Toyota Engine In The Lotus Elise

[pauljack]

Hi folks, went to test drive a new Lotus Elise yesterday and am thinking of buying one. My decision is which toyota engine? Elise s with the 134bhp engine or the Elise r with 190 t sport engine? Price implications mean if i went for the 190 bhp it would have to be nearly new or used as they are too much new and over priced i think? Anyway the nice man at Christopher Neil Lotus in cheshire let me drive both versions of the engine. I thought the 134bhp was good but i thought the 190 was great especially over 6000 revs. It came alive and burst in excitement with noise and power. The thing is, in the real world when would you get chance to get the car over 6000revs? especially when there are so many speed cameras. The 190 goes well over 60 in second gear so i was wondering if i would ever be able to really exploit the engine and therefore is it worth the extra cost? I hardly get chance to get my Compressor over 6000 revs never mind an Elise!

Anyone else drove these engines? I remember quite liking the mr2 engine!

:)

[rolley]

My opinion on the matter is probably slightly biased but here's why i believe the 190 will do you best!

1. That lift feeling makes me smile in a standard CTS so think what it will do in a lotus which technically is a go kart lmao
   
2. value for a 190 will probably stay quite reasonable so a lower depreciation value should be had
   
3. yes speed limits are there to be obeyed, but lotus owners clubs do a lot of track days so if thats an area you would like to get involved with, the extra bit of oomph will... make you wet your pants with excitement, especially when your in a corner and lift kicks in cause remember the lotus is an MR (Mid Engined, Rear Wheel Driven)
   
4. if you tickle the accelerator and drive her normally your fuel consumption isn't likely to be any different than that of the standard 138 bhp
   

Overall i think you'll like the 190 over time more! I'm probably quite lucky cause I do get a good chance to throttle the living daylights out of my CTS! 190 is not good for built up areas, but when you have an open road and you can play its worth it. Plus i also think the way the engine delivers that extra bit at top end helps when passing caravans and old dears in their moris minors! As i said i'm biased, but if you prefer the 138 you might as well look at the MR2 cause thats all that is them! Still looks a cool car, still has lots of excitement but without the lotus Badge and the price tag!

Hope i've given you some food for thought!

[corroded]

The 2ZZ-GE will let lift at about 40 or so in second. 60 comes up fast, but really i don't tend to need more than 40mph for town running, so when i do put my foot down, having lift there is nice for when you get an open stretch.

It's a nice engine, can be quite economical when you want it to be.

Car is great for nipping out and overtaking though, got a couple of roads where i am where everyone seems to think its a 40, some even do 30... long and straight, drop it to second... buuuurWAAAAAAAAAAAA :D

Having had a N/A 2ZZ-GE i wouldn't even hesitate to get an Elise with one. Wanna watch out for Lift kicking when cornering though i'd imagine. I've had wheelspin as i've hit lift going through the gears, having a RWD do that could mean trouble. S2000s are notorious for spinning out when they get a VTEC kick, in fact i saw one do it the other day. The driver did not look impressed. Greenlight don't cover S2000s anymore at a decent rate apparently because they are such high liability.

[pauljack]

Hi, thanks for that. I have decided on an Elise R or a Europa with the vx 2 litre turbo engine. Decided against the Elise S just too slow i think. I would be wanting the R after a while i just know i would!

[rolley]

Hi, thanks for that. I have decided on an Elise R or a Europa with the vx 2 litre turbo engine. Decided against the Elise S just too slow i think. I would be wanting the R after a while i just know i would!

Wise choice going for the Elise R not the S! Next is how you would prefer the power to be delivered! The Europa will deliver it a lot more calmer I would have thought as the turbo will give it a lot of torque! The Elise will make you realise how much you value your life when you hit lift in a corner lol! But obviously it would be more fun, but you'll have to keep changing your boxers regularly as accidents may happen!

To help here is a simple equation to work out if the Elise works out better for you!

1. Take the price of the two cars
   
2. Take an around figure of how long you are likely to have the car
   
3. Then work out how much it costs to wash your underwear due to accidents
   
4. Multiply the above by the amount of journeys you will have in the given time that you will likely have the car!
   
5. With the total you then need to add it on to the elise and see how much the difference between the Europa and Elise will be! lmao
   

I think thats a good equation :P

[pauljack]

Hi, thanks for that. I have decided on an Elise R or a Europa with the vx 2 litre turbo engine. Decided against the Elise S just too slow i think. I would be wanting the R after a while i just know i would!

Wise choice going for the Elise R not the S! Next is how you would prefer the power to be delivered! The Europa will deliver it a lot more calmer I would have thought as the turbo will give it a lot of torque! The Elise will make you realise how much you value your life when you hit lift in a corner lol! But obviously it would be more fun, but you'll have to keep changing your boxers regularly as accidents may happen!

To help here is a simple equation to work out if the Elise works out better for you!

1. Take the price of the two cars
   
2. Take an around figure of how long you are likely to have the car
   
3. Then work out how much it costs to wash your underwear due to accidents
   
4. Multiply the above by the amount of journeys you will have in the given time that you will likely have the car!
   
5. With the total you then need to add it on to the elise and see how much the difference between the Europa and Elise will be! lmao
   

I think thats a good equation :P

I wear under pants not boxers lol You will need to adjust your equation to include the lack of drag with undies!

[rolley]

Hi, thanks for that. I have decided on an Elise R or a Europa with the vx 2 litre turbo engine. Decided against the Elise S just too slow i think. I would be wanting the R after a while i just know i would!

Wise choice going for the Elise R not the S! Next is how you would prefer the power to be delivered! The Europa will deliver it a lot more calmer I would have thought as the turbo will give it a lot of torque! The Elise will make you realise how much you value your life when you hit lift in a corner lol! But obviously it would be more fun, but you'll have to keep changing your boxers regularly as accidents may happen!

To help here is a simple equation to work out if the Elise works out better for you!

1. Take the price of the two cars
   
2. Take an around figure of how long you are likely to have the car
   
3. Then work out how much it costs to wash your underwear due to accidents
   
4. Multiply the above by the amount of journeys you will have in the given time that you will likely have the car!
   
5. With the total you then need to add it on to the elise and see how much the difference between the Europa and Elise will be! lmao
   

I think thats a good equation :P

I wear under pants not boxers lol You will need to adjust your equation to include the lack of drag with undies!

lol :P