Thanks for posting, that’s the most elegant technique! I have taken your lead, not quite supple or strong enough yet but going in the right direction 👍
With the roof on, I generally sit on the sill, slide/fall backwards into the seat and then bring both legs over and into the car. Its quick and faff free. But I'm also not particularly tall. Hence owning a Lotus! :)
@@UnleashElise My sill is pretty worn and needs leather repairs, so not a worry at the moment. But when I get it fixed later this year, that is a good thing to pay attention to.
@@thelittlelotus Exchanging the worn sill protectors boost the appearance tremendously and I can highly recommend doing it when they are worn. Apart from OEM and aftermarket leather sill protectors you can also go to your local upholstery workshop. Though the latter may deliver you more decent quality as well as more variations on leather/texture/color/... they are likely also to be 5 to 10 times more expensive than the aftermarket option. I went with the standard aftermarket option when I exchanged mine and am still very happy.
If you can get in without adjusting the seat position you should. Many an S1 owner has ripped his/her trousers on the door lock pin - having the seat further forward makes this less likely.
Thank you for highlighting this. Indeed it can get a bit tricky with the lock pin. As far as I remember I ripped my pants once in the 15 years so far though.
Nobody get’s this correct it seems! Never reverse yourself into an Elise! Always go in head first! Here’s how it works, put your head and torso into the cabin, place your right hand (left hand in the UK) onto the passenger seat cushion. Next lift your right foot (again left foot for UK) up and over the sill. Next, place your left hand on the sill and lift your lower body up then lower yourself into the seat, simultaneously following with your left foot up and over the sill, and you are in! This technique is far more natural and comfortable and you avoid the all too common scraping of the sill pad.
I suppose there is no "only one correct" way. Just do as you feel like. Going with head in first seem for me rather odd but if it suits you then so shall it be.
Don't pull/push the "a column" some heavy people car brake the glass. I'm heavier and tried to avoid to slide and rub the car because with time everything is fucked, i'm drinving it for work comute ;)
Thing is though, once you drop in and those sills 'lock' you in, you feel as close to being in a real racing car as can be. Your heartbeat races and yet you have not even turned the ignition key yet.
This is an awesome car. Lotus is such an underrated car.
This is the most graceful way I ever saw to get in
Thanks for posting, that’s the most elegant technique! I have taken your lead, not quite supple or strong enough yet but going in the right direction 👍
Getting in and out was my primary deterrent from buying one of these many years ago. Good video on how to get in/out!
Looked @ an S1 this weekend. Was gonna pass, but this vid may have changed my mind😉
wow and I thought the Elise S2 was crazy. Thats insane.
With the roof on, I generally sit on the sill, slide/fall backwards into the seat and then bring both legs over and into the car. Its quick and faff free. But I'm also not particularly tall. Hence owning a Lotus! :)
That is a good variation as well. I am just afraid of scratching something when you slide/fall from the sill into the seat that way.
@@UnleashElise My sill is pretty worn and needs leather repairs, so not a worry at the moment. But when I get it fixed later this year, that is a good thing to pay attention to.
@@thelittlelotus Exchanging the worn sill protectors boost the appearance tremendously and I can highly recommend doing it when they are worn. Apart from OEM and aftermarket leather sill protectors you can also go to your local upholstery workshop. Though the latter may deliver you more decent quality as well as more variations on leather/texture/color/... they are likely also to be 5 to 10 times more expensive than the aftermarket option. I went with the standard aftermarket option when I exchanged mine and am still very happy.
My first series 1 Elise had a removable steering wheel which made life a lot easier
One qurstion please, how tall are you?
If you can get in without adjusting the seat position you should. Many an S1 owner has ripped his/her trousers on the door lock pin - having the seat further forward makes this less likely.
Thank you for highlighting this. Indeed it can get a bit tricky with the lock pin. As far as I remember I ripped my pants once in the 15 years so far though.
Good technique
yep you got it
Nobody get’s this correct it seems! Never reverse yourself into an Elise! Always go in head first! Here’s how it works, put your head and torso into the cabin, place your right hand (left hand in the UK) onto the passenger seat cushion. Next lift your right foot (again left foot for UK) up and over the sill. Next, place your left hand on the sill and lift your lower body up then lower yourself into the seat, simultaneously following with your left foot up and over the sill, and you are in! This technique is far more natural and comfortable and you avoid the all too common scraping of the sill pad.
Make a video please
Remove the roof much easier, especially when 6ft and 20 stone lol
I suppose there is no "only one correct" way. Just do as you feel like. Going with head in first seem for me rather odd but if it suits you then so shall it be.
Don't pull/push the "a column" some heavy people car brake the glass.
I'm heavier and tried to avoid to slide and rub the car because with time everything is fucked, i'm drinving it for work comute ;)
Well, that saves me the anguish over whether to buy one or not.
I am not limber enough to own that car.
If they didn't make the high sills so high, it would be easy to get in and out of the Elise. Maybe, Lotus enjoy torturing their customers.
Buy a golf GTI
Thing is though, once you drop in and those sills 'lock' you in, you feel as close to being in a real racing car as can be. Your heartbeat races and yet you have not even turned the ignition key yet.