for the last 2 weeks .

My boss converted me - gave me a shot of his 160bhp LAD tuned S1 about 6 years ago and couldnt take the smile off my face

He sold it quite soon thereafter and bought a 355 which we took down to Le Mans - I knew then I had to get a elise for trips and runs like that!!

On my second elise now and dont know what I would get to replace it - maybe a krypton Exige S

I solely blame Paul G, self confessed petrol head! Lotus, M3's anything new, Original sweeping up the leaves runs, Oulton and where is Gil these days for a shot of his Orange S1 as well!

Also a drive home in the pitch dark from one run and the lights giving all they were worth, but Paul hammering it round every corner as if he was rally driving again, I shut my eyes for most of it - awesome!

First meeting Tut the morning of my first ever run, wearing trademark tracky bums and bare feet!!!!

Dave

For me, it was that TV advert with Griff Rhys-Jones driving a yellow car in his underpants. Saw it, thought - "that's the car I must have"

(Seriously, it was my first PX with a vx220 owner on some twisties up in the Highlands. The first corner was enough to convince me - I've never been so surprised at the speed which we went round, and the way the whole car felt)

if we're talking specifically Elises. I remember when it was launched I was a mere 16 at the time and just wanted one ever since.

I saw an azure blue S1 in Glasgow airport car park in about 1998. I had never seen or heard of these before and I was absolutely stunned.

I assumed they cost a fortune and would be impossible to insure and kept that assumption for years. In 2001/2002 I actually did some proper research and found that I could actually afford one and on August 10th 2002 I got my 1996 S1 with 8k on the clock.

I wasn't even aware of SE until a few months after I bought the car when a Google image search came up with an image of a couple of Elises at the McDonald's car park at the Forth Bridge on Del's site.

4 and a bit years later at 94k miles (though it's debateable how much of it has done all those miles, Trigger's broom.) I couldn't bear to sell it.

Moved to Scotland from Northern Ireland and needed a car, bought a 406 coupe for tanking up and down the m-way but soon realised that the train was quicker and cheaper. Then realised I have a wedge of cash burning a hole in my pocket...

Didn't need a normal car, always had a soft spot for Lotus since I was a lad, did some research, put cash in hand and went to see a specialist. (Lotus not head) Bought my 34k S1 and have never looked back. Got ripped off a bit (As usual) and have spent a fortune since. It's great! May have to buy a sh*t soon though...

Almost forgot how i came across black exiges......

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