Fantastic review! Loved every second of this. Well done Yousuf 👏👏

@Autoexpress

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! High praise coming from you guys, much appreciated 👍

I bought a yellow S1 in 1998. Put over 50K miles on it in 3 years, then sold it due to a growing family. I’ve missed it ever since. Fantastic car.

@Autoexpress

2 жыл бұрын

Fair play for using it as intended, Chris - that's what they're for.

@SimonScuffham

2 жыл бұрын

Snap! Still got mine....

@cp4512

2 жыл бұрын

@@SimonScuffham 👍

@AndyRRR0791

2 жыл бұрын

Seller's remorse is real.

@Djpaul-lo1px

2 жыл бұрын

16,000 miles a year in an Elise? Really?

It’s proof that you don’t need eleventy-bajillion horsepower to have huge amounts of fun behind the wheel!

@Autoexpress

2 жыл бұрын

Exactly. You enjoy yourself, and you get to keep your licence at the end of it!

@BlatentlyFakeName

2 жыл бұрын

They are quick even with the low power.

That grin never left your face for the entire shoot. That says it all. Fine review.

I like this kid. Probably the best Elise video I've seen. Bit of BBC announcer at first, but he got over it. Worst thing about British videos is 90% of them saying every sentence the same weird way. Keeping being real, kid.

@YouArb77

8 ай бұрын

He now works for Evo.

I'd not seen any of Yousuf's reviews before, but I'm now on the classifieds looking at S1 Elises. Great job!

He's got the smile of knowing that only Lotus owners have.

@AshrafonCars

2 жыл бұрын

@@edhot5613 I've owned both - the MR2 is good, but not in the same league!

What a great review, ‘This is the car I want to drive forever’.

Brilliant review, The Elise rewards good driving and roads like little else just a simple fun precise Sportscar. Don't ever sell it.

I own a 2006 S2 and absolutely love it. We can all try to describe what driving it is like, but it is almost impossible. One really just needs to drive an Elise themselves to finally appreciate and understand how unique and fantastic it is. In my experience, words can't describe it but the look on someone's face when they get out of one after their first drive says it all. I'm in my mid sixties now and plan to keep mine forever then pass it to my kids. Probably the last car of its kind given where technology is headed. If you love cars, try to find one to test drive and treat yourself to a unique experience.

@patrickvanrinsvelt4466

3 ай бұрын

Yeah, it's pretty special. I test drove big American muscle and other Japanese sportsters. Nothing compares to Lotus.

@davidroush1224

3 ай бұрын

@@patrickvanrinsvelt4466 2 years since I posted and still love it every time I drive it. Only other vehicle I'd really like to try is one of the very first Lotus - the 7, or now Caterham as one can get them brand new. The 420 with a manual looks like a sweet spot. The 620 had a manual but no longer - I would love to drive one of those. A friend is considering building one when he retires in a couple years and I told him I'd help if he pulls the trigger. Fingers crossed.

I’ve loved mine since 1999. Great choice. It’ll be up for sale soon, …in 2055 when I’m 88 ! 😝 thanks for posting the review.

The K series is a very fun and revvy engine to drive, They make great power for what they are too. Loads of people write them off with headgasket comments but as long as it’s been fixed properly it shouldn’t be a problem and they’re reliable apart from that

I've just recently sold mine. 111s from '99 in yellow, 55k miles and mechanically tip top. Bought it in 2002 and one of the best cars I've ever owned. Kept the number plate for sentimental reasons: LTS 111S

Such a fantastic car. Back in the day my Dad ordered a Calypso red S1, a 98 plate, and we drove it everywhere, including road trips through France, Switzerland and Italy. It never missed a beat and we smiled all the way. A true sports car.

That’s a nice way to cement the legacy of this car in automotive circles. I’ve only driven S2’s but most of the sentiment would apply. Driving an Elise/Exige is a revelation to anyone who has never felt a truly light and communicative car.

Yousuf is fantastic, great video !

I’ve always liked the Elise, great review.

@Autoexpress

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it.

One of my all-time favorite sportscars. Great review!

Nice Review! I do not understand however why this scary myth of the head gasket failure is brought up over and over again: Since latest the year 2005-something all proper maintained Elise S1 have had their head gasket upgraded. Since upgrade no problem at all!

Suspension and tires are so important with these special machines. They constantly communicate in the turns. I love my 111R.

Watched Ashraf on Cars from the beginning - great to see you doing well. Great review and the camera guy has done very well 👍🏻

@Autoexpress

2 жыл бұрын

Very kind of you! Thanks Jay.

Great review !!!!

First time watching your review Yousuf. Enjoyed it. Well done!

I blew up the engine in my Elise today on track.. and I am still smiling. Had an awesome day. Love my car. I'll go and get another engine tomorrow and throw it in. I just found one for £100. 🤣

Excellent review, made me want an Elise even more. Light weight really is everything. Really good presenter too!

Brilliant review!

Great video, great presentation. The Elise is a rare thing to those of us in the middle of the US. One would look great in my garage and on the hilly country roads here I gotta say.

Great review Yousuf! Car looks great in the setting sun!

@Autoexpress

2 жыл бұрын

It was a lovely day for it - thank you!

Nice job Yousuf! Great review as always! I've still never driven one and now I know not to until I'm ready to buy another car. Seems like, once driven - you've got to have one.

Great review really captured the car well. I had a series 1 back in 2001 in blue with tan leather, was great fun.

Brilliant review, love it!

@Autoexpress

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Dan!

The Elise is certainly the best road car I've ever driven. I'd contest the S1 being the best ever though, because the S2 improved upon it. When the S1 was developed, Lotus had a very limited budget and weren't able to do many things that they wanted to do, like work with a tyre manufacturer to get a bespoke tyre suited to the unusual weight distribution, engineer an easy to fit hood; sort out the suspension's knocks and crashes; or cure aerodynamics that gave rear end lift at speed. The S2 also ran lower and with stiffer springs and dampers, so feels noticeably more planted. You can mod an S1 for some of these things, obviously the tyres for instance, and Lotus Sports Suspension runs the same stiffer and lower setup; but other things like the aerodynamics are inherent in the S2 design.

Awesome. Loved watching this.

Wonderful video!

Great review. Just before Xmas I acquired an Elise S1 Sport 160 in motorsport green like yours. Completely agree with everything you say about the handling. Many grins per mile!

@Autoexpress

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Mark - glad you're enjoying the car!

Lightweight naturally aspirated roadsters with manual gears is where it's at, be it a Miata or a DBS Volante, can't go wrong if you LOVE driving.

Very similar to my car, S1 111S with Bilsteins. Can't argue with anything you said. Fantastic cars, can't see me parting with it.

Nice job, congrats on the car welcome to Lotus ownership!

@Autoexpress

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks very much!

Yousuf, great review. I bought a new S1 when they first came out in 96. Always loved the Dino, and GT40 and the 916 . The S1 combined styling from all three. Sadly had to sell the car. Ten years ago I got into Caterhams and had 6 Caterhams but I never truly loved the car, so last December I bought an Elise and fell in love with car. My car is a '98 car with the MMC brakes, it's been meticulously maintained, with some nice upgrades including LLS S2 suspension, 111S close ratio gear box, short shift gear change, a 160 spec engine, that pops and bangs and uprated seats.

@Autoexpress

2 жыл бұрын

That sounds like quite a recipe! Thanks Tony, hope you're enjoying it.

Nice enthusiastic review and totally accurate. I bought my 1999 111S in 2007 after a French Historic race driver took me round Pau-Arnos in his S1 JPS 111S, which convinced me of the car's character. Mine is Azure Blue, and has been tuned by Dave Andrews to 2004bhp. It currently has the ceramic discs, and Nitron race suspension, which I think I'll change as it's uncomfortably stiff. I'll go for the S2 Bilsteins as in this review. Lovely cars....I doubt I'll ever sell mine.

It really does ruin modern cars. I agree 100% with this. I have an Elise S2 111R (they never sold S1s here and importation seems difficult so I bought an S2). It is just so much fun to drive! So involving and so agile. I have literally 0 desire to ever replace it with another sports car. Great review!

Love the story of the previous owner - what a legend! The perfect sports for the road - quick enough, but not so quick that you run out of talent sharpish

Mine is the same colour, except S2. and yeah, I love mine as well. Carbon fibre interior, Quantum one Coilovers, Rear toe link kit, Oz racing wheels, Racetech quick release steering wheel. 72 degree cams and Kent sprockets, the list goes on.

Great vid. I’ve got a Sport 135 (first batch) if you ever want to compare notes.

I'd been thinking about buying an Elise for ages, and then in January 2022 I saw this video. Now I'm the proud owner of a 2005 Elise S2 111s. It's amazing, love at first drive! So thank you Yousuf, this was the nudge I needed to finally join the ranks of the Lotus owners 👍

@Autoexpress

2 жыл бұрын

Great to hear, Tim! Hopefully you have many more happy miles to come.

Perfect. I want one!

This just goes to show that there is no correlation between the price and the power and amount of smiles a car gives. what else comes close to lotus?

After 93k miles and multiple track days mine is still going well

Clever quick shifts in that intro but remember to put the e-brake down next time lol

The most talked thing about like cars is having good power with not massively strong engine but the real point is having great WEIGHT/TRACK WIDTH ratio. Sure nowadays you can add like infinite tires, brakes and power (expensive) to balance things out but you can only make a road car so wide.

I couldn't really see which tyres you have on your Elise. When it is time for a change go for Yokohama AD08, which further add to the brilliance of the chassis. Walter Röhrl once said in an interview: "If you are not running an unlimited budget, the first thing you want to improve on your car is tyres". Get the Yoko's. You will never look back.

@Autoexpress

2 жыл бұрын

A wheel alignment and AD08s are next on the list 👍

@louisyeung7986

2 жыл бұрын

the Bridgestone Re71rs would be much better than Yokos

@BlatentlyFakeName

2 жыл бұрын

It's getting hard to find front tyres for the Elise now as they are an odd size which isn't made anymore. The special tyres which were made for it aren't made anymore. The current OEM road tyre is Yoko v105 (in a slightly larger size on the fronts) which seem ok on my S2.

Roads around castle combe by any chance? Good job with the review

@Autoexpress

2 жыл бұрын

Yes, good spot! Thank you.

My present to myself for graduation. Back in 2005 I had a red S reg in red at 25 Yr old. So wish I kept it :(

Can't wait to test drive an Elise soon. Though I'm fearing the moment right after, when I'll jump back to my MX-5 ND and it'll feel like a big and heavy truck with an awful electric steering 😅

@Autoexpress

2 жыл бұрын

They're two very different cars, but the MX-5 is also sweet to drive and a great all-rounder. We like it a lot at Auto Express.

Nice review, thanks!! - I'm lucky enough to have one of these ('99 111s - 8k miles) - made the mistake of replacing the tyres with Toyo Proxes which were cheaper than the alternative Yokohamas but a little flaky/vague on turn in - would suggest anyone thinking of replacing tyres on these avoid the Toyos

@Autoexpress

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Steve - a set of AD08s is next on the list. Hope you're enjoying the car!

@stevebaxter8154

2 жыл бұрын

@@Autoexpress it's a great little car, always enjoyable when I get round to using it - just doesn't get much use (hence the 8k miles), been in the family since new.

I have a fantastic Lotus Elise s3 year 2016, what a car I've been driving it for 3 years is like a drug the more you drive the more you want to drive, what a fantastic line great weight power car, it's like a mini Supercar you don't have the running costs of a supercar but it is how to drive a supercar is a magical car

@Autoexpress

2 жыл бұрын

Awesome. Hope you continue to enjoy it!

Make sure you budget for old suspension etc etc

I would love to try one at some stage. As an actual ownership prospect are you better off with the S1 or S2 Elise?

@Autoexpress

2 жыл бұрын

For reliability and extra usability, go for a Toyota-engined S2. But the S1 is a bit lighter and arguably the more pure driving experience.

@steveluck9541

2 жыл бұрын

S1 will continue to climb in value - you won’t loose any money if you buy a tidy one.

Because of Need for speed Underground. Thats my favorite car ever

hunted one with my civic eg..back then

Ashraf, have you ever driven an early 70’s Lotus Elan sprint? I appreciate the engine configuration is different, but I would love to hear how you thought they compare? Anyone else got experience of both?

@Autoexpress

2 жыл бұрын

I haven't unfortunately - one for the bucket list though.

@steveluck9541

2 жыл бұрын

Parked my Elise next to an Elan sprint at a car show got chatting to the owner and had a sit. Elan sprint feels even lower to the ground and makes an Elise look big. Wood dash in the Elan still looks cool.

@jonathanknight8251

2 жыл бұрын

Harry Metcalfe has owned both, and James Martin (JayEmm) has driven and presented on both.

My favorite sports car . . . but that bonded aluminum frame can't age well. Aluminum unlike steel fatigues over time, plus this car was basically glued together

잘 보고 갑니다~

My ex’s name is Elise, so my girlfriend won’t let me buy one, so I have to go with an exige, which is hardly a problem.

Was the S1 produced in left hand drive in any markets?

@AshrafonCars

2 жыл бұрын

I believe there are a small amount of LHD examples out there, but you can buy a conversion kit for less than £2,000.

@jonathanknight8251

2 жыл бұрын

I’ve seen them here in Japan, despite this being a RHD market. Must have been imported from Europe.

you know it's great car when in close shot you only see a big grin 😁

Love it.. Unfortunately I don't have 15/ 20 k to spend on a weekend car. .. So I bought... (and don't laugh) a smart roadster..

Seems like you would like the 914 as well..

The car is named after the granddaughter of Romano Artioli...the then owner of Bugatti...Elise...

@jonathanknight8251

2 жыл бұрын

Elisa, actually. She had a KZread channel which is well worth checking out.

@vwgti3414

2 жыл бұрын

@@jonathanknight8251 thx...i'll check it... 👋👋

Amazing car. They sure don’t make them like they used to. The engine does seem underwhelming compared to the more modern Toyota offering though.

@steveluck9541

2 жыл бұрын

Toyota motor is much heavier and so is the rest of the newer car it’s fitted in. Rover VVC engine has flat torque curve that makes it a gem to drive. Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it from behind the wheel.

@williambellisIII

2 жыл бұрын

@@steveluck9541 Yeah. I just enjoy high revving, high character engines. I assume there are numerous reasons they switched to it.

@steveluck9541

2 жыл бұрын

@@williambellisIII Mostly American emission standards for NOX

@jonathanknight8251

2 жыл бұрын

@@steveluck9541 I haven’t driven the S1 so can’t compare, but I’m very fond of the linear and prodigious torque that the supercharged S3 delivers. Some might find it lacking in character, but it delivers the goods. I probably wouldn’t like the NA 2ZZ engine.

Spot on review. I’ve had my S1 111S in Nautilus Blue for over twenty years. The car is still on it’s original head gasket. The key to that was early fitment of Elise parts remote thermostat which prevents the heating and cooling cycling which softens the heads. Now have the Rover pressure and temp stat in it’s place. Quaife torque biasing diff sorts any twitchiness and may just save your life. Lights on alarm is a must and an easy fit - flat battery is very uncool. Lightened and balanced flywheel makes the car very lively but hard to maintain a steady speed on the boring roads between the twisties. Enjoy

Why "might be" ? 😉IT IS the best sport car EVER made. A razor blade, the only car you could enjoy in same way when you climb or you down a mountain pass. And this, is really a advantage, because during a road trip with friends, you enjoy, at least, 2 times more 😘

You probably already know the story. Of the head gasket.

Sad the newer Lotus has a more conventional windscreen 🙁

A great review however a couple of other negative points the seats do not offer much support and are positively uncomfortable when doing lots of miles, the roof takes an age to put back on in the series 1 and the luggage space is minimal. Getting in and out with the roof on is difficult.. My first series 1 had a removable steering wheel which made entry and exit much easier. I traded up to a series 2 however I did not like it as much as the 1 and then bought a Porsche Boxster S which was sublime.

@SuperMadpom

Жыл бұрын

111S as featured has more padding in the seat than the basic Elise and is OK for a long drive.

@drew699

Жыл бұрын

A Boxster isn’t a sport car like the scalpel that the Elise is though - the Boxster is more of a grand tourer. I’ve owned both.

The Caterham 420R is the best drivers car. The Elise is a sports car. The Seven is a racing car. I had a S1 Exige which was a masterpiece. I loved it but the Seven is in another league. Usability is an entirely different issue. However the title is "might be the best drivers car" The Elise is one of the greats but the best driving machine is the Seven. Period!

@Tom_Hadler

2 жыл бұрын

Interesting. I drove a Caterham once and had a passenger ride in an Elise S2. Both lovely and not sure which i should get. I will own one, one day. The Elise is MR engined though, does that not go in its favour? Caterham are even lighter though. Lovely direct steering feel

@AshrafonCars

2 жыл бұрын

@@Tom_Hadler both are fantastic, but the Elise takes it as a road car in my opinion. On a track something like a 420R would be more immediate, connected and intense, but the supple setup and delicacy of the Elise beats it on the road. It combines compliance and raw communication like few other cars. A serious Caterham is like nothing else, but the you can't uncork their full potential on public roads, and the ride is pretty uncompromising - they're more at home on a circuit.

@shabbos-goy9407

2 жыл бұрын

@@AshrafonCars I don't disagree. Many an S1 Elise in its day were used as daily drivers. You have a heater, windows that go down and a snug cockpit. The 420R is not a daily. Some masochistic lunatics might use one all year but it's essentially a 50's clubman racing car. Also a Seven parked outside even with a cover falls to pieces. They do not survive the elements at all well. All the suspension metalwork quickly starts to rust then heavily pit. The ally tub corrodes and the interior gets very dowdy and damaged by the inevitable damp. Some consider the Seven too raw. Which is fine as it is a no compromise weapon. Ultimately the Seven is a pure no nonsense tool. Sensory overload. The Elise is beautifully balanced sports car.

Why all British auto journalists speaks exactly the same to each other?

The Elise was meant to be a mini Ferrari.

And the Elise S2 doesn't suck either. Not. At. All.

@BlatentlyFakeName

2 жыл бұрын

The S2 is mostly the same car, but more comfortable and a lot more reliable :D

Way pay 20k when you can get MR2 for half the price ? And get beter relaybilty.

@Autoexpress

2 жыл бұрын

Certainly more reliable, but Yousuf has owned both - to drive, the Elise is in a different league!

@SuperMadpom

2 жыл бұрын

If your buying a 20 year old Elise with some mileage on it the bugs all well known will have been fixed - reliability no better or worse than an old MR2 and the car is in a different league for driving.