Now I gotta have one!
 

Very cool cars. If they prove to be reliable over the long haul, I'll probably buy one.

"reliable over the long haul" + Lotus = results not probable

Toyota motor.

Consumer Reports called it crap.

British electronics controling said motor.

CR calls most of what we like crap... Porsche, BMW, Audi, MB, anything italian. What's your point?

Yeah like I care about what CR says about a sports car. That car isn't even close to the scope of their subject.

LMAO.

"Honey, I was going to buy you that 550 Maranello, but Consumer Reports said it had poor mileage, and didn't handle well in wet conditions...."

Fun little car according to a buddy of mine who writes for SportCompactMag...Absolutely no practicality, no storage space, but great on the track with the help of an aftermarket turbo kit available...I'll spank it (no pun) in my 4-door sports sedan (EvoMR): I prefer practicality combined with performance.

I heard they're only for small people. It has everything I like in a car - small, lightweight, great handling, responsive engine, etc., but I'm 6' 3" and weigh just shy of 220. I think I'm outta luck.

Mike

Good heavens, how do you fit in the 911? My dad complains about how tiny a 911 is at 5'10"!

Non-sunroof coupe and Sparco Evo/2s mounted really close to the floor. :>)

Actually, I've found that the 911 fits me really well.

Mike

Not true. CR has given high ratings to the Boxster for years. They don't rate the 911. Reliability of MB, BMW, Audi isn't as good as Porsche, and recently not as good as many American cars so they (rightfully) get dinged for that. Despite that the German cars still get rated pretty highly. If they brought their reliability to the level of the Japanese I wouldn't be suprised if that brought their overall ratings up to or above the level of Acura and Lexus.

I sat in one - I'm 6' 200 - and felt a little like fred flinstone with my head peaking out of the top... Neat little cars - had a woman at the last Sebring DE who drove the crap out of one. I could lose her on the straights - but mine she came up on me in a hurry in the curves...

As I said, CR rates most of what we like as "below average" or worse (black not red filled in circles or whatever). That so called reliability index half the time is based on the brands' past performance rather than the actual car. And is anyone from this board who is considering buying another sports car solely concerned about its reliability? We (I think) care about driving dynamics, feel, sound, (add your favorite)... Things that are not (really) measured in CR's world.

BTW the high residuals in Europe says something about how desirable this car is.

Edit: I didn't read anything CR has to say about the car, but I bet it was negatively focused on space/creature comforts, lack of NVH dampening, and lack of storage space. All of these are recognized limitations to what is supposed to be one of the most sublime driving experiences (so we've been told).

Not in the last issue.
But, you know better.

One issue, does not a trend make (even if I cared enough about it to read it). If you want to read CR to choose your sportscar, be my guest.

They listed as a 'con' that it's handling was unforgiving at the limit. I was intrigued and read on. They sited as an example of this (direct quote):"if you lift off the throttle in mid-corner at the limit, the Elise will enter an abrupt tail slide that can result in a spinout"

Huh, you don't say? Lifting mid corner causes a spinout?
:confused: :eek:

CR likes plowing understeer - much safer!