MR11MOG - you may have read that I'm wondering about getting an Elise next year, although it's not the only car on the list.
How long have you had the Stig? and do you have any experience of the Elise with the Toyota engine? If I get one it will likely be the SC. I've been reading up for a while and the fragility of the body, plus difficult entry seem to be the main issues.
What do you intend to replace it with?

Hi Dave
I cant get in and out with ease.its like riding in an empty oil drum. we have had it since November last year done 3,000 miles
My Mrs used it most of the time ,she loves them used to do track days with a friend in her youth.
Had a Toyota engined 58 plate 3 years ago that was a super car but needed more power ,SC is the way to go for me.
Been looking at the Europa with Vauxhall power too,quite like the looks of it and not too many around so should hold its value,bit more civilized with some creature comforts.the Evora is coming down in price so that would be a nice option too next year.

Looks lovely Peter, but I can understand the 'problems' not least of which is the 'K' series motor.

Love the looks and the colour, but for a Lotus my heart still belongs to an 'M' suffix Europa JPS Twink.

Just out of interest, what's the asking price?

Not a lot of k-series lovers on here! Much nicer than the Toyota unit IMO.

Maybe - but a lack of reliability, particularly in the head area due to a totally stupid coolant flow, the Japanese engine was far better.
However, I know a man who would point me in the right direction to resolve most of the 'K' issues...

I'm only aware of HGF on much heavier cars, it's relatively unstressed in the Elise? Or have I been misled? Not an expensive thing to proactively rectify, mind you.

Well, the cooling flow is in the wrong direction - not sure what Lotus did (they don't seem to suffer the same as MGF/TF, Freelenader etc.) so they may do things differently.
In the MGF etc application, cold water from rad is fed to the head area, where the thermostat is, rather than into low in the block, with the thermostat on the block outlet.

So you can guess the thermal shock loadings that can occur until the engine has got up to temperature...

Cheers,

The Lotus forums have plenty on HGF, but not as likely as with the MGF. The other problem with the K is the tiny coolant capacity, so a small loss is a big percentage loss.

Haven't bothered looking Dave. I did a bit of research on MGF/TF as I was possibly in the market for one a few years back. Perhaps I should have considered an Elise too.

That first photo gives a slight impression of GT40 (or is it me?? ).

Cheers,