YACT: Lotus Elise - My impressions

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: timosyy
The Z06 did damn well around Top Gear's track...

/ducks

(just search youtube for Top Gear Z06, end of the clip has the Stig taking it around the track)

wait until the Z07/ZO6R/Blue Devil/Stingray/SuperSport comes out.

 

[raptor13]

Wow, this thing came back from the dead!

I'm still in talks with the dealer about the car and, if it turns out he can secure an Exige or a Sport model for me, it could very well mean I'll have to sell all of my other worldy possessions to make it happen.

And boy would it be worth it!

 

[MikeMike]

ygpm

 

[filetitan]

ygpm

 

[chuckywang]

Why do I get the feeling that the fee for test driving that car was for you to make this post?

 

[SVT Cobra]

Car and Driver drove a Z06 and an Elise on the VIR this month, the Elise was .1 seconds quicker with gumball tires, but the Z06 (summer tires) was wild and hard to drive because of it's somewhat unpredictablility while the Elise handled like a highly refined track car.

 

[thehstrybean]

Nice...NIce...

 

[Apex]

Originally posted by: F22 Raptor
Car and Driver drove a Z06 and an Elise on the VIR this month, the Elise was .1 seconds quicker with gumball tires, but the Z06 (summer tires) was wild and hard to drive because of it's somewhat unpredictablility while the Elise handled like a highly refined track car.

Sorry, that's not going to happen at VIR. Heck, go to Streets of Willow or Gingerman, and you may be closer, but at VIR, there's simply no way.

Per the article:

Elise w/sports pack (upgraded suspension, Yokohama Advan A048 DOT-R tire with 60 treadwear: 3:09.2 seconds
C6 Corvette: 3.09.03 seconds

C6 Z06 Corvette (stock Goodyear EMT runflat tires): 3.01.01 seconds

 

[melchoir]

60 Treadwear.. damn.

My drag radials (daily driving tires) have 100 Treadware.

That elise had some soft ass tires.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Apex
The Z06 is difficult in that it can be a bit vague. However, the Elise is no picnic to drive fast either. You ever drive a car with 61% of its weight over its rear wheels and an extremely small polar moment? It takes a great driver to really get the most out of it.

With the Lotus, the name of the game is carrying speed.

I drive one every day. Enormous fun around the corners, but yes, it's very easy to go into a corner too hot, catch some understeer, and then have to catch the back end as it slides around. It's still worth it, there's a reason why MR is such a popular layout for supercars

 

[Apex]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: Apex
The Z06 is difficult in that it can be a bit vague. However, the Elise is no picnic to drive fast either. You ever drive a car with 61% of its weight over its rear wheels and an extremely small polar moment? It takes a great driver to really get the most out of it.

With the Lotus, the name of the game is carrying speed.

I drive one every day. Enormous fun around the corners, but yes, it's very easy to go into a corner too hot, catch some understeer, and then have to catch the back end as it slides around. It's still worth it, there's a reason why MR is such a popular layout for supercars

No argument there, that car is loads of fun. It's definitely not a great tool for the hamfisted though. For those that can't really drive, an EVO or STi would be a better choice.

 

[SVT Cobra]

Originally posted by: Apex

Originally posted by: F22 Raptor
Car and Driver drove a Z06 and an Elise on the VIR this month, the Elise was .1 seconds quicker with gumball tires, but the Z06 (summer tires) was wild and hard to drive because of it's somewhat unpredictablility while the Elise handled like a highly refined track car.

Sorry, that's not going to happen at VIR. Heck, go to Streets of Willow or Gingerman, and you may be closer, but at VIR, there's simply no way.

Per the article:

Elise w/sports pack (upgraded suspension, Yokohama Advan A048 DOT-R tire with 60 treadwear: 3:09.2 seconds
C6 Corvette: 3.09.03 seconds

C6 Z06 Corvette (stock Goodyear EMT runflat tires): 3.01.01 seconds

Woops I messed up, it was the C6 and by .01 seconds. My fault, I got a little excited and posted before reading the whole thing.

 

[beemercer]

Lotuses (Loti?) are some nice cars. My neighbor has a 1998 Esprit, wow is it fast, 140mph on Route 9 in Westbourough, MA.

 

[SVT Cobra]

Originally posted by: beemercer
Lotuses (Loti?) are some nice cars. My neighbor has a 1998 Esprit, wow is it fast, 140mph on Route 9 in Westbourough, MA.

I'd offer to detail it for free to be able to drive it sometimes.