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

[_Rick_]

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

You and your daughter/son

It only gets troublesome when you have more children than seats, and they start fighting for seat-time

Going to pick up the keys to the garage/storage facility tomorrow. I'll be parked next to an old Daimler and an exhibition-grade Golf
Better not mess up those parking jobs


As for track days: I'm an hour from Hockenheim, which is probably a good place to start for a newbie to mid-engined cars, and it's only 60 euros per hour - that's cheaper than renting karts and a track
As for the Nordschleife - I need to do more virtual laps, to get to know the track, before I head there feeling safe.

Plus, it's an Elise, she's more at home on the road, than the track, but look at the squigglies I found on the map, only two hours away:

https://www.google.de/maps/@48.2080018,7.0295492,38835m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

Since it's France, I don't expect any speed limit below 55 mph, which is plenty to enjoy those corners and make a bit of noise in between.

Only roughly 48 hours left until pick-up, I'm getting ever more excited.

 

[Fenixgoon]

Congrats!! You only live once, and if you can swing it comfortably, why the hell not?

You've inspired me to continue wanting my 2007-2009 S8 V10

 

[vshah]

Congrats man! More pics! I too took a plunge and picked up my dream car last year... One of the best decisions I've ever made. You won't regret it.

 

[_Rick_]

Going to take some pics later today, got the new plates on today (one less month on the road compared to the previous owner), drove to a lake, had a swim, and generally felt miserable, because it's truly unbearably hot here today - on the road probably 40°C and more. On the highway, there were warnings about potential thermal damage to the tarmac.
When I first parked it, I noticed some fluid on the ground and got worried a bit, but I assume it was just some fuel leaking out, as it expanded in the relatively recently filled tank.
When I parked it later at the lake, coolant was boiling off. That was slightly worrisome, as the gauge read well below boiling point for water, but I assume the anti-freeze might have a lower boiling point. Thankfully it just leaked off, and didn't asplode, when it cooled down, it still read at max filling level, and again well expanded, when I parked her later.
Such a convenient thing, to be forced to look at all the vitals, whenever you open the trunk.

Also, when I cam up for the pick-up the battery was flat. Probably because the owner hadn't moved it for quite some time, and the last time I was there, I also asked for a demonstration of all the lights on the car, further stressing the battery.

Car is just fantastic, getting in and out takes some conviction, but with the roof off, it's not too tough. Noise and feel are great, comfort isn't too bad under more agreeable weather conditions, but today I did feel a bit miserable in the heat, as did the lady that tagged along with me for the pickup, who opted not to wear a hat.

Can't drive the car without a hat - even if you're not balding the exposure is brutal.

 

[_Rick_]

 

[HitAnyKey]

Congrats! That car looks fantastic and I bet it drives and handles even better.

By the way very cool Garage photos.

 

[_Rick_]

Congrats! That car looks fantastic and I bet it drives and handles even better.

By the way very cool Garage photos.

The owner/land lord of the garage really put in an effort to make it a nice place. Sure, it's expensive to rent, but at least there's plenty of room to maneuver.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Congrats on an awesome ride! :thumbsup:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8aJkf-VXio

This guy has a pretty good method for getting in and out of his Elise.

 

[_Rick_]

So, coolant still bubbling/leaking quite regularly.
I suspect it's a mixture of overfill, high ambient, and most likely a loose cap / bad seal on the reservoir.
Either that, or classic K-Series head gasket failure. I'll check oil and water on the drive again, to make sure to catch that in time, but current evidence isn't making too strong a case - no visible sludge in the coolant, clean exhaust.
Thus checking the torque/seals on the cap is priority one.

 

[manimal]

so awesome Rick!

Je suis Jalouse !!


The garage looks amazing. Glad your enjoying the fruits of your labor!

 

[disappoint]

You guys wouldn't prefer an Evora over an Elise?

 

[Crono]

You guys wouldn't prefer an Evora over an Elise?

At that price I'd prefer an Exige. Or even the range-upgraded Tesla Roadster, which has the Elise chassis.

And damn this thread and the OP for making me want an Elise more.

 

[Kaido]

Yessssss let the power of octane flow within you :thumbsup:

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

You guys wouldn't prefer an Evora over an Elise?

I personally would not. I don't like the styling of the Evora, and ultimately it is inevitably a less focused sports car than an Elise/Exige. I probably wouldn't buy one of those either, though - I am 6'4" and those cars are just too small for me.

 

[QueBert]

Just wow to getting out of that car, I have a Saturn Sky which is low to the ground, and forget hills, even an inclined driveway can make it a chore to get out of. No doubt I think that car looks nice, but getting out of it seems like a job. I mean there's a youtube tutorial on how to do it lol.

 

[_Rick_]

Just wow to getting out of that car, I have a Saturn Sky which is low to the ground, and forget hills, even an inclined driveway can make it a chore to get out of. No doubt I think that car looks nice, but getting out of it seems like a job. I mean there's a youtube tutorial on how to do it lol.

It's easy with the roof off, and if you're driving with the roof on, you should have gotten an Exige anyway

 

[Drako]

Just wow to getting out of that car, I have a Saturn Sky which is low to the ground, and forget hills, even an inclined driveway can make it a chore to get out of. No doubt I think that car looks nice, but getting out of it seems like a job. I mean there's a youtube tutorial on how to do it lol.

True story. I popped my left hip out of socket getting out of one of my coworkers Elise. It's hell getting old.

 

[_Rick_]

Checked gasket on the cap, which didn't look too bad, re-tightened it with a little extra force, but I might still have to get a new cap (or three, because shipping), just to make sure the venting valve hasn't gone soft.

Oil and coolant looked/smelled clean and uncontaminated, exhaust looked clean, so classic K-series syndrome isn't yet at the top of my worries.

On the other hand I've heard more stories of relief valves seizing, than loosening up, so some worries remain.

Also, idling the car for a few minutes before shut-off didn't help either, not that I was pushing the engine significantly anyway, just the odd second gear pull....

Without a turbo in there, I'm at a loss what's causing those hot spots, if indeed I'm seeing boiling, and not exhaust/air bubbles.

 

[JulesMaximus]

It's easy with the roof off, and if you're driving with the roof on, you should have gotten an Exige anyway

Be careful using that windshield pillar to pull yourself up or lower yourself as you get into the car. It isn't really designed to handle that much weight pulling on it.

 

[_Rick_]

Be careful using that windshield pillar to pull yourself up or lower yourself as you get into the car. It isn't really designed to handle that much weight pulling on it.

Always using the seat and sill to get in and out. On the other hand the A-pillar ought to be able to handle the weight of the car and then some in case of a flip, so I'm not sure how much of a problem this really is.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Always using the seat and sill to get in and out. On the other hand the A-pillar ought to be able to handle the weight of the car and then some in case of a flip, so I'm not sure how much of a problem this really is.

It won't. That structure behind your head is your best bet in a roll over crash.

Not many convertibles will hold the weight of the car on the A-pillar in a roll-over crash.

 

[Viper GTS]

It won't. That structure behind your head is your best bet in a roll over crash.

Not many convertibles will hold the weight of the car on the A-pillar in a roll-over crash.

I'm not sure how accurate that is. It may have been at one point, and it may still be the case for the Lotus due to the age of the design but I'm pretty sure that in the vast majority of the cases the A pillar is the primary, if not only protection in the event of rollover. Yes many cars have something behind your head (including explosively deployed) but that is more of an issue with the angle created between A pillar and rear deck.

I know in my Viper, for instance, the structure behind your head is essentially cosmetic (and it is labelled as such). The A pillar is the only protection.

Viper GTS

 

[JulesMaximus]

I'm not sure how accurate that is. It may have been at one point, and it may still be the case for the Lotus due to the age of the design but I'm pretty sure that in the vast majority of the cases the A pillar is the primary, if not only protection in the event of rollover. Yes many cars have something behind your head (including explosively deployed) but that is more of an issue with the angle created between A pillar and rear deck.

I know in my Viper, for instance, the structure behind your head is essentially cosmetic (and it is labelled as such). The A pillar is the only protection.

Viper GTS

I owned a convertible Mustang GT and had no such faith that the A pillar would hold the weight of that car in a roll-over crash. It won't.

Maybe some of the newer convertibles might fare better but for the most part I'd say your chances of survival in a roll-over crash in a convertible are not great. Unless you have a roll cage of course.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I'm not sure how accurate that is. It may have been at one point, and it may still be the case for the Lotus due to the age of the design but I'm pretty sure that in the vast majority of the cases the A pillar is the primary, if not only protection in the event of rollover. Yes many cars have something behind your head (including explosively deployed) but that is more of an issue with the angle created between A pillar and rear deck.

I know in my Viper, for instance, the structure behind your head is essentially cosmetic (and it is labelled as such). The A pillar is the only protection.

Viper GTS

You sure about that?

 

[Viper GTS]

Yep I'm sure.

This is the warning sticker, though I'm having trouble finding a picture of the actual sticker:

http://www.factorychryslerparts.com...ar-Warning--Warning-Bar/4329525/04708022.html

I'll take a picture when I get home.

I'm not saying that the windshield will provide adequate protection, just that the sport bar is there just to support the hard top and provides no safety function.

Viper GTS