In 2001 Chris I was working at Lotus, there is a very strong possibility that I made the wishbones on that car, I moved over to Elise, Exige, vx220, when the demand for Esprit chassis slowed , a team of 4 of us used to build those, and 2 shifts of 3 each building all of those wishbones. I'd love to own an Exige today even tho I love my Cayman. Keep up good work 👏

@evanneiswanger

2 жыл бұрын

How very cool!

@MichaelCowley82

2 жыл бұрын

Ray, I will remember your comment next time I get in my car. Mine are a bit rusty by now (no measure of the quality of the work, of course). If I send you some tubes can you make a fresh set for my 2002 Elise?

@lebojay

2 жыл бұрын

You’re the man to ask then…. Which is the car to have, Esprit S4 or Esprit V8?

@kabob21

2 жыл бұрын

Oddly, I resemble you. I used to have an Elise and currently own a 718 Cayman S. Much prefer the Cayman as an all-rounder!

@classicraceruk1337

2 жыл бұрын

@@MichaelCowley82 I hope he helps you out!!!

Hi Chris, I was lucky enough to be your mechanic on your beautiful lime green Elise in the championship. I still remember you taking me for a hot lap around the Nurburgring in this very car! Great days mate! Can you remember what happened on your parade lap at Knockhill? Watching this video made me feel a bit emotional. Ben

@sandromartins20

2 жыл бұрын

Let's help Ben reach Mr. Harrys

@Taylor___

2 жыл бұрын

It would be so great if Chris could read this and reach out to you!

@gattopazzo80

2 жыл бұрын

Up!

@wolfiestreet6899

Жыл бұрын

Slurp slurp slurp, nom nom nom Get a room.

@vipe650r

3 ай бұрын

It's okay, you can go get some snacks while the adults enjoy a moment together. Come back when you're ready.@@wolfiestreet6899

Hi Chris, I was an engineer on the Autobytel Championship and you took me round the Nurburgring in this car. Happy days! Thanks again, still remember it. Many years later I got an S1 and raced that. Still got it and if you fancy giving that a spank on track let me know! Jake Humphrey hit it at Silverstone, but, that's a whole different story.

@budbud2509

2 жыл бұрын

What do u do for spare engines if that goes pop ? ( 12 year Exige S2 owner here ) Is there any support engine/ new engines wise for these ?

@22ti40

2 жыл бұрын

@@budbud2509 There is a very good supply of spares and engines around.The base block was used in loads of Rovers, Freelanders and MGFs, then it was sold to SAIC I think it is and they made a Gen 4 version that is also same fitments. So supply of base engines is fine. The biggest issue is the VHPD heads. But there are ways around that too if you killed one. Plenty of specialists do the engines too. Check out the Elise Trophy Race Series. Mine was rebuilt by DVA Power and then later in its life Datum motorsport. So I wouldn't worry too much about spares or breakages. If built properly the K Series is way better than people know. Early days knowledge was scarce and many went pop. I raced mine a decade after the Autobytel series and I never had an engine issue other than normal wear and tear after lots of track time. The catastrophic failures were generally down to poor knowledge at the time of what worked and what didn't.

@budbud2509

2 жыл бұрын

@@22ti40 Thats interesting to read , cos I suspect that Caterham is in the same place. I remember a friend who had ( I think it was ) a 214 ? Rover and that had a coolant prob and warped the head. My friend asked me to have a look so armed with straight edge and feeler gauges I went down and inspected the head. It was bent but not by much, but they wanted to put a new head on and I said can we not just skim it a fraction. There was no way they would put it back together with a skimmed head so poor friend had to buy a new one. I only asked cos I thought they would be getting old now, but I'm glad to hear there are people able to fix them. Cheers

@tom24057

2 жыл бұрын

@@22ti40 is it true he’s an arsehole? 😂

Buy it back Chris. You won’t regret it 👌🏼🙌🏼

@savagegtalks5912

2 жыл бұрын

he's 50 soon, if he does, his back and hip will regret it 💯 it be cool if he did, but he have to do Yoga 2 times a week to be able to get inn and out of that Lotus several times a day...

@prashanthp5448

2 жыл бұрын

@@savagegtalks5912 Chris Harris 50?!? Wow...time flies. I remember back in the day in one of his first ever KZread videos where he was test driving a MK 3 Scirocco.

@jonathanknight8251

2 жыл бұрын

@@savagegtalks5912 I recently took delivery of a new Elise at 56. Not an issue at all, and what an event every time I get in it!

@savagegtalks5912

2 жыл бұрын

@@jonathanknight8251 ye, an event to watch you get inn. I can imagine at your age^^ Old man, get a motorhome and think about your retirement, wasting your bonus days on this earth in a Lotus... pretending 😂😂

@savagegtalks5912

2 жыл бұрын

​@@prashanthp5448 ye, and age actually means something... Biology don't lie.

over 20 years old? timeless design, what a beauty, must be so fun to drive too

I could listen to Chris Harris talk cars all day long. Such a decent bloke

Oh my god, it is amazing to see more frequent Chris Harris Drives! LOVE IT!!

This car reminds me of my dad's 1995 Corvette ZR-1. I remember going to school in it when I wasn't even as tall as it. Now I am driving it and maintaining it. Everything in it is still the same as it always was and I've tried to keep it that way. It brings back all sorts of fun and incredible memories. Think Chris should buy that Lotus back.

That's the thing about cars and memories that Chris is referring to. When I was 3 years old my dad had a friend who owned a red Ferrari Testarossa and when we visited him, he took a photo of me sitting in the driver's seat cause he thought it would be cool. Fast forward 28 years later and would you believe it, I encountered the very same car in the authorized Ferrari dealership, while taking my Elise S2 111S for a service.( In my country Ferrari and Lotus authorized dealership is owned by the same person). When I saw the car I couldn't believe my eyes and started asking all sorts of questions. Before you knew it I was sat in that very same seat, after almost half a lifetime, when my feet could eventually reach the pedals ;) Long story short we took the car for a short spin and it was the ride of my life, so overwhelmed with memories and emotions :)

@bluetitan20

2 жыл бұрын

Now that is what you would call good Karma. What are the chances of finding the same car again, maybe you were meant to buy it...😉

@greggohlins1497

2 жыл бұрын

@@bluetitan20 Fun fact: the car was getting a major service done, before being put up for sale. Sadly it costs 200,000 EUR and I don't think I'll ever be able to afford it, even though I would love to get it, wrap it in white, take one mirror off and pretend to be Don Johnson from Miami Vice :)

"I love my children and everything else but" Thats absolutly magic and I know exactly what he means🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

@jblack5323

2 жыл бұрын

Yup. I think we all take our youth for granted. I had some insecurities at the time of my youth but I was free from children mortgage and a stressful job.

My friends 200bhp K series Elise S2 was sublime, my 200bhp K series Caterham is sublime! K series, what an amazing engine 👍

What a fantastic step back into Chris’s memories of the past 👍 Excellent to watch.. Great content by all accounts 🔥

Rover K series finest moment. Thanks for sharing Chris. Very unique car.

*Chris Harris* A true British gem 💎🇬🇧

Chris Harris is a legend up there with the best of them... I love his pieces and watching him drive and describe a vehicle. Absolutely wonderful.

When we were Kings.....I imagine you're looking for one now. Very fine piece Thank you

At the end of the day it really doesn't matter how fast your car is or what lap times it puts down; if you can speak upon your old machine like Chris has with this Lotus, that's the connection that lasts a lifetime and really makes a car more special than any person. Thanks, Chris, for yet another reason to take the long way home.

@ZesPak

Жыл бұрын

Spot on. A decade ago I owned an Alfa for almost 10 years. Bought it as I started my business, got married in it, drove my wife to the hospital to give birth to our first son in it. I cried for 40 minutes the day I sold it. It was a good looking car but nothing special otherwise. It was special to me.

More of these videos please. Also, I have to say, remembering the interview you had with Jonny Smith, you might actually be proving yourself wrong with this series, Chris. They are, at least, a tiny bit more than metal...but I think you had the experiences and you're always moving on and finding something new but re-driving the specific example you had, you might wanna create a new context by thinking about getting another similar one because of the memories associated to the one you had because man, look at you in this one. The memories here seem strong and that's a nice thing to see captured. So again, if possible, more of these. More of the Mondial too, if that's still in the cards! Cheers.

"This car does not have it's original engine, I know, because I blew the first one up" He says it like that's a perfectly normal thing to do.

One of the best cars I have ever driven, within 30min of driving it gave back so mush confidence and feed back, I have yet to experience anything close to this response in any other car.

What a fine little car

Hi Chris, I got my Elise back on the road the day before yesterday. I was ready to sell it, then drove it for half an hour and am now smitten once again. They are just perfect.

Hi Chris Bought a Elise in 1999 and still have it to this day . I fall in love with it every time I get a chance to drive it in Queensland Australia. No fancy stuff just pure pleasure

When Harris has an existential moment in a car, one should pay extra close attention. 🔥🔥🔥

The memories. My Dad owned Haydon Lotus of Salisbury shortly after the release of the Elise so my formative petrolhead years, usually focused on the GSF cars of Max Power and Fast Car, was nicely interspersed with early driving experiences in the Elise/Exige, Esprit V8s and the classic Elan alongside the less enviable Saturday job cleaning the forecourt selection. Lotus will always be special to me and regardless of foreign takeovers still has something uniquely British at the heart of its cars.

Just to agree with everyone else, please, more of these videos. I like!

One of the all time greats that car.

this is one of my favorite car videos ever! thank you Chris and team :)

Chris is just absolutely fantastic. Love every second ive ever spent watching him

Utterly glorious. Who TF cares if it's not the fastest on the road. This car won't put you to sleep! Its all about how it makes you *feel* and that's how a car can make you feel so alive! I reckon Chris was almost tearing up at 7:20 😊 Off to cruise the classifieds!

@ashscott6068

6 ай бұрын

If you drove a Koenigsseggsseggabbaviking at those speeds on those roads, you'd have to stop every mile, to pick up another piece that fell off it...IF it survived at all. some of the cars people are buying now are stupid. You're scraping weird bits of aero off them on roads that look pretty smooth. And a pothole means a suspension rebuild, maybe new rims, and probably more areo bits lying in the road. Even entry level Ferraris and lambos are like that. Porsche still have some sense. And some of the more sensible McLarens. Hell...look at the McLaren F1! The ground clearance is huge compared to modern hypercars. And they're all so wide nowadays that you have to stop if you meet anyone on a country lane, and one of you has to reverse to the nearest passing place. I think on a lot of British roads, even these old underpowered Exiges would destroy a lot of the supercars and hypercars people drool over today. You couldn't even overtake a tractor in most Lambos, cus they're so wide, and in left hand drive, you can't see if it's clear.

The best part is, he is having that much fun, going so slow. Thats how strong the driving feel is

Seeing Chris Harris put some of his weight on the window when he got out of the car :O

Another fantastic video by the Collecting Cars team and Neil. These videos are the best.

Great video! This reminds me of my first fun car. 1997 Acura Integra Vtec. Manual gearbox and Revved up to 8100 RPM. So many amazing memories when thinking of first cars. Thanks guys

Haha. That magazine just HAPPENED to be in there... 🙄 "Oh look, there's me." 👍😆

As they say, “never sell a Lotus”. Still have my S1 Elise and love it.

What a feature, love the s1 Exige. I actually have an ex-autobytel racecar in my garage, which was built by Kelsport for the series. Its only 220bhp but is just absolutely wonderful to drive on a circuit. No driving aids, central driving position, stripped out interior and big widebody and racing wing. I LOVE IT, and I’m never ever ever selling it.

Currently racing one of these in the Roadsports Championship in the 750 Motorclub! I absolutely love it, funny you mentioned about the alternator...the last race at Silverstone, the alternator wire came off and ended my race...gotta love lotus, gotta keep on it, with checking those parts!

Awesome to see Chris still appreciates real sports cars. Love my Elise S2!

Nice to see the K Series getting some compliments, fantastic engine if you keep your eye on it.

@gerardmontgomery280

2 жыл бұрын

Just put a good gasket on it and keep an eye on the coolant. I miss my MG ZR so much. That was a lovely little car.

@Baz_R

2 жыл бұрын

@@gerardmontgomery280 nice to bump into another MG Rover fan.

@Alex-Walker

2 жыл бұрын

I had the MG ZR 160, what an incredible little engine.

@BlatentlyFakeName

2 жыл бұрын

Was replaced in the standard Elise by the Toyota 1zz in 2005. Similar power delivery but heavier. Much more reliable ofc :D

I would imagine this is how I would feel if I sold my S2000. Small lightweight car with a peaky engine is just so good. Fortunately I don’t have plans to sell it so I’ll continue to make more memories!

@BlatentlyFakeName

2 жыл бұрын

S2000 isn't very light. It's heavier than a GT86 or Fiesta ST :P The Exige/Elise weighs about half as much.

@sleepeatdrive7619

2 жыл бұрын

@@BlatentlyFakeName it’s still lightweight

@sugarrfree

2 жыл бұрын

S2000 is going up the value for sure

@sleepeatdrive7619

2 жыл бұрын

@@sugarrfree yes indeed!

@chaphammersmith9540

Жыл бұрын

Can’t go wrong with an S2000, still one of the best, if not the best shifter and 4 cylinder engine ever made. For handling and engagement, the Elise is a step up but there are clear compromises. I’ve had my Elise for almost 2 years as a daily so it’s definitely doable.

One of my favourite and still is. Absolutely amazing. Love it

Time to buy it back!

"It's just a series one Lotus Exige". That gentlemen, is relativity.

@thekingmezger

2 жыл бұрын

thank you for saying that. I thought the same....

@jayperks2582

2 жыл бұрын

Have you driven an Exige S1 gentlemen?

Love the Exige S1. Can't believe how tiny it is, it makes even Chris Harris look tall!

Man, cars like this is what driving is all about. In 2001, I was a senior in HS, driving a '96 3000GT VR-4. Manual. I still have it. I miss the mechanical connection we used to have with cars. Time to hot tub time machine this bit$% 🤘🏿

Cheers Chris,more of these please 🚒👍👍👍

I had a s1 elise, I bought it as a well done for graduation... Miss it most days. Awsome car.

Bought an m3 a few months ago and my 6 year old is obsessed with it. Thinking I might keep it for him when he grows up so he has fond memories of ripping around with his dad then getting the car. (I get to enjoy it til then, too). This video is spot on.

My car's twin, albeit mine has the smurfskin blue alcantara interior rather than the charcoal. Buy it back Chris! I bought mine in '07 as a dream car, It's still my dream car fifteen years later. I'm at the same stage where kids, mortgage and life means it spends more time under a blanket in the garage than it really should. That said, the handful of days a year I give it a spanking of an early morning make it more than worthwhile. I'm fortunate enough that I can have a few toys tucked away in the garage, and whatever else comes and goes, the Exige is staying put. There's too many happy memories in it for it to go... many of them with my father who is no longer on this mortal coil. I bought the Exige on the basis that it was about as hardcore and uncompromising as real road cars got (Real, meaning windscreen, doors and windows) unless you were stepping up to the limited edition GT1 homologation stuff. Two decades on and I don't think it's ever really been bettered in that respect.

‘Its just a simple Lotus Exige s1’ ??? Its brilliant!!

My first experience with Lotus, was the chance to drive a Lotus Elise MK1 in Düsseldorf by myself. I will never forget it. It was a blast and I really liked it! Forget all about horse power. It the light weight handling and to stunning look. 25 years later I still drive my Opel Speedster (Lotus Type 116) and love it!

No one talks about cars in the same way as Chris. Amazing video, and without a single bit of hooning. 😎🙌

I get that feeling every time I get behind mine. You probably will not be surprised that many owners like myself have had an S1 Elise from new, some with Exige, yep still own them. One of the owners notably is over 300k miles, for myself on at 200k miles. A car very hard to replace. My daily for 22 years with a spell when HG no 3 was fitted (the E38 came in handy). As Autocar said on the road test, the best fun you can have at 40mph, totally agree cannot beat a Lotus on an English country road. Look forward to seeing you back in an S1, don't muck about as your car collection needs one. Lotus, english country road listen to the exhaust, if you want some music take Pete Postlethwaite's advice from the Drama Sins when he gets behind the wheel of his S3 Elan, i think went "You can't bang The Who in a lotus"

Easily the best person talking about cars on film today.

Awesome video, always nice to be reacquainted with an old friend 😊

awesome @Chris Harris you are the reason I still watch TG nowadays

Loved mine , Y76 HUM never had a car since that made me smile so much

Chris your stash isn’t trash, but the beard is weird, lol. Wicked car, a serious handling machine, I’d love one for track dayz. Great video mate 👊🏻

I have an S1 Elise 160 sports and love it to bits!

Hi Chris, as a long time Italian reader of Autocar & Evo i also have fond memories of that time. In early 2001 had my first new S1 Elise, four months later i swapped for a new Exige S1 at my dealer in Milan since the itch was too strong. Specs of mine was New Aluminum/blue Alacantara bucket seats and pretty much same specs. Unfortunately this car had serious engine issues like overheating & engine knocking even in mild traffic, engine stutter at 5.5K, oil in the coolant since new, etc Local Lotus garages were never able to sort it out so i sold after six months and 9k kms. However this has been by a large margin the best handling sports cars i have ever owned includind Exige 190, 220S and 260 Cup which followed over the years. On fast sweeping roads, hill routes was a pleasure to drive. I did a couple of trackdays at Monza and the sense of downforce combined with low weight, on the Parabolica was like driving like a big hand pushing down youon the tarmac. The weight balance front rear was pretty much perfect, very light on brakes and tyres. Later Exiges 220S and 260 were more rear biased on weight, also the 260 was too much front biased on brakes. Now i have a Porsche 718 Spyder, very nice car but not nearly as thrilling like the Exige. P.s. I'm about to swap it for another one with PDK what do you think ? the tall gearing manual is really ruining the driving experience. GT4 RS on the other hand is actually unobtainable.

One of the best looking sports cars in resent times. Only ever had passenger rides in S1 and S2 Elise and a bonkers supercharged VX220

It was famous throughout its whole production run - it was infamous for a day. ;o) If there was ever a more perfect, affordable drivers car (and please don't bang on about the MX5 - I had one and it was great but no Elise/Exige) then I have yet to see it. S1 was always my favourite...

beautiful and I can actually remember hearing that traffic news being stuck on the way to a stag do.

Love to hear, See the emotion brought on by memories through cars, we all have them sadly few get the opertunity to embrace a moment with a are pasts like this. Do more I used to own, I've managed to track down my old...................

That was nice mr. harris, just a nice calm drive.

I drove the Exige S back when they were newer, maybe 2008, what a car what an experience

Always loved this car, so ahead of time with design

Always lusted after one of these, but so many have been modified or raced, so ended up with a chrome orange S2 260 S - more than happy with it ! :D Love Lotus

Some things/impressions never fade.

I probably watched Jeremy Clarksons review of the Lotus Exige with the Apache gunship probably 100 times love these cars

Cool retro memories thanks and cool sports car

Superb another excellent video

I was in Newquay on holiday the following month in my 1999 Mustard Yellow S1 Elise. Happy days indeed

I've dailyed my 111R for 14 years. I can't let it go.

I once owned a car that was featured in a magazine too..... Wheels (Australia) April '05 issue.....it was a supercharged Mitsubishi Magna VRX AWD.....the "Sprintex Magna" as it was known. Loved that car! The new owner has done a full ground up resto on it but with a 3.8l V6 as opposed to the 3.5l V6 that was in it. It was so fast.....and fun.

Absolutely stunning car!

I’ve driven two Elises, owned an S2000, modified X1/9 and currently have a Homebuilt Locost Seven. All are wonderful in their own way. My X had about 110 WHP and very well sorted suspension.

Said it all, I had a 2006 model which was sold after 4/5 years but you never forget your lotus. Truest statement I use to jump in and out of these!

@xtnuser5338

2 жыл бұрын

Still have my '06. Bought it new, tracked it, street drove it, modded it a bit, and then finally in '14 started to let it languish. This last year have been going through it and prepping it for a return to glory. Last week was it's first shakeout track sessions and it was perfect. Soooooo much fun. All the memories came flooding back, just like Chris described.

Chris should buy it! They belong together!

Love that car!🚗 ❤ i remember when they 1st came out. What a car!! Want 1!!

Great video! I remember how struck I was by this car when it first came to America. Wow! A real driver’s delight. Lotus have always had a way with handling dynamics. Driving one is a very satisfying experience.

I feel you need to get that one in your collection Mr Harris!

Lovely, I happen to have a VHPD powered Elise S1 available at the moment, this video is testament to the driving experience :-)

@JamesElise160

2 жыл бұрын

You’ve never had an exige though rob, not tempted? :p

@TheMrrigma

2 жыл бұрын

@@JamesElise160 Always 😂

You took me round Bedford in that very car on an Auto car track day, my Alfa had broken down on the way there! 😆 Was my first taste of a properly driven car on a track.

@simondumbrell6241

2 жыл бұрын

Was that at Millbrook?

@jakethegsd

2 жыл бұрын

@@simondumbrell6241 Bedford Autodrome

Watching this video of Chris after just watching the 2022 GT3 Touring video…. Driver position, steering wheel and dash… It’s (in that context) comical. Then I remember there is about two decades difference. It is a nice car!

Chris is speaking full speed uk english. Love it even if I dont always understand, really cool video, anything with Chris Harris, the one true auto journalist

@johnw65uk

3 ай бұрын

What is uk English? It’s English we’ve been using it for thousands of years !! He’s from England so speaks English ffs

That collecting cars vest is so cool!

What a lovely video.

please do the hoovering , Chris! it would be a worthwhile read! I'm up for it ;-)

Great car, great story, great journalist. What more could you want? Oh and please do collect those stories, we reallyneed the Official biography of Mr Harris brought by CC!

Never noticed at the time, but the headlights give it some Alpine A110 vibes.

Still got mine, same colour too!

Dammit Harris, I know you don't read the comments but you are the best there is and I feel this so much!

What a car and what a story. Not sure how you could bear to not buy it back after the car has found you again haha.

beautiful car

It still is an absolutely fabulous looking car! Another 90-110bhp and I'd be happy with my lot!

Driving experience versus bragging rights. I’ll take driving experience any day

There's something very 'mini mclaren f1' about the S1 Exige, especially the tail lights. Cracking car

First poster car for me...thanks Chris!