Scottish Elises

Just bought a silver 2001 Elise from Newcastle and drove it home to Aberdeen. Loving it, but a bit anxious about...

1. are there any lotus garages around Aberdeen, or better yet can anyone recommend an independent garage?

2. i expected it to leak, and it does! A few drips on the sills and a small lake under the passenger seat. Its a "long tail" soft-top. Any advice on making it a bit less leaky? I'm going to try some conditioning products and duct tape first. Longer term is the upgraded short-tail soft-top any good? I'd rather not spend £800 on a hardtop.

Patrick

There's no Lotus dealer in Abz, there was until sometime in 2004 but they closed as they were less than useless. Some of the other Abz guys will no doubt be along to recommend independent people. Try searching the forum as I'm sure it's been asked before.

The hardtop won't make it leak less, all that it does it make it look like it does but actually it's worse cos the water doesn't soak up and waits till you get out before pouring off onto you.
I don't think the short roof will be any better but it might be worth trying to adjust the windows and making sure there's a good seal between them and the roof. The short roof will also cost you over £1k and the hard top would be another £1200 if you bought it new from Lotus.

Welcome, good choice in your particular model and year of car!

Welcome!

The guy I bought my car off told me it leaked. The gap where the water was coming in was because the soft top wasn't fitted properly! And it doesn't leak at all anymore really.

Also get some of that autoglym convertible roof stuff I've not tried it myself but that apparently stops so much water getting in.

They all leek,squeek,rattle from time to time but it comes as standard with elise ownership.Enjoy you will soon forget about the leeks when the suns out and the tops off

Neilp

Patrick wrote:Just bought a silver 2001 Elise from Newcastle and drove it home to Aberdeen. Loving it, but a bit anxious about...

1. are there any lotus garages around Aberdeen, or better yet can anyone recommend an independent garage?

2. i expected it to leak, and it does! A few drips on the sills and a small lake under the passenger seat. Its a "long tail" soft-top. Any advice on making it a bit less leaky? I'm going to try some conditioning products and duct tape first. Longer term is the upgraded short-tail soft-top any good? I'd rather not spend £800 on a hardtop.

Patrick

one wee tip - roll the window up with the door open then close it - stops the leaks. Another wee tip - take a roll of duct tape with you as a just incase, you can always tape over any wee gaps (as I did on a 200 mile round trip in the hissing rain)

Patrick - Welcome !

Time to forget all the squeeks and leaks and get out for a drive with the Aberdeen Elise Clan

Keep an eye out - must be time for another run soon