First time Elise owner

[Wilko]

Hi all, After years of dreaming about it I've taken the plunge and bought my 1st Elise. I pick it up on Saturday and can't wait! I just have a couple of things which confuse me. As far as I'm aware It's a 2004 Elise S. Does that mean it's the 111s? Just because on an insurance search, the reg. Comes back as Elise S 2008-2010. Was the Elise S around in 2004?

Any help is greatly appreciated

I found this site thanks to the guy I spoke to from CCI who said I get a discount on insurance, very helpful and the cheapest insurance by a long way.

I already love this site, very informative

[CubanGav]

The S is not the same as a 111S is it blue with white wheels?

[Shug]

Ah, the amazing Elise "S" naming scheme...

2004 - is it a Toyota engine? I think 2004, they were still doing Rover engined ones alongside the Toyota. Might well be a 111S, which would be the Rover VVC engine (156bhp claimed). Easiest way to tell would be post a photo of the engine bay when you get it. An Elise S is technically the Toyota 140bhp non VVTLi engine - which I don't think was about in 2004.

You'll love it, no matter which one it is

[Dominic]

I'm Fairly sure the Elise S (toyota engine) was not launched until at least 2006 (a few years after the 111r was launched), so I would think this must be a 111S.

[Dominic]

A fairly helpful site;

http://www.elises.co.uk/models/index.php

Oh, and

[Wilko]

It is silver with (non standard) smokey grey wheels.

I thought I had read loads about them but obviously not enough because I thought the rover engines stopped in 2001. I know the washer bottle is in the bottom right and the engine coolant on the left if that helps. And the oil dip stick is on bottom right of the engine lol.
Is there much difference between the 2 engines with regards repair prices/reliability?

[Shug]

As Dom says, the S Toyota engine didn't come in till a couple of years after the 111R - as that was introduced in 2004, it's almost definitely a Rover.

There is a much-discussed head gasket issue with the Rover engine, but there are plenty out there that it's never failed on and even if it does, it's not a massively expensive fix. Also well tunable and consumables for it are cheap and plentiful. It's bloody light too

Some claim the 111S is the best engine put into an Elise as standard.

[woody]

There was a k series Elise S with 120 bhp available in 2004.

Start Mathieson had one in Purple; it had S stickers on each front wing, 120 K (rover engine) and the 6 spoke wheels but the spec of the 111s with leather and electric windows etc... Don't think they made that spec for long.

[cla5h]

..

Correct.

On K series (s2 only) 111 denoted VVC engine, 's' denoted luxury spec, 111s denoted both.

[Wilko]

Yeah, this one has electric windows and leather seats/door panel.

I've done a bit of reading and apparently if the exhausts come straight out of the diffuser it's a Toyota and if they come out either side of the reg. Plate then it's a rover, which is what mine does.

So much help so soon, thank you!

[mwmackenzie]

to SE

Mark

[IanD]

You still need to work out if you have a rover engine S or a rover engine 111s as you ain't got a Toyota S.

No idea how you can tell as the interior spec and look will be the same but the engine won't have VVC so not sure what differences it is visually - something to do with pulleys or head maybe ? I thought I researched well before buying but still didn't know you got 2004 S and 111S although I did know you got 111 without S but never seen one for sale when I was looking,

Who created two totally different models a year or two apart and called them both S ?
If you want some confirmation I can photo my 111s engine to compare if someone highlights what I should photo on the engine block

[Wilko]

I'll stick some photos on when I get it n hopefully someone will know.
Will it tell me on the v5? I do know on the rear bumper it says Elise S

[kenny]

[Corranga]

Whatever it is, you'll love it all the same