Commiserate with me - I shouldn't buy a Lotus Elise, Update: But I just did.

[Fritzo]

Having driven a BRZ and been passenger in an S2000, I'd have to agree. For some people it's about the feel of the car, handling prowess - but personally, I want a healthy dose of power too.

An S2000 is slow? I think the 0-60 in those is under 6 seconds, so that's not exactly slow. Also if you get the earlier models with the 9K redline, it's a GLORIOUS car to drive

 

[tweakmonkey]

The next best thing to driving a Lotus on the track is driving it on back roads. I wouldn't think twice about buying one if that's the kind of usage it'd get. I wouldn't buy one for commuting though lol.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Why would you want it. You clearly wouldn't take it to the track where it actually shines. Because if you did go to the track, you'd probably have bought it by now because you would realize what a great track car it is.

Oh, you can modify the engine and greatly increase it's output.

It is absolutely brilliant on the road too. Most fun car I've ever driven and I've never done a track day.

Not sure why you would feel the Lotus Elise needs more power. 0-60mph in 4.8 seconds isn't exactly slow. Car has tons of grip, excellent chassis and brakes and that steering is superb. No power assist so you get tons of feedback through the wheel.

 

[Fritzo]

Don't let this happen to you

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTLDP28XTlg

 

[monkeydelmagico]

I live smack-back between the Ring and the Alps.

You guys are really bad at dissuading me!

Some of the best roads, drivers, and drives I've ever had were in, and around, Heidelberg, GE. I had a Integra GSR and then traded up to an BMW E46 w/sporty bits. It's hard to find the words to express the motoring nirvana that is Germany.

I don't know that an Elise would be my first pick but it certainly isn't a bad one considering your location.

 

[pauldun170]

An S2000 is slow? I think the 0-60 in those is under 6 seconds, so that's not exactly slow. Also if you get the earlier models with the 9K redline, it's a GLORIOUS car to drive

S2000's remind me a lot of riding old 600's.
Fast when you keep the revs way up. Gutless down low and in the mid range.
The 0-60#'s paint the picture of a quick car.
The 5-60 performance shows a car that is out accelerated by all sorts of family vehicles.

However, S2000 is still a great car.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Some of the best roads, drivers, and drives I've ever had were in, and around, Heidelberg, GE. I had a Integra GSR and then traded up to an BMW E46 w/sporty bits. It's hard to find the words to express the motoring nirvana that is Germany.

I don't know that an Elise would be my first pick but it certainly isn't a bad one considering your location.

I've driven an E36 M3 (333hp) and I've driven a 2005 Lotus Elise (US model). The Elise is better.

 

[tweakmonkey]

S2000's remind me a lot of riding old 600's.
Fast when you keep the revs way up. Gutless down low and in the mid range.
The 0-60#'s paint the picture of a quick car.
The 5-60 performance shows a car that is out accelerated by all sorts of family vehicles.

However, S2000 is still a great car.

Yep

I had two AP1s. Loved them, very cool on the right roads. Driving to work and around town is depressing though. You're either putting around like you're in 4th gear at 30 MPH or you're racing like a hooligan. There's really no inbetween.

Now I have a Fiesta ST. Granted the 0-60 is probably slower than the S2K (mine's tuned a bit) but the 5-60, 30-50, 10-40, 60-80 etc. are all MUCH faster unless I had downshifted to 1st, 2nd, etc. gear and really driven the piss out of it. And even then there's enormous wide powerband of a modern high compression turbo DFI engine. And the gas mileage. And...

If I had a sweet backroad to play around on and a good radar detector, and wasn't commuting or living with it every day, and had a big garage again I'd have another S2000 or an Elise. Or both. Off topic to this thread, just typing out loud

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

I've driven an E36 M3 (333hp) and I've driven a 2005 Lotus Elise (US model). The Elise is better.

You mean an E46? The E36 had only 240 bhp in the US.

I can definitely see the Elise being a better driver's car than an E36 or E46 M3, but it's also a far less versatile, usable car. Different horses for different courses . . .

 

[SSSnail]

I've driven an E36 M3 (333hp) and I've driven a 2005 Lotus Elise (US model). The Elise is better.

I think you got your M3s mixed up, unless that E36 M3 was modified.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I think you got your M3s mixed up, unless that E36 M3 was modified.

You're right, my bad. It must have been the 240hp M3. E46 was the first year the 333hp motor made it to 'Murica.

It was a freaking automatic too.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

You're right, my bad. It must have been the 240hp M3. E46 was the first year the 333hp motor made it to 'Murica.

It was a freaking automatic too.

The US-spec E36 M3 with automatic is maybe the least M of any M3 ever made. Those cars are still nice to drive, though, and with aftermarket exhaust I quite like the sound. Overall I greatly prefer my E46, however.

 

[JulesMaximus]

The US-spec E36 M3 with automatic is maybe the least M of any M3 ever made. Those cars are still nice to drive, though, and with aftermarket exhaust I quite like the sound. Overall I greatly prefer my E46, however.

It was a very nice car to drive... even with the autotragic transmission. I owned a mildly modded Mustang GT coupe with manual transmission and I was thoroughly impressed by the M3.

Probably a better car to live with on a daily basis in every way.

 

[_Rick_]

Gonna take a look at the car on Tuesday evening.
Bad decision-making was always my forte

I'll have to read up on 18K4F gremlins and whether I have to look out for rusty fuel tanks....

 

[_Rick_]

I just drove it.
It's sublime.
Ride isn't too bad, power is great, gearshift a bit vague, the car is in excellent shape, bar some scuffs in the interior, which considering it's a 13 year old car with 33k miles is pretty awesome.
Dude makes it an easy buy at 25k€ (which given the weak euro makes it less than 25k$!)
If I happen upon a garage, and I find the stomach to "blow" that kind of money on a toy (realistically, it'll probably cost me LESS than keeping the Swift), I think that Elise is a pretty good starting point. It's super clean, only a few tasteful mods (open air filter probably the only questionable choice)

Seeing it certainly didn't help me walk away.

 

[Tormac]

I own a 2006 Elise. I bought it new and drive it a fair amount (mine has about 36,000 miles on it). Here are my impression and experience.

The car is small and tight to get in and out of. With the top on it is a little bit of a pain. Once I am in the car it fits like a glove. I have taken it on week long camping road trips down the Blue Ridge parkway and around Deal’s Gap/Smokey Mountains and personally I think it is very comfortable to drive over extended periods. I’m 5’11” 180 pound, 45 years old, your miles may vary depending on your body shape.

It has been very reliable for me. With the Toyota drive train these cars are much more reliable than Caymans and 911’s. But they are more fragile. Mine is a fair weather toy, I have a Subaru Impreza for driving in the weather.

I do not think that the car needs more power. It is not ridiculously fast, but if you’re willing to abuse the clutch it can be fast enough from the line. It is more difficult to drive than a car with more torque because you have to shift gears more frequently. You have to keep it on the 2nd cam to make it go fast, but revving the snot out of it is half the fun. If you like a lazy V-8 with lots of torque you will not like the engine, and even a super charger may not be enough.


I have never driven a car with better road feel than this car. I moved from an MR-2 to the Elsise. I used to think that the MR-2 was a good handling car with great road feel, but the Lotus is in a world of its own when it comes to road feel. I am getting a little older, and I recently got married and got a nine year old step son with the deal. I was considering replacing the Elise with a 911 since in theory they have a back seat (ok, I know, but my stepson is not a big kid, and what nine year old is going to complain about a ride in a 911!) and more creature comforts for a middle aged man. I was looking at S.2 997’s, but quickly soured on them. The 911’s are faster cars, but are nowhere as much fun to drive. I am stumped at the magazine articles that I have read praising the 911’s road feel. Compared to the Elise they have almost none. They are much closer to my Impreza than they are to the Elise when it comes to road feel. I was hoping that the Porsche's would feel more lively and back happy. Maybe I need to look at 993’s instead (?). My dumb little Elise has ruined me. I doubt I will ever be happy owning any other sports car. Even Caymans and Boxers are unsatisfying to drive compared to my Elise.

If you are comfortable driving the tiny little thing (not scared about being crushed by a mom in a Grand Cherokee texting), love the road feel and are not put off by the fact that you have to rev the engine to over 6k rpm before it comes alive, and more importantly understand that “less is more”, then I predict that you will love the car. These cars one very much a min\max vehicle. And I think people will either love them or hate them. But if you fall in love with one, you will never quite be happy with any other car.

 

[Blanky]

Wait a while. If after a couple of weeks you still want it, buy the damn thing. You'll die one day and probably have money in the bank. Forget it, why not get something most people don't have the balls to ever buy? I sure don't. Do it for yourself, do it for me. Do it for us.

 

[_Rick_]

It looks like someone bought it out from under me. Contacted the seller to figure out if that's the case or he just delisted it because he couldn't be bothered.

Oh snap

 

[_Rick_]

Found potential garages (or at least covered parking spaces), and the car is still there.
Considering how bad I felt, when I believed, that the car was gone, I should probably go for it. If only there was some inherent right or wrong to this decision, but really, either option could work out well.
What could possibly go wrong? Have yellow stripes ever led anyone astray?

 

[_Rick_]

Put 4k down, going to pick it up next week on saturday, when the 75€/month garage comes on-line. Paying 25k total, which is a lot, but given the condition of the car, recent full service, included car cover and original exhaust, it's not horrific. Maybe 2-4% above value.

Let's hope the thing won't eat itself within a few hundred kilometers. Moar pics (of garage slot too) next week.

 

[halik]

Wooo congrats! Also def moar pics!

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Wow, Lotus Ellise. If I could get one for a good price in the US I'd be tempted.

The thing is a track star. This thing is amazing. People only in the know really appreciate what it is.

On that note, I am 39.5 years old. How many does this thing sit?

 

[RichieZ]

nice, i'm actually attending a lotus club track day next monday. fun group of car guys

me in the old boxster, now I have the new 911S and will at least be able to outrun them on the striaghts b/c they are damn fast in the corners.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

nordschleife

 

[sgrinavi]

Congrats!