I've decided to definitely go ahead with the Z, which means unfortunately selling my Tuscan (because I don't have a spare £26k lying around). I know I'm gonna miss the open roof, raw sports car thing a LOT, so my plan is to get a something even MORE raw and sporty to sit alongside the Z for those lovely warm day fun drives.

Since I'll have the Z, this other car doesn't have to be at all practical - no worries about handling in the wet, boot space, comfort levels or any of that. It's sole purpose is to provide pure driving thrills for those sunny day blasts, and maybe the odd track day.

I've pretty much decided on a Lotus Elise (Series 2). Oh, in gunmetal of course, to match my Z...

Any opinions?

 

Ya just gotta love any person who thinks of his/her Zzzzz as the "practical" car & is looking for something else further out as a second car. LOL!

 

Why thank you Rat!

I often wonder why there aren't more people like me

 

The Elise is a good car, but how does it compare against the new VX-220 turbo? Apart from the Vauxhall badge it looks really nice

although... if you were going for raw... I'd have a look more towards the Caterham 7 end of things...

rich

 

What about an Opel Speedster?

http://www.speedster.opel.com

 

I understand that Caterham's are fun and the ultimate track day toys, but I just hate the look of them. I need my cars to be sexy. The S2 Elise is like a baby Ferrari.

The VX220 is definitely on my test drive list. I prefer the look of the the S2 Elise, but I'm not ruling anything out at this stage. That said, I prefer the look of the VX to the S1 Elise, so if funds don't permit an S2 Elise that may be the way to go.

It would be pretty funny to tell people I drive a Nissan and a Vauxhall!

 

Happy Pants - a Vaxuhall VX220 is the UK name for an Opel Speedster.

 

Drool....

 

I agree on the Caterham looks, but you've just got to admire that raw power :-)

I have to admit that I haven't really looked at the Elise recently. Used to be two people in my department at work who had Elise's and they both upgraded them to a more powerful version after they left ( yah boo sux ). It used to make a great visit to the pub when 4 of us went out in their two Elise's, and from your pics, the Elise does look good.

back to the question though... I'm going to have to have a think about this... what sort of price are you *hoping* for?

Glad you've decided on the Z now.

rich

 

Here's the VX220...

 

Too bad we'll never see the VX220/Speedster in the U.S., unless someone imports one!!

More pics from "WhatCar?" (hadn't seen it in other colors before)

 

Hi Rich,

Thanks

Well basically my top-spec Z is gonna set me back £28,500 - £2k of which is already paid. I should get £26-27k for my Tuscan if I sell soon (would be less by Autumn). So really, I can't afford another car! LOL!

But I don't have to put all of the Tuscan money towards the Z. I can put as much or as little as I like towards is and finance the rest. Obviously though the more I can pay upfront the better.

I have seen S2 Elise's for £17k. Most are £19-£20k, but I could find a £17k one. They're all post 2001 cars so they're all nearly in new condition, and price really depends on the mileage, optional air-con, etc.

Alternatively, I could pay for the Z in full and 'save up' (I believe that's what people call it ) for an Elise. This has the advantage that by the following spring, the S2 Elise's should be even cheaper - probably nearer £15k. BUT... if I'm starting from zero, I'm probably not gonna be able to get an Elise until 2005. Don't think I could go without open air driving for that long.

Also, this plan would mean being completely carless between selling the Tuscan (soon) and collecting the Z (Oct). Missing out on all that summer cruising would really suck.

Another plan would be to pick up a cheap S1 Elise (or an MX5) for about £11-£12k (even less for an MX5), which would tide me over until upgrading to a nice S2 Elise next summer. This would be cool because it would leave me with about £15k to put towards the Z, meaning I only have to finance £10-£11k. Once the Z arrives I can sell said S1 Elise (£10k?) and pay off the Z

Then I start saving for the Elise I really wanted (S2, 111s with air-con). Or hey - just get a nice new one on finance, since I already paid off the Z in full...

My god - is this confusing or what?!

 

If you don't want your Tuscan....my wife would be glad to take it off you hands........she has been drooling over that car for the past 2 yrs......could you export it to the US....

 

I'm impressed! Someone who knows exactly what they are after... and to top it all off, knows how to do it.

You've obviously thought this through. Though I'm still going to check out some other cars to see what can tempt you Though, I do not think you will spend any considerable time without a car, sounds like you love 'em too much.

I'm thinking about making my money gambling (not)... won £170 on Scumchester United yesterday, but could have put down a safe bet and won £4K if I'd thought about it, with zero risk... ah well, live and learn.

rich

 

Lokeey, I *do* want my Tusan ... just can't afford to run a 2nd car alongside it, and life's too short to be monogamous

Has your wife seen the Elise yet? They actually will be on sale in the US at some point, whereas I doubt TVR's will ever make it, Wheeler (head of TVR) is dead set against airbags and the like.

Rich Zed - I'm glad it sounds like I know what I want... cos I don't! Well, I'd like to be so rich that I can just have one of every car I'm in love with...

I'm heading out this afternoon to test drive a Gunmetal S2 Elise. Lovely day for it...

 

The lotus obviously has a better badge than the vauxhall......but i've read reports and reviews that the vauxhall is a better drivers car. The vauxhall also seems like it's a rarer sight on the roads

This doesnt help you choose unfortunately!

I would definately test drive both of those before i decided, and then choose which one is the best DRIVE.

Cheers

Paul UK

 

Paul, where did you read that the VX was a better driver's car than the Elise? I would love to read the details.

 

not sure which magazine...i read most of them.....might have been evo? I will have a look through some recent past issues and see if i can find it.

Both have recently been updated and i saw a VX220 go past me yesterday......a silver one.....the colour didnt suit it in my opinion but the car looked VERY good. But not as "organic" [read "sexy"] looking as the Elise.

I would test them both myself before deciding, but if you like the elise go for it....it has much more of an image in my opinion.

Cheers

Paul UK

 

I just got back from my Elise test drive. I drove one at a dealer last week, but today I went to a private seller and had a *proper* drive. Gorgeous day, fantastic roads around the Surrrey/Sussex border. I had a great time. That thing can CORNER. Wow. I had a long enough drive that I started to get used to the feel of the steering etc., and started to take bends faster. It was much more connected to the road than the Tuscan. The sound wasn't very thrilling, but a sports exhaust fixes that (the one I drove on Monday had a sports exhaust and sounded rather nice).

Man, those seats are hard though! Although very supportive - you don't slide around in corners.

 

hell, today you want the Elise, so have the Elise, tomorrow it may be another car... at least you're able to swap around at the moment, even if it does mean giving up that beautiful Tuscan.

Hope the Z is worth it! It should be...