2008 Lotus Elise S Review
9 Aug, 2008
20 Comments 
And don’t expect a wiz bang, double-clutch transmission on any Lotus. If you want one of those, buy a Volkswagen or an Audi.
Standard kit on board the Elise S is the quickest and easiest shifting 5-speed gearbox you will ever have the pleasure of using. Heel and toe shifts in this thing, requires little or no practice, such is the positioning and weight of the pedals.
Most cars in the Elise family like to rev out. Switch ratios at near enough to 6200rpm or until you notice the three up-shift lights in the Elise S, and you will know the ‘Lotus experience’. Even better, if you can manage this feat on a camber friendly ‘S’ section. That’s when you will enter Nirvana.
When you’re close to red-lining through the first three or four ratios, don’t expect things to be anything but raucous. There are better sounding exhaust notes around but they don’t come from a 1.8-litre Toyota engine.
Driving the car normally though, that’s shifting at between 3000-4000rpm and you will have no problem listening to your iPod or having a conversation with your passenger.
It may look hard-core, even outrageous to some, but the Elise S is one of the easiest sports cars you will ever drive. But there are one or two significant barriers of entry, literally.
At 2.29m tall (7’6”) NBA sensation, Yao Ming from China won’t fit inside the cockpit, roof on, or off. In fact, anyone over 6’2”, is going to struggle. Worse still, if you’re put on a few too many kilos over the years, then it’s doubtful you will either get into or out of, an Elise.
But even for those lucky enough to be in shape, there’s still a trick to getting in and out of a Lotus. To enter, just place your left foot into the foot well and lower your bottom into the seat, then slide your right leg over the extra wide sill and your set. To alight, reverse the procedure but remember to slide the seat back before doing so.
Our press car had the optional Touring Pack (there’s also a Sport Pack) which is undoubtedly overpriced at an additional $8000 but with full leather interior and carpet set, embroided carpet mats with Elise logo, front driving lights, noise insulation panelling, noise insulated thermal soft top, interior stowage net, leather handbrake gaiter, trinket tray divider (this is getting silly) as is the aluminium retractable cup holder, leather trimmed centre console, padded leather door panels and a proper integrated iPod connector, it is nonetheless tempting if you have plenty of spare coin. I particularly like the leather ProBax cushioned seats, which are absolutely brilliant. No back ache whatsoever.
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(6 votes, average: 3.83 out of 5)
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August 9th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Wow, I never realised that this was only $70,000 I expected it to be much much more expensive, near the $100,000 mark.
Great review! Great car.
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August 9th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Corolla engine.Better keep that quite.LOL.
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August 9th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
excellent review guys. i too am surprised at the price of this car. looking forward to your exige review.
ps. Realcars, you spelled quiet incorrectly.LOL.
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August 9th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
A lot of engine for the price.LOL
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August 9th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
# 0-100km/h: 6.1 seconds
Does it need much more engine?
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August 9th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Hi Caradvice team,
I think there’s a little confusion as to the Toyota engine used in this car.
Since the new generation of elises/exiges, the engines theyve used are the 140hp 1ZZ-FE toyota engine (in the celica GT in usa, also in the toyota MR-2 roadster) and the 190hp 2ZZ-GE toyota engine (celica GT-S and Austrlian 7th gen celicas). Both of these are 1.8L engines.
On the other hand, 1.8L engine used in this generation (and the previous generation Corolla i think) is the 2ZR-FE which makes similar power but less torque.
Cheers
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August 9th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Okay I take back everything I just said about the engine, the previous corolla used the 1ZZ-FE too!
Oops!
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August 10th, 2008 at 8:48 am
word of advice with the elise, Never ever lift off the throttle loaded up through a corner.
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August 10th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Niiice. These shots are taken at Hawkesbury River right… Ive noticed a few which seem to match that area although I thought CarAdvice was based in QLD?
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August 10th, 2008 at 11:50 am
TP, we are based in QLD, NSW, VIC and WA. Our main work force is in VIC followed by NSW than QLD and WA.
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August 10th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
that’s a lot of impracticality for something that doesn’t go as well , nor look as good as a falcon (according to ACA star ratings) and costs 30K more
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August 10th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Hehe yeah those Falcons with GT kits & decals are real head turners compared to this Lotus. Define “go”.
Did I take the bait? I’m normally the one setting the traps :)
Great car review.
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August 10th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
You’d prefer to be driving a Diesel Epica right Anthony?
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August 10th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
This is a car for purists most liekly driven only in the weekends. People who buy a Lotus know what they’re in for. It’s not for everyone but I reckon it looks sensational.
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August 10th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
“how does it go” is one of the rating criteria at the end of the car reviews on this blog. It shows to go that taste is subjective, as I think the Lotus looks better than the Falcon. And I would have thought it would drive at least as well, not worse, though I guess the marks are relative to the competition.
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August 11th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
why would anyone buy the more expensive s2000.
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August 11th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
The s2000 is far overpriced in our market. It should be closer to 50k.
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August 11th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
It makes a good daily for some. My friend has an Exige S and drives it to work and back every day!
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August 16th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
The supercharged engine was the Celica/Corolla Sportivo’s 2ZZ-GE, and could be found in the top model Elise and Exige. The car tested is one of the low-end variants, with the ZZE112 Corolla’s standard 1ZZ-FE engine, the same one found in the MR2 Spyder. The middle-of-the-range Elise and Exige have the non-supercharged 2ZZ-GE.
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August 16th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
Okay then Al Jutraj The supercharged engine in the Lotus is a from the Silly-Car.. I mean Celica;
Therefore; If Toyota is a company full of Passion - as we are lead to believe by the handful of Toyo-philes on this site.. then why don’t they add a supercharger for the Corolla instead of being shown how its done by that is compared to Toyota [the worlds wealthiest car company] a lightweight?
Then maybe the Corolla might stop getting its a–e kicked by the Golf
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