Lotus Elise! Man, what a car!

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SmoochyTX

Lifer
Apr 19, 2003
13,615
0
0
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Oh, BTW the controls are placed perfectly. The steering wheel is right out in front of you and when you drop your right hand down off the wheel the gearshift lever is right there. Pedal placement is perfect too. I've never driven a car that was laid out more like a race car than this one.

That reminds me. The shifter is a little notchy and finding second gear takes a bit of getting used to as your leg tends to rest against the shift tower and can easily get in the way making you miss the gate. Still, shifting is precise and the throws are short. I never once found the wrong gear while downshifting.
Stop already. I'm getting excited.

You should have your wife in another car taking pics of that car while on the road.

 

FlashG

Platinum Member
Dec 23, 1999
2,709
2
0
Funny thing is the SCCA race chick at work says that they aren?t competitive at the local track. I think that there are only 2 active racers and there might be a skills problem.

Even so I still lust for Elise/Elan
 

jimbob200521

Diamond Member
Apr 15, 2005
4,108
29
91
Very nice, man.

And yeah, those Elise's are spartan cars. I watched a review on them once, and they said that power windows and a radio were the only extras in the car!!
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
Originally posted by: FlashG
Funny thing is the SCCA race chick at work says that they aren?t competitive at the local track. I think that there are only 2 active racers and there might be a skills problem.

Even so I still lust for Elise/Elan

Or the track doesn't fit that car? A really tight track and it should shine.
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,598
998
126
Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: FlashG
Funny thing is the SCCA race chick at work says that they aren?t competitive at the local track. I think that there are only 2 active racers and there might be a skills problem.

Even so I still lust for Elise/Elan

Or the track doesn't fit that car? A really tight track and it should shine.

True, this car shines in the twisties. I took a turn on the roads near here coming down hill at about 45mph and braking for a sharp right hander, I dropped down to second and screamed off up the hill. My entire body felt like it was pressed hard up against the left side of the driver's seat but the car never even felt like it was going to slide.

You really have to muscle this car around at low speed though. I don't think it has power steering or if it does there is no assist at low speeds.
 

Ika

Lifer
Mar 22, 2006
14,264
3
81
Originally posted by: SmoochyTX
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Oh, BTW the controls are placed perfectly. The steering wheel is right out in front of you and when you drop your right hand down off the wheel the gearshift lever is right there. Pedal placement is perfect too. I've never driven a car that was laid out more like a race car than this one.

That reminds me. The shifter is a little notchy and finding second gear takes a bit of getting used to as your leg tends to rest against the shift tower and can easily get in the way making you miss the gate. Still, shifting is precise and the throws are short. I never once found the wrong gear while downshifting.
Stop already. I'm getting excited.

You should have your wife in another car taking pics of that car while on the road.

Not safe. Female driver + holding camera + concentrating on another car = ....

:p
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

You really have to muscle this car around at low speed though. I don't think it has power steering or if it does there is no assist at low speeds.

Power steering? Are you nuts???

It's a freaking race car. Of course it doesn't have power steering.
 

SmoochyTX

Lifer
Apr 19, 2003
13,615
0
0
Originally posted by: Aflac
Originally posted by: SmoochyTX
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Oh, BTW the controls are placed perfectly. The steering wheel is right out in front of you and when you drop your right hand down off the wheel the gearshift lever is right there. Pedal placement is perfect too. I've never driven a car that was laid out more like a race car than this one.

That reminds me. The shifter is a little notchy and finding second gear takes a bit of getting used to as your leg tends to rest against the shift tower and can easily get in the way making you miss the gate. Still, shifting is precise and the throws are short. I never once found the wrong gear while downshifting.
Stop already. I'm getting excited.

You should have your wife in another car taking pics of that car while on the road.

Not safe. Female driver + holding camera + concentrating on another car = ....

:p
Yeah, I guess it depends on the female. ;)
 

Aikouka

Lifer
Nov 27, 2001
30,383
912
126
Bah, Lotus... I'm waiting on the GT-R! Nismo ftw.

Although, I'd still like to try driving it :p.
 

Rudy Toody

Diamond Member
Sep 30, 2006
4,267
421
126
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Pic
getting in and out of that thing is like some sort of sick joke. With the top on you have literally fall into it butt first and then try to swing your legs in and around the steering wheel. It's much easier to do with the top off though.

F-F-F is an old sports car abbreviation about entering/exiting the car.

Foot. Fanny. Foot.
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,598
998
126
Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

You really have to muscle this car around at low speed though. I don't think it has power steering or if it does there is no assist at low speeds.

Power steering? Are you nuts???

It's a freaking race car. Of course it doesn't have power steering.

FYI-Formula One cars have power assisted steering. ;)
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,598
998
126
Originally posted by: Rudy Toody
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Pic
getting in and out of that thing is like some sort of sick joke. With the top on you have literally fall into it butt first and then try to swing your legs in and around the steering wheel. It's much easier to do with the top off though.

F-F-F is an old sports car abbreviation about entering/exiting the car.

Foot. Fanny. Foot.

I tried that a couple times. It wasn't any easier.
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

You really have to muscle this car around at low speed though. I don't think it has power steering or if it does there is no assist at low speeds.

Power steering? Are you nuts???

It's a freaking race car. Of course it doesn't have power steering.

FYI-Formula One cars have power assisted steering. ;)

Bunch of pansies they are!
;)
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,598
998
126
Okay, I found out something else that's annoying about driving this car at night. Every regular SUV's headlights are right at the level of my rear view mirror.

Raised trucks are great though, their lights shine right over the top of the Lotus. :laugh: I'd hate to be hit by one though...
 

Ika

Lifer
Mar 22, 2006
14,264
3
81
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Okay, I found out something else that's annoying about driving this car at night. Every regular SUV's headlights are right at the level of my rear view mirror.

Raised trucks are great though, their lights shine right over the top of the Lotus. :laugh: I'd hate to be hit by one though...

Does the rear-view mirror have the flipper thing? I don't know what it's called.
 

LikeLinus

Lifer
Jul 25, 2001
11,518
670
126
Originally posted by: Aikouka
Bah, Lotus... I'm waiting on the GT-R! Nismo ftw.

Although, I'd still like to try driving it :p.

Wait, did you just say you'd rather have a freaking NISSAN over a LOTUS.

Some people shouldn't post in car threads!
 

goodoptics

Platinum Member
Aug 18, 2000
2,652
0
0
Originally posted by: Aflac
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Okay, I found out something else that's annoying about driving this car at night. Every regular SUV's headlights are right at the level of my rear view mirror.

Raised trucks are great though, their lights shine right over the top of the Lotus. :laugh: I'd hate to be hit by one though...

Does the rear-view mirror have the flipper thing? I don't know what it's called.

Anti-glare flipper? :p
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,598
998
126
Originally posted by: Aflac
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Okay, I found out something else that's annoying about driving this car at night. Every regular SUV's headlights are right at the level of my rear view mirror.

Raised trucks are great though, their lights shine right over the top of the Lotus. :laugh: I'd hate to be hit by one though...

Does the rear-view mirror have the flipper thing? I don't know what it's called.

Yes, it does. That doesn't help with the side mirrors though.

God this car is fun. I think I'm going to keep it for the entire weekend.
 

santz

Golden Member
Feb 21, 2006
1,190
0
76
the car is very affordable if anyone wants to bu it. retails for $40,000 base edition!

the reason why its only 40,000 compared to other super cars is because it has no luxury, ( sound system, navigation, proper air cond, etc). the makers took down these things to take the cost off the car.

ofcourse you can add these luxuries at any custom shop, for an extra 5 grand.
 

funboy6942

Lifer
Nov 13, 2001
15,368
418
126
Looks like fun but doesnt it have a 4 cyl engine? And you say it has blind spots, badly? To me the car is like a camero or mustang with a 4 or 6 cyl engine in it. Looks bad as hell but no real get up and go or sound to go with the looks of the car. Almost like the car was designed for a woman.
And yes GM stuck a 4 banger in the Cameros, what a joke.
 

Kalvin00

Lifer
Jan 11, 2003
12,705
5
81
Awesome. I would love to have the opportunity to drive one.

I know that thing could beat most riders that I ride with! Not in straight line acceleration, but in the corners 4 tires is always > 2..
 

drnickriviera

Platinum Member
Jan 30, 2001
2,463
271
136
Originally posted by: funboy42
Looks like fun but doesnt it have a 4 cyl engine? And you say it has blind spots, badly? To me the car is like a camero or mustang with a 4 or 6 cyl engine in it. Looks bad as hell but no real get up and go or sound to go with the looks of the car. Almost like the car was designed for a woman.
And yes GM stuck a 4 banger in the Cameros, what a joke.

The car is less than 2000lbs. Not 3000+ for the moostang