Lotus Elise in CO, thoughts?

Why are you considering a RHD drive Elise from England when there are a million here to choose from?

 

I owned one of these critters for about 6 months last year. I put 1300 miles and 1 track event on it. First of all, as a daily driver I would skip the sport package. This makes an already rough car into a real tooth rattler. I would stay with the stock exhaust also. I drove mine in a moderate rain one time with the Advan tires whcih are NOT rain tires, but it was OK. Snow is out of the question. With the 2500 you save not getting a sport package, buy a beater p/u or something. If you have not already tried ingress and egress in one of these, you need to before buying. It's OK for me, I'm pretty agile, but it would be really tiresome as a daily drvier. Ultimately, I could not bond with this car and that's why I sold it. The brake pedal was very squishy and precluded heel/toe shifting. The motor lacks grunt and in real life does not feel nearly as powerful as the tests would lead you to believe. It's a fun little bugger for about 20 minutes and then it's time to go home. On paper, it looks like a lot of performance for 50K, but I think the Subie STI is a better deal for 20K less. Same for the S2000. For about the same, you can get a boxter, or for 20K more a Cayman S. Hope this helps.

Dave

 

It is cold in CO?

 

Even though it would be nice to own a Elise, I would have to agree with Dave and wouldn't get it for a daily driver. Yeah, it is a little cold for some odd reason But I think this is definite question for Derek!

 

Like Dave said...ingress/egress could be a determining factor should you wish to purchase one but he was wrong when he said his car had been tracked only once...the car also took a couple of laps around the Denver GP circuit last year between sessions

 

Eric,
I already had (and still have) the Subie STI which is a daily driver and does most of my track duties as well where it is probably as fast as the Elise overall. I also have a 328 and 430, so fun cars are not in short supply. When it snows, the Tundra goes into service, so there is no shortage of wheels here. There were aspects of the Elise I liked a lot, like the steering for instance. It looks great and I was very surprised by how much attention it received everywhere. There really is no other car on the market like it, but it just wasn't worth 50K to me. There are many very happy owners out there, so my comments should be taken in the context of coming from someone it just didn't work for. More than most cars, prospective buyers need to weigh the positives and negatives. If the Exige had more grunt, I would consider it as a track car only but I think there are better values out there right now.

Dave

 

I had an S2000 in 2001 and everyone said it would be a horrible daily driver. Apparently it was tail happy and too rough riding. I drove it daily. A few years down the road and it's on the short list on several of the boards I go to. It really is a matter of perception.

If I could drive my Elise everyday, I would. I have the sport package too. Sure it is a bit rough over bad roads, but you learn where to drive. My cars have always been a bit sporty and if they didn't come from the factory like that, I added springs and shocks.

As for winter driving, the AO48s come apart somewhere below 10 degrees, so you would really want a set of snow tires. There is a guy in NY who drives his all year. I drove back from the FOD PPIR event in heavy rain without any close calls or white knuckles. It goes without saying I drove appropriately for the conditions.

I have the Stage II exhaust and it can get loud, but that is ok by me. As for comfort, I've driven the car from Denver to Aspen without any regret. You have to keep two hands on the wheels as the car tends to follow the grooves in the highway, but other than that, it was a helluva drive. I actually got 38 mpg coming home.

With the Elise, there is a good bit of give and take. The ride can be rough, but every turn makes me smile. The car is very quick, it just doesn't feel like it...if that makes sense. My buddy has the Viper truck and he can't keep up. When I would switch between my TT and the Elise, driving the TT was like getting wacked in the back of the head when the boost came on. It felt fast, but wasn't.

We took it to the CECA track day at Woody Creek. Many of the Shelby guys were skeptical as to whether it would have enough power to pull out of the corners. I gave several rides and a couple of other guys drove it. Everyone came away duly impressed. It's no 400hp monster, but properly driven, it is fast. The fastest car at the track that day was an STi on race tires. There is no doubt that turbo at altitude will give you more usable HP.

The car has no cockpit storage. If you pick up fast food on the way home, there is no place to put your drink. You can forget the morning stop at Starbucks unless you wear Nomex underwear. Since there is no storage and the top is usually off, I have to keep my insurance and registration in the boot. I haven't been pulled over yet, but I'm sure the trip to the boot will go over well.

If you need more info, spend a little time at www.elisetalk.com

 

I sold my Ferrari to buy an Elise and it exceeded my expectations by far. Taks a look at the chassis, brakes, suspension, composite body, etc. and it's clear to any knowledgeable person exactly what the car's mission in life is. It is an insult to this car and the Lotus engineers to moan about no luggage space, not cup holders, harsh ride (total bs, by the way), ingress/egress,etc. etc. Try sliding the damn seat back before you get out and there's no drama!
Personally speaking, I still can't believe we Americans are fortunate enough to finally have this car here!! It is the most pure, no-nonsense, hard-core sports car money (ESPECIALLY $50K) can buy. It will eat 9/10 of those hulks out there alive, especially on the track. To say that a 'friggin Subaru is a better car for less money is just ridiculous. Rather, I'd chalk it up to the fact that this car is certainly not for everyone and that's the beauty of it. You either get it or you don't. When I'm driving mine, the last thing I'm thinking of is where to put my Starbucks(!) or f-ing cheeseburger(!). Additionally, six months and a mere 1300 miles is hardly enough time to know the car. Sheeeeeshh!!!!

 

Wow, you really are from New Jersey!

And I think that's "friggin'."

 

FWIW, I was on the original advance order list at Symbolic Motors out here - I thought the car looked like a giantkiller exotic at a price I could easily swing. I didn't get to sit in it till the '04 LA Auto Show, and it is a zero compromises car. I'm 5'7" and under 140 lbs, and while I could slip in and out there's no way my g/f would enjoy it. Also, while a Ferrari is a nice car to go out in on social occasions, the Lotus is certainly not. It's a play-hard-and-get-sweaty-at-the-track machine.

I think your love affair with the car would wear thin if you lived with it everyday.

I may still get a lightly used one, because I like the whole package. But it would be a third car for me, after the Jeep and the Ferrari.

 

I knew what I was getting into and was excited about it before I got the Elise and luxury was not expected. However, 1300 miles is enough to know it just was not going to click. I have enough other fun cars to compare the fun factor with and it just didn't pull my chain. Before I got it, I thought it was a great deal at 50K, but shortly I realized why it was priced the way it is. It makes Ferraris seem downright practical and I could forgive that if it were a killer track car, but it's not. It needs more grunt and the brake pedal needs to work properly, an unforgivable sin in a Lotus I thought. The Subie is a far better value and were I to spend another 15K on mods, it would kill almost all comers on track day. As it is, my Subie is bone stock yet reels in just about everyone else on track days. I've nicknamed it "ego buster". I am guessing you have not owned one, so how could you know? I am not criticising owners who love the Elise, it is (as I said) a unique package with compelling traits but I am giving real world insights to someone who asked so don't get your shorts wadded up.

Dave

 

It took those laps after I sold it to you guys! I hope you told the new owner it was extensively tracked at the GP by you!

Dave

 

Yes, I know Dave. I wasn't implying YOU took the car around the circuit

 

Base price for an STi is $32,995, compared to the Elise @ $42,990

 

Eric,
I think you have reached the right conclusion. BTW, you can mod the crap out of any number of cars and beat a 430 on a track, including my Subie.

Dave

 

how much body roll did/does the elise have? the pic looks like there is a lot.