Chevrolet Corvette. The EU-spec Corvette is heavier and less powerful than we were led to believe, but is still a fantastic modern sports car with a distinct American fla…. Porsche Cayman GT4 review — an all-time great. Porsche Cayman GT4 coupe. For a combination of pure driver appeal and value, the Cayman GT4 has no rivals. An instant modern classic, if ever there was one. Porsche Carrera 4 GTS review — middle child shapes up.
Porsche Carrera. Two and a half years after the launch of the , the GTS treatment both adds and subtracts but does the result gel on the road? Most Popular. BMW 1 Series. Give the bodywork a good look over too, particularly for scraping on the lower sections where most damage is likely. Repairing the fibre-glass can be an expensive endeavour and should be considered with some gravity if present.
The Series 2 cars in particular tend to suffer from bubbling paint on their lower rear clamshells. Take your time around the car concerned and closely examine the consistency of panel gaps as another sign of potential crash damage. The rear end of the car tends to take the most abuse, so focus your senses on any looseness from what could be worn rear toe-links, ball joints, or shock absorbers.
Meanwhile, keep an ear out for the usual knocks and generally untoward noises of any worn bushes. Steering racks can also be problem areas, their quick ratio and sensitivity to the front axle making them quite vulnerable to abuse. Ensure a consistent and clean response, or budget for what can be a sizeable repair bill.
The steel components can in time begin to react with the aluminium and effect bi-metallic corrosion — not what you want for your sharp, Lotus-branded turn-in. Infamously vulnerable to head gasket failure, when looking at a so-equipped car make the usual checks of the oil but also carefully inspect the state of the water-cooling system. Check all the hoses that you can, be diligent for leaks before and after the test drive, during which keeping a sharp eye on the temperature gauges.
Regular maintenance is also important, with the K-series wanting oil changes every miles and cambelts at least as frequently as 54, miles — higher performance iterations more so.
The later chain-driven camshaft Toyota VVT-i engines require far less maintenance and worrisome looking-over. It is a heavier unit though, weighing kg compared to the 95kg of the K-series; for further debate on the pros and cons of each, approach any Elise enthusiast or forum ready with a cup of tea.
Sport series cars , , will want more attention for their exotic specification engines featuring polished and ported cylinder heads, new cams, and associated tuning. Short-cutting aftermarket ECU tunes are seen with some scepticism in the community, so tread carefully. The earliest cars were equipped with lightweight Metal Matrix Composite brakes that are impressive performers in certain conditions but can be expensive to replace.
Purists believe the back-to-basics S1 is the original and best but the S2 is easier to live with and to drive thanks to its more compliant Bilstein suspension, larger wheels, easier roof mechanism and lower sills. Click here to buy your next used car from Autocar. In , the S arrived, powered by the same engine but fitted with variable valve timing so that it made a punchier bhp. It has a close-ratio five-speed gearbox and is worth seeking out.
Meanwhile, track-day heroes can choose from the Sport and harder-riding R. This produced a solid bhp, sufficient to drop the mph dash to 4. It had a six-speed gearbox and, new for the Elise, power-assisted brakes. The new entry-level model, the Elise S, was now powered by a bhp 1. A supercharged S2, badged SC, landed in with bhp. This plus the aforementioned bhp S and bhp R models underpinned the S2 line-up until the arrival of the S3.
In , this was replaced by a shorter roof. Desirable S2 extras include a sports exhaust and upgraded brakes. Starter classics: 14 great cars for a first-timer. Skip to main navigation. By Malcolm McKay. Steel is used only for the rollbar, galvanised rear subframe and bonded-in suspension mounts.
Images: James Mann. Lotus Elise S1: what to look for. Bodywork See above for trouble spots. Engine The K-series engine can top k miles less on tuned cars if properly serviced and warmed before thrashing. Radiator The front-mounted radiator is prone to damage, corrosion and blocked ducts, so check it over; an uprated aluminium rad is a worthwhile mod. Driving The Elise set a new sports car ride and handling benchmark and is guaranteed to make you smile.
Gearchange The cable gearchange was thought rubbery when new, and can get loose, but is easily fixed; crunchy changes mean a rebuild may be needed. Lotus Elise S1: on the road.
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