Lotus Elise V TRex

Elise 4 Life

Are we talking stock elise, or the one prime example shown? Either way Elise hands down

E

 

I might get an Elise - I think Lotus hit the mark on the lightweight concept, and it's exotic looking.

The T-Rex looks like something from the Little Tikes toy company.

 

Either that or one of those wierd looking Hot Wheels cars. Its kinda cool but its to funky looking for my tastes.
Elise all the way.

 

Ive driven both, and I would go for the T-Rex in a heartbeat. The speed and space are about the same, but the T-Rex is a lot more agaile and feels lighter on its feet. But I am still very much in love with the Elise.

 

I love the Elise.

That pink thing is completely not for me.

 

for a straight up track car, i guess id say elise. i already have something with a high revving bike engine in it, and its alot more fun with 2 wheels instead of the T-rex's 3

 

Elise.

 

I've been asking myself the same thing after checking out some T-Rex's and I think I would choose the Elise because of how much more practical it is.
I couldn't imagine going on a road trip in a T-Rex, but I could with an Elise.

Now I'm trying to decide if I would rather have an Elise or a 308 and I'm leaning towards the 308. I've never driven either, but hopefully that will change soon.

 

My neighbor owns and Elise and a Scorpion (3 wheel similar to Trex.) I'll have to ask him which he'd keep if he only had one, but I'm pretty sure the Scorpion is his favorite.

 

William, I think this poll might be biased!

You've got a pimped out, blacked out, roof scooped Elise... versus a pink tricycle. I suspect the results might come out in favor of the Elise.

 

Elise all the way!

 

I used to work for a T-rex dealer. Trust me when I say, while they are fast and fun for a while, they are far less practical than a sports car, you need your MC license to legally operate one. The reverse running off the starter can create a big problem, once you get bored with it (which you will) and you try to unload it you are going to take an absolute bath! 45k now and maybe get 27k next year. Get the lotus.

 

I know the T-Rex is straightline faster but which one handles better? which would be a better track performer?

 

um...um...um, which one should I choose with sounding biased? Oh, I know, I choose the Elise. By the way, the picture shown is the Lotus Sport Exige which they made one for some race car driver which is supposed to have a v6 engine putting out 400hp.

 

Actually, it is the photoshop I made off of that very car, where I added another intake on the roof, Diablo style.

 

Elise gets about 23 City an 27-29 Highway

Not sure on the Rex

 

I was also thinking, you cant drive the Rex in the rain...

 

I've not driven the elise so I can not speak to its road holding ability, the T-Rex easily sustains close to 2-Gs of Lateral Acceleration. (Thats no **** either.) I personally drove one with DOT race tires and could not break it loose at all, Campanga says it hold 2.5 -3 Gs with DOT race tires.

While it does have 3 tires, the rear is a 335/ 35 ZR 18 and is not cheap by any means. Not to mention replacing the tire is much more involved that 4-5 lugnuts, it requires a ton of time and the chain needs to be adjusted once back on. That is no small feat either.

The T-Rex has the 1200cc Kawi engine soon to be 1400cc Kawi engine and gets close to 30 mpg. The over all platform weighs under 1200lbs engine, luggage, fluids etc.

The most common complaints I heard from owners of the T-Rex was that if it rained, or seats got wet, they stayed wet for a while and could start to smell bad if the covers were not washed. there are no doors, windshield (you can put on a lexan windshield option if you like. but being lexan it is subjhect to pitting and scratches.) so you are out in the elements. You may as well buy a bike if you want to be exposed like that. Also, if you get hit in this thing you and it are done. The ride is incredibly harsh. Forget any attempt to go over a speed bump of any kind. It will get hung up on the chassis for sure.

I did have one customer call me to order a steering wheel. The only way in or out of the machine is to remove it. He went into a store and some kid figured out how to remove it via the quick release and he ended up calling a tow truck to get home. Other than that like any M/C engine you need to check / adjust the valves every 20k miles. They offer no exhaust upgrade as of yet.

They are a lot of fun if the weather is decent and you live in a state with out a helmet law. If not (again it is technically a MC) you are required to drive it with a helmet and a MC operator endorsement.

Campanga as a whole is not bad as far as response for parts and support. Your local Kawi dealer can do service on the engine itself.

If you decide you really want one. PM me and I'm sure I can fenagle you a deal at the dealership I used to work for.

Thanks

Scott

 

Will,

Why not get an Ariel Atom instead of T-Rex?
I dunno whether they are in the same price range.

 

Kind of my thoughts as well...I'd opt for the Atom over the T-Rex also. Still get a kick out of this video of the Atom test drive on Top Gear everytime I watch it -- here's a link for anyone who hasn't seen it yet:

http://paultan.org/archives/2005/08/18/top-gear-ariel-atom/

 

That's awesome! I would love to have one of those.

 

get the atom, it rocks!

 

if atom was in the original poll, i would have voted for that. atom > elise > trex