Yes I did edit (cos I was expecting this reply).

As I understand it the 111r has a servo, and the previous ones don't. I'm sure I wasn't pressing hard enough, but then most cars have servo assistance for a reason: it's bloody hard work otherwise. I may be a wimp, but I still couldn't get the thing to slow down at the rate you'd expect from any normal car, let alone a performance car. I really was shocked at how bad the brakes were.

Apparently you get used to it, but personally I like having brakes.

 

I have a non-servoed 111S - the brakes need a push, but once you get a heat cycle into the disks and pads the anchors slam on.

The Elise was set to understeer as default, with big fat grippy tyres at the rear and skinny ones at the front. You don't hear as many tales of tank slappers and diesel spins on the Elise boards as you do S2ki....

<touches wood>

 

I remember hearing of one guy picking up his Elise from the factory in Norfolk, and writing it off on the roundabout on the way out of the factory.

Mid engined means it spins faster.

 

The lower polar moment of inertia means it turns in quicker & yet has less tendency to rotate once turning.

They spin due to crap drivers.

 

You're not wrong there, I've spun a few in my time

 

This is not limited to Elises

 

You can crash any car. Especially if you haven't driven it before, and the tyres are cold.

I'm not saying you can't spin them, just that it SEEMS less common..

 

What Nick said as well

 

It's good practice, in my estimation!

 

Without wishing to hijack this thread (but I thought I'd keep it here to avoid cluttering the forum with another thread)...

Could one of you chaps with an Elise/Lotus experience offer me some advice? This thread got me on Autotrader yesterday looking at one of my dream cars from years ago, one I am ashamed to admit I had forgotten about...

Are Lotus dealers nice and friendly, and good at their job? Are Lotuses actually quite reliable if you look after them properly?

Because I'm considering buying a Mustard Yellow Esprit V8 GT! 0-62mph in 4.2 seconds, 0-100 in just over 10, 175mph twin turbo V8 for