Miscellaneous Car News

Does the awkward entry ever put you off? If not, why?

 

I find it hard but I'm old,young person would have no issues.

 

Is that with roof on or off?

 

If your an elite athlete, what does that make me? Arnie?

 

LOL-perhaps not

 

It's not an issue for me- it's about technique.

 

Lotus may not be good value for money, but I doubt the same could not be said for any sports car or exotic. Is a 458 for $600k + $150k in options + ORC "good value for money"??? My Elise was $70k new... what else can you get for that sort of money that looks like an Elise, and steers/rides/handles like an Elise???

How much would your halo Elise weigh? And paddles? No thanks.

My wife (who is not a car person) has no issues get in and out of my Elise. She loves the Elise and even wants to learn to drive a manual so she can drive it too.

 

You can keep your 'cutting edge driving aids' too.

 

Have you tried getting in and out of a 308. You have to roll out.

 

Tell me what Euro car sold in Oz isn't overpriced??? Look at what the yanks and poms pay for new Ferraris/Lambos/Porsches/Mercs and lotus?

I still think by Oz standards, $69,990 drive away which is what I paid for my car is not crazy money.

At least you got one thing right!

 

That all stopped when the drink driving laws came in.

 

the Aus market won't determine the outcome for Lotus.

They are too dependant on the home UK market, where the delta between a new Elise and a 2 year old Boxster (or similar) is too small. They've always had a core of rusted-on buyers but they've failed to achieve scale.

Boxsters are fun to drive too and have much higher perceived quality, while being easier to live with.

UK economy is crashing again now and Lotus sales with it - hard to see a happy outcome.

 

Well, that's another story.

 

Hmmm, agree but its a nod to the current generation of car buyers who care about numbers rather then outright tactile feel.

Btw, isn't one of the high points of the new Exige S the cutting edge "less invasive" (my quote) driving aids. Doubt the 458 would be the wonder kind it is without them.

Don't worry, I also subscribe to the Gordon Murray school of thought, wholeheartedly.

 

Lotus Elises and Exiges are very very popular in Japan. Saw them about EVERY weekend. Classic Lotus Europas also massively popular their too.

 

Yes, and that is very sad, IMHO.

Not sure what I make of the new generation Ferraris and the like that are undriveable but for the electronics. I'm not sure that's something to be admired.

Oh, well. I think Chris Harris once described the 458 as being almost Elise-like in its steering/turn-in feel. High praise indeed!

Great. I'm a huge fan of GM who is a huge fan of ACBC.

 

FFS Chris Harris, the pommy car guy? Using a Lotus as a yardstick against a Ferrari? Only a pom would fail to see the silly bias in that concept. The cars are poles apart, as you'd hope and expect given the price and performance difference.

458 is way better in a multitude of ways, the car is more stable at speed and more planted, the steering direct but not nervous, plus it accelerates out of the corner in a way no Lotus road car has ever approached.

And with the manatino thingy in race, there are no apparent electronic interventions.

 

ffs....

 

formula fords ???

 

I look forward to the handling comparisons this year in all the Pommy car mags. It'll be interesting to see what times the Exige S sets around a circuit.

 

Yes, the 458 and Elise are poles apart... thank god!

 

they are widening the road, was on the plan for like 5 years man!