Q: My first post here so ... Hi Everyone!
I have a question for former S2000 owners who switched over to the Elise -
In terms of driving, handling, speed and engine sound - how does the elise compare to the S2000?
I love my S2000 and I haven't test driven a elise yet, but I've had my heart set on one for a while now.... I am afraid to go for a test drive because I might just end up buying it - I am waiting for deep winter because I'm hoping that's when I may be able to negotiate a bit more....
Did anyone switching over from a S2000 ever regret their decision later? If so, why?
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tidalwdave here is an s2k owner been here for a long time, haven't convinced him to get an elise.....yet, but he can help.
I had an 05 s2k between owning my first and second elise. I don't regret going from the s2k back into an elise one bit. BUT I do miss the power top for sure. It is a much more practical car, but since my daily transport is usually a motorcycle, the elise is luxury enough for me. The s2k seems to have more torque, but mine got horrendous mileage, also think the elise accelerates quicker, it at least feels that way to me from my seat of the pants impression.
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First and second elise? WOW! :-) Thanks for your inputs..... Good to hear you arn't missing the S2K .... I wouldn't want to get the Elise and regret it later...
I have a bike too.... A Yamaha R6 ... and we have a "practical family car" for daily driving etc.
My S2000 is fun, a blast around twisties and the engine is a rev monster..... BUT .. I'm looking for a raw, pure sports car (within my budget ofcourse) - and the Elise sounds like what I'm looking for.... If I do get a elise I want to eventually go the FI route.... for more power/torque....
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Quite a few have switched from S2000's. It is a great time to get a deal on an 06 until they sell out. The Elise is harder to get in and out of and the ac is not as good but the Elise has better torque before the big cam, more power on the big cam, better braking, handling, steering, etc. Drive one.
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.....I was just out for lunch in my S2K and a yellow Elise drove past.... one of you guys maybe? ... On 520 East, towards Redmond, WA....
Damn ... I want the Elise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Originally Posted by w00tw00t I have a bike too.... A Yamaha R6 ... and we have a "practical family car" for daily driving etc. Is there a decent used market for the R6 bikes?
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I still have my S2000, and it looks like I'll be keeping it for a while. In comparison:
+ Hugely more practical and more comfortable. Easier to get in and out, and much better for a passenger.
+ Quieter, with better stereo (unbelievably) and better creature comforts.
+ 6 second top
+ Bumpers
+ World's best shifter
+ Better brake feel
+ Quicker steering with less kickback
+ More headroom above the cam changeover and less abrupt cam shift
+ A real car
- Body roll and twitchy limit behavior
- Much less grip, much less stopping power
- Slower, at least up to about 100mph
- Numb steering
- Hard to throttle steer
- Looks
Bottom line is the Elise is a good bit more raw and unbeatable fun to drive on track. If I weren't using it that way I'd probably stick with the S2000.
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Originally Posted by solar Is there a decent used market for the R6 bikes?
dunno - I bought the new 2006 Yamaha R6 ... Its a rev monster ... 16500 rpm limiter.... and is lithe and agile ... and amazing on the twisties and the track... and more than enough power than I'll ever need....
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Originally Posted by Ram I still have my S2000, and it looks like I'll be keeping it for a while. In comparison:
+ Hugely more practical and more comfortable. Easier to get in and out, and much better for a passenger.
+ Quieter, with better stereo (unbelievably) and better creature comforts.
+ 6 second top
+ Bumpers
+ World's best shifter
+ Better brake feel
+ Quicker steering with less kickback
+ More headroom above the cam changeover and less abrupt cam shift
+ A real car
- Body roll and twitchy limit behavior
- Much less grip, much less stopping power
- Slower, at least up to about 100mph
- Numb steering
- Hard to throttle steer
- Looks
Bottom line is the Elise is a good bit more raw and unbeatable fun to drive on track. If I weren't using it that way I'd probably stick with the S2000.
Thanks.... I really want to test drive the Elise ASAP now...
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Originally Posted by w00tw00t ... If I do get a elise I want to eventually go the FI route.... for more power/torque....
Oh have you driven one and found it to be light on power? Just kidding. (I know you havn't driven one) Most of us would like more power (just because "more is better" right?) even though most of us can't use what we have to it's fullest potential. Seem like almost every redneck joker (some without even a car of there own) always seem to doll out precious advice like "You should turbocharge that thing". Uhmm. Ok. That's what I'm going to start responding with- "Oh when you drove one did you find it to not have enough power?" lol.
And now that I'm down spouting that drivel- My nitrous kit did come in the other day. lol.
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lol!
Ya I know what you mean man!
BUT .... I WANT THE POWER!!!!
just kiddin... I probably won't know what to do with all the NA power that'll come with the elise... given that it'll be so light...
It's kind of like my situation with my bike... The R6 is a 600cc bike that's light, fast, drops into corners and loves twisties like homer simpson loves donuts!
I tried a 1000cc once and man that was too much power for me to handle on anything but a straight line...
but you know......... I still WANT THE FI SC or TC someday !!!! hehhe .... wait....... i need to get the car first
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I came from a 2002 S2000 and having heavily modified it I can say I have no regrets - sure I miss 400 HP but the elise is everything I was making my S2000 into, I tracked my car about once a month and if I hadn't totalled the S2000 I would still be very proud of the car I built - The elise is a different car but it's differences are what I wanted - not nearly as comfortable as a daily driver as the S2000 in it's stock form but mine was far from stock so the switch to me was actually a more comfortable transition.
Good luck on your decision, Mine was easy
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Well let me tell you that I just switched from a 05 S2K,
My first impresions:
The S2K is a more practical car, but that’s not what I wanted really.
The S2K people know is a cool car but still a Honda
Now
The Elise is a Lotus and any where I got people give me compliments on the car, which helps from being a semi exotic car.
The performance (both stock) the Elise fells faster and more responsive to the gas pedal (Thanks to its lightness)
I test drove an Elise with the regular exhaust and a Hard top and the car was OK to live with. I also tested another with StageII and the car is a bit loud.
(My previous car before the S2K was an EVO8 with HKS Carbon and the car was louder)
MY advice if you plan to use it as a weekend car you will love it.
FYI at the end I got the one with Stage II
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its funny I started this thread asking for opinions but you know... I've already made up my mind :-) ... I love the Elise... I love the raw, craziness of the Elise.... it's def. going to be more of a fun car ... not a daily driver... since I have other means of transport....
I just need to GO GET ONE!
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You should get one.. you wont regret..
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I, too, track a Yamaha 600. I fell in love with the Elise upon first reading about it in a car magazine. I couldn't help but believe that this car might actually be as much fun, on and off the track, as a motorcycle. I have had the car for six months and couldn't be happier with it, on and off the track.
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I had always wanted an Elise, but my son, who is a big fan of the Elise, thought that I should drive the s2k. It is a great sports car. If I was looking for an everyday driver, I might have bought it. (yes I know there are plenty who use the car every day). I just liked the speed and feel of the Elise. It is quicker, handles better, although the s2k handles great, and was more the unique kind of car I was looking for. As far as comfort, yes the s2k is easier to get into with the top on, but once inside, I find the Elise to be very comfortable.
Either way you will have a great sports car, but if you are buying the car for performance, go for the Elise.
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I have an '04 S2000 and an '06 Exige (and a bike). I used to think the S2000 was raw and impractical. It's all relative, I guess. The S2000 is now my daily driver in all but really bad weather.
The S2000 is the better "car", but the Lotus is certainly more fun and is the better "toy".
I know that others will disagree, but I think the S2000 is the better vehicle if:
1) You can only have one car
2) You like to use your sports car frequently to do mundane things such as errands.
If you are getting a car strictly for "fun only" drives or for track use, then the Lotus will be more fun. The cool factor is a large part of it, but the Lotus does have better road feel.
The Lotus wins in steering but loses in transmission.
The Lotus sounds better, but I think the S2000 has the better engine.
The Lotus gives the better racecar fantasy, but the S2000 is far more useable and comfortable.
Having said that, if I had to sell one of them - I'd sell the S2000 without a second thought. It's very replaceable and if it's not "doing it for you" anymore - what's the point? Although the S2000 is more useful and practical than the Lotus, you don't buy either car for those attributes really.
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thanks for all the inputs - this thread has some great info now for, I guess , anyone considering a "sporty car" vs. a real sports car...
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Originally Posted by FastFreddy As far as comfort, yes the s2k is easier to get into with the top on, but once inside, I find the Elise to be very comfortable.
I didn't originally get my Elise as a daily driver, but it certainly turned into that in the nearly two years I've owned it. It's just too much fun NOT to drive every day. Interestingly, the ingress issue is something that actually makes this car special to me (and, at 54, I'm no spring chicken).
Getting in is very much a deliberate act - it's not something one does unconsciously. Each time is a wake-up call... "What fun. Now, I'm gonna' drive. ****, it's great to be alive!" All this - before I even hit the start button.
Same thing getting out. Yes, it's a production; not something you do in your sleep. It's a punctuation mark: not a period, but an exclamation point... "I'm done driving now, and boy was that fun. ****, it's great to be alive!"
I know we're all different, but sometimes all the "in/out" bitching reminds of the folks who rentlessly circle the parking lot in search of nearest spot to the entrance of the gym. This car makes you pick your sorry ass up to get in and drive it.