Getting in and out of the Elise isn’t an elegant business, but the driving position is superb despite the fixed wheel. The cabin has been designed by serious drivers for serious drivers; the economy of movement required to change gear, steer or pedal is proof of that. As is the lack of buffeting. With the windows down, motorway travel is more than acceptable; with them up the Elise is as refined and wind-free as a BMW Z3. But there are too many irritating quality problems for the Elise to be regarded as an everyday prospect. The hood blew off at speed and tore itself to pieces, the passenger’s window started to stop and the driver’s window had already developed a rattle.
Overall consumption finally fell to 28.7mpg because of some unusually ferocious and lengthy track work. On the motorway at 80-85mph, the Elise returned between 31 and 33mpg, and even our touring route produced an excellent 36.6mpg. So, even with the tiny 40-litre (8.8-gallon) tank, a real world touring range of 300 miles is entirely feasible.
