Has anybody driven either car? I have been a passenger in an Elise but not driven one, nor have I driven a VX.

Just wondered what they are like, in terms of living with day to day, and comparing one to the other.

I prefer the looks of the Elise, but for the same money a much newer (possibly with some warranty remaing) VX is possible...is the VX more reliable over all? K Series engines can of course have HGF issues.

Hmmm.

If I were to get one it would have to act as my daily car for a while (couple of months up til Christmas) before I sort out funds for a daily hack (likely some kind of diesel hatchback).

Of course, there is another argument that says have one more-expensive-to-run-but-cheaper-overall-than-two-cars-solution instead of two £9k cars...buy something like a 130i or M Coupe (I need a hatchback for the dogs but I don't need more than two seats/back seat space is not a priority if it has them).

Yes I know it is sacrilege to put dogs in the back of an M Coupe!

I have driven both, worked on both. Did a fair bit of work on them at AmD for a while, both 2.2 and 2.0 Turbo.

I actually prefered the 2.2 once it had been lightly fettled, thought it was more useable.

VX220 @ Fotopic.Net

Later Elise's use a Toyota engine.

instead of two

Later Elise's use a Toyota engine.

i thought the lotud elise had a rover k series engine?? or is that another lotus that has the k lump in it??

i thought the lotud elise had a rover k series engine?? or is that another lotus that has the k lump in it??

they did, but as correctly stated LATER Elises use the VVT Toyota 1.8 engine.

You can get a 'good' daily car for £1K; that leaves you £17K to spend on the dream car.

I think that would be a better option, unless you need the daily driver for regular motorway distance stuff.

I will need the daily to be a reliable motorway cruiser alas.

Went to the local Lotus dealer this afternoon, I struggled to get in and out of the Elise

If I buy one the first mod will be a quick release steering wheel!

I have driven a Rover engined Elise at 100mph+, I did like it, but.... the rattles would drive me mad!

I am not sure I'll get one having all the bloody trouble squeezing in and out!

Nice cars though, just a bit too compact for me...

I am not sure I'll get one having all the bloody trouble squeezing in and out!

Nice cars though, just a bit too compact for me...

I was a passenger in an Elise and couldn't work out how to get out in a dignified fashion !

Then again after the guy's driving I wanted to kiss the ground anyway when he stopped!

110mph on a blind 50mph bend, mad overtaking etc. Nutter.

i allways thought that about the mx-5... you have to be a gymnastic pygmy to get in the thing, but once you are in it is really comfortable to drive much to my amazement, hard work getting out of the damn thing afterwards tho

Travelled half way to the Nurburgring in an Exige. And Once there, was a passenger in the car around the track. The track is where the car really shined. I couldn't imagine having an Elise as an every day car. But that's what makes it more fun. I'd want one for the difficulties..