S1 Lotus Elise

When the name Lotus comes up in conversation, most car enthusiasts will beam about a unique experience of a fuzzy, rev happy engine dropped in the middle of a svelte glass fibre and aluminium shell, without many creature comforts or even safety features to be seen. No airbags, no air conditioning, no anti-lock brakes. After all, the founders’ mantra is famously to “simplify, then add lightness”. You would imagine then that a series one Lotus Elise would be a second or third car in the garage, something for high days and holidays, certainly not to use every day.

After seeing this particular car around a few times, I was desperate to know the story. It was always filthy, it’s sunshine yellow paint was flaking severely and I saw it quite frequently so I assumed the owner used it as their daily driver.

About a year ago now I finally bumped into him as he was getting into it. Turns out, he’s had it for 20 years, done over 100,000 miles of commuting in it and as I had assumed, it doesn’t get washed. Its only chomped through one head gasket too, which is good going for an old K-series engine. That level of driving is a heroic endeavour, sacrificing almost all comforts that come from settling for a BMW 3 Series in pursuit of tactility, engagement and just enjoying feeling like a racing driver on every journey. So it might not look like it on first appearance, but this car is adored by its owner.

Not only that, but it’s testament to how it can be a fruitless endeavour to stow cars away and avoid driving them for fear of the mileage creeping up. Lotus’ are often touted as being unreliable, fragile and just a pain to keep on the road, but with proper maintenance and care they too can rack up many enjoyable miles. I really like this car, and a beaming smile arrives on my face any time I bump into it.