Buying a car in the UK

[MarinaDiamandis]

With something like an Elise, it's always a good idea to book an experience day with your own car, just to see how much you can poke it with a stick before it turns around and bites you.

Both Elise and Exige are fine in snow and ice (unless you're running something like super-wide Toyo R888s) if you know how to catch any slips before they turn into huge slides.

Another problem with the Elise/Exige is that sometimes, in cold weather, the inside of the windscreen will frost over. A minor inconvenience.

 

[Frisky]

Yeah, you can also get track-days, if you are unsure on which car to buy, do a track-day, you can rent cars out too. Here is a track-day in a 1.8 VVT Elise (Is it the 111S?) Anyway, here you go mate. http://www.racing-school.co.uk/driving/lotusexp.asp

 

[ExigeEvan]

The Lotus came up at an actually pretty reasonable £480, the BMW at about £520. So insurance isn't necessarily your biggest issue. That said, you are younger, and you may not be living in as safe an area - I know people living barely 10 miles from here who'd easily pay double either of those figures at the same age and experience.

I'm 22, with 5 years experience, 5 years No-Claims-Bonus and I'd pay a little more than that for a ~2009 Hyundai Coupe 2.0 or Seat Leon FR.

Just as an added data marker.

 

[JacoJa]

Plus you have to have it meet our emission standards.

Eg I know of a few British chaps that wanted to export their 2.2 i-CTDi Civic Hatch to the US.

Issue was Since America doesn't really sell many DERVs(Diesel Engined Road Vehicle) it was even harder because Honda America does sell a N22A engined car so they could not import it unless they paid a huge amount.

So if you get a car make sure Australia can use the UK Euro emission tests to allow said engine into the country.

I Didn't think about that either. I would have thought the emission standards would be tougher in the UK than they are here. I plan on keeping the car in the UK though, so no need to bring it back to oz. 👍

I think you misunderstood my post - I meant that many people here who do own Elises and the like don't use them over winter, instead using something more comfortable and warm!

It's entirely possible to use an Elise over winter, and in fact I can think of some advantages. It's light, as you say. The engine is to all intents and purposes over the driven wheels, which helps traction in snow/wet weather. It doesn't have power steering, which helps with steering feel. It's made out of aluminium and fibreglass, so rust isn't an issue like it is with many other vehicles.

Of course, there are disadvantages too. Low ground clearance if it snows, you'll drown if it floods, the whole interior will turn to ice when it's cold, and the roof isn't the most weatherproof ever designed.

lol, ahh ok... Thanks for clarifying. Well, the coldest it ever gets here is probably around negative 2 degrees Celsius. To me that is frikkin' freezing... and since it gets a lot colder over there, the exposed aluminium in the interior of the elise wouldn't be doing any favours for the cabin temperature. Sounds like it might even be a good idea to buy a crappy runabout for the winter months just for the extra comfort. Or just use public transport. There's a lot to think about. 👍

It's just that you'd have to be pretty careful in the ice and snow in the U.K, there is a lot of black ice where I live (Clear ice.) And in my Cappy, I was all over the place, I got my first car in winter XD it had no power steering, ABS, or TC, it was definitely fun, and impressed the kids waiting outside their schools. But it is quite scary when it catches you by surprise! and the Cappy only had about 50-ish BHP! So I can't imagine what an MR car would be like! I doubt it'll be that bad as the engine is basically over the rear wheels. But I think your biggest worry in rain or snow, is the other drivers. Round where I live, is basically retirement city! Everyone drives Nissan Notes, and Honda Jazz/Fit. and they can't control their car in the dry, never-mind wet, or snow! I think you'll be fine though mate

Haha, thanks. Probably another reason why I should buy a cheap ranabout for the winter, if I intend to drive anywhere. I thought all of the bad drivers in the world just lived here. So I take it MR/RR/FF cars would be much better in the snow, and FR cars like the 6 Series would be a little bit suicidal in icy conditions.

With something like an Elise, it's always a good idea to book an experience day with your own car, just to see how much you can poke it with a stick before it turns around and bites you.

Both Elise and Exige are fine in snow and ice (unless you're running something like super-wide Toyo R888s) if you know how to catch any slips before they turn into huge slides.

Yeah, you can also get track-days, if you are unsure on which car to buy, do a track-day, you can rent cars out too. Here is a track-day in a 1.8 VVT Elise (Is it the 111S?) Anyway, here you go mate. http://www.racing-school.co.uk/driving/lotusexp.asp

Oh man, I am super-interested in taking part of one of these training courses. I think it'll be best to attend one where you use your own car. Above all, I'd like to learn how to control a car in slippery conditions like ice, or how to regain control of a car if you get thrown into a spin unexpectedly. Also, i'd like the know the limits of the cars' handing before it bites back. Better to find those limits on a skidpan, rather than an alpine road. I saw on an episode of Top Gear or Fifth Gear there was a drivers class in Finland that had a giant metal plate on the road which throws the car into a slide, and the driver had to correct it. I've got to try that!

Also, I'd love to try track days in the Elise on the same tracks used in the Toca championship. That would be amazing... I practically grew up with those tracks on the original TOCA playstation games.

Another problem with the Elise/Exige is that sometimes, in cold weather, the inside of the windscreen will frost over. A minor inconvenience.

Not good news.

I'm 22, with 5 years experience, 5 years No-Claims-Bonus and I'd pay a little more than that for a ~2009 Hyundai Coupe 2.0 or Seat Leon FR.

Just as an added data marker.

Ooh, interesting. Thanks for the info.

Happy new year everyone! I'm off to celebrate.

 

[homeforsummer]

Not good news.

It's not really that much of a biggie. I've had regular cars do that if it's cold enough, so it isn't unique to the Elise.

 

[ExigeEvan]

Yes, it happens to my Almera all the time, just need to wait 10 minutes for the engine to warm up and turn the blowers on.