2004 Lotus Elise 111R

Highlights

• Toyota ZZ twin-cam engine
• Excellent leather interior
• 186 bhp, 0-62 in 4.9 seconds
• Heater and aircon
• Six-speed manual transmission

Overview

The Elise catapulted the traditional British sports car into the 21st century, with a design philosophy which was deliberately far removed from the aged models of the previous decades. And it’s all the better for it. The Lotus weren’t trying to imitate a rose-tinted idea of what affordable sportscars should be, instead they managed to redefine the entire concept and usher in the dawn of a new era.

With its mid engine position and clever suspension wizardry, the handling is famously excellent and all the better for being in a lightweight aluminium and glass fibre shell. Originally the Elise featured a Rover K-series engine, but the 111R model was fitted with a Toyota ZZ unit which upped the power and — crucially — wasn’t from a company that was about to go bust.

186 bhp in a car which still only weighed under 900 kg meant the 111R could hit 62 mph in just 4.9 seconds and would top out at 150 mph. This kind of performance in such a small package is what Lotus has always been about.

This particular Elise is in great condition, throughout. Its sporting performance is made slightly more manageable by the comfortable leather interior, heater/aircon, and a proper stereo. So it’s fantastic fun when you want it to be, but when you need to go a little further you won’t find yourself dreading the journey.

History and documentation

• Registered 2 Mar 2004
• Original document wallet
• Owner’s Handbook and Maintenance Record
• Invoices on file for parts and servicing
• Some old MOT certificates
• One key and remote fob
• Five former keepers
• Purchased by the current owner in May 2022
• Current MOT with no advisories expires 17 May 2025
• V5 present in owner’s name
• HPI clear
• The private plate on the car will be included in the sale
• London ULEZ compliant

Interior

• The interior of this Elise manages to be both pared-back and comfortable
• Black leather upholstery covers the seats while the dashboard and steering wheel feature contrasting suede
• There are plenty of brushed aluminium pieces which give the car a sporting feel
• Although this is a very capable sportscar, it does have a few comforts like a radio, a heater, and air conditioning
• The upholstery is all in excellent condition, with few signs of wear
• There is a little creasing to the driver’s seat leather, but nothing unsightly
• The dashboard features a Kenwood stereo, with Bluetooth and USB connections, as well as DAB radio and CD options
• All the buttons and switches look well preserved
• Two large instruments inform the driver of their speed and the engine RPM, without any other distracting detail
• The vendor has had the centre console wrapped to match the black leather seat upholstery
• To the rear, there is a deceptively large boot just aft of the engine
• It is fully carpeted, and makes weekends away a possibility

Exterior

• The instantly recognisable shape of the Elise still looks fantastic a couple of decades after this car was built
• You won’t look out of place in modern traffic, other than the massive grin on your face as you experience this car’s superb handling
• Glass fibre body panels add lightness, and are expertly sculpted
• The silver paint is in very good condition, with very few chips and scratches to be found
• ‘111R’ badges on the front wings
• The removable fabric roof section looks very smart, with no rips, fading, or stains that we could see
• 16-inch alloy wheels, painted black
• The wheels are in good shape, with no obvious damage, having been refurbished in 2019
• They are fitted with a set of Yokohama tyres
• Bright yellow brake callipers complete the sporting look
• The lamp lenses look clear and bright
• The underside of this car is extremely well presented
• There is a little surface corrosion on the suspension components, as usual for a car of this age

Mechanical

• 1,796 cc four-cylinder petrol engine
• This Toyota engine features a twin-cam cylinder head with variable valve timing
• Rated at 186 bhp and 138 lb ft
• 0-62 mph in just 4.9 seconds
• Six-speed manual transmission
• The engine bay looks clean and tidy
• The vendor informs us that it starts perfectly and sounds ‘incredible’
• This model was the first Elise to feature ABS
• Clever suspension geometry keeps unsprung weight to a minimum and provides superb handling
• Clutch replaced
• There is an invoice for an annual service in Mar 2019
• Various other invoices for servicing carried out during previous ownership

Summary

If you’re a connoisseur of excellent mechanical design, superb performance, and driving enjoyment, then you can’t go far wrong with an Elise, especially a 111R version. It proves that engine size isn’t the answer to every question, instead aiming for lightness and refinement. This tidy example looks like a fantastic way to add some fun to your commute this summer, or to enjoy further afield.

To arrange a viewing, please request this in the Q&A section. You can click through to the seller's profile and use the 'Email Me' function to arrange a viewing privately. This seller is located in Sale, Manchester.