Advice to new Elise owners

[sechsgang]

as with any car with great breaks...make sure you KNOW how close the guy behind you is...because, odds are...his car cant ''break'' nearly as fast as yours...

[andykeck]

Originally Posted by sechsgang

his car cant break nearly as fast as yours...

That typo makes this about the truest statement ever!

[sechsgang]

caught it eh?


speaking of which...anyone know the price of the rear quarterpanals...or is that just the WHOLE rear clamshell...and same for the front panals...

[goelise]

If your considering the purchase of an Elise, you might want to plan ahead and have a secure place to park it - the best place is a private garage of course. There has been a disturbing number of incidents with these cars being egged, tires slashed, etc...

[EburgE]

And, on corners, DON'T LIFT, DON'T LIFT, DON'T LIFT.

[masmole]

First post!

Great info everyone! This is a great forum community you all have here. Very comforting to a future owner like myself to know a resource like this exists since reliable dealer/service departments seem to be very scarce.

"Ordered" my Exige S yesterday... actual specs and pricing not announced yet but there was a handshake and small deposit placed

[ZakSkiGuy]

Originally Posted by EldersburgElise

And, on corners, DON'T LIFT, DON'T LIFT, DON'T LIFT.

It's funny you post this today because on Sunday I was showing off to a female friend and for the first time I got some over steer on an off ramp and you just made me realize why. I usually just keep steady pressure on the throttle but she seemed a bit uncomfortable with the speed.

[char]

Everybody lifts once, but that'll teach you not to do it again ....

[spf4000]

Actually, I lift in tight corners help rotate the car if the front end isn't cooperating.

[LotusBeverlyHills]

I worked at Beverly Hills Porsche and we sold a New GT ($448K plus fees) to a guy and he went out that night to dinner. He parked the car himself but the valet backed another car into his. The next morning the GT was back at our store with no rear bumper and only about an inch away from the carbon fiber frame. Even if you park it yourself, make sure you can't get backed into. Good luck

Brandon

[sentino]

Hey thanks for that info! What's a clam shell? I am new to this hobby. . . .thanks!

[Ian]

Originally Posted by sentino

Hey thanks for that info! What's a clam shell? I am new to this hobby. . . .thanks!

Hey- guess who??

The clamshell is the front or rear fiberglass structure (essentially the "body") that encompasses the head/tail lights, etc. There are no bumpers, so any low impact accidents, hitting curbs, etc. will damage the clam. It is rather costly to repair. Here is a picture of a damaged front clam and a picture of a car with the front clam removed.

[wildwhl]

I believe this has been mentioned but I feel the need to do so again.

CHECK THE TIRE PRESSURES!

As delivered, my Exige S had 37, 45, and two 48 psi tires (spec is 26 front and 29 rear).

Oh yeah, and where do you buy the permagrin remover again?

WW

[glb]

More Advice:

Adjust your headlights upwards, both beams. Everyone I know had to do this and it makes a significant diff.

Be careful passing on the right; use your lights. This is a v low car.

Drive with your finger on the horn button in traffic. Yes, you will inadvertently honk once or twice. Big deal.

Notice how often you can't see the faces of large truck, SUV, semi drivers. You know that means they cannot see you.

Get multivex mirrors and eliminate the blind spot. In the meantime, adjust your i/s mirror to angle behind the pass seat, i.e. so you can't see any of yourself.

Get a better horn; do a search.

Get a radar detector.

Save up for tickets.

You might find yourself mumbling "I love this car" to yourself. You are not crazy. Many of us do the same thing. It's "normal".

Have fun.

[sparky1_2007]

hey guys, this has been really helpful.

I absolutely love this car, and in 5 or so years, i cannot wait to own one of these cars.

also, what is "lifting"? im a bit confused on this term.

[Mr.C]

Good point you have there glb about passing on the right.
It just happened to me a the last time I took mine out.
I was passing a SUV on the right lane of a two lane 180 degree off ramp (which by the way is a lot of fun - that off ramp that is...)
I then moved over to the right lane to pass a lady in her hellidontknowsomecrapyoldcar on the left lane, just as that lady decided
to move over to the right. Good thing there was a street on my right exiting that off ramp! It all happened very fast, but that was the only chance I had to avoid a crash.
So I took an unexpected detour, but that's better than getting run over!

Anyway, in order to get in line with this thread:
- Tell your friends not to hold on to the windshield frame when getting in the car. They usually get in without holding on to it, but they are grabbing it trying to get out faster than you can say something.
- Do not count on other drivers seeing you - think ahead and take into account that they might not see you, be distracted, don't expect you to stop that quickly etc.
- Don't expect the tires to last. Keep in mind that being able to afford a car like this does't just mean being able to get a loan to buy it .I know a 24 year old kid who bought a S4 this spring, and I now see him struggeling keeping up with the cost...(god, I sound like my dad...!)
- Start slow and take your time to find the limits without rushing it in case you have never driven a car like this before.
I drove Miatas and SLKs for years, and I'm still a little scared of the capabilities of the Elise - its just far and beyond from everything I've ever driven in the past!
- But most of all: Enjoy that car and what it's capable of.
I wanted one since I drove my friend's seven 15 years ago, and finally getting one was one of the best decisions I ever made...

[TimMullen]

Originally Posted by sparky1_2007

also, what is "lifting"? I'm a bit confused on this term.

Lifting refers to lifting your foot of the gas pedal - letting of the gas - suddenly. In any car, this will tend to shift the weight toward the front, and lighten the weight on the rear tires, promoting over-steer if the car is cornering hard. In a mid engined car like the Elise, a sudden lift, while on the edge of adhesion when cornering, often leads to snap over-steer - spinning the car.

You have to be pushing it pretty hard, but a sudden lift will have drastic results. Not something you usually have to worry about, but something that you should be aware of and keep in mind.

[megatron]

Get a battery tender, if you don't drive it often. Because the stock battery will die in about 2 weeks worth of sitting time.

[goelise]

Another item to check upon vehicle delivery and to perdiocally check is the secureness of the battery mount.
One of elisetalk's members suffered a lot of rear clam damage due to a loose battery rolling about in the trunk area while the vehicle was being driven.

[kestrel74]

Originally Posted by TimMullen

Lifting refers to lifting your foot of the gas pedal - letting of the gas - suddenly. In any car, this will tend to shift the weight toward the front, and lighten the weight on the rear tires, promoting over-steer if the car is cornering hard. In a mid engined car like the Elise, a sudden lift, while on the edge of adhesion when cornering, often leads to snap over-steer - spinning the car.

You have to be pushing it pretty hard, but a sudden lift will have drastic results. Not something you usually have to worry about, but something that you should be aware of and keep in mind.

MY two cents is: go out early on a sunday morning and find a nice big parking lot with NO cars and NO light poles ........get it into a tight turn ....and LIFT...... let it come around a little and catch it... you get a great feel as to what the car is going to do.