2008 Lotus Elise S Review
9 Aug, 2008
20 Comments 
I’m fairly certain the Elise would be pull up just fine with drums all round, given its largely composite construction and subsequent ultra lightweight. However, reading a description of the brakes from the factory spec sheet is like reading from a high-end ‘go fast’ tuner catalogue. “… track-tuned 4-channel Anti-Lock Braking System with Lotus/AP-Racing twin-piston fixed aluminium alloy front brake calipers, Brembo single piston sliding rear calipers with ventilated and cross-drilled discs …”.
Suffice to say, the brakes not only work a treat but the pedal pressure is near perfect.
It’s the same with the overall suspension set up. “Fully independent suspension utilising unequal length wishbones, Bilstein mono-tube gas dampers with Eibach coaxial coil spring at each corner and front anti roll bar …”.
What is interesting, if not surprising about the suspension, is that it has been carefully tuned to provide a decent level of compliance over speed bumps and other nasty so-called traffic management devices. You really have to be driving quite quickly on a very bad road surface to feel any crash or jarring through the cabin. It’s quite remarkable in that respect.
I used the Lotus Elise S all week as I would any other press car I was reviewing. That meant visits to the Mall, the beach, and peak hour commuting. No problem, once you master the entry/exit procedure.
This is a high performance sports car you could live with seven days a week if you had to, with not a whole lot of compromise.
Let me qualify that. There is a sufficiently large storage area behind the engine (it’s a true mid-engine car) to carry two mid size soft bags. That means gym gear, enough clothes for weekends away with your partner, and even a couple of razor scooters and soccer balls thrown in for good measure.
Standard features on the base model Elise S are again, more than I expected. Air conditioning, twin airbags, central door locking, electric windows, Alpine audio head unit with four speakers, and remote alarm. All the creature comforts, if you like.
There’s also an easy to use engine push-start button, lightweight aluminium passenger footrest, Carpet mats, polished aluminium gear knob and handbrake sleeve.
When you buy a Lotus in the Elise family, you are going ‘Green’. Whether you are committed to the cause or not, Lotus is unquestionably committed. The Elise S puts out a class leading 196g/km and consumes as little fuel as 8.3l/100 km. Mind you, when you are having some serious fun on your favourite set of bends, expect to use another 30% more fuel. But then, that rule applies to almost any car on the planet.
Have I mentioned reliability? With its Toyota engine and gearbox, do I need to? Without a long term test, we can’t be conclusive but my guess is, the Elise will be a problem free sports car, which is unrivalled in the handling department.
Continue to read on for Alborz’s point of view…
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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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