Lotus Elise test drive

[lvporschepilot]

Hey everyone,
This is actually my second trip out in a Lotus Elise. The first time was really not enough tim to get to know the thing though. This second time was for a lack of better words, just plain loud in a bad way.

The car I drove had the sport exhaust on it, and once the engine turns over 6500 rpm's the vibration gets so awful that it almost makes one not want to drive it with enthusiasm. The performance is great, the a/c is fantastic, but the engine sound really does not do it for me. I knew before I started the car the first time that I don't think I can ever get excited over a hopped-up Toyota engine. Four cylinder no less.

Given that this vehicle is faster than my carrera, has better a/c, more comfortable seats, and that my wife will drive it due to the Toyota engine(she loves them), and fantastic gas mileage, I would still not get one for lack of what I can't quite put my finger on at this time. It's easier to get into a 355 Ferrari than this thing. It's just not right.

anyone else have an Elise experience?

[N11Porsche]

The biggest thing being, that it"s one ugly sportscar........imho

[MarkY]

I saw one of those in a parking lot today. Not only is that thing ugly, it seems like you would be sitting on the ground in it.

[godxilla2]

sat in one while looking at it on the showroom floor. geez horrible getting in and out of it. makes my 911 feel like a big car. That thing is like a go kart. i actual like the style, but not nearly as much as i like the carrera's style...

[masraum]

Originally posted by MarkY
it seems like you would be sitting on the ground in it.

Is that a problem?

[86 911]

I sat in one and got to start it up. I think the push button start feature is pretty cool, but getting in and out is a different story. Even with the seat all the way back, my knees almost touched the steering wheel and my legs were extremely cramped. Getting out was a difficult challenge.

[k9handler]

I was lucky enough to have a pax lap around the Nurburgring awhile back, it was a great car with the exception of the lack of power. On the uphill sections the car could just couldn't hold it's own and was passed by many of the higher HP cars...but in the corners the Lotus was the better car.

[TyFenn]

it seems to me like the performance comes from the huge weight reduction. The car weighs 1947lbs. with 200hp...roughly...and looks like it. I don't know how much it costs but I think I would look at other options first.

But then again, what do I know?

[Dixie]

I'll admit it. I lie awake many nights wondering if I should have bought an Elise.

• If you’re too fat to get in it, God's telling you to loose weight
• If your wife's too fat to get in it... Well....
• It costs way less than trying to maintain an 18 (or more) year-old car.
• It's *new* for cryin' out loud. Just take it to the track and GO!
• The car is way fun to drive.

I'd buy an Elise except for two things. PCA track events, and having two kids that love to ride in the 911.

[Tobra]

If I were to buy an Elise, it would be with the Honda Integra Type R drivetrain. There is a shop in southern Cali that has been putting them together for US use for a while. I have a GSR sedan, which has a similar motor and it has a sweet song. Do not care for the ZZ or whatever the Corolla GTS motor they put in the Elise, sort of fragile, just not quite right to me, but I am no expert.

I like the way they look, especially in Fishing Lure Lime Green or something else obnoxious. Small and light is always good, especially with the mass concentrated below the tops of the tires and between the axles, low polar moment or something like that. They look very purposeful to me, but I have an Orange 914...

[CJFusco]

I've never driven an Elise, but I love the things. It is one of the very few non-porsche sports cars I would ever consider buying, if I had that kind of money to throw around.

[cantdrv55]

I'm glad I'm not the only one around here who thinks it's ugly. Plus, I'm too fat for it.