Lotus Elise S Cup review by Henry Catchpole | evo DIARIES
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- čas přidán 14. 04. 2015
- evo's Henry Catchpole reviews the new Lotus Elise S Cup at Bedford Autodrome. With 217bhp and race car levels of downforce is this road going version of the S Cup R race car still a formidable package?
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Most excellent car and affordable! Who could have thought these would coexist? Thank you Lotus for the gift that is my Elise. Best purchase in all my 37 years on this planet!
Robbert Morgan me too, just 38 too! I have the Elise s Cup and when you get used to it it’s an extremely rapid and capable car.
Excellent Kermit impression.
And just the right amount. Enough to show that he nailed it, but not so long that u get tired of it. Finesse, just like the Elise.
dan dickow
Yes, agreed. It may have been an excellent Kermit impression, but our Henry is no muppet.
Great review Henry... I've had a Elise Sport 135 (slightly modified) as my only car for the last 13 years.. Wonderful to drive and OK to live with... Even fun in heavy snow... Why drive something boring to work every day when you could run one of these relatively cheaply and always want to take the long fun way home ?!! ... And carries almost every thing I need.. Play in a band.. Carry my 40w Fender hotrod + 2 guitars .. Or 5-6 bags of shopping... Easy.
respect sir !
Respect. Who cares about creature comforts anyway. :D
When he is not making X-men films.
dead😂
😂👍
Lived with a s2 111s for 18 months as my only car. Yes a few compromises needed but easily done.
Stewart Murray
been using mine for the past 5 years as a daily driver and its my only car. Not once has it let me down.
+Stewart Murray me too 6 years and still going!
so much respect sir ! Keep it up !
@@1183newman just bought an 111s with vvc rover engine and trans in exige trim 😁🤗
I've been living with a 2006 Elise S (Toyota engined) as my daily, now has about 80k miles on it. It's been fine tbh apart from a few minor issues.
I don't think I'll ever sell it. Why buy something boring when I can have a Lotus.
Keep up the good work Henry - I always enjoy watching your videos!!!
What a wonderful car. Thanks for the great review!
I can't wait for the day can afford a Lotus. I simply love Lotus.
Same here :D
Joseph Gauthier Hell yeah man, I hope to have one as my mid life crisismobile
Joseph Gauthier If you're willing to go second hand they are quite reasonably priced but it would have to be a second car...a little while off for me too :(
@@maxmanmanus do you have one yet?
Would absolutely love to own a lotus elise as a daily driver! Great review Henry, love the car :D
The Elise is a fantastic daily. I put 75000 miles on my 2005 111R between 2010 and 2014 and loved every single mile.
Great job with this solo filmed review. I enjoyed it.
if you live in a cold climate and have a metal shift knob, Plasti-Dip really helps. It also provides good grip, you have choice of colors and it peels right off when you want to remove it.
Another brilliantly understated review. Thanks.
Your Kermit is spot-on, mate!
I love the lotus brand and whenever i drive their cars , I never want to get out .
Which makes me sad that this awesome elise doesn't make it to the u.s .i would love to get this car
Thanks Henry. This is how a proper car review should go. None of that gratuitous power sliding everywhere. Keep up the fantastic work.
Omfg crybaby, just because you can't drive doesnt mean mean going sideways is negative.
I tend to think Lotus got it very right first time with the Elise and Exige, both will be viewed as classic cars going into the future. Bang for buck, nothing comes close for driving fun in these. There are many modifications you can make also to take them to whatever level you want.
My kind of car. :D Happy driving.
I agree, those gear knobs are BLOODY FREEZING in the morning on a cold day. I actually go Michael J with it until it warms up :)
nice review, i like the seats
So how often do you shift with your knee? :)
Very nice and special car !
Glad to see a (new) lotus!
love it!
you know you're tall when your knee is hitting the shifter
Had two VX220's as daily cars and they didn't let me down once. In fact I'm considering going back and getting a Elise 250 CUP and will run that as a daily.
I'm sure the aero is functional, it does seem a little try-hard though. I'd much rather that engine with the standard shell. Just a little less "look at me!"
Also, as someone who daily-drives a 96 MX5, can confirm that these types of cars can be run every day.
Peopl3mova never sell the mx5....you wont forgive yourself
Dee Jay Unless you buy an Elise to replace it...
How tall are you. I always loved lotus' but im 6'4" and I'm starting to think I can't fit in a lotus.
Just looks like the gear change would be hampered by the lack of space?
A good review, both in the sense of being done well and in the sense of being positive. I think the Elise reviews better when examined on its own merits - group tests against sportscars more biased towards being painless daily drivers tend to judge it on criteria it doesn't attempt to compete on. A lack of direct competitors meant that it was always thrown in with cars which had a different skill set. It was interesting to see a glut of more positive group test results when the 4C was thrown into the mix - there was usually still a Cayman or Boxster there, but it wasn't dictating the terms of the test so much. It would be interesting to throw it into a test with the 4C, Zenos E10, Ginetta G40R which, varying degrees of track bias apart, are closer in ethos.
great little sports car
Henry, may I ask how tall you are? It looks like your size is the absolute maximum for an Elise.
love wolverine reviews out of joke he do good ones
Nice kermit impression! (Henry that is, not the car...)
The Kermit bit was pure class
You are a fantastic presenter (one of my favourites) so a little advice.
Get a Zoom H1 and a Lav Mic (cheap) and solve your sound problems.
Or you can always do voice overs back in the studio & sound Pro.
I'm a fan of small cars. First of all, because they're light and can get through corners - a BMW M5/M6 is sensless imo...
Currently i got a Honda CRX del Sol as daily and an S2000 for sundays. Too bad Lotus is so expensive... Like Porsche with theyr Cayman GT4 ... I'd like to test these cars one day... And I hope Subaru makes the BRZ STi a reality.
We need a redo of this review done entirely in the "Kermit the Frog" voice!
Want one!
Oh and as for the car. I'd have one again in a heartbeat. Nothing comes close. Although I was one of those folks who did enjoy lifting off in an S1.... and god it miss it!
Looks like a really good track days racer... The ride must be on the rough side
Lotus cars are always set up to soft on initial roll in, with progressive dampening the harder pushed.
Mr Epic Sideburns guy :)
Anyone else love how he doesn't fit in the car at all. Haha shifting is a job in that car
Nice car and Nice video, Henry. The color, mmm, not of my liking. Keep that good work you do at evo. Greetings!
EVO where are the reviews of Lamborghini aventador sv,Ferrari 488gtb,McLaren 675lt,McLaren p1gtr!!!!! I am waiting for them!!!!
The top comes off....You just have to unbolt it :D
That you are trying to justify the elise as a daily driver says alot :D those are really the best cars which you know arent good for dailies but ure trying to justify them :D
ttcro22 Your partner needs to be into speed to have something like that as your only car. Luxobarge ftw, sports for the weekend.
ttcro22 One of the things I like about Catchpole is that he appreciates small sports cars, and is willing to trade off a bit of practicality for enjoyment.
Shame this baby wont be available in the us. Would love to own another one
baby come back to the US!
God I wish they could sell the new Elise in North America.
Well, Mr. Catchpole, you must know of the situation when you see some with a jacket, or a pair of pants that's just tiny bit too short to too tight. You then think: He's wearing his little brother's pants...
That's how you look like in an Elise. It's just a tad too small for you.
Otherwise, very enjoyable report.
Green power
Using kilograms and miles per hour together seems really weird. :-P
Oh dear Lotus, you really need new model(s).
진실의 선택에 기로에서는 최선의 선택이 답이다. 로봇이 할 수 있는 영역이 아니다. 👌🎅🤶🙏😎
Obscenely desirable.
its quick because it does not weigh anything
hahaha kermit the frog cameo
its crazy how people hate on hondas, but this lotus is small, bouncy, 4cyl super compact.. just like a modified honda yet people will drool over this and talk bad about other 4cyl cars
Integra DIY Call me when Honda decides to sell a lightweight supercharged mid-engined rear drive sports car.
+Russell Robinson yup
Nice car and nice review. But frankly speaking you are way too long for this car. You showed us how you get into the car but I'm curious how you get OUT of the car. How is it even possible?:)
Calde Ailis You sort of touch your knee to your chin, post an exploratory foot out of the door hope that cramp doesn't set in unexpectedly and then just follow the foot. I suspect there are less challenging yoga classes.
Henry Catchpole Hilarious!
Henry Catchpole How tall are you, Henry? I always liked the Elises a lot but with my 194 cm and a half I'm afraid Elises are never going to be for me.
Henry Catchpole Read the review on the Evo website as well where it got the max. 5 stars. Which I don't really understand; and don't get me wrong I like Lotus's very much and yes they handle and steer probably superbly, but given all the compromises that come with an Elise; the cramped interior, engine lacking a bit in character (it's no Porsche boxer engine f.i.), it's not as stiff as some of the competition (Alfa 4C) it's general lack of practicality etc.
WindmillStalker I'm 194cm and a bit too, so give it a go. I'm long of leg which is an advantage as they bend in the middle.
Henry, thanks for this. I had some actual laugh out loud moments seeing your gigantic body in that tiny little thing. The Elise is a very silly car indeed, which no one except a midget could love.
It is supremely difficult to get in and out of, very uncomfortable if the driver is pressing on, and the passenger has nothing to hold on to - anywhere. The visibility from the car is shocking, and the sound is not exactly inspiring.
Your shoulders are jammed against the passenger, and your hand hits their leg every time you change a gear, regardless of how hard the passenger tries to keep clear of the stick.
The metal gear lever will remove all your skin during the summer (or at least it does in a country which has a proper summer), and do the same by freezing the skin off it in winter. So you can only drive it when it is spring or autumn.
They leak water like a sieve, so you can't leave one outside in the rain, too.
You be mad to buy this car, unless it is, perhaps, a 5th or 6th car. :P
Chris Davies well you don't race with a passenger in the car do you
Chris Davies I'm 6' and love our Elise. It's got plenty of room for my frame, but the rigid bucket seats aren't forgiving if you have big hips. Getting out with stuff in your hand is my only challenge when I drive it to the office, or pop out on my lunch break. I just put one leg out, place my stuff on the sill, raise my ass onto the sill, grab my stuff, and exit. With free hands, its both legs out and you let the thing give birth to you. It's fun unless you're a sourpuss. Never have a problem with knees in the way of my shifter, but the snug shoulders and being cozy is spot on. We daily drove ours for 3 years, and now I ride an ebike to work, so it's driven a little less, but not due to any fault of Penny. Ours is Isotope Green, which adds yellow and pearl to the kermit hue. I get photographed in it nearly every time I drive it, and as long as I flash a smile, people love it. It's fun telling punters who don't know what it is, that it's got a 10 gallon tank, a Celica motor, gets combined 30 mpg US. and cost us less than their Dads' Cadillac. (we bought it used) I'd love to consider a 4C, but damn it would have to be good to make me give up the Elise. It's like driving all the articles you ever read about sports cars, all in one thing you actually own. Magic!
It's an 'S' not a 'Z'
EL-EE-SS
that does not look like the right size car for henry though... not at all
Yet Lotus is not justified expensive in relation to the Japanese and German competitors ***** Henry Catchpole
Aleksandr Halas Japanese competitor? There is none. German competitor? Boxter is 900 lbs. heavier and a much different car. Alfa 4C is the only near competition to the Elise.
karlInSanDiego Maybe I will not argue, but I think that the closest competitor to the Elise BRZ GT-86 RX-8
Aleksandr Halas I think a Boxter/Cayman comes closer than a GT86 or a RX-8, just because the Porsches are mid-engined. I feel that something like an Ariel Atom, KTM X-bow or Caterham/Lotus/Whatever 7 comes much closer to the Elise, and that's because of their weight and usually the same type of engines (small 4 cyl engines).
How tall are you? I mean your knees are all over the wheel and shifter, if you're below 7 feet that car is an expensive piece of shit you can't adjust the seat properly?
stop saying elize argh!!!
Henry, you can barely fit in that car!
You've convinced me -- I'll take one, please. Simply ship to my home address.