Soft Top Removal/Storage - LotusTalk

Damillster · 10-24-2009, 05:17 PM

Considering an Elise to replace an aging Supra Turbo. My Supra has a sportroof that spends most of the time in the trunk. However, when I travel with it I will button it up. It takes a few minutes to screw or unscrew all four corners, so I avoid it if I can. My questions/concerns:

1) How quickly can the top be removed/replaced?

2) Is there enough room behind the seats to store the soft top so that I can use the trunk (small as it is) for an overnight bag?

Thanks in advance.

dmill

Uncle Sam · 10-24-2009, 05:21 PM

1. Two to three minutes.

2. Barely, but not really practical.

lotusforsale · 10-24-2009, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damillster

Considering an Elise to replace an aging Supra Turbo. My Supra has a sportroof that spends most of the time in the trunk. However, when I travel with it I will button it up. It takes a few minutes to screw or unscrew all four corners, so I avoid it if I can. My questions/concerns:

1) How quickly can the top be removed/replaced?

2) Is there enough room behind the seats to store the soft top so that I can use the trunk (small as it is) for an overnight bag?

Thanks in advance.

dmill

I've seen guys fold the top up accordian style, rather than rolling it up, and putting it behind the seats with no problems.

luxige · 10-24-2009, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lotusforsale

I've seen guys fold the top up accordian style, rather than rolling it up, and putting it behind the seats with no problems.

There is a clip on YouTube demonstrating this, but I cant' figure out the right search terms to chase it down.

glb · 10-24-2009, 08:43 PM

Not that it matters, but my TT supra flexed like a mofo with the top removed, so it stayed on.

elise top removal: once did it at traffic light w/o leaving car.

Bugeye sprite req'd many trips around car to put top on...many.

Elan, 2 or 3.

You will love elise.

RichardNHCooper · 10-24-2009, 10:25 PM

1) 40 sec off 60 sec on
2) Fold halfway oneside then halfway the other side then pull drivers seat forward pass roof behind it to other side, put seat back works great. Obviously not in its storage bag.

I put the roof on while stuck on the freeway in jam this morning as the sun was getting hot. Did not leave the drivers seat.

Damillster · 11-01-2009, 04:05 PM

Thank you for the responses. I actually searched YouTube for a video of the top removal and storage, but only found a few videos of the older Elise.

Thanks again.

Spudboy · 11-01-2009, 06:44 PM

Here's a link to the

video

.

Snowphun · 11-03-2009, 03:25 AM

Good video, I hadn't thought of that. I managed to stuff it behind the seats a couple times rolling it up the usual way, but it did limit my seat travel. Damillster: the trunk is surprisingly big, I can put the top back there along with two decent sized (soft) bags that I bought specifically for this car. We each get one, they can be filled and we know they will fit.

Paul O · 11-03-2009, 03:48 AM

Always store mine behind the seats fine. I'd agree the boot/trunk is bigger than it looks from the boot. A little care tucking around the sides and you're fine for a couple of overnight bags.

You can get an exterior luggage rack that sits on top of the rear engine deck, in the time honoured wicker basket way of the 1920's too!

Damillster · 11-05-2009, 05:41 PM

Thank you for the link. That's great!

10-24-2009, 05:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
Damillster Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 5	Soft Top Removal/Storage Considering an Elise to replace an aging Supra Turbo. My Supra has a sportroof that spends most of the time in the trunk. However, when I travel with it I will button it up. It takes a few minutes to screw or unscrew all four corners, so I avoid it if I can. My questions/concerns: 1) How quickly can the top be removed/replaced? 2) Is there enough room behind the seats to store the soft top so that I can use the trunk (small as it is) for an overnight bag? Thanks in advance. dmill

10-24-2009, 08:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
glb Unattractive Nuisance Join Date: May 2005 Location: Chester, NJ Posts: 4,521	Not that it matters, but my TT supra flexed like a mofo with the top removed, so it stayed on. elise top removal: once did it at traffic light w/o leaving car. Bugeye sprite req'd many trips around car to put top on...many. Elan, 2 or 3. You will love elise. __________________ 05 elise (PES chip, SSRs, shift tower mods, Multivex; HID low beams); 05 Corolla XRS; 72 Elan Sprint, 170 hp (Sold) "Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable." G. Orwell. 6. "A bore is a man who deprives you of solitude without providing you with company." - Gian Vincenzo Gravina

10-24-2009, 10:25 PM	#6 (permalink)
RichardNHCooper Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Perth, western Australia Posts: 51	Roof 1) 40 sec off 60 sec on 2) Fold halfway oneside then halfway the other side then pull drivers seat forward pass roof behind it to other side, put seat back works great. Obviously not in its storage bag. I put the roof on while stuck on the freeway in jam this morning as the sun was getting hot. Did not leave the drivers seat. __________________ 2006 111R Elise,VF stg 1 supercharged,HIDs,Harness bar, LETSLA,Nitrons, Ferodo DS 2500,FF engine damper. Saikou Michi catch cans.Toyota MWR Transmission Lotus 6-spd 3.9:1 LSD Uprated clutch.

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10-24-2009, 05:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
Uncle Sam #14 Sport Elise Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Rockville, Maryland Posts: 862 Images: 2	1. Two to three minutes. 2. Barely, but not really practical.

11-01-2009, 04:05 PM	#7 (permalink)
Damillster Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 5	Thank you for the responses. I actually searched YouTube for a video of the top removal and storage, but only found a few videos of the older Elise. Thanks again.

11-03-2009, 03:25 AM	#9 (permalink)
Snowphun All good Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: SE MA Posts: 177	Good video, I hadn't thought of that. I managed to stuff it behind the seats a couple times rolling it up the usual way, but it did limit my seat travel. Damillster: the trunk is surprisingly big, I can put the top back there along with two decent sized (soft) bags that I bought specifically for this car. We each get one, they can be filled and we know they will fit.

11-03-2009, 03:48 AM	#10 (permalink)
Paul O Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Hampshire(not new!), England Posts: 15	Always store mine behind the seats fine. I'd agree the boot/trunk is bigger than it looks from the boot. A little care tucking around the sides and you're fine for a couple of overnight bags. You can get an exterior luggage rack that sits on top of the rear engine deck, in the time honoured wicker basket way of the 1920's too!

11-05-2009, 05:41 PM	#11 (permalink)
Damillster Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 5	Thank you for the link. That's great!

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