Lotus Elise

Go to www.elisetalk.com/forums/ You'll get all the info you need.

 

I'd second the recommendation to check out Elisetalk.com. I've been in several, and it would be a tough car to use everyday. I'm 5'6", 120 lbs, and it requires a bit of twisting and sliding to get into and out of it. Once you're in, you'll be rubbing elbows with your passenger, unless s/he's skinny.

Luggage space is extremely tight, so you'll be grocery shopping 2 bags at a time and laying them on their side, etc.

The Lotus dealer network makes Ferrari look a lot like Ford. Not much competition, so you're kind of at their mercy, and no one else will work on it (disassembly required for access to some components).

But - it drives like nobody's business, and you can park anywhere.

Conclusion: Neat weekend track car.

 

First, go to Elisetalk as already recommended.

Second, I was on the waitlist for an Elise as a "toy". When my slot came up, I finally turned it down after a lot of thought.

Pluses - great power/weight ratio, proven Toyota engine, proven Lotus chassis/suspension design, great handling, good (not great IMO) looks.

Minuses - not practical for large people or most women/passengers (hard to get in/out and harsh ride), $20K fit/finish in a $45-50K car, prone to front/rear damage (hard to see, easy to bump, breaks when bumped), starting to wear out its novelty status in the US for most sports car drivers except the very committed Lotus fans (which are a small population) so values are just starting to decline.

 

You can't go wrong with an Elise... It's small, but it will out handle most cars on the road except an Enzo, F40, Exige, Noble, Radical, Saleen S7, CGT. Their resale value is great, and one of the best BANGS FOR THE BUCK out there.. I traded my Esprit with my best friend for a little over a week, and I was AMAZED...
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Fantastic car, and good bang for the buck, but a purist car indeed. If I had to spend the money on a daily driver, I'd go C6. But you would be amazed how much stuff you can wedge into the trunk if you have to and the car is a true joy on the track. Very gentle on wear items like brakes and tires, and must be driven well to be fast. I am sure a C6 woudl be faster with comparable tires, but the C6 would wear everything out much faster.

The Elise is a second or third car or for the Lotus faithful. I love mine, but it may go the way of the dodo when the Z06 becomes readily avaialble next year. I'll trade 1000 llbs for 300 hp - but then again it will cost over 20K to do it.

 

yea elise's are great cars

 

Ditto here - I gave up my waitlist spot when I saw all the plastic, etc., inside. Great car if you're a monk who needs to get places fast.

Resale may not be so great. The 1991 Lotus Elan is hard car to sell, despite its rarity and exotic badge.

 

I've driven this car. I am a fan of it BUT, I'd not want one for my only car. Toss it into a turn though, and hold on, this thing sticks like glue. It will give your Ferrari's fits on the track with little doubt, (no pun intended). Oh yeah, you could most likely FLOG IT often with little worry. Neat little easy to drive car. I love them.

 

I'm 6'2" and 220LB and fit easily. Now, getting in and out with the roof up is another story. It's not a pretty sight.

When I'm in the Netherlands, which is about a quarter of my time, it has been my daily driver for the last two years. However, it is very dependent on the set of roads you have available to you. I find myself avoiding freeways as much as possible.

The manual roof becomes something of an annoyance in daily use in a rainy country like the Netherlands. I'm a strictly "open only" driver and only close the roof in heavy downpours (than its usually too late and you have to make the choice to speed up and get your hair wet, or to stop and get all wet).

However, now that I moved to the Hague, I "lost" the use of the set of nice B roads to get to where I need to go. I'm driving now much more on the freeways and just decided NOT to ship over my new Elise (which I bought in the US to replace the old one) to the Netherlands. I'm keeping the new Elise with my Ferrari in the Catskills: again, a great set of roads through the mountains and bought now a Honda s2000 to ship to the Netherlands.

Conclusion: If you are in fifth or sixth gear, you are on the wrong road.

 

I can only comment on the "stop and go traffic" part. More specifically, the "stop in traffic" part: A couple of weeks ago, I spotted a new Elise that had apparently gone kaput right in the middle of a busy street. Cars honking, people swearing. One guy I heard said "Git yer golf cart outta da street, dude!"

The Lotus fellow was on standing outside of his machine with his cellphone at his ear. No doubt on the line with Lotus technical support. By the way, did you know that Lotus is made in India?

 

No, it's not. (Maybe you were joking?)

 

Last I heard Lotus was owned by Proton which is a Malaysian company. But the factory was still in England.