Funny Lotus Elise story

Why couldn't you get in? How tall are you?!

 

there's definitely a trick to getting into and out of the Elise, particularly with the top on. but it's doable.

oddly, the car is more friendly to tall lanky people than short(er) square people. but once you find a technique that works, it becomes routine.

great car too.... I kind of think of them as a modern Dino/308 in terms of dimensions and power/weight. no power steering is awesome

here's a pic of Darth stuck in my car
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LOL, that looks like something that Jerry would sculpt.

 

Thought about selling the the 308 to get an Elise. Test drove one as well. Fit fine at 6'2" and 200#. Decided not to do it due to several reasons.

- Ride was a little rougher than I wanted.
- Visibility in traffic sucked. Too many idiots in SOMD.
- Seat was just too tight for my 34/36" waist. Wasn't about to spend $1200 for a new seat on top of price of car.

 

I've driven a couple of these, and they are go karts on steroids... a lot of fun, however I just can not get comfortable in them. they are too small - I'm too big.

I was in a great exige, but the corner of the seap upholstery dug a channel into my thigh, right around the seat belt area... actually left a bruise after a 30 - 40 Min drive.

However if you fit, they are great cars!

 

That's interesting, I'll have to take a closer look at one to see what you mean. I know they are quite small, but the doors looked like access wouldn't be a problem. I also look back to my only real memory of an Elise outside of seeing them on the street being driven around. One day I passed a minor accident scene; a woman stuffed her Elise into the back of a Comcast cable truck near my home. Based on the scene, I could clearly tell the woman had not been paying attention, at all, while behind the wheel. She was on her cell phone after the accident, and I believe very much she probably had been when the accident occurred as well, it being the reason fer her inattention. And as pertaining to this thread, she was also quite large, at least 250#. I remember at the time thinking she must have looked a bit silly in that car, but if she could get in and out of it, I figured the car's ergonomics mustn't be as tight as I would ordinarily assume for a car of it's size.

 

My wife and I fit in one perfectly. But that's the key, getting in. I'm 5'10" 155lbs and am quite nimble but jeez, I've had easier times climbing into Porsche 911s with full race roll-cages and race seats.

 

I test drove an Elise with a hard top in place. My wife and I thought it was a lot of fun to drive. However, the combination of high side sills and the hardtop made getting in and out a real chore. I'm only 5'7" and I pulled a muscle in my neck just getting into it and I wasn't even 40 at the time. Not sure I would enjoy getting in and out in another 3-5 years. 308s & 328s are much easier to get in and out of.

In addition, a few guys I know that have owned Elises found them too raw to use/enjoy anyplace other than the track. Several of these guys have since moved on to Boxsters and Caymans.

 

I once wrote about the Lotus Elise: "With the top on the average-sized male needs a shoehorn to get in and the Jaws of Life to get out. For my 6'4" frame it requires a Costco-sized tube of KY Jelly and a hacksaw. What is interesting, though, is like my father's '64 Elan, once inside it is spacious and comfortable."

 

See... what he should have done is take off his tartan life-preserver first. Hehehe

All the best,
Andrew.

 

I'm 6-1 235lbs and have no problems hoping in and out of my Elise with the soft top in place. With the hard top while not the easiest task, the best aproach is to get in and out like a racecar. Right leg in, squat, lead in with your head and pull your torso in followed by the left leg. Trying to do the traditional, leg, butt, body, thing does not work well unless you are very tiny.

 

I have one. Great car, but I wouldn't have it as my only "fun" car. The 308 is a more comfortable cruiser and has a nicer sound, but the Elise is just so precise. The handling really is amazing. Cable shifter sucks.

The Elise is heaven on twisty roads, hell around town or on the interstate.

 

(Homer) Mmm Elan (/Homer)

 

About a year ago someone traded an Elise at the dealer I work at. I'd always wanted to drive one, so I drove it as my demo for about two weeks until someone else bought it.

Two good Elise stories:

1) The first night I drove it home I was sitting at a stop light fiddling with the radio. I forget what it was, but there was something really annoying about it, maybe the lighting on it was unusually bright and I was trying to dim it. It was dark out, but out of the corner of my eye I was aware that another vehicle had pulled up at the light on my left. My impression was that it was a large SUV, as it seemed to be about that shape and size. When the light turned green, I looked up from the radio and pulled away from the light. The car next to me was a mini, towering so far over me that I couldn't even see the driver.

2) A buddy of mine thought the car was really cool, and asked if he could sit in it. He's about six feet tall. He climbed into the car and said something about how small it was. Then he climbed out. While lifting his left leg over the door sill, he banged his knee really hard... on the roof.