Thinking of buying a Lotus Elise. Anyone have/had one?

[GTaudiophile]

What about a used MazdaSpeed Miata?

 

[mztykal]

OK, after some soul searching and the desire to be able to drive around with my wife in my new toy, I'm starting to waiver on the Elise dream. Now I'm thinking more of a Saturn Sky Redline. Same price range, lot easier to get into, and it still looks cool with the proper treatments.

When I was looking for a new daily driver a year ago, I drove a Elise, a S2000, and a MR-S.

I ended up with the MR-S as it provided the most room. I still want a Elise, but gotta wait till I get a house here in Hawaii.

 

[jlee]

When I was looking for a new daily driver a year ago, I drove a Elise, a S2000, and a MR-S.

I ended up with the MR-S as it provided the most room. I still want a Elise, but gotta wait till I get a house here in Hawaii.

Swap a 2ZZ in the MR-S and rework the suspension. You will be much happier with it.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Fun, but a pricey toy since that's all it is. I got the go ahead recently on a Miata. No idea on a timeline when that will happen, though. I have driven neither and of course the Elise is going to be a lot of fun but I understand that Miatas are, too, and 25k buys you a new one. The Elise has zero of the ghey-miata vibe, though. But I bet insurance is higher, as Jules said. Mostly only women and old farts appear to buy Miatas so when I quoted recently its insurance was the same as a minivan.

If you're going to go Miata, buy one with a hosed engine or transmission, and pull the drive train out and slap in a Chevy 350 with a T56 and when people call you ghay for driving a miata, you can smoke their asses off the line.

 

[Eli]

several people have taken their camry's to 150...just not on purpose.

ZING!

Edit: Fucking caps block.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Edit: Fucking caps block.

Haha! You need to "Super Moderate" yourself!

 

[StageLeft]

Edit:Above I meant the saturn is not as ghey as miata (although anybody who actually knows about cars will respect their place in the gene pool), not the other way around.

GTAudio are both of those ones yours? I know you used to own a red one.

 

[PricklyPete]

I'm also going to throw my vote in for a Miata. I'm 6'5" and have no problem fitting in the latest incarnation. You can spend the extra money you saved on upgrades to the car (engine, etc)...and it drives incredibly well. If it were just a little more practical, I wold likely have picked a used one up my last car purchase.

I have not been in a Saturn Sky Redline, but I was not impressed with the base model Pontiac Solstice that I rode in. My opinion would likely change with the GXP...but who knows. They certainly look nicer than the Miata...but only a little...the Miata is not bad...I actually like the look of the 2009+ Miata better even with the big smiley face (for some reason it is not as offensive to me as it is on other Mazdas).

 

[JCH13]

http://www.evo.co.uk/features/features/240343/top_10_greatest_drivers_cars.html

The Miata got 9th and the Lotus 340R (MK1 Elise more or less) got 2nd, so either one would be awesome. I have a feeling that V8 or turbo Miata would cure the "fire in the belly" problem, and the Miata would definitely be the best bang-for-the-buck. It's a good article.

 

[StageLeft]

I'm also going to throw my vote in for a Miata. I'm 6'5" and have no problem fitting in the latest incarnation. You can spend the extra money you saved on upgrades to the car (engine, etc)...and it drives incredibly well. If it were just a little more practical, I wold likely have picked a used one up my last car purchase.

I have not been in a Saturn Sky Redline, but I was not impressed with the base model Pontiac Solstice that I rode in. My opinion would likely change with the GXP...but who knows. They certainly look nicer than the Miata...but only a little...the Miata is not bad...I actually like the look of the 2009+ Miata better even with the big smiley face (for some reason it is not as offensive to me as it is on other Mazdas).

Comparison Test: 2006 Pontiac Solstice vs. 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata

http://www.insideline.com/mazda/mx-...ontiac-solstice-vs-2006-mazda-mx-5-miata.html

Check the stats and the similar performance numbers of these two cars, and you'd expect this test to be a dead lock, maybe even a squeak-out win for the Pontiac...But the biggest reason the Miata took this one is the simple fact that it's 10 billion times more fun to drive. It's more responsive. Its engine is livelier and its gearbox feels like it was plucked from a shifter kart. It also has more steering feel, and it stops better.

 

[PricklyPete]

http://www.evo.co.uk/features/features/240343/top_10_greatest_drivers_cars.html

The Miata got 9th and the Lotus 340R (MK1 Elise more or less) got 2nd, so either one would be awesome. I have a feeling that V8 or turbo Miata would cure the "fire in the belly" problem, and the Miata would definitely be the best bang-for-the-buck. It's a good article.

Oh yeah...I'm sure the Elise would be amazing...but the Miata just seems like an all around more practical (which is funny using that word to describe a Miata), cheaper, and 80 to 90% of the fun...especially if this is never going to be a track toy.

 

[PricklyPete]

Comparison Test: 2006 Pontiac Solstice vs. 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata

http://www.insideline.com/mazda/mx-...ontiac-solstice-vs-2006-mazda-mx-5-miata.html

Yes...I remember reading that article. I think one of the major mags (car and driver, motortrend, Road & Track, or Automobile) did inch the Solstice above the Miata...but every other review had the Miata winning. I do like the look of the Solstice/Sky...and I definitely would give them a test drive (in Redline/GXP form), but the Miata just seems like a better all around package. Rowing the gears in that thing with the top down was fantastic.

Another option would be a used M Roadster. It will not be quite as "go-kart" like, but the S54 in that thing would be a blast. You likely can find one in the 25K range. Of course reliability and looks may be questionably compared to a Miata.

 

[StageLeft]

Jeremy Clarkson (I don't get on my knees for him, but some do) loves the Miata like it was his first born.

I wouldn't want the pontiac/saturn because they are dead brands and have far fewer cars. The miata community is extremely active. Getting parts for these cars should be easy for years and years, if you keep it. There are tons of two-decade old ones now actively driven because they are kept out of snow and salt. Hell, there's literally an entire racing class just for Miatas:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spec_Miata

The Saturn sky and solstice look nice but they are going to be an experience further from the elise than the Miata is. Again, I've driven neither but presume a Miata feels merely like an underpowered elise.

 

[JCH13]

Oh yeah...I'm sure the Elise would be amazing...but the Miata just seems like an all around more practical (which is funny using that word to describe a Miata), cheaper, and 80 to 90% of the fun...especially if this is never going to be a track toy.

I'd vote that the Miata would be just as much fun on the track, I have a blast thrashing my Miata around in Auto-X, and there are several Miatas that get times +/- 1 second from an Elise that races there.

Edit: like stage left said, it'll last you a long time. Mine has over 200k miles.

 

[Fritzo]

Oh yeah...I'm sure the Elise would be amazing...but the Miata just seems like an all around more practical (which is funny using that word to describe a Miata), cheaper, and 80 to 90% of the fun...especially if this is never going to be a track toy.

In releasing a list of its Top Ten researched vehicles, Gaywheels.com said that the ten in the most demand are the Toyota Yaris, Saab 9-3, Mazda MX-5 Miata, Volkswagen Jetta, Volkswagen Eos, Dodge Caliber, Toyota Camry, Audi A3, Volkswagen Rabbit and the Infiniti FX.

http://audiauto.org/the-gayest-cars-on-the-road/

 

[StageLeft]

http://audiauto.org/the-gayest-cars-on-the-road/

You simply need to decide who you're buying the car for, you or the people who'd call you ghey for having a miata. I imagine my neighbors will call me ghey if I get one one and laugh at me. And I'll laugh back, but nobody really cares that much in the end. Their judgement of gheyness or my awesomeness depending on which car I get will end soon and then I'll just have to live with whatever I bought.

 

[Fritzo]

You simply need to decide who you're buying the car for, you or the people who'd call you ghey for having a miata. I imagine my neighbors will call me ghey if I get one one and laugh at me. And I'll laugh back, but nobody really cares that much in the end. Their judgement of gheyness or my awesomeness depending on which car I get will end soon and then I'll just have to live with whatever I bought.

I kid...I kid...

 

[StageLeft]

I kid...I kid...

All the above aside, I still am positive guys who drive beetles with flowers in them are 100% "sweet".

 

[PricklyPete]

I'd vote that the Miata would be just as much fun on the track, I have a blast thrashing my Miata around in Auto-X, and there are several Miatas that get times +/- 1 second from an Elise that races there.

Edit: like stage left said, it'll last you a long time. Mine has over 200k miles.

It's Skoorb...don't support his name change...he hasn't left

 

[PricklyPete]

All the above aside, I still am positive guys who drive beetles with flowers in them are 100% "sweet".

I'd say 110% tranny-sweet.

 

[Throckmorton]

It's Skoorb...don't support his name change...he hasn't left

StageLeft?? WTF??

 

[EightySix Four]

I love my Sky Redline, I tune PCM's with software that works on the Sky. With no modifications to the drivetrain I was making nearly 300 rwhp and nearly 400 lb.ft of torque. The motor really is a little marvel. It's not in the same vain as the Miata or Lotus though, they are both very much about driving experience, the Sky is faster but the suspension isn't nearly as well tuned and the steering doesn't "feel" nearly as good. I prefer the comfort and interior of the Sky, as well as the "type" of performance. It's more useful on the street (the performance, not necessarily the car, no effing trunk at all).

Still nice to surprise the shit out of a passenger when you get on the throttle and they expect ~240bhp and get 350hp and a ton of torque. PM if you have any questions.

 

[Fritzo]

I love my Sky Redline, I tune PCM's with software that works on the Sky. With no modifications to the drivetrain I was making nearly 300 rwhp and nearly 400 lb.ft of torque. The motor really is a little marvel. It's not in the same vain as the Miata or Lotus though, they are both very much about driving experience, the Sky is faster but the suspension isn't nearly as well tuned and the steering doesn't "feel" nearly as good. I prefer the comfort and interior of the Sky, as well as the "type" of performance. It's more useful on the street (the performance, not necessarily the car, no effing trunk at all).

Still nice to surprise the shit out of a passenger when you get on the throttle and they expect ~240bhp and get 350hp and a ton of torque. PM if you have any questions.

Did you get that turbo mod kit that GM sells? I wonder how hard it is to install. Supposed to give you another 15-20% HP.

I just worked out my schedule, and I'm feeling guilty buying a toy before getting a car we need. We have an HHR now, and two teen kids, so it's getting a bit cramped. Gotta plunk down for an Acadia first, and then get me a Sky after that's paid off.

Oh well, the excitement was fun while it lasted

 

[EightySix Four]

Did you get that turbo mod kit that GM sells? I wonder how hard it is to install. Supposed to give you another 15-20% HP.

I just worked out my schedule, and I'm feeling guilty buying a toy before getting a car we need. We have an HHR now, and two teen kids, so it's getting a bit cramped. Gotta plunk down for an Acadia first, and then get me a Sky after that's paid off.

Oh well, the excitement was fun while it lasted

You can't install it yourself, it is just a reflash. My reflash is better than that one, so no reason to.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

I did some more research on renting one and looks like Enterprise dumped their fleet of Lotuses after all 4 of them had to have their clutches replaces at 10k miles LOL.

I've been looking around to see how much it would cost to rent something like that for a day or two, obscenely expensive is what it is. 300 a day for a plain jane Cayman? Ridiculous I guess.